According to topschoolsintheusa, Creigneish is the southernmost point of the island. Near Creigneish and Port Erin, atop Mull Hill lie the mysterious six burial chambers of the Mull, or Meayll Circles. The megaliths (large stones) are arranged in a large circle.
Village of Cregneash Open Air Museum
At the Village of Cregneash open-air museum you can see thatched cottages and farms that are “inhabited” in the summer. Here, visitors experience country life in the 19th and 20th centuries. There is also a church, a blacksmith, demonstrations of traditional skills and the Hop tu Naa celebrations in October, among other things.
Visit museums
In addition to the Manx Museum, the House of Manannan and the Village of Cregneash Open Air Museum, Isle of Man has numerous other museums such as the Nautical Museum in Castletown and the Grove Museum of Victorian Life in Ramsey as well as numerous other smaller museums.
Discover Manx stone crosses
Scattered across the island are more than 200 fascinating 6th-century stone crosses that marked graves or served as memorial stones. The oldest examples are decorated in the Celtic style with intricately linked designs and inscriptions, while the more recent crosses were decorated by Old Norse stonemasons using pagan imagery and inspiration from mythology.
Discover the Manx Valleys
There are 17 small valleys on the island, all of which look very different. Some lead to the sea and hidden beaches. You can explore the valleys on foot and experience nature up close and get a feel for the secret places of the island. Ballaglass is carpeted with bluebells in spring; a small train runs through Groudle; Glen Maye is full of green vegetation and has a wonderful waterfall, while Dhoon Glen, one of the steepest valleys, has the highest waterfall on the island.
Douglas
Douglas is on the east coast in a bay formed by the confluence of the Dhoo and Glass rivers. Douglas is the capital and economic center of the Isle of Man. About a third of the island’s population lives in the city. A glimpse of the city’s heyday during the Victorian era still lingers over the city today, particularly along the Promenade. Douglas is home to many of the island’s best hotels and restaurants.
mountain biking
With its varied landscape, quiet country lanes and country lanes, and challenging off-road routes, the Isle of Man is one of the best places in Britain to go mountain biking. There are six marked off-road routes of varying difficulty on the island.
Lady Isabella Laxey Water Wheel
The Lady Isabella Laxey Waterwheel was built in 1854 to pump water from a mine. The huge water wheel has a diameter of 22 m and pumps 1140 liters of water per minute to the surface. It is well preserved, impressive to look at and the largest wheel of its kind in the world. It was named after the wife of the then incumbent lieutenant governor.
The Sound and the Isle of Calf of Man
Across Calf Sound to the southwest of the Isle of Man lies the rocky and scenic island of Calf of Man. Accessible by boat from Port Erin only outside of the breeding season, this conservation area is home to numerous rare seabirds and colonies of birds. Seals, dolphins and sharks are also often sighted in the sound. Calf Island Cruises offers boat tours around the Calf of Man from Port Erin. During the summer months, pre-arranged accommodation is available at the island warden’s farm. At the Sound Visitor Center in Port Saint Mary, you can learn about the ships that have sunk in the area and the wrecks that divers are currently exploring.
Hike
The Isle of Man is criss-crossed by a network of footpaths, allowing the entire island to be explored on foot. The Isle of Man is said to have some of the best hiking trails in Britain. The Millennium Way traverses the length of the island, passing through dramatic landscapes, while the Road of the Gull (Raad ny Foillan) is a 153km circular route. The latter trail is relatively difficult, winding along the entire coast over rocks, small valleys and deep gorges. It usually takes about five days to complete the Road of the Gull. Some of the best parts of the walk include Bradda Head, where a stone tower offers wonderful panoramic views over Port Erin, and Maughold Head, home to puffins. Tynwald National Park has easier hiking trails.
Rushen Castle
In the center of the former island capital of Castletown is Castle Rushen, a beautifully preserved 13th-century castle. Visitors can climb the corkscrew staircase, admire antique tapestries and explore all that lies within the ancient limestone walls. The Flag Tower offers particularly good views of the coast and the surrounding city.
Climb Mount Snaefell
Climbing the 621 m high Mount Snaefel is a great undertaking for mountain hikers. When the weather is clear, you can not only see the entire island from its summit, but also see as far as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and maybe even catch a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of Neptune. Although the latter two views remain uncertain even in the clearest of weather. There is an easy route up that takes about an hour and a half, as well as more challenging routes to the summit that go through rough and swampy terrain.
music festivals
The Manx National Festival, Yn Chruinnaght (www.ynchruinnaght.com) celebrates Manx culture and its relationships with the other ‘Five Celtic Countries’, namely Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany(!). It usually takes place in mid-July. Visitors can expect dance and music and they can buy regional handicraft products. We recommend Shennaghys Jiu (www.shennaghys.org) in April for the concerts and ceilidhs (entertainment evenings with music and poetry readings).
Visit Peel Castle
A causeway connects Peel to the island of St. Patrick’s. Of particular note are the tiny cathedral and Peel Castle, a fortified red sandstone castle. The Viking relic stands proud atop St. Patrick’s Island. The ruin, surrounded by emerald green meadows, can be visited in the summer months. Early risers can enjoy particularly dramatic sunrises at dawn. There are also good views of the sea where, with a bit of luck, you can spot sharks and seals in the surf.
A train ride is fun
The Isle of Man is known for its narrow gauge railways. Almost everyone will enjoy a scenic train ride on one of the many trains that trundle across the island. An electric mountain railway, the Snaefell Mountain Railway, runs from Laxey to the summit of Snaefell.
enjoy seafood
Big game fishermen are plentiful off the coast of the Isle of Man. Fish can be bought directly from the fishing boat, usually already grilled or cooked. A British kipper specialty made from smoked herring from Peel, a quaint west coast fishing village, is well known. This smoked herring is not to be missed. Even Moore’s Traditional Museum is dedicated to this specialty. So she must be good.
Discover Manx ghosts
Mythology is an important part of Manx culture. Of course, ghosts play a big part in it. All major settlements such as Ramsey, Douglas, Peel and Castletown have local tourist guides who will take visitors on spooky tours to the places where the spitting is most common. They tell of the white lady in Rushen Castle and the black dog in Peel Castle.
The House of Manannan
The House of Manannan, which stands in Peel, is all about the islanders’ fisheries from the past to the present day. With multimedia exhibitions, the museum shows how fish were caught in Celtic and Viking times and how modern fishing works today. Manannan, the island’s mythological sea god, is the scenery pusher and personally guides visitors through the museum.
Manx Museum
The Manx Museum on Finch Road in Douglas is dedicated to the history of the island from the past to the present. Works by local artists and finds from Celtic and Viking times are on display, as well as the latest list of TT race winners. The Isle of Man has historically served as a Norwegian outpost, later as a Scottish outpost and later as an English protectorate.
watch motorcycle races
The TT races ( www.iomtt.com ) on the Isle of Man are famous and the event of the year. The motorcyclists whiz along the roads of the very demanding mountain course, which are closed for the races, at sensational speeds. On “Mad Sunday” everyone can drive on the racetrack.
Watch sharks and dolphins
Sharks and dolphins love the waters around the Isle of Man. They can often be sighted, often within a kilometer radius of the island coast. Observers of the big fish have the best luck from mid-May to mid-August.
