CHUFFING BRILLIANT
STEAM RAILWAY ENTHUSIAST LIS LAMBERTSEN TRAVELS IN STYLE ON A TOUR OF THE ISLE OF MAN
AS A fan of steam trains, a visit to the Isle of Man’s Vintage Railways with Great Rail journeys was an ideal choice for a break. The company’s escorted tour offered a wonderful opportunity to discover the delights of the island and its rich history.
Our six-day trip covered the length and breadth of the island, giving travellers a wonderful insight into its vintage transport while soaking up the gorgeous scenery.
We started with a ferry journey from the port of Heysham, near Lancaster arriving four hours later in the Isle of Man’s picturesque capital, Douglas.
Our base for the trip was the Claremont Hotel. A short stroll from the ferry terminal, it commands a stunning position overlooking the bay.
It’s most deserving of its four-star rating and the rooms are well furnished and comfortable.
Rooms are finished to a high standard with sumptuous bathrooms. There is everything you could possibly need – right down to an umbrella tucked away in the wardrobe in case of inclement weather. Luckily I didn’t have call to use it on my short break.
This attention to detail was evident throughout the hotel, from the beautiful art work in the lobbies and in the Coast restaurant to the comfortable chairs and seating area in my room.
The hotel restaurant offered an impressive menu including rich risottos, locally sourced meat and fish, flavoursome pasta dishes, and satisfying breakfast options – featuring the obligatory Manx kippers.
Visiting the Manx Steam Railway was the highlight of the trip for me, a journey that takes you from Douglas – with its particularly lovely station – to Port Erin. The smell and noise was evocative of a time long since passed and it’s always a thrill to see such machines lovingly cared for and kept running by both volunteers and staff.
|Home to several restored steam engines railway museum at Port Erin is well worth a visit. A quick walk from the station takes you to a sweeping harbour that is perfect for a family visit to the beach thanks to its wide, flat sands.
Near to Port Erin there are some amazing views out across rocky cliffs where you can often spot seals basking below. The Sound Cafe is a lovely place to stop and have a quick bite before taking in the stunning scenery.
There are many other types of vintage transport on the Isle of Man and this trip allows you to explore several. Being transported the length of Douglas promenade in an open Victorian tram carriage by horse was magical.
Enjoying those views of the bay, with very little traffic around, you really do feel like you’ve been transported back in time. Knowledgable staff do a great job of filling passengers in on the promenade’s Victorian origins.
From the horse-drawn tram we transferred to the Manx Electric Railway (MER), at the far end of the promenade, to travel north to Laxey.
The train navigates its way through the countrysid, providing further picture postcard photo opportunities. The coaches are comfortable and beautifully restored.
Laxey itself is the change-overpoint from the MER to the Snaefell Mountain Railway and the train station swap-over-point has a small waiting room, offering tea and coffee. There are also toilets here for passengers.
As the train crosses the famous TT circuit you can disembark and climb to the summit on foot, but we continued on board to enjoy the exhilarating vista from the mountain top.
The local saying is that on a clear day you can see Seven Kingdoms from the top of Snaefell: the Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, England, Heaven and Manannan, the kingdom of the sea. Blessed with such a day, we could indeed see all seven of them spread out all around us.
On the return journey we had time to go and visit the Laxey Wheel, the largest working water wheel in the world. It is a breathtaking sight and worth the short walk from the railway station.
Peel Castle, a windswept fortress on the edge of the cliff, was an interesting place to visit and our guide talked us through its turbulent history. Nearby, the House of Manannan – just across the harbour – is also full of history, tracing the Celtic and Viking roots of the Isle of Man.
From Peel we travelled by coach to Ramsey to pick up the MER again, this time from the section north of Laxey and then on through to Douglas.
A visit to Castletown is a must and the Old House Of Keys gives a fascinating account into the politics of the Isle of Man and how they have shaped the life of the island. This tied in well with an earlier visit to Tynwald, the site of the island’s modern parliament.
Every guide we encountered was passionate about the Isle Of Man and immensely knowledgeable on subjects ranging from the island’s history and culture to recommendations for restaurants and places to visit. Such at-your-fingertips information, from a person that truly knows, was invaluable and added so much to the trip.
The guided tour experience is a joy for any vintage railway enthusiast, but the Isle of Man has plenty of things to interest all visitors. You certainly won’t find yourself running out of steam.
The smell and noise was evocative of a time long since passed and it’s always a thrill to see such machines lovingly cared for...