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Top Attractions in Isle of Man

Douglas

Douglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 27,938 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and on a sweeping bay of two miles. The River Douglas forms part of the town's harbour and main commercial port. Douglas was a small settlement until rapid growth occurred as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century. Further population growth came in the following century, resulting during the 1860s in a staged transfer of the High Courts, the Lieutenant Governor's residence, and finally the seat of the legislature, Tynwald, to Douglas from the ancient capital, Castletown. The town serves as the Island's main hub for business, finance, legal services, shipping, transport, shopping, and entertainment. The annual Isle of Man TT motorcycle races start and finish in Douglas.

Sea Lion

Sea Lion is a steam locomotive built in 1896 to supply the motive power to the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man and the locomotive still provides the main traction there today. The locomotive was built by W.G. Bagnall Co., Stafford and delivered to the line in May of that year, providing sole motive power until joined in 1905 by sister locomotive Polar Bear. When delivered to the railway, the locomotive carried an olive green livery with vermilion and yellow lining and the name carried on the side water tank in gold leaf with blue shadowing, with distinctive round "spectacle" cab windows back and front. These were changed over to rectangular windows very early in the engines career to improve driver visibility however. One distinctive feature was a displacement lubricator mounted atop the highly polished brass dome. The locomotive was fitted with unusual valve gear patented by E.E. Baguley and is one of only two locomotives to remain in existence with this . By the 1920 season the locomotive was deemed too costly for repair and the line purchased two battery electric locomotives that inherited their steam engine names. The modern engines proved to be financially disastrous and within a few years "Sea Lion" had been returned to the works for re-build. It continued to operate the line until closure at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. When the line eventually re-opened in 1950 it was decided to operate with Polar Bear only owing to decrease in demand and the poor condition of Sea Lion which had been stored in the open air for some time. The railway survived until 1962 but by this time Sea Lion was virtually derelict having had many of her brass components removed or stolen. She was saved from scrapping by local preservationist John Walton who transported her to his Steam Centre in Kirk Michael where the engine lay in the car park as an exhibit. When he moved to Loughborough he took the locomotive with him. When the project to restore the railway began, the remains of the locomotive were transported back to the island for restoration and ultimately operation on her original metals and a campaign to have the engine restored was begun. The apprentices of British Nuclear Fuels however stepped in and the engine was taken to Sellafield in 1986 where the restoration was carried out. By 1987 the engine had been transported to the nearby Ravenglass Eskdale Railway where a section of 2 0" track was laid and the engine turned a wheel under its own steam for the first time since 1939. Thereafter it was returned to works for completion and painting before arriving at Groudle Glen that September to the delight of the railways restorers, the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters Association. The engine first performed passenger duties that Christmas, appearing in original olive green colour scheme and entered service thereafter. Reboilering was completed in 2003 at which time the locomotive was repainted into the darker brunswick green that it carried in the 1920s and it is this guise that she remains in service today. To honour one of the lines engineers, a plaque in his name, Alastair Lamberton, was erected inside the cab in 1999, and the rebuild plates were also removed from the exterior as part of the reboilering, making for a more authentic appearance. Sea Lion carried a back lamp bracket between the cab windows which is inaccurate as hers was originally on the waistband of the cab sheet. Sea Lion visited the Ffestiniog Railway in 1997, and made a visit to Amberley Museum in 2005 to celebrate Polar Bears centenary. This visit was immediately followed by a return visit of Polar Bear back to the GGR. She was withdrawn from service following Christmas 2011 for her ten year overhaul. Her boiler was taken to the Isle of Man Railway Workshops for re-tubing, with her frames and motion receiving attention at the Isle of Man Steam Packet Workshops on the island. She was re-assembled and back in service by July 2012 still in her 1920s livery. Following the end of the season she was stripped back to bare metal and received a full re-paint, reappearing at Christmas with a return to her 1896 livery with her name now appearing in gold leaf. The volunteers did a lot of research to ensure this livery was accurate down to the shades of paint used and the livery detail, including the early design of lined out green and black buffer beams which she now carries.

The Garey

The Garey Halt is a diminutive rural request stop on the northern section of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man, catering almost exclusively for local traffic. Due to the nature of the tramways construction, the cars can stop and drop off almost anywhere and will do so within reason. For this reason a great number of localised stopping places have built up since the line was completed, many at the intersection of farmers crossings like this one. The crossings/halts usually take the name of the farmer or the farm as is the case here, but these unofficial halts never appear in timetable materials or have nameboards fitted to show their names. Many do however now carry bus stop-type signs attached to traction poles, and these were fitted in line with then-management policy in 1999.

Peel Castle

Peel Castle is a castle in Peel on the Isle of Man, originally constructed by Vikings. The castle stands on St Patricks Isle which is connected to the town by a causeway. It is now owned by Manx National Heritage and is open to visitors during the summer. The castle was built in the 11th century by the Vikings, under the rule of King Magnus Barefoot. While there were older stone Celtic monastic buildings on the island, the first Viking fortifications were built of wood. The prominent round tower was originally part of the Celtic monastery, but has had battlements added at a later date. In the early 14th century, the majority of the walls and towers were built primarily from local red sandstone, which is found abundantly in the area. After the rule of the Vikings, the castle continued to be used by the Church due to the cathedral built there – the see of the diocese of Sodor and Man – but was eventually abandoned in the 18th century. The castle remained fortified, and new defensive positions were added as late as 1860. The buildings within the castle are now mostly ruined, but the outer walls remain intact. Excavations in 1982-87 revealed an extensive graveyard as well as the remains of Magnus Barefoots original wooden fort. The most spectacular finds were the 10th century grave of "The Pagan Lady" which included a fine example of a Viking necklace and a cache of silver coins dating from about 1030. The Castles most famous "resident" is the so-called Moddey Dhoo or "Black Dog" ghost. Peel Castle features today on the reverse side of the £10 notes issued by the Isle of Man Government. Peel Castle may occasionally be confused with Piel Castle, located on Piel Island, around 30 miles to the east in the Irish Sea. This particularly occurs in reference to the William Wordsworth poem describing Piel, spelling its name as Peele: especially as Wordsworth is documented as having visited Peel Castle, and wrote several times about the Isle of Man. Peel Castle has been proposed as a possible location of the Arthurian Avalon.

Manx Aviation and Military Museum

The Manx Aviation and Military Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of aviation and the military on the Isle of Man. The museum is open at the weekends throughout the year and every day from late May to the end of September. Visits at other times and guided tours can be arranged by appointment. Entry to the museum is free. The Museum was opened on Remembrance Day 2000. The museum is located in Castletown, Isle of Man right next to Ronaldsway Airport to the south of the island on the main Douglas Castletown road. On display amongst the many pieces of wartime memorabilia is one of only a handful of fully restored Morris-Commercial C9/B self-propelled Bofors 40 mm guns. Other displays cover Jurby and Andreas airfields, the Isle of Man Home Guard, the history of Manx Airlines and a series of small exhibits called "One Mans War" which give brief details of the military service of named individuals in the RAF, Royal Navy and Army. One of these displays is dedicated to Polish pilot Stanislaw Podobinski of 303 Squadron, RAF, who died when his Spitfire crashed into high ground on the Isle of Man. Since 2005 the Manx Regiment have displayed their exhibits here, after the Old Comrades Association closed their separate museum at Tromode.

Snaefell Mountain Course

Snaefell Mountain Course or Mountain Course is a road-racing street circuit used for the Isle of Man TT since 1911 and Manx Grand Prix Races from 1923 in the Isle of Man. The motor-cycle racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald under the Road Racing Act 1982 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1985. It is the oldest motor-cycle racing circuit still in use. The course is 37.73 miles in length and the start-line at the TT Grandstand is situated on the A2 Glencrutchery Road in the town of Douglas. The racing circuit is based on a number of public roads in the Isle of Man including the primary A2 Douglas to Ramsey road, the A1 Douglas to Peel road, the A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road and the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. The highest point of the course is situated on the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road between the Bungalow and Hailwoods Height near the 31st Milestone at the UK Ordnance Survey spot height 422 metres above sea level .

Gaiety Theatre

The Gaiety Theatre is a theatre in Douglas, Isle of Man built in 1899 to the designs of architect Frank Matcham as an opera house and theatre. It was built within the structure of the former Pavilion, an entertainment hall that had been constructed six years earlier. The theatre opened on 16 July 1900 with a West End production of "The Telephone Girl" featuring Ada Blanche. The theatre enjoyed considerable success in the Edwardian era, but after World War I the theatre fell into decline along with the islands tourist industry. Various attempts were made to regain its former commercial success, including installation of cinema equipment in the 1920s and a 1938 ice show. Income could not keep pace with the cost of maintenance, and by 1971 the Isle of Man government acquired the freehold of the dilapidated building. In 1976 the restoration began under the direction of architect Victor Glasstone. The theatre underwent further restoration from the 1990s to replicate its 1900 opening condition in time for the centenary celebration in 2000. Exactly 100 years after opening, on 16 July 2000, the centenary was celebrated with a performance of "The Telephone Girl" which opened the Gaiety in 1900. Following that was a performance of "The Corsican Brothers", a popular play which in Victorian times and a special Corsican Trap was constructed for the performance. It is believed to be the only working Corsican Trap in the World. Another unique feature of the theatre is the working Act Drop depicting a dancing lady. Today the theatre continues with productions by local companies and touring productions of musicals, drama and opera. It now forms a part of the Villa Marina complex, together with a nearby 1,500 seat auditorium. The Gaiety Theatre featured on an Isle of Man 24p commemorative stamp in 1994. In February 2008, The Gaiety hosted a Hollywood movie Me and Orson Welles, starring Zac Efron and Claire Danes. The Gaiety replicates the Mercury Theatre in New York in 1937. In November 2013 Glee Live On Stage was produced at The Gaiety Theatre with an all professional cast. The cast included Wayne Rodgers, Jodie-Lee Wilde, Jarred Page, Kimberley Ensor, Clark Devlin, Jordan Fox, Ruth Morrison, Rachael McCormick, Ellena Leigh, Adam Shorey, Wesley Dow Leah Shears. Every night a different school choir from around the island was brought on stage to sing selected songs with the cast. The Gaiety is situated on Douglas promenade, overlooking the sea and adjacent to the Villa Gardens, Arcade and Colonnade. Nearby is the town centre and other attractions such as the Manx Museum, Horse Trams, and St Thomas church which has painted murals. The Gaiety is also within a mile of two Victorian railways: the Manx Electric Railway, and the IOM Steam Railway.

St Michael's Isle

St Michael's Isle , popularly referred to as Fort Island, is an island of the Isle of Man in Malew parish, noted for its attractive ruins. It covers an area of 5.14 hectares , is about 400 metres long from west to east, and is connected to the Langness Peninsula, Derbyhaven by a narrow causeway. The island itself is made of rocky slate and the soil is very acidic. Nevertheless, it has important communities of maritime plants. There is evidence for human activity on the island from the Mesolithic period onwards and there are two ancient buildings situated on the isle. Both are in a state of ruin and closed to the public, though there are a number of walks which allow visitors to explore the surroundings. St Michael's Chapel, a 12th-century chapel, is located on the south side of the island. This Celtic-Norse chapel was built on the site of an older Celtic keeill. The island is also the site to two great battles for the control of the Isle of Man in 1250 and 1275, when England, Scotland and the Manx were fighting for control of the island. In the first battle the Manx won but 25 years later, they lost control to Scotland. Derby Fort, a 17th-century fort, is located at the eastern end of the island. Built by James Stanley, the 7th Earl of Derby and Lord of Mann in 1645, the fort was constructed during the English Civil War to protect the then busy port of Derbyhaven. In addition to the ruins, the island serves as a bird sanctuary.

Old House of Keys

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 was used as the House of Keys from 1821 until 1874, when the parliament was moved to Douglas. Prior to 1821, the House of Keys had no official home, but met first at Castle Rushen, and later at the Bishop of Sodor and Man's library in Castletown. After criticism from a Royal Commission, plans were drawn up for a new meeting house for the Keys in 1813, but after concerns about the cost, they were redrawn and approved in 1819. The building, designed by Thomas Brine, was completed in 1821. It housed the House of Keys until 1874, when the Keys followed the other primary functions of the island and moved to Douglas. After their move, the Old House became a branch of Dumbell's Bank, and later Parr's Bank. In 2000, Manx National Heritage acquired the building and began restoring the house to how it appeared in 1866. The building opened to the public as a museum in November 2001.

Rushen Abbey

Rushen Abbey is an abbey on the Isle of Man, located near Ballasalla. Originally home for monks of the Savignac order, it soon came under Cistercian control and remained so until its dissolution. The abbey is located two miles from Castle Rushen; the most important political entity on the island in medieval times. The abbey was founded in 1134, under King Olaf I's control. He granted the land to Savignac monks from Furness Abbey. In 1147 the abbey came under Cistercian rule following the merging of the Savignac and Cistercian orders. The abbey church dedicated to St Mary was completed in 1257. The abbey was dissolved in 16th century. In the early 1900s, the abbey ruins became a popular tourist destination, famous for the strawberries and cream served in its gardens. After falling into disrepair after World War II, the abbey was acquired by Manx National Heritage in May 1998, and restorations have now been made. Soon after, excavations began and archaeologists were able to discover more about the monks' way of life and practices. The abbey is now a heritage centre (part of the 'Story of Mann') with a building containing artefacts and telling the history of Rushen Abbey and the surrounding area. The remains of the original abbey have been restored and walkways constructed to allow visitors to get a close look. Between April and October the abbey is open to the public and an admission fee is payable. Before accessing the abbey gardens, visitors must walk through a museum that explains the role of the abbey. There is interactive, audio and video material available. At the museum's conclusion, there is an area designed for children, allowing them to build an arch and discover the monastery's history in a way that is more appealing to them. The Chronicles of Mann were written at Rushen Abbey, as were many other important documents relating to the island. The abbey is significant in this respect, as it would have been the centre of knowledge and literacy on the island.
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