The Isle of Man is an island in the Irish Sea lying between Great Britain and Ireland.
This island offers stunning landscapes, unspoilt beaches on a very long and beautiful coastline making it a perfect holiday destination whoever you are. There is a wealth of history to explore and wonderful places to see from slow and sleepy tourism to action packed adventure!
Whether it's water sports, mountain climbing, biking, walking the coastal paths, watching the wildlife, quad biking or spending a day in the museums and art galleries you'll find exactly what you want to do.
The heritage of this island is varied and dates back more than 10 000 years allowing you to discover the ancient castles, forts and mounds, waterwheels and mines and follow in the steps of missionaries and the Vikings!
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Want some ideas on where to visit?
Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, places to stay and eat:
- 30th May 2020-12th June 2020The Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) is run in a time-trial format on public roads closed to the public. The first Isle of Man TT race was held on Tuesday 28 May 1907 and has since been held most years.The schedule will see a week of practices starting on Saturday 30th May to the Friday 5th of June.The first race day will be Saturday 6th June and sees the first three-lap sidecar race and the Superbike TT race.This “Superbike Saturday” is followed by the traditional “Mad Sunday” for fans to have their own ride around the Course.Races resume on Monday, Wednesday and the big day is Friday for the second sidecar race and the concluding Senior race.* Please note that race dates are subject to change or cancellation by event organisers at short notice.
- Jurby beach is a long shingle beach with firm sand as the tide goes out and is a popular beach with walkers and fishing. Facilities include car parking and toilets.
- Derbyhaven beach is within a sheltered shallow bay. A very popular bay with windsurfers. Facilities include parking, promenade and a selection of places to eat.
- Port St Mary lifeboat station was established in 1896 and now operates an inshore and all weather lifeboats. Station open weekdays, no shop.
- Ramsey lifeboat station was established in the late 1820s and now has an offshore lifeboat. The station is open Monday to Friday and an RNLI shop can be found in the town.
- The Old House of Keys is the former meeting place of the House of Keys, the lower house of Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s parliament. It is located across the street from Castle Rushen in Castletown, the former capital of the Isle of Man, in the south of the island. The building is now a museum and has been restored to its appearance in 1866, which was chosen as it was when the ‘House of Keys Election Bill’ was passed, making the House of Keys an elected body.
- Point of Ayre beach sits on the Isle of Man’s most northerly tip. The name comes from Old Norse “eyrr” that means a shingle beach and so this is is a large shingle and gravely beach. This remote beach provides a hopme to flowering heathland, nesting birds, diving gannets and the dramatic sea currents all combine to make the Point of Ayre a truly remarkable ever changing landscape. The seasonal Visitor Centre houses exhibits and displays portraying the diversity of the wildlife found at the Ayres and a short film illustrates some of the highlights of the surrounding area.
- Spanish Head is a headland on the southwestern coast of the Isle of Man, rising over 100 m from sea level. You can see the island of the Calf of Man lies which lies to the southwest of the head, separated from it by the Calf Sound. The name is thought to arise from the tale of a ship from the Spanish Armada that was wrecked in the area, though there is no evidence to suggest this. Locals suggest that the name may originate from the Manx name for the type of rock in the area.
- Gansey Bay is a sandy beach backed by rocks and a sea wall and when the tide is high most of the beach disappears and all you have is a few rocks. Limited parking on the road, slipway and pub/hotel at one end of the beach.
- Cregneash is a small village in the extreme south of the Isle of Man, about one mile from Port Erin. Much of the village forms a Living Museum dedicated to the preservation of the traditional Manx ways of life. Annual Manx festivals are held in Cregneash and it is home to a flock of the rare four-horned Loaghtan sheep.
- The Calf of Man Nature Reserve and Bird Observatory is maintained by the Manx Museum and National Trust (MMNT), with Wardens resident on the Island from spring to late autumn. The traditional style 1870’s farmhouse incorporating the Observatory is also a hostel that can be pre-booked for up to eight guests. Visitors need to bring their own food supplies and a sleeping bag. The Calf of Man Island is accessed by small boat operators running return trips from Port St Mary and Port Erin. Sailings are subject to suitable weather conditions, tide and the availability of the boatmen. The Calf of Man image: cc-by-sa/2.0 – © David Dixon – geograph.org.uk/p/3891922
- The sheltered beach at Garwick Bay lies at the end of Garwick Glen, one of the prettiest glens on the Island. The valley at Baldrine has the River Gawne passing through it and joining the sea at the bay. The beach here is a mix of shingle and rocks backed by woodlands. Although the beach is not a bathing beach as such it is very popular with walkers and for fishing. Legend has it that during the 18th century the glen was a centre for smuggling and Dirk Haiterick’s Cave behind the beach is named after after a notorious local smuggler. The beach has no facilities although in Baldrine village you do have a pub with parking.
- Rushen Abbey was founded in 1134 and is now a heritage centre (part of the ‘Story of Mann’) with a building containing artifacts and telling the history of Rushen Abbey and the surrounding area.
