Isle of Man Coastal Path: The Way of The Seagull

Make your own way to Douglas via Ronaldsway Airport (IOM), or at Douglas Sea Terminal by ferry from the UK or Ireland. Douglas is the largest town on the Isle of Man and has a resplendent two mile arcing promenade and beachfront. In high summer there is a horse drawn tram that you can take right along the sea front. This has been operating since 1876. There is also the Manx Museum where you can learn about Manx history and myths. Otherwise, just spend time strolling around this very Victorian town with its quaint harbour.

Or 31.6km / 19.6 miles if completing the Langness Peninsular

A solid days walking to beautiful Castletown. Leaving Douglas, for the first few kms you warm up on a quiet road called 'Marine Drive', the route of an abandoned railway line. Later you bear off to follow a delectable section of coastal path around Santon Head and various little coves and beaches, including Port Grenaugh and Port Soldrick. The walk passes in front of the Isle of Man airport runway, then for the last couple of kms on the coastal road into Castletown. This was the former capital of the Isle of Man and site of the Tynwald parliament. It has narrow streets, a picturesque harbour and small fishing cottages. Castle Rushen (at the center of the town) was originally built in 1265 for a Norse king, and there is The House Of Keys on the site of the Tynwald.

You can extend the walk 7.5km by following the newly (re)opened path around the Langness Peninsular and visit St. Michaels Island with its ancient church. Although this makes the day very long - it will make the 'Raad ny Foillan' 100 miles! - but it does have its own particular beauty!

This is a walk of two halves. The first is a warm up walk around the coastline close to sea level around ‘Scarlett Point’ which is a good birding area if you have binoculars. There is then a few km of road walking into the attractive bays and marinas around Port St. Mary. From here the nature of the walk changes as from Perwick Bay you ascend steeply to the sea cliffs of Bay Stacka and ‘The Chasms’ teeming with birdlife in spring. The walk rounds the southern cliffs of the island and round to the visitor’s centre overlooking the Calf of man and Kitterland Islands, where you can normally see seals resting or swimming about. You then have some remote sea cliff walking before descending into the attractive seaside resort of Port Erin with its extensive beach.

For most people this will be the hardest day of all. It is long with three significant ascents / descents, over the remote coastal fells. However the views can be stunning and you are on several of the wildest mountain and coastal paths of the Isle of Man including the summit of 'Cronk ny Arrey Laa' 437m, which is the highest point on the whole route. There are some steep ascents and descents but also fantastic views back towards the Calf of Man. It is a walk between two coastal towers, one in Port Erin and the other just before Peel. On the way there is a diversion that adds about 1km to the trip to the pretty beach at Niarbyl. The final descent into Peel on a sunny afternoon will be a great memory as you look across to Peel Castle on St.Patrick’s Island. If the weather is good it is a stunning sight as you descend into the town. Peel is sometimes referred to as the Rose Red City, due to the red sandstone used in its construction and there has been some settlement here since at least 550 A.D when a monastery was established. Vikings then used to park their long-ships up on the sheltered River Neb.

From Peel you continue on the lowering red coastal cliff path before joining the old railway line path of the 'Steam heritage Trail' until the village of Kirk Michael where you can visit the old church containing some ancient Celtic crosses. The second half of the walk reaches the sea near Orrisdale Head where you continue for about 7km along the beach to exit at Jurby. There is little accommodation here and you will need to walk 1.5km or so inland to Jurby to pick up the bus to Ramsey where you will be staying for two nights. There is a section at Orrisdale Head about 1 hour after Kirk Michael which cannot be passed at high tide, so you will need to check the high tide times, however in normal conditions you will be able to pass the head very soon after high tide peak.

Returning in the morning by bus to Jurby, the longest walk of the trip is virtually all on either the beach or along the foreshore dunes. In many ways quite a remote walk, although you are likely to meet people at various wildlife viewing points along the walk and at Point of Ayre, which is the most northerly point of the island. There are sections fenced off on the beach Spring until August as these are the nesting areas for birds like Arctic and Common Tern and Oyster catchers. Naturally there are good wildlife viewing opportunities particularly birds, but also there are normally seals bobbing around at higher waters, and they will be curious about you. Rarely in the summer you may get sightings of whales or whale shark as at Point of Ayre the sea currents mix. Again you will have to take the weather situation into account as well as the state of the tides. There is one place where in normal tidal conditions you cannot pass at high tide mark and this is around 'Shellag Point,' 5km before Ramsey, it is possible to bypass this on the coast road. All the other sections at high tide you have just about a wide enough beach or you can walk on paths in the dunes. Beach walking is not for everyone so there is the option to return to Kirk Michael and follow the railway line walk, before following the last few km into Ramsey on the road (14km / 8.5miles).

A beautiful day, leaving Ramsey by either high or low tidal routes, the way follows the cliff paths around Maughold Head with its lighthouse. An excursion to Maughold Church is recommended to see some ancient Celtic crosses. You pass tiny coved beaches at Gob ny Strona and Port Moar where swimming may be possible in good weather. Some steep road walking follows before descending into beautiful Ballaglass Glen and the clear waters of Port Cornaa where another swim may be enticing. From here you follow quiet roads all the way to Laxey, famous for its lead mine wheels. You should have enough time to take a look around before taking the tram railway back to Douglas for your overnight as there is little available accommodation nowadays in Laxey.

After breakfast return on the tram railway to Laxey for the pretty last stage to complete the 'Raad ny Foillan.' Today's walk is a fairly easy romp mainly on quiet roads as unfortunately there are large sections where there is no actual coast path. There is a lovely low tide start from Laxey Bay. Attractions include peaceful Garwick Glen, the Ballannette Wetlands and the beautiful Lonan Old Church of St.Adamnan which is a tiny gem. The actual coastal path has a short final flourish off the main road before Onchan, sometimes with Peregrine falcons wheeling and diving around. From Onchan you finally follow along the sea promenade for the long walk past the tram station and round back into Douglas. We finish at the Sea Terminal where we started the walk from, but you could end just about anywhere along here perhaps with an ice cream.

Depart Douglas for your onward journy