BEST FOR... STEAM TRAINS
Isle of Man
Mountainous and cliff-fringed, the Isle of Man has a patchwork of delights including golden beaches, snow-capped peaks, wooded glens, rural villages and steam trains straight out of a 1950s picture book.
This selfgoverning island, nestled between Ireland and England, offers rollicking rambles along windswept coastlines and rugged hills: try the summit of 620mhigh Snaefell mountain, the island’s highest peak, accessible via the mountain railway. Take a boat trip to the Calf of Man, a tiny islet set amid sensational scenery, half a mile off the southern tip of the island, to see amazing seabird colonies.
HOW TO GET THERE...
Ferries to the capital Douglas depart from Heysham, Liverpool Birkenhead or Belfast.