Adventures for Anyone: Ladies, I Give You Island Travel.....The Isle of Man!

To be honest, I never really thought too much about The Isle of Man. This challenge was given to me from my sister, Ginger's bucket list. All I ever knew about The Isle of Man was of the TT, because my friend Charley is a fan. I didn't even know what TT stood for. So, I set off on a research wonder and I was amazed.

Let's start with the Isle of Man TT. This is one of the roughest high speed motorcycle races in the world. The Isle of Man has no real speed limits, so this location was the perfect place for a road race like the Tourist Trophy (yes, that's the meaning of TT). Therefore, during the end of May and the beginning of June every year, 37.73 miles of road in the north of the island turn into a race track. And they have since 1907. It is one of the biggest racing events in the world and draws thousands to the tiny island every year.

But, where is The Isle of Man? What is the government there?

Well, The Isle of Man sits in the Irish Sea, between Scotland, England, and Ireland. Seems like quite a location for an independent country. Well, they aren't entirely independent. They are a dependency of the UK. Tynwald, the parliament that actually runs the island has been operating since 979. It is the oldest governing body in the world.

The island was ruled by the Manx and is still considered Manx. They speak English of a Manx dialect and also speak Manx. They use the British Pound system for money, but also issue some local currency called Manx Money. At one point they were ruled by Magnus III, the king of Norway. As it stands, they are independent, and their governing officer is Queen Elizabeth II. There is, wait for it, a governor as a liason. The UK is promised to protect them militarily, and other than that, they take care of themselves.

There are several options for getting to The Isle of Man. You can fly. They even have their own airline. Manx Airlines. You can also sail there if you like, or take a ferry from several locations, including Liverpool, Edinburgh, and Belfast.

There are many ways to get around the island. If you were wondering if you should bring a car on that ferry, the answer could well be yes. The Isle of Man is known for its scenic beauty. There are numerous hiking trails, biking trails, of course motorcycle drives; and car driving is a wonder there as well. Marine Drive, found in the south of the island is a famous scenic drive that takes you along the rugged shore and has many stops for hiking along the cliffs and shore as well.

As long as we're discussing getting around, The Isle of Man is a wonderland for train lovers. You can ride on miniature steam trains, narrow gauge trains, electric trains; and you can go many places on them. The narrow gauge Isle of Man Railway goes along the shore, leaving from Douglas, the capital and heading all the way to Ramsey. The Manx Railway or Electric Railway goes to several locations such as Port Erin and Laxey. It even connects to the train that summits Snaefell Mountain. All great rides, all scenic rides, and they also get you around the island.

Most trains, buses, and boat cruises, as well as the ferries go to and from Douglas, the capital of the island. Some good advice while traveling on several modes of public transport in The Isle of Man is to get what they call an explorer pass. This covers public transport, museums, some parks and is a great way to save money on getting around.

There are many towns and villages around The Isle of Man. Douglas is the capital and a fourth of the population of 83,000 or so live there. Douglas is that place where you can find everything. Food, lodging, services, parks, shopping, and even a beach. They have a promenade that they will tell you not to miss walking on because of the views. If you ever wonder where you are, there is a sign right on the cliffs that says Isle of Man. There's another one not far that says Electric Train. Love the signs along the hills like it's Hollywood.

The Isle of Man is historic. Castle Town and Peel have St. Patrick's Island (a subset of an island off the coast of the Isle of Man). Peel Castle is on that small island and is a medieval wonder. You can wander around and see how they lived in those times, while having a great view of the sea.

There are old and beautiful places to look at all over. There are several castles, churches, amphitheaters, cliff walks, and so on to visit. You can visit a sanctuary where you will see seals and northern sea birds. The trains are steam and therefore classic. The roads are narrow and run along cliffs. There is always something scenic and something historic to see in The Isle of Man.

Castles are around on The Isle of Man, and some of them are located in Castle Town. The island has some festivals and events that you just don't find anywhere else. We discussed the TT's, but there is one other thing and it takes place in Castle Town in July. This is the World Tin Bath Championships. Is that what it sounds like? Yes. You design and build a tub out of tin and race it through the harbor. The more outlandish and crazy the better, as long as it's made from tin and you can paddle it to victory. The locals come out in costume to watch, and there is a festival to celebrate.

What did used to happen on The Isle of Man? Well, they mined lead. The Laxey Wheel is one of the historic places you can visit and is one of the most famous structures on the island. It was used to supply water to the lead mine below it. Now, you can stop by and see the wheel, which is massive, and see how it worked. If you like and don't mind wearing a hard hat, you can see some of the mines below as well.

Let's talk hiking. The Isle of Man has two kinds of hiking. Along the shore or in the woods. The Glens of the Isle of Man are amazing. There are 18 of the parks, each with something of its own to share. Some of the better known are Helen and Laxey, but if you're a waterfall lover like me, you might want to check out Dhoon and Vooar Glens.

The Isle of Man is an island and it is Celtic. There are beaches along the shore in several towns, even though I would think they are for the hearty. There are some places where you can rent a paddle board or even a sea kayak. Port Erin is a hotspot for activities with a beach.

Also, there are large piers around the island that are perfect for fishing if you like, or like me, take some amazing photos and have a nice walk with a great view. The tides are relatively extreme on the island, so that can be of interest too.

Celts love their golf. There are both public and private courses on the island for golf enthusiasts.

Hope you like seafood, because if you like to eat local, here it's a lot of fish. Kippers are all over the place, so give that a try. Pubs are popular and a great way to meet people and hear what it's really like to be on The Isle of Man.

Shopping is always a bit better in the city, such as Douglas. However, there are great woolens and other things in the Ramsey area. You will find shops in any village, and some of them are hidden gems.

The Isle of Man is one of the places that I would say just wander. I don't think that there is a need for a guided tour, just do your homework before you go. Make sure to check out Covid-19 guidelines as always these days. The Isle of Man currently follows the rules for travel of the UK.

So, from the mountains, to the cliffs, to the cities, to the glens, and to the shore; The Isle of Man is a true hidden gem. It's one of those out of the way places that you really only hear about once a year. It's a fascinating place and easily accessible, so if in Britain; check it out. It's a place to hike, bike, race, drive, shop, eat, fish, and enjoy!

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