Isle of Man Things to Do

  looking northeast
by iaint
 
  • looking northeast
      looking northeast
    by iaint
  • the view to the southwest
      the view to the southwest
    by iaint
  • Monks' Bridge
      Monks' Bridge
    by GeoV
  • Monks' Bridge
      Monks' Bridge
    by GeoV
  • Old Kirk Braddan
      Old Kirk Braddan
    by GeoV
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Parish Walk (85 mile in 24 hours)

by leecouk12324

Do yoiu consider youreslf a walker?21st June, 2008 saw the annual 85 mile Parish Walk in the Isle of Man.When i first heard about this i thought of the film Forest Gump but what is important about this walk is that walkers choice their individual charities to donate money to.It really is a very incredible feat - it has to be done in 24 hours (and only so many make it - this year 1600 took part and 121 past the finishing line) - many still raise loads of money for charity but do 39 miles to Peel which is still a long way.It set off at 8am from Douglas and heads south and then comes back up on West side (the sorst part being something which on radio sounded like "the sloc" (and i also saw this - it is some climb).Many people only get as far as Peel (39 miles) - then the more serious head North and then all through the night). What is great is that there is one village in the North that has...

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Manx Whiskey - whoops - Manx Spirit

by leecouk12324

Manx Spirit is a very fine Scottish Malt that has been sent to the island and then has all its impurities removed - ie the impurities caused by the Whiskey being made in Port Barrells.So it is distilled to give this spiritColour is deceptive because it smells very much like Whiskey but is much much smoother. You must drink this neat - no other way in my book.You can buy this on the ferry going accrross - the supermarkets there sell it - but i found not all Pubs on the island sold it.It seems to be promoted very little - the exception being it was on offer or something on the ferry (although it was in fact not -- because it was same price as supermarket) - the gimmick on ferry is "Buy here for Tax Free Prices"The price was excactly the same on ferry and supermarket at £16.99.To try it in a Pub will cost from £1.80 a shot - although some employees will look at you strange when you ask just...

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Hire a Bike at Ramsey

by leecouk12324

Why? - because North of here it is very flat and easy bike riding.The North of the island past Ramsey is quite flat - and the south can be very hillyThere is a place called Eurocycles at Douglas for cycle hire AT Ramsey however much of the Official Tourism info is incorrect and the bike hire place in tourist info had been closed for some time.A local sent to towards "Outdoors Ramsey" - which is opposite the Bus Station.Not really a cycle hire place - more a shop - but in the back where 4 serviced bikes for hire (i mens - 3 ladies it looked like) - so it is good idea to ring beforehand to see if he has what you want on 01624 811550Bike hire for standard Mountain Bike (without suspension) was £8 for 24 hours which is very good value for me because cycling gives me so much more enjoyment than travelling by bus)- the guy gave me a small lock but helmets are not included .You may want to...

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Visit Laxey

by leecouk12324

Visit Laxey by Electric Tram or other - from here there are many optionsYou have halk a walk - maybe half an hour to the very beautiful working water wheel - "The Lady Isabella" - the largest of its kind i think that is still in useSee http://www.iomguide.com/laxeywheel.phpThe pic here is the sister wheel near the tram station which has recently been renevatedYou can visit Laxey Glen Gardens You can have a walk down to the HarbourYou can eat in a very nice Pub in the centre called "The Miners Tavern" - last time i went they had much seating outside too - food is good - wash it down with a Pint of Manx (ie - from Isle of Man) Bitter - Okell's.You can get the Tram from Laxey up to the very top of the mountain of the Isle of Man - "Snaefell Pike" - at just over 2000ft.

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Coffee and Cake

by leecouk12324

The title here maybe should read "The Smell of Coffee"Walking from Douglas Bus Station towards the Steam Train Station the route i took i went past this small coffee shop - and the smell of coffee was so good i had to go back.As you see by the pic - the shop is called "Spill the Beans" - it opens till about 5pm which is good.What was a great sign for me is that it was very popular with the locals.OK - It is small with only 2 tables so you may have to find yourself sitting on the high stools by the window.I ordered a large Black Coffee and and a Coffee and Walnut Cafe which was excellent with real coffee beans (see the 2nd pic - although the pic does not do it justice - the cake was very big) - and at £3.55 i consider it very good value.Or you may come another time and write your postcards here and then put them in post box outside

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Cregneash, National Folk Museum

by kit_mc

Cregneash is both a living village and a museum. Examples of the traditional Manx house with thatched roof can be found here including Harry Kelly's cottage. Harry Kelly was one of the last fluent Manx speakers and his home, restored as a traditional crofters cottage opened as the beginning of the museum in 1938.The site is basically an isolated traditional crofters village out on the south west of the island, not far from the Sound and the calf of Man, the little island of the tip of the Isle of Man. In winter you can still walk around but the interiors are closed (this is a bit of a theme on the island...). It costs £3.00 to visit between March and October.The village was also used as a location for the film Waking Ned. While the film was set in Ireland, it was actually filmed entirely on the Isle of Man, giving you an idea of how similar in feel the Manx landscape is to the one across...

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Tynwald Hill

by kit_mc

Tynwald is the independent government of the island. Each year around 5 July the island's lawmakers gather at the Tynwald Hill in St John's in the centre of the island and read out in Manx and English abbreviated outlines of the laws that have been passed over the last 12 months.The Tynwald is thought to be the oldest continuous parliament in the world at over 1000 years. Since the Isle of Man became a crown dependency of Britain in 1765 a representative of the crown has come to this ceremony. The Queen even makes it over herself now and again, last time in 2003.The site consists of the hill itself which is a series of tiered circles linked by a processional walkway to the Chapel of St John.

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Manx Stone Collection

by kit_mc

Across the island you'll find a selection of historic Manx stone crosses. Similar in Celtic style to Irish or Scottish crosses, there are a lot of very well preserved ones in various graveyards.At Lonan there's a big selection in a cross shelter at the bottom of the graveyard and also one of the oldest intact Manx crosses on the island, the Lonan Wheelheaded cross.

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Old Grammar School

by kit_mc

The Old Grammar School in the former Manx capital of Castletown is a two minute walk from Rushen Castle. With a prime view of the sea, it now sits in a rather un-historic car park, but remains part of the historic trail of The Story of Mann.The building has seen different uses since a chapel was first built on the site around 1200 AD. It was St Mary's Chapel for hundreds of years, then converted into a school around the 1700s. It remained a school well into the 20th century.Like many of the sights on the Isle of Man, the school is closed over winter, open March to October and entry is free.

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Peel Castle and St Patrick's Isle

by kit_mc

Legend has it that this is the spot where St Patrick stepped ashore to bring Christianity to the people of Mann. On it is a fortress castle, inside the walls of which you'll find the ruins of several buildings including a cathedral. The site is one of the best known monuments on the Isle of Man and you can follow the story of the Isle of Patrick in the Mannanan museum also in Peel.During winter the site is closed, but you can get a view into it by walking up the hill opposite. From March to October it's open 7 days a week and entry costs around 3.00 pounds.

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Fun things to do in Isle of Man

Top 3 Hotels in Isle of Man

Regency Hotel  Douglas

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 Hotels in Douglas

Grosvenor Hotel  Port Erin

 12 Opinions

 Hotels in Port Erin

Sefton Express  Ballasalla

 22 Opinions

 Hotels in Ballasalla

12 Hotels in Isle of Man
 
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Reviews and photos of Isle of Man attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Isle of Man sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Isle of Man
  1. Douglas Things to Do
  2. Isle of Man Things to Do
  3. Port Erin Things to Do
  4. Castletown Things to Do
  5. Peel Things to Do
  6. Onchan Things to Do
  7. Calf of Man Things to Do
  8. Maughold Things to Do

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Questions and Answers

Nikki65 profile photo

Q:  I am planning a 22 day trip around Ireland and wanted to spend the end of it in Isle of Mann. Depending on how I arrange things, I... 

christine.j profile photo

A: Welcome to VT. How much time to spend on the Isle of Man? I was there for five days and know I have to come back because there is much I still want to see. If you can... 

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