Isle of Man Travel Guide

My mates band plays here quite often. they have live bands every weekend and sometimes in the week except Sundays and Wednesdays, (they do not have a DJ in here at all so no dance music which is relief) although it can be hit and miss as to whether or not they are any good.

My mates band are called Maldune and they are pretty good, there is normally a listing of the bands in the local papers each week.

It is normally free entry unless there is a really popular band or it is a charity night.

They do food at lunch times and in the evenings till about eight.

Dress Code: Dress code is casual and you can get away with wearing jeans and chilling in here.

I can't remember about trainers but i don't think it matters, I have never seen anybody get refused entry.

Being an Island, there are only two ways on or off - boat or plane!!

Unfortunately for us, the transport available to and from the Island is also pretty expensive. The cheapest way to get here is as a foot passenger on the boat and this will cost you from £30rtn - providing you book on-line more than 24 hours in advance and depending on the avaiability of seats. If the boat is likely to be full the price can be up-to £70rtn for a foot passenger!!!

You can sail from Heysham or Liverpool in England and Dublin in Ireland. There is sometimes also a boat from somewhere in Scotland - not sure when or where though? You would have to check the web-site for more details on this.

The Ben-My-Chree sails from Heysham. This is the largest of the ferries which is also used to transport some freight and takes 3 1/2 hours to get to the Island. You can get a train into Heysham port - don't get there too early though because there really is nothing to do at Heysham Port!
The Sea-cat sails from Liverpool. This is a small fast craft that can reach the Island in 2 1/2 hours. The sea terminal in Liverpool can be found next to the Liver Building.
I'm not sure which boat serves the Dublin route as it is not one I have ever used but this information can be found on the website.

The Irish sea is known to be quite rough at times. The sea-cat can not sail in high winds so if you were planning to come over during the winter months I would recommend booking the sailing from Heysham to avoind cancellations.

Tynwald Mills has a great selection of little shops selling a wide variety of things from pet stuff to designer clothing and homeware to hand-made chocolates. It is a great place to go to find those unusual little gifts for that person who has everything.

The setting of Tynwald Mills is beautiful and a lovely place to sped a couple of hours especially on a nice day. There are a couple of cafes on site - my favourite is the coffee shop which is next to the kids play area; there is a good selection of tea and coffee as well as home made cakes and chocolates - there is also a good choice of Manx ice-cream here too!

On the main Douglas to Castletown Road you will come across the Fairy Bridge.

This magical little spot is believed to be inhabited by fairies. Local people (and an increasing number of holidaymakers) make sure to say hello to the fairies as they cross the bridge as a way to ward off misfortune. A lot of people here are also very superstitious that if they don't say hello then something bad may happen to them.

Another custom which has been revived in recent years is to hang letters and pictures to the adjacent tree in the hope that the fairies will see these messages and bring hope to those who left them.

It's not exactly a hazard but it can be a bit of a nuisance. There is a great deal of interest in the Isle of Man and neither the official website - which is not clear or informative enough - nor the tourist literature do it justice. Unless you are visiting for the TT races or intending to spend a week in August relaxing on Douglas promenade, the Isle of Man is perhaps not an obvious destination. Take the standard tourist brochure, for instance. This is an accommodation list with some added notes - although it has to be said this trend in tourist literature in not unique to the Isle of Man. The result is that you should have a fair idea of where you are going to stay but not necessarily a clear idea of why you should go there in the first place.
There is a lot of concentration in the tourist information about the sites that constitute the "Story of Man" (and a rather dismal DVD is available). Some are undeniably excellent, others are very much re-creation of history orientated - fine if you want to amuse the kids on one of those wet days but not everyone's cup of tea. Take Rushen Abbey as an example. The remains - especially by comparison with sites in the UK or Ireland - are minimal. To make it an 'attraction' you have to create something out of next to nothing.
The most helpful page in the tourist brochure is the one that suggests you buy the "All Round Guide to the Isle of Man", (or alternatively you could try something like the Pevensey Guide, for which see Internet second-hand sites). Also, the publications you will find in the Manx Museum in Douglas - historical sites, Manx crosses and so forth - are excellent.
My advice is to ignore what the tourist information says - or at least be selective about what you choose to visit. If possible, bring your car or hire one. The island is relatively small, the roads are quiet and you can see a lot in a few days. Read a little in advance - you don't need to know the complete history of the island - get out there and find the places for yourself. It's much more fun.

25th May 2007 to 09th Jun 2007.

Two weeks of pure biking fun! Will be crazy as centenary year and everyone in th biking world will be here.

Road Race round nearly the entire Island.

Best time to visit the Island as the place is literally buzzing. for the whole two weeks.

Best Day - Mad Sunday - Party, Party, Party and Senior Race Day (Last Friday) - Last day of racing - Local Bank Holiday.

Equipment: Bike Gear is obviously a must for those racing and visiting on two wheels.

BOOK EARLY - ACCOMMODATION CAN BE HARD TO FIND DURING THIS PERIOD.