Isle of Man Vacations

For the foodie enthusiasts among you, sample a taste of the island with Manx Kippers, a popular local dish. Traditionally herring fillets are caught locally and smoked in old smoke houses, creating a unique taste that has made Manx Kippers a favourite with locals and travellers alike. The best place to try these is in Peel located along the island’s West Coast.

Accommodation on the Isle of Man is plentiful for the size of the island with a good selection of hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s to suit all tastes and budgets.

Basking sharks, the world’s second largest living fish visit the waters of the shore annually between May and August. Be sure to bring your camera though as you have a great chance of catching a glimpse of these great creatures of the coast of Peel, Port Erin or Niarbyl. As well as basking sharks you may also spot seals and if you are really lucky Puffin birds.

If you’re visiting the main town of Douglas, visit the Gaiety Theatre and Opera House and catch a show, you won’t be disappointed. First opened in 1900 and built to the designs of architect Frank Matcham, take a tour when here to find out even more about this impressive building. The newly refurbished theatre reopened in 2004 to include intimate concert halls, a cinema and a children’s play area. If you are interested in the supernatural, the theatre also organises ghost tours where you hear the story of the lady that haunts seat B14 – are you brave enough to take this seat?

On a visit to Isle of Man discover one of the most preserved medieval castles in Europe, the magnificent Castle Rushen. This impressive fortress was once home to the Kings and Lords of Mann and towers over Market Square, the central square of Castletown, the ancient capital of the Isle of Man. Head straight to the top of the castle for fantastic views and amazing photo opportunities of the surrounding area. With stocks, canons and an underground dungeon a visit to Castle Rushen will give you a real insight into life in the medieval times.

Head South West and explore the Calf of Man, a tiny rocky outcrop separated from the mainland. The visitor centre located at Port St Mary give you an unrivalled 180 degree view of the surrounding area. The waters that pass between Calf of Man and the Isle of Man enjoy swirling tides and attract keen kayakers throughout the year.

Be sure to visit the Cregneash National Folk Museum and wander around this ‘living museum’.  The tiny thatched whitewashed cottages are still inhabited and on the working farm demonstrations of traditional crafts such as weaving, blacksmiths and carpentry are carried out by skilled craftsmen, whilst the delicious smell of home cooking drifts out from the nearby tea room.

No trip to the Isle of Man is complete without a visit to the Great Laxey Wheel; designed by the Victorian engineer Robert Casement the wheel was built in 1854 to pump water. Take the opportunity to watch the wheel turning, before climbing to the top to enjoy views over the Glen Mooar Valley. The Great Laxey Wheel is the world’s largest working waterwheel and at over 72 feet high, has been welcoming visitors ever since 1854.