Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
Immerse yourself in the wild and wonderful ISLE OF MAN
With barely half of the island inhabited by humans, nature has taken over the Isle of Man, making it easy to explore the outdoors
There’s nowhere quite like the Isle of Man. It has beaches to rival Cornwall, Scottishstyle glens and wild moors that put even Yorkshire to shame. Indeed, this self-governing island, halfway between England and Ireland, was the first ‘entire nation’ to be designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2016. Now visitors can appreciate every inch of its pristine wilderness.
Isle of Man is full of… Al-fresco wellness
Wellness isn’t a ‘trend’ on the Isle of Man, it’s a way of life. The island is perpetually cleansed by fresh ocean air and has an abundance of space for getting active. It’s even something of a trendsetter. During the First World War, Joseph Pilates was interred at a camp here, where he trained fellow inmates in his ‘Contrology’ regime. Classes in what we now call Pilates can be found across the island (and world!).
Speaking of famous names, cyclist Mark Cavendish is a native son. It was here on the island that he honed his craft on the scenic roads. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to get out on two wheels, including a wealth of mountain-bike trails. Try the gruelling Witches Barrel or riding Archallagan, the Forest of a Thousand Trails.
Wild swimmers are spoilt for choice too, thanks to the 160km coastline. Golden shores like Port Erin or Laxey offer great jumping-in points; you can even splash alongside the walls of mighty Peel Castle at Fenella Beach. Alternatively, try hiking into one of the island’s leafy glens to dip in refreshing, forest-hugged oases or shower in waterfalls. A trip to Kirk Michael allows you to swim beneath Spooyt Vane falls, at the end of mossy Glen Mooar. Or take the Manx Electric Railway to fairytale-like Ballaglass Glen to slide into a secretive pool undisturbed.
Wild walks
The Isle of Man is compact – just 52km by 22km at its widest points – but it packs in a wealth of walking routes. This makes it a great place to explore on two feet, albeit using the island’s excellent buses and vintage railways to ferry you to trailheads.
The biggest hiking challenge is the Raad ny Foillan (the ‘Way of the Gull’), a 160km path that wraps the coast, taking in the craggy south-west, the low-lying north, island capital Douglas’ lively promenade and everything in between. You could walk it in one go, staying at seaside guesthouses en route. Or if you’d prefer to break it up into sections, the 11km stretch from Port St Mary to Port Erin, via plunging cliffs, bobbing seals and fine views of the Calf of Man, is unmissable.
For a different perspective, try the Isle of Man’s new Summit Walks. Collectively, these eight routes explore 25 island highs (over 300m). Options include the Five Peaks Challenge, which runs between the town of Ramsey and 610m Snaefell, the island’s loftiest point – also accessible via a mountain railway. Or maybe attempt the gentle ascent up Slieau Whallian (334m), a hill with great views over Peel Castle and a history of witchcraft.
If you fancy something a little more leisurely, there are lots of lovely strolls. Try the Baldwin Bluebell Walk (4km) at romantically remote St Luke’s Church, or amble to the lighthouse at the island’s south-eastern tip to gaze out from the Langness Peninsula.
Rich nature
As you’d expect from a UNESCO Biosphere that incorporates an entire island, you can see plenty of examples of sustainable development in action. Here, communities and conservationists have to work together.
Proof of this lies in the array of wildlife, ranging from visiting seabirds and basking sharks to resident seals, 500-plus wild wallabies and the native Manx Loaghtan sheep – their immense horns are quite something. There are also many different kinds of wild encounter. For instance, trails amid the sand dunes at Ayres National Nature Reserve offer ample chance to spy birds and rare plants, while the Scarlett Nature Discovery Centre and Trail explores wonderfully weird rock formations and rampant wildflowers.
One of the best ways to spot wildlife here is to take to the seas. Boat trips reveal the island’s spectacular geology and offer the opportunity to spy seals, whales and dolphins. The west coast is especially good for birders, with the puffin colony near Peel best visited from March to August. Trips out to the Calf of Man, a 242-hectare reserve and bird observatory, are also a treat.
At night, the adventure doesn’t stop. The Isle of Man has 26 official Dark Sky Discovery sites where distant galaxies can be seen with the naked eye. Try Fort Island, near Castletown, and Port Soderick (only ten minutes outside Douglas) for an out-of-this-world finale.