Despite its size, the Isle of Man has plenty to see and do for visitors. Michaela Peacock finds out what the Island has to offer, on a fam trip organised by Simply Groups
Nestled in the Irish sea between the UK and Ireland, the Isle of Man has plenty to share with visitors, and especially groups.
We were based in Douglas, and the benefit of the Island’s size means you can choose a hotel across the Island and still be able to explore plenty in a short space of time – the transport connections to each town are great for getting around quickly.
We spent three days exploring the history and heritage the Isle of Man has, are we learnt how group and coach friendly the Island is.
The history
What better place to start our visit than with a trip to the museum.
Our coach took us from our hotel to the Manx Museum, which was just a short drive into Douglas’ town centre.
Opened in 1922, this museum showcases a wide variety of wonders, from the natural world to the world of road racing – The Island is host to annual motorcycle event, The International Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Race.
While at the museum, you can explore the Island’s Viking history, and how over time it became a Victorian seaside resort. The Isle of Man is proud of its history and heritage and it’s showcased here.
The recommended time you should spend at the Manx Museum is roughly two hours, however if you don’t have long, the number one recommended exhibition to see is the Giant Deer which was discovered in 1897 – it stands at an impressive 1.7m tall at the shoulder, and has an antler span of 2.6m. It dominates the area which it has been given and is a magnificent piece of history that is a must see for visitors to the island.
With free entry and a little café inside, the museum is great for groups to see how the Island has changed over the years.
There is a coach drop off point with coach parking bays situated near to the Manx Museum. There are two access points, one with a steep path to walk, or via lifts to the 8th floor of Chester Street Car Park, crossing the footbridge leading to the Museum – both have inclines.
Getting about
The Isle of Man is by no means short of transportation, and getting about is easy and convenient, whereby road journeys can take a matter of minutes, up to an hour. We travelled by coach most times, but there are however, more unique modes to travel by on the Island including: the electric railway, steam trains and horse-drawn trams to name a few we tried.
The electric railway was the mode of choice to take us to Laxey. Enjoy the views as it climbs up the track, we chose to sit on the right facing forward, the best views looking out over the sea were there.
The great wheel
When we arrived in Laxey, there was a short walk to the wheel – you could see the bright red wheel dominating the hillside above the village – after walking up a steep incline, we was standing at the bottom of the wheel.
The Great Laxey Wheel was built in 1854 to pump water from Glen Mooar, part of the ‘Great Laxey Mines’ industrial complex, and is the largest surviving working wheel of its kind in the world – 22.1m in diameter and 1.8m wide.
Soak up the breathtaking views as you climb to the top of the wheel, where you’re rewarded with panoramic views across the Laxey Valley.
While here, you can hear the stories of the Laxey Miners, enjoy a walk through the stunning Glen Mooar Valley and get the chance to venture into the mine adit.
The journey to Laxey is around 30 minutes on the electric railway, with a 10-minute walk up to the wheel. Coach parking is available, but there is a 5-10-minute walk with a steep incline.
All aboard
The following day our coach dropped us at the station, here we hopped on the steam train on the Victorian railway to visit Port Erin.
Not only is this train a piece of Victorian history, but it was also the movie location for Thomas the Tank engine.
The train is perfectly frozen in frozen in time, running with its original locomotives and carriages as it did when it first opened in 1874. This mode of transport was a group favourite.
On the journey, we got to see in full length the picturesque Manx countryside. This took an hour to complete from Douglas to Port Erin, and the views were incredible.
As the carriages are open, it is a great way for groups to travel as they can still talk to one-another and share the experience.
A drink with a view
We arrived in Port Erin, a quaint seaside town – known as an old smuggling site because of the sheltered harbour.
In the warmer months, Port Erin is a perfect destination to grab an ice-cream and have a paddle in sea.
Here we had some free time to explore the town and grab a bite to eat before our coach took us on our next journey.
As we went in April it was a little chilly, so we found a little coffee shop nestled at the side of beach where we enjoyed a hot chocolate.
Down to the Calf
We next headed to Port St Mary, here we had a light lunch at The Sound Visitor Centre, before heading outside to admire the views.
This is the perfect place for a walk, but if the weather isn’t great, The Sound offers an amazing view from inside while you have a coffee.
Port St Mary is a wonderful place for nature lovers; around The Sound and the Calf of Man there’s plenty of wildlife to spot.
The Calf of Man is a small island to the South of the Isle of Man, and is a dedicated nature reserve owned by Manx National Heritage – here visitors can spot a variety birds, and the rocky cliffs are home to seals.
Our group had fun trying to spot the seals that can be seen basking in the sun on the rocks, and attempting to get the perfect picture of them swimming around.
Coach parking is available next to The Sound.
Starry, starry night
The Island is recognised as having dark night skies, and our last stop Port St Mary, is recognised as one of 26 official dark sky sites dotted around the Island.
Groups can enjoy a unique and memorable experience of stargazing, whereby they can view astronomical sights including the Orion Nebula which over 1500 light years away, the Milky Way Galaxy, and one of the Milky Way’s companion galaxies the Great Andromeda Galaxy, whose light has been on its way to us for about 2.5 million years and this is with just the naked eye.
This is must for any Isle of Man itinerary, and while all season will deliver some stars, winter is the optimal time to visit to ensure you view nine of the brightest stars can be easily seen along with the Milky Way in all its glory.
The village
Travelling down the scenic roads, and there’s plenty in the Isle of Man, we arrived in Cregneash Village which overlooks the Calf of Man.
Described as an illustration of a farming and crofting community in the 19th and 20th century,
this is the perfect place for groups to see and experience how Manx life was.
This village is very much like a museum but instead of items displayed within one building, groups can freely explore the area.
While visiting, our group went inside Henry Kelly’s cottage, here actors told stories about his life and the area, we saw a Manx cat – legend says the animal lost its tail due to getting – and enjoyed some homemade shortbread biscuits in the café on site.
Discover medieval history
We next visited Rushen Abbey. This is said to be one of the most important medieval and religious sights on the Isle of Man, originally home for monks of the Sauvignac Order in 1134.
Inside there was information about the history of the Abbey, as well as interactive activities whereby our group worked together to complete games and challenges, from trying to herd plastic sheep into the pen, to building a pot – albeit they were meant for children, this was a fun way for the group to build their team-work skills and provided an afternoon with laughter.
After the fun and games, we visited The Abbey Restaurant, located next to the Abbey.
We were seated in the private dining area where tea, coffee and freshly baked, still warm, scones were served. There is a great selection of dining options available here, and the team was very attentive and welcoming to our group.
Order, Order…
Our group next travelled to Castletown – the ancient capital of the Isle of Man – where our first stop was The Old Keys.
First opened in January 1821, the doors of The Old Keys are opened once more for visitors to take part in this is a fun interactive experience that groups will love.
We were greeted by the secretary of the former home of the Manx Parliament, before taking our seat in the debating chamber.
This beautifully restored room is where groups will see where democracy developed, as you will take part in the interactive, theatrical debate – the group will be setting the laws which will shape the Island’s future, from motorcycle racing being introduced, to whether or not women should be entitled to get the vote.
King of the castle
Across the road from The Old Keys was Castle Rushen. This beautiful castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the world.
Built in around 1200AD, this impressive fortress is a must on any Isle of Man itinerary.
Inside we were given two options, to take the normal stairs to view some rooms, or travel up the narrow, concrete, spiral staircase which took visitors to little hidden rooms. Here our group spilt depending on accessibility. If you take the normal stairs, you still get to experience the most important rooms inside the castle, but you will need to take the spiral staircase if you want to stand on the roof.
This is a great sight for groups to indulge in even more history. From seeing Bishop Wilson in his cell, to dining with the Kings and Lords of Mann. The banqueting hall was fascinating, here we learnt about the hierarchy at the table, why certain food was placed in front of specific people, what the food was and much more.
The seven kingdoms
The Island has many rolling hills and beautiful scenic views, but has just one mountain, Snaefell, which stands at 2,036ft above sea level – and gives visitors possibly one of the best views on the Island.
Experience a one-of-a-kind adventure, as your group travels in Victorian style to the peak. Travel to Laxey, and board the Mountain Railway, which has been in operation since 1895 and is the only electric mountain railway in the British Isles.
A great experience for groups is to travel to the summit of the mountain to catch a glimpse of the seven kingdoms.
On a clear day, it is said that you are guaranteed to see the kingdoms which include: The Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, along with the sea and Heaven.
Great for groups
The Isle of Man is highly recommended for groups, with many of the attractions from the Manx National Heritage, including: The Great Laxey Wheel, Cregneash, Rushen Abbey, The Old House of Keys and Castle Rushen, all offering discounts on pre-booked tickets of 15 or more.
As well as discounts on tickets, coach parking is free across the Island with drivers receiving benefits such as free entry into attractions.
· More information on group bookings can be found at manxnationalheritage.im/visit/group-visits/
