Where is the Isle of Man?

The Isle of Man is located in the Irish sea, almost mid way between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

How do I get there?

By air:

Regular flights operate from Belfast (City, International), Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gloucester, Guernsey, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London (City, Gatwick, Luton), Manchester, Newcastle, Newquay and Southampton.

By sea:

Daily sailings from Heysham and Liverpool (March - November). Regular summer sailings from Belfast and Dublin.

What does it have to offer?

It’s only a small Island but don’t let that fool you. Surrounded by over 100 miles of stunning coastline, much of the Island remains as it has been for thousands of years. Mile upon mile of unspoiled countryside, mountains, hills, wooded glens and open moorland. You’ll find a truly stunning variety of landscapes just waiting to be explored. Activities and events, from abseiling to the World Tin Bath Championships, are available all year round.

Check out our “things to do, places to see” section below. It offers an insight in to a few of the things the Island has to offer.

Sun, sea and sand - Bucket and spade at the ready……

The Isle of Man has miles upon miles of coast line to explore. Wake up to a different sea view each morning. Spend your days discovering secluded beaches and hidden coves. And evenings watching the sun set, sitting round a camp fire, the BBQ cooking dinner and a nice cold beer in hand. Absolute bliss.

The great outdoors – best foot, hoof or wheel forward……

With miles of unspoilt countryside, numerous plantations, national parks, nature reserves, gardens and cycle tracks to explore the Island offers endless possibilities. Maybe you could conquer Snaefell Mountain or take a leisurely ride along the Heritage trail; do as little or as much as you want.Whether you choose to explore on foot, by bike, on horse back or perhaps on a quad bike we are sure you will find plenty to keep you busy. All our vans come kitted out with maps, guide books and other info we think you might find useful. Just make sure you bring your ‘get up and go’!

Motor Sports - Ready, steady, go…..

Whilst perhaps most famously known for the TT races, the Island hosts a wealth of other motor sports events throughout the year. From April through to the end of August a variety of events take place. How about a spot of rallying, or maybe classic car racing, superbikes, sidecars, scooters or stockcars?  What else could you want?

Sea Sports – splish, splash, splosh…

Whether its surfing, diving, sailing or kayaking that floats your boat the Island has plenty to offer. Described as a diving paradise, the waters around the Isle of Man contain a huge array of marine life.

Or if you prefer to sit back, relax and let someone else do the hard work then how about a seafari? Whales, dolphins, seals, porpoises and sharks can all be spotted off the Manx coastline.

Sporting activities and events - a hole in one…..

Fancy a round of golf, a game of bowls, maybe a spot of fishing, try your hand at clay pigeon shooting, or perhaps you want to scale a rock face. Prefer to be indoors then the National Sports Centre offers a wealth of sporting activities.

With eight, 18 hole golf courses you’ll be spoilt for choice. The best Crown Green Bowling Festival on the UK calendar. The Island also has some exceptional locations at which to fish, around the coast, on the riverbank or a selection of reservoirs.

Our Culture & Heritage - did I just see a Viking? In Peel?

With a history stretching back over 10,000 years and the oldest continuous parliament in the world, the Isle of Man is rightly proud of its culture and heritage.Explore castles, an Abbey, a working folk village, the Great Laxey Wheel, a Viking ship burial, ancient Celtic and Norse settlements, Megalithic and Neolithic tombs, a bronze age hillfort, ancient Keeills and not forgetting the Fairy Bridge, – the list is endless. Just don’t forget to say hello fairies as you pass by!

Manx National Heritage tells the history of the Island through The Story of Mann which starts in The Manx Museum in Douglas. It’s well worth a visit and is definitely not just another boring museum. The interactive displays are great for the little ones - and big kids too.

Film - Lights camera, action…..

The Isle of Man is home to a thriving film industry. Over 80 feature films and television programmes have been filmed here.  Cregneash pictured to the left was used in the filming of Waking Ned and Lassie.  Why not follow in the footsteps of Ewan McGregor or Rene Zellwegger and go on location and see where your favourite movie was filmed.  You never know you might stumble across the next big blockbuster in the making!

Wildthings - wild wallabies?  Surely not…..

Yes it’s true, the Isle of Man is home to a population of wild wallabies. It’s also home to a whole host of other rare, endangered and unusual animals and plants. The Calf of Man, an islet off the south coast, is a bird spotter’s paradise and in the summer daytrips and over night stays are possible. Ballalheannagh Gardens has over 15,000 plants and flowers from across the globe and in May and June over 100,000 orchids can be seen at Close Sartfield.

With the kids - fun, fun, fun all the way!

We all know that little people like to have fun too…. And whilst we’re not saying they won’t enjoy all the other fantastic things to do that we have suggested… here are a few just for them.

Curraghs Wildlife Park – The Park has animals from around the globe, both large and small. It is home to hundreds of species of animals from lynx to tortoises and otters to emus. There is also a children’s farm, indoor and outdoor play areas, a miniature railway, a cafe and picnic areas. Go on a Sunday or in the summer holidays and you can experience an animal encounter show and get up close and personal with the animals.

Rest home for old horses – A wonderful place to visit. Set in over 90 acres of picturesque countryside and home to over 50 horses and donkeys. Children can feed the animals and there is a cafe, small museum and gift shop. A great day out and its free to get in.

Onchan Pleasure Park - A great place to take the kids.  You’ll find motor boats, bumper boats, crazy golf, swing ball, kiddie cars and a mini marina.

Silverdale - Silverdale Glen is a beautiful woodland with streams, ponds and waterfalls. The glen is also home to a children’s play area, cafe, boating lake, craft studio, gift shop and water powered merry go round. The perfect spot for a picnic and a relaxing afternoon.

If you would like to know more about any of the events or activities listed on this or any page on our website then click here our links page.