Information on The Isle of Man

The Isle of Man In the heart of the Irish Sea, off the north west coast of England, lies Britain’s best kept secret – the Isle of Man.

Just 33 miles long by 13 miles wide, the Isle of Man is a must for all countryside lovers with its many different landscapes and breathtaking views. It is said that every type of scenery found in the British Isles can also be found on the Island: layered cliffs, purple mountains, gorse clad valley slopes, sandy beaches and woodland glens. Walkers can enjoy unspoilt coastal and hillside footpaths, and this little kingdom is perfect for bicycles, following clearly signposted routes, which make a series of cycle tracks throughout the Island.

Those looking for a more gentle means of exploration can sit back and admire the view on board one of the Island’s vintage transport systems. Steam and electric railways weave their way coast to coast from Port Erin in the south to Ramsey in the north. In the Island’s capital, Douglas, Victorian horse-drawn trams transport visitors along the main promenade. But perhaps the most spectacular ride of all is aboard the Snaefell Mountain Railway. Beginning at the old mining village of Laxey – home to the world’s largest working waterwheel – the line climbs to the Island’s highest point from where it is maintained, it is possible to see the kingdoms of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Mann, Heaven and the kingdom of the sea.
Steeped in tradition and ancient history, the Isle of Man has retained its independence with its own currency, stamps, government and even language – although English is spoken everywhere. Strong Celtic and Viking influences survive, indeed thrive on Mann today, highlighted by the names of the people and places. Visitors are invited to step back some 10,000 years and retrace “The Story of Mann” which is brought to life by a series of open air sites and museums.

But it is not just heritage enthusiasts who enjoy visiting the Isle of Man. With eight quality golf courses and a mild winter climate, the Island is a must for golfers of all abilities. The Island also offers excellent water sports facilities, especially diving and sailing. Special events such as the world famous TT motorcycle races as well as car rallies, railways, arts and music festivals are ideal themes around which to base a visit to the Island. Quality restaurants abound and national dishes include the famous Manx kippers, local scallops called Queenies and real dairy Manx ice cream.

Getting to the Isle of Man has never been easier with regular flights available from a wide spread of regional airports across the UK and Ireland, while ferry and SeaCat crossings operate from Liverpool and Heysham.

With approximately 75,000 residents the island boasts excellent sporting facilities with five full sized astro pitches and hundreds of grass pitches which along with the National Sports Centre can cater for nearly every sport.

For more in-depth information on the Isle of Man we strongly recommend you check the Wikipedia website which can be found here

(Some of the information above has been copied from the official Isle of man tourism website which can be found here )

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