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Inviting and Accessible Isle of Man
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Getting to the Isle of Man from wherever you happen to be in Britain is easy. Often considered to be somewhat ‘out on a limb’ in the middle of the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man is in fact at the very geographical centre of the British Isles.
So, to set the record straight, let it be known that the Isle of Man is easily accessible by both air and sea. In addition, the island itself enjoys an efficient transport network. Several airlines serve the Isle of Man, including British Airways, Aer Arann, Flybe, Eastern Airways, Euromanx, Loganair, A2B and BNWA. British Airways, for example, offers flights to Ronaldsway Airport (10 miles southwest of Douglas), departing from Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester and London Gatwick. Rival airlines offer services from other regional airports in Britain and Ireland. In addition, the island's ferry operator, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, runs ferry services from Liverpool, Heysham, Dublin and Belfast.
So, if you’re looking for a few days away with a difference, the Isle of Man makes a great getaway, particularly at this time of year. The hordes of summertime visitors that descend upon the island during T.T. race weeks have departed, leaving a vast choice of top-notch B&B accommodation up for grabs; there are some great autumn deals to choose from, with packages to suit all pockets.
But back to the Isle of Man as a perfect location for that well earned break; this beautiful island has a distinct character which makes you feel as if you could be abroad. In fact, if you’ve never visited before, the first thing that is likely to strike you is the Isle of Man’s proud sense of identity. This is symbolized by its Three Legs of Man emblem of independence, which pops up everywhere on the island – on flags, car number plates, buildings - and even on tattoos, should you care to take a closer look! Now, the fact of the matter is that the population of this 33 mile by 13 mile chunk of Britain has a lot to be proud of – lenient taxation, control over its own internal affairs (despite remaining a Crown possession) and the Tynwald Court, the longest running parliament in the world, originally established by the Vikings.
The Isle of Man, however, has much more to offer the modern visitor than its proud heritage and evidence of its fascinating battle, over the years, for independence. For a start, the island boasts a sensitively developed tourist infrastructure, an efficient public transport system, as well as unspoilt natural landscapes with sandy beaches, moors and mountains, unique flora and fauna and tourist attractions to suit all tastes.
The capital Douglas, with its Victorian seafront, makes an ideal base for exploring the Island. Things to see and do in Douglas include a ride on the horse-drawn trams and a visit to the Manx Museum, which offers a 20-minute film on the history of the island. A trip on the island’s narrow-gauge railway is another great way to gather your bearings and to get to know the island.
Places to visit include the beautiful fishing town of Peel on the west coast. Known as ‘the cradle of Manx heritage’, Peel, with its meandering streets and splendid castle, is also the centre of the island’s kipper industry. Cregneash, the oldest village on the Isle of Man, is definitely worth a visit. The Cregneash Village Folk Museum is not to be missed, with its re-creation of a traditional Manx crofting town, complete with thatched cottages and live demonstrations of local crafts.
Whatever time of year, there’s always plenty to see and do on the Isle of Man. A big welcome awaits! For more information, check out: www.visitisleofman.com.
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