• Home
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact
    • Terms & Privacy
    • Start your own Blog
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Lovely Greens

  • Gardening
    • Intro to Gardening
    • Kitchen Gardening
    • Skincare Gardening
    • Gardening tips
    • Gardening Projects
    • Flowers
  • Soap Making
    • Intro to Soap Making
    • Soap Recipes
    • Soap Making Series
    • Soap Making Videos
  • Videos
    • Introduction to Videos
    • Browse videos
    • Subscribe on YouTube
  • More topics
    • The Isle of Man
    • Plant Based Skincare
    • Candle making
    • Food Recipes
    • DIY Natural Home
    • Beekeeping
    • DIY Gift Ideas
    • Most Popular
    • Wild Food Foraging
    • Travel
  • Browse by Season
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
    • Winter
14 Fun things to do on the Isle of Man
This post contains affiliate links. Click here for the full disclosure statement.
Share
Tweet
Pin11
11 Shares

June 13, 2016 · 2 Comments

14 Fun things to do on the Isle of Man

Isle of Man· Travel

In April I got a Facebook message from a friend I hadn’t seen in a couple of years: “Hi Tanya – I will be in Wales later this year and saw there was a flight from Bristol to IOM. I’d love to visit if we can work it out. How is your late May/ early June looking?”

What a wonderful opportunity to see an old friend and to show off this beautiful island! I love entertaining guests who have never visited before, there’s just so much to see and it’s a great opportunity to be a tourist yourself. If you too have guests on the way (or are just looking for some different things to do yourself) here are 14 things to do on the Isle of Man that will fit all into a two or three day weekend.

For even MORE ideas check out these 15 Quirky & Unusual things to do on the Isle of Man and 13 Spooky places to visit on the Island. All of the locations listed in this post and the other two are the custom Google Map below.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including Sugar Loaf Rock

1. Stand atop Sugar Loaf Rock
The sea caves underneath this massive cliff are popular with divers but you can get to the top of it by walking along the public footpath at the end of Fistard Road in Port St Mary. It juts out over the sea and its vistas make it a great place for a picnic or just an amazing place to feel caught between sea, sky, and land.
Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including fairy doors
2. Track down Fairy Doors in Castletown
Fairy doors are tiny doors that lead to the cosy abodes of our famous diminutive residents. Well, perhaps not, but they are fun to find and pretend to knock on! The google map in this post shows where they are in Castletown but if you’d like to find them on your own, search along Malew Street.

If you want to see where the fairies live, visit the original fairy bridge. This is not the one on the main road but an ancient bridge hidden in the forest near Kewaigue school.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including Where Nothing Happened

3. The place where nothing happened
Some Laxey residents are very proud that they live in a sleepy little village. One even went so far as to install a plaque on Mines Road to draw attention to the fact that nothing happened there back in 1782. You can make plenty happen by stopping by for a quirky photo op on your next visit.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including Meayll Hill Stone Circle

4. The Meayll Hill Stone Circle
Thought to be built around 3500BC, this stunning ancient monument is composed of 12 stone burial cairns set in a circle on the hill above Port Erin. It may be a little difficult to imagine the graves from the first photo but fortunately I was successful in coercing my pals into modeling them. Traci was a bit reluctant to climb in but then remarked on how cosy the mossy ground was. Perfect for an afternoon nap or visiting on the Winter Solstice.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including Meayll Hill Stone Circle

5. The TT Races
The girls just by chance booked to visit on the day of the Senior Superbike race. I don’t think they were initially overly excited by my suggestion of watching the races from the side of the road near the Creg Ny Baa pub. In the end it turned out to be a highlight of the weekend and they were amazed at how close the bikes racing close to 200mph were whizzing past. It goes to show that even if you’re not a motorbike fan, you can still get super excited by the TT races!

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including seeing the TT Races

6. Save a Hedgehog
Chances are that your guests will be visiting in the warmer months when these slow little creatures will be out and about. For six years I’ve never seen one alive but dozens of them hit on the road. Save some of them by keeping your speed down and your eyes peeled.

If you spot one daft enough to try crossing a busy road, stop and help them across. My experience with helping rescue two this year are that they stay calm and quiet, don’t bite, and are unstressed if you’re gentle with picking them up. Their spiky coat won’t hurt you if you hold them carefully and it’s an amazing feeling to see one plod off into the grass once you’ve rescued it from certain death. If you’re a gardener, there’s even more ways that you can help save hedgehogs.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including watching for Hedgehogs

7. Spot a Manx Cat
Chances are that many of your friends and family will have never heard of the Isle of Man. However, some of the crazier cat ladies in your social circle will have heard the term Manx! Manx refers to anything from the Isle of Man and Manx cats are a local breed of tail-less cat. They come in all colours but are called ‘Stumpy’, ‘Rumpy’, ‘Riser’, ‘Stubby’, or ‘Longy’ depending on their tail length.

A great place to spot Manx Cats is at the Mann Cat Santuary. Dozens of free-range cats live in harmony at this non-profit haven for rescued cats.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including Manx Cats

8. Make a call from the Cregneash Telephone Box
Please do because this picturesque British phone box was nearly taken down a couple of years ago. Only about two or three actual calls are made from it a year so it ends up costing more to service it than it makes with telephone services. Sorry Zoe, mobile phone calls don’t count.

Cregneash is also home to a fascinating set of small vegetable patches. They are grown adjacent to the old cottages and are also home to an astonishing collection of traditional herbs used in medicine and cleaning.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including making a phone call from the Cregneash phone box

9. Visit the Donkeys at the Home of Rest for Old Horses
Better known as a retirement home for the draft horses that pull the horse trams in Douglas, it’s also home to a gang of donkeys. They’re smaller, more gentle and actually softer to touch than their more famous cousins.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including visiting the donkeys, ponies, and horses at the Home of Rest for old Horses

The free-to-visit Old Horses Home is on the main road from Douglas to Castletown and is home to dozens of equine beauties that also include this little pony below. He kept greedily kicking against the wooden fence to get more treats (sold at £1 per bucket from the gift shop). So cute!

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including visiting the donkeys, ponies, and horses at the Home of Rest for old Horses

10. The Smaller Laxey Wheel
The larger Laxey Wheel, called Lady Isabella, is the more famous of the two and it turns cheerfully on the hillside behind the Manx National Heritage guardhouse…err ticket booth. If you feel like your day will be complete without paying the £5 per person entry charge to climb it, then visit the smaller wheel in the Laxey Gardens for a closer look at how the wooden wheel is built.

Lady Evelyn is much like her larger sister and is a hyraulic water wheel that was used in lead mining. Both wheels were used to keep the mines from flooding but Evelyn (also called the Snaefell Wheel) has a long history of being used in mining, being shipped off the island to Cornwall, falling into disrepair, and then finally making her way back to the island.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including the smaller Laxey Wheel, 'Lady Evelyn'

11. Speaking of mining…
By chance we ran into a group of modern day miners in Laxey and this fellow was headed down to help his crew clear one of the mine shafts of debris. You can still ride the Laxey Mine Railway which runs through a tunnel and along the same track as the old mine railway.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including the Laxey Mines

12. Walk along the Coastal Footpath
The Raad ny Foillan is a public footpath that winds all along the coast of the Isle of Man. If you follow it around its 95 miles you’ll walk along beaches, glens, roads, and through fields of sheep and livestock. No matter where you are in the island you’ll be close to a section of it so take the time to show your guests some of the countryside. The photo below is from the path above Port St Mary.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including the coastal footpath

13. Ride the Manx Electric Railway
There are three sections of the railway to ride: from the terminus in Douglas on the far side of the Promenade to Laxey, from Laxey to the top of Snaefell mountain, and from Laxey to Ramsey. I highly recommend all three! They pass through the countryside and give you a slower, and more personal view of the landscape than you would get from a car ride. Tip: ride the tram to the top of Snaefell and then walk back down to Laxey using the footpath that runs down to the Laxey mine and through the tiny hamlet of Agneash.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including the Manx Electric Railway

14. Watch the tide come in at the Castle Arms
Also known as the Glue Pot, this pub sits on the edge of the Castletown harbour and its outdoor tables and chairs give you a wonderful view of the marina and of Castle Rushen. Anytime is a great time to visit but if you’re there while the tide comes in you can spot the fish and waterbirds flow in with the tide as well. You’ll also be amazed at how quickly the water rushes in!

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including watching the tide come in at the Castle Arms seaside pub

For even MORE ideas check out these 15 Quirky & Unusual things to do on the Isle of Man and 13 Spooky places to visit on the Island.

Unique weekend Itinerary for the Isle of Man: 14 ideas including scenic routes, ancient stone circles, fairy doors, and local attractions

You might also like

  • 15 Quirky & Unusual places to visit on the Isle of Man15 Quirky & Unusual places to visit on the Isle of Man
  • The Corvalley Cairn on the Isle of ManThe Corvalley Cairn on the Isle of Man
  • Daisy Blue and our first Camp OutDaisy Blue and our first Camp Out
  • 13 Spooky & Haunted places on the Isle of Man13 Spooky & Haunted places on the Isle of Man
Share
Tweet
Pin11
11 Shares

New articles on Lovely Greens

  • Rose Facial Soap Recipe and Instructions from the new book Easy Homemade Melt and Pour Soaps. Make it in an afternoon and use it the same day. The recipe uses all natural ingredients including madder root, fragrant essential oils, and an easy-to-use soap base #soapmaking #soaprecipe #meltandpoursoapRose Facial Soap Recipe + Instructions
    In Beauty, Soap
    Make this nourishing rose facial soap in an afternoon […]
  • An Honest Guide to the Best Gifts for Gardeners: Buying a gift for someone with a passionate hobby is tricky. That's why I'm sharing three gifts for gardeners that you can't go wrong with, and a list of garden gifts to avoid #gardeningtips #gardeningAn Honest Guide to the Best Gifts for Gardeners
    In Gardening, Gardening tips, Gift Ideas
    Buying a gift for someone with a passionate hobby is […]
  • A collection of free natural soap making recipes including floral, citrus, herbal, vegetable, spice, and farmhouse soap recipes. Simple and beautiful soap ideas suitable for beginner soap makers and the more advanced #soapmaking #soaprecipeThe Best Free Soap Making Recipes you’ll find Online
    In Beauty, Craft ideas, Soap
    A collection of natural soap making recipes including […]
Previous Post: « How to plant a Strawberry Pallet Planter
Next Post: Beekeeping Harvest: Crushing and Straining Honey »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angela says

    June 14, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Some day I will make it to the Isle of Man. Our 1 trip to Scotland was wonderful and I hope to come back and spend longer than 1 week visiting.

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      June 15, 2016 at 11:50 am

      You most certainly should!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

I agree

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! I'm Tanya and I share ideas on growing organic herbs, vegetables, and fruit and then creatively using them in the home and kitchen. Learn more about Lovely Greens

As featured in

Gardeners World Logo HGTV logo Vegetarian Living Logo Willow and Sage Magazine Logo Grow Your Own Mag
Calendula a guide to growing and using it in skin care
  • Gardening
  • Soap Making
  • Videos
  • More topics
  • Browse by Season

Footer

Categories

Archives

Search this site

Instagram post 2196580331985643868_808153683 For those of you who have been following Louis’ progress and sending positive vibes, thoughts, and prayers. I need to let you know that he passed away yesterday. I honestly couldn’t be sadder. Cancer is so unfair...it takes indiscriminately and can happen to the healthiest of us, both animals and people. The best we can do is fight until there’s no more fight left. Louis lost his but will live on in my heart and will always be remembered. He was such a special fur-friend. Truly one of a kind 💔 #louiskorat
Instagram post 2195209780104961694_808153683 Today’s allotment garden harvest of parsnips, leeks, kalettes, brussels sprouts, and a couple calendula flowers. Check out the second photo for the parsnip haul — all of those planted in two short 4’ rows in May🌱
Instagram post 2194320226879766949_808153683 The mystery brassica has shown its colours! 💜 I was given this plant as a seedling and couldn't quite remember what it was. I suspected it was a purple sprouting broccoli and now we all know. Really pleased to see it sprouting this early as my other plants won't be ready until next year. I'll have to ask around to see what variety it is but it will obviously be an early cropping variety. Any guesses?
Instagram post 2193050960066926310_808153683 The greenest Christmas is one that's handmade. Don't you agree? This is a wreath I made with cuttings from evergreens, bright berries, and  trimmings from the Christmas tree. It cost me practically nothing plus it's a good excuse to get outside, no matter the weather. Are you making anything for the holidays? 🎄
Instagram post 2192329700471203649_808153683 Strawberry season may seem a long ways off but there are things you can do now to ensure a bumper harvest:
1. Spread a mulch of compost or composted manure over the soil near your strawberry plants. Or in the area you're planning on planting them.
2. If you have an established patch, leave the old foliage on to protect the plants' crowns from snow and frost. Tidy it up later in late winter to early spring.
3. ID any plants that are three years old or older. Remove them and plan to plant new plants in their place. Older strawberry plants produce a lot less berries than younger ones.
4. Order and plant bare-root strawberry plants. They're cheaper than potted plants and get planted in the winter, just as long as the soil isn't frozen. Here in Britain you can plant them pretty much from now until early March. In colder regions, wait until the soil is work-able but get them in before early April.
5. Make sure to get a mix of June bearing, ever-bearing, and day neutral strawberry varieties. That way you'll have berries from June to September.
6. If you're expecting a lot of snow, completely cover your strawberry bed with straw, dried leaves, or another dry mulch. I've seen this tactic keep strawberry plants alive through the winter as far north as Scandinavia. Remove it in early spring.

Any tips of your own? 🍓
Instagram post 2187969248177768565_808153683 I share a lot of natural soap recipes but they’re usually made with the cold-process method. It’s fairly involved and includes an aspect that beginners shy away from: handling lye. That’s why I’m so excited to share with you this rose facial soap recipe from the @nerdyfarmwife 's new book, Easy Homemade Melt and Pour Soaps. These would make gorgeous handmade gifts and you can make them and use them the same day. See the recipe and check out Jan's new book over on my website -- link in profile🌹
Instagram post 2185577709338103538_808153683 How brave is this tender little nasturtium to bloom in November? I hope it brightens your day as much as it has mine 💚
Instagram post 2184336904980200044_808153683 Even in November the small garden pond in my allotment looks lovely. Not only that but it's home to goodness knows how many aquatic animals. Frogs, aquatic snails, tiny micro-organisms that I'll never see or know. Then there's the garden birds that swoop down for a mid-summer's drink. If there's one project that I'd recommend getting done before spring it's building your own small pond. If you need instructions, I've shared how I built mine via the link on my profile 🌱
Instagram post 2182892588034291298_808153683 Did you see the frozen berries in my Stories today? I’ve got berries on the brain and need your help. Although I love how unusual they are, I've decided to replace both my white strawberries (called pineberries) and yellow raspberries (All gold) with traditional coloured varieties. I'm considering Polka raspberries as they're an earlier fruiting autumn raspberry but am open to suggestions. No idea which strawberry variety though yet. Just BIG and RED🍓
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LOVELY GREENS
This site uses cookies to give you the best possible experience. Find out more.