⛴ TRAVEL DAY – Board the Ferry from Liverpool to Isle of Man. We then make our way to the Ascot Hotel, Douglas, IOM where we will be greeted by our guide for the next few days.
🥾 Day 1 – Island’s Coastal Gem Walk – Chasms & Sugar Loaf Rock (8 miles)
After breakfast, we take the steam train again to the pretty fishing village of Port St Mary.
Today’s route is one of the Islands favourite linear walks and featured on numerous TV shows, radio, and magazine articles…it’s a cracker.
Our walk takes us out of the little fishing village of Port St Mary and onwards towards the ‘Chasms’ spectacular geological fissures that form part of this dramatic coastline. We stop at this dramatic setting to watch the 1000’s of Razorbills, Gillimopts and Kitewakes nesting below us on Sugar Loaf rock.
Promontory forts, iron age hut circles adorn the route before the Calf of Man with the Chicken Rock lighthouse come into view. This section of the coastal footpath is always a favourite with any visiting walker and will hold well in the memory. Stopping for lunch at the Sound Café, where we can sit and watch the seals on the Kitterland before our spectacular route continues towards the seaside town of Port Erin. Our route home is by Bus and there should be time for a paddle in the sea after our walk or an ice cream on the beach.
A great route on natural coastal pathways, one short steep downhill section which your guide will assist you with the best route, a few cliff top sections and a number of ups and downs but all quite manageable.
🥾 – 8 miles
🌄 – 1198ft elevation gain
🏁 – Finish time in Port Erin approx. 4pm
🥾 DAY 2 – Peaks and Panoramas: The Summit to Ramsey Trail (7.5 miles – Challenging)
After breakfast we take the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas Laxey before boarding the Snaefell Mountain Railway to the Island’s highest point – Snaefell.
Our route then takes us to the Summit for fab views of the ‘7 Kingdoms’ before heading down towards the Black Hut, crossing TT Course, and on to the brilliant North Barrule Ridge Walk. The route is a fantastic opportunity to see the whole of the north of the Island and beyond!
Eventually reaching the summit of North Barrule, the Islands 2nd highest point at 565m we take the slow walk down towards the town of Ramsey, walking down towards the Albert Tower and the famous ‘Gooseneck’ section of the TT Mountain Course. Our day finishes walking into town to enjoy some refreshment in Ramsey!
A brilliant days walking on open upland landscapes with a couple of steeper downhill sections and a couple of steeper uphill sections on well-worn upland grassy paths – Your guide will be flexible with the timings (or even the day of this walk) as the route has to be clear to appreciate the quality of the scenery.
🥾 – 7.5 miles
🌄 – 799ft elevation gain
🏁 – approx. 4.5 hrs walking day in total.
Timings will depend on the availability of the Manx Electric Railway schedule.
🥾 Day 3 – Glen to Coast: The Heritage Trail to Ramsey (8.5 miles)
After breakfast we take the Manx Electric Railway from Derby Castle to the secluded stop of Ballaglass in the northeast of the Island.
Our walk today has a little bit of everything with exploring one of the Islands ‘National’ Glens, stunning views of the hills, history, culture, Celtic Crosses, and a section of the coastal footpath full of wildflowers and Orchids.
Stopping at Ballagalss Halt, our route takes us through this ‘National Glen’ often described as the most beautiful by the locals. Our route then takes us up over the hills to and towards Port Cornaa, stopping at the Neolithic Burial Chamber of Ballafayle and ‘Charlies View’ for a well earned break. Our route takes us around the coastline and a fantastic view of Maughold Lighthouse before stopping at Maughold Church for our lunch and the Island’s largest collection of Celtic Crosses.
After lunch we walk high above the coastline, with the footpath edges covered in wildflowers. Walking through the pretty hamlet of Port-e-vullen and along the road, our route then dropping down through Ballure Glen and out onto Ramsey Beach. Our final section takes us under the old Victorian pier and finishes in the town for refreshments before we head back to Douglas. A great days walking.
🥾 – 8.5 miles
🌄 – 843ft elevation gain
🏁 – Finish time in Ramsey approx. 4pm.
Manx Electric Railway or Bus back to Douglas.
A walk full of a variety of terrains but interest throughout in this stunning part of the Island.
DAY 5 – ONWARD TRAVEL AND TIME TO WAVE GOODBYE!
