The Isle of Man punches well above its weight when it comes to history and scenery for somewhere so small. There’s a lot to see if you know where to look, so we’re splitting this into two posts. This one covers three of the island’s most recognisable sites, plus the hill where the island’s parliament still meets, exactly as it has for over a thousand years.
Castle Rushen, Castletown
Castle Rushen is right in the middle of Castletown, once the island’s capital, and it’s one of the best-preserved medieval castles you’ll find anywhere in the British Isles. It was built mainly in the thirteenth century and has been used as a royal residence, a garrison, a mint, and even a prison at various points since. Walk through it now and you get a proper sense of what it would have looked like at the time, right down to the clock on the tower, a gift from Elizabeth I back in 1597, still keeping time today.
Castletown itself is worth wandering around too, harbour, narrow streets, the Nautical Museum just along the way. It’s an easy trip if you’re based in Douglas, just a short drive south.
Peel Castle
Over on the west coast, Peel Castle sits on St Patrick’s Isle, linked to the town by a causeway. The ruins date to the eleventh century, though the site was used long before that, and you can still see the remains of an early Christian settlement and a round tower inside the walls.
What really makes Peel Castle stand out is the setting. It’s perched right above the sea with views up and down the coast, and it’s one of the most photographed spots on the island, especially at sunset when the light hits the red sandstone. There are also open air performances staged there through the summer, including Shakespeare, so it’s worth checking what’s on before you go.
Peel town itself is a good stop in its own right too, known for its kippers, its beach, and a genuinely nice harbour front. It pairs well with a longer day trip along the coast if you’re staying with us.
The Great Laxey Wheel
Known locally as Lady Isabella, the Laxey Wheel is the largest working waterwheel in the world still standing in its original spot. It was built in 1854 to pump water out of the local lead mines and stands about seventy-two and a half feet tall, which is still an impressive bit of Victorian engineering by any measure.
You can climb the tower next to the wheel for views across the Laxey valley, and the mining heritage site around it gives you a decent sense of how important mining once was to the island’s economy. It’s also right on the route of the Manx Electric Railway, so you can turn it into a half day out without needing a car at all.
Tynwald Hill, St John’s
No list of Manx landmarks would be complete without Tynwald Hill. It’s a fairly modest, man made mound in St John’s, but it’s where the island’s parliament has met in open session for over a thousand years, which makes it one of the oldest continuous parliaments anywhere. Every 5 July (or the 6th, if the 5th falls on a weekend) new laws are proclaimed there in front of thousands of people, and it’s a strange mix of genuine constitutional weight and proper pageantry.
Outside of Tynwald Day it’s still worth a visit, the hill and the chapel next to it, and the surrounding Silverdale Glen area makes for a pleasant stop if you’re driving round the west of the island anyway.
Where to Base Yourself
These four alone could fill two or three days, and they’re spread right across the island: Castletown to the south, Laxey to the east, St John’s inland. Basing yourself somewhere central makes it a lot easier to fit them all in without doing too much backtracking.
Our Isle of Man accommodation is well placed for getting out in any direction. Both OPUL House at St Helliers and OPUL Boutique at Admiral House give you easy access to the main roads out towards Peel, Laxey and Castletown, so you can be out exploring during the day and back to somewhere comfortable each evening.
In part two we’re heading to the coast and the hills, covering the island’s wildlife spots and a few of the quieter places that people tend to discover once they know the island a bit better. Keep an eye on the blog for that one.
