Isle of Man

The Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man is tucked between Great Britain and Ireland and is a world of its own, or should I say an Isle of its own. It holds the record for the world’s oldest continues parliament, the Tynwald, and has been named by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.

With a Celtic culture, and a bit of Norse pride in the blood, the Manx like to do things differently. They have tailless cats, their own breed of sheep, fairies, and a ghostly black dog. Being an autonomous region of the United Kingdom means they make their own laws, and they have a generous tax regime to lure in the business.

Whether you stroll around Douglas the capital, or go looking for that ghostly black dog in the Castle of Peel, take the steam train to Port Erin, hike the cliffs around Fleshwick Bay, or watch the speed junkies racing for the Tourist Trophy in May and June, there is endless entertainment to be had.

Time to take that ferry and see what all the talk is about…

Highlights from Isle of Man

Douglas has plenty of elegant buildings and a nice promenade, as well as a few interesting museums
Come for the Tynwald Day Ceremony on the 5th of July at Tynwald Hill
Visit Castletown and Castle Rush, one a former capital, the other a former Royal residence
Take the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to Laxey and visit the Laxey Wheel (aka Lady Isabella) a huge waterwheel. While you are there you might as well take the Snaefell Mountain Railway up to the islands highest point for some good views
Stroll around Cregneash Folk Village its thatched roofed homes and the Mull Circle
Walk around haunted Peel Castle
Watch birds on the Calf of Man a big breeding ground for migratory birds
Take a steam train to Port Erin
Hike the cliffs at Fleshwick Bay
Feel the adrenaline pumping during the Tourist Trophy motorcycling races in May and June