Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Isle of Man Coastal Path: Raad Ny Foillan - The Way of the Gull; The Millennium and Herring Ways
    Isle of Man Coastal Path: Raad Ny Foillan - The Way of the Gull; The Millennium and Herring Ways
    Isle of Man Coastal Path: Raad Ny Foillan - The Way of the Gull; The Millennium and Herring Ways
    Ebook248 pages2 hours

    Isle of Man Coastal Path: Raad Ny Foillan - The Way of the Gull; The Millennium and Herring Ways

    By Aileen Evans

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Raad ny Foillan (The Way of the Gull) is a 98 mile footpath around the Isle of Man. The route description is set out as a circuit and split into stages, with the longest walk being 15.5 miles and the shortest being 7 miles. Any fast walkers may wish to complete two stages per day, while those progressing at a more leisurely pace may decide to amble along and take in the splendid attractions along the way. Two further walks described in this guidebook, the 23 mile Millennium Way, which follows the ancient route of the kings, from Ramsey to Castletown, and the 14 mile Herring Way, which takes a more traditional route from Peel to Castletown. Both these routes cross the hills of the island's interior and can be combined to make an interesting longer walk.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCicerone Press
    Release dateJun 15, 2018
    ISBN9781783626175
    Isle of Man Coastal Path: Raad Ny Foillan - The Way of the Gull; The Millennium and Herring Ways
    Author

    Aileen Evans

    Aileen Evans, now retired after a career in teaching and book production, has enjoyed a lifelong love of the outdoors. She has climbed, walked, skied and camped in many parts of Europe and North America and considers the Isle of Man a favourite which continually draws her to return. She prefers to linger on a walk, allowing time to appreciate views, to enjoy flowers and wildlife, and delve into things of historical interest. Aileen has always enjoyed adventure sports and sampled most, including pot-holing, wild-water canoeing and alpine mountaineering. She still particularly enjoys rock climbing and exploring new places, often on her mountain bike, away from mainstream tourist areas.  Some of Aileen's more memorable tours include cross- country ski-backpacking in France, walking across the remote interior of Iceland and a trek to Iceland's North Cape, and completing the Tour of Mont Blanc and the Alpine Pass Route. At home in Lancashire, with her husband, Brian, and collie, Jess, she enjoys her garden, particularly the visiting birds.

    Related to Isle of Man Coastal Path

    Related ebooks

    Outdoors For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • UNLIMITED

      Vienna

      Jun 2, 2022

      Vienna
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Longest Silence

      Jul 12, 2022

      The Longest Silence
      11 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Solo Backpacking Tents

      May 12, 2023

      Solo Backpacking Tents
      14 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Trouble With Ticks

      Jul 25, 2024

      Travellers frequently worry about encountering poisonous spiders and mosquitoes when travelling abroad; however, one bug that typically goes under the radar is the humble tick, a parasite whose tiny bite can have an outsized impact on your life. The

      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Star Treks

      Dec 31, 2021

      Star Treks
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      A Year With The Leica M11

      Jan 27, 2024

      A Year With The Leica M11
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Jungle Island

      Nov 24, 2023

      Jungle Island
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Night Life

      Feb 18, 2023

      Night Life
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      I guarded Albert Speer

      Jun 30, 2021

      In Berlin in 1961, aged 18, serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment, I was detailed for my first two-day duty as guard commander at the nearby gloomy Spandau Prison. It housed the last three Nazi war criminals: Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess; the Hitler

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Churchill And Balmoral Castle

      Apr 8, 2023

      Churchill And Balmoral Castle
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      At The Crossroads Of Empires

      Mar 23, 2021

      The most important factor shaping the fate of this small but rather diverse region was its strategic position at the intersection of important communication routes connecting Central Europe with the Balkans, the Apennine Peninsula, and the Pannonian

      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Custodians Of The Stones

      Nov 4, 2022

      Custodians Of The Stones
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Berwick And The Borders

      Dec 16, 2021

      Berwick And The Borders
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Isle of Man

      Sep 19, 2024

      As she led me down into rugged Dhoon Glen, a sheer-sided valley plunging to the sea, Manx-born Natasha Johnson asked me a question: “Have you said moghrey mie to the mooinjer veggey?” I pondered briefly whether she'd gone mad. But after a quick lesso

      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Isle Of Man

      Feb 25, 2020

      With 95 miles of beautiful coastline, ancient ruins, historic castles, adventure sports, wonderful wildlife and an endless amount of activities, the Isle of Man is the perfect playground for some unforgettable family fun and an awe-inspiring weekend

      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Oh Man!

      Apr 25, 2024

      Oh Man!
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Magical Mull

      Mar 26, 2020

      Magical Mull
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Our greatest adventures

      Feb 9, 2023

      Our greatest adventures
      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Walking Holidays

      Jun 9, 2021

      Walking Holidays
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      One Small Step To Man

      Sep 3, 2020

      HAVING TOURED EXTENSIVELY around the Scottish islands, my housemate Pearl and I decided that for this (pre-Covid 19) trip, we’d visit an island that was a bit closer to home. We had a couple of ferry port options to get to the Isle of Man and opted f

      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Isle of Man Coastal Path

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Isle of Man Coastal Path - Aileen Evans

      THE ISLE OF MAN COASTAL PATH

      RAAD NY FOILLAN – THE WAY OF THE GULL

      Includes also the Millennium Way and Bayr ny Skeddan – the Herring Way

      by Aileen Evans

      JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,

      OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Aileen Evans, now retired after a career in teaching and book production, has enjoyed a lifelong love of the outdoors. She has climbed, walked, skied and camped in many parts of Europe and North America and considers the Isle of Man a favourite which continually draws her to return.

      She prefers to linger on a walk, allowing time to appreciate views, to enjoy flowers and wildlife, and delve into things of historical interest.

      Aileen has always enjoyed adventure sports and sampled most, including pot-holing, wild-water canoeing and alpine mountaineering. She still particularly enjoys rock climbing and exploring remote areas on her mountain bike.

      Some of Aileen’s more memorable tours include cross-country ski-backpacking in France, walking across the remote interior of Iceland and a trek to Iceland’s North Cape, and completing the Tour of Mont Blanc and the Alpine Pass Route.

      At home in Lancashire, with her husband, Brian, and collie, Jess, she enjoys her garden, particularly the visiting birds.

      © Aileen Evans 2018

      Fourth edition 2018

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 879 8

      Third edition 2004

      Second edition 1998

      First edition 1988

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      Acknowledgements

      I would like to thank the many kind people of the island who have helped me along the way and with the writing of this guide. Thanks also to Anna Hemy, Maxwell Collister, Wendy Taylor of the Department of Tourism, John Callister, Countryside Warden, Manx National Heritage and Brian Convery of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

      For photographs, the maps and drawings I must thank my husband, Brian, who patiently packed up at a moment’s notice to follow me round the island.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/879/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to updates@cicerone.co.uk or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL.

      Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.

      Front cover: Maughold Head from Dhyrnane Bay (Ramsey to Laxey)

      CONTENTS

      Preface

      Map key

      Overview map

      INTRODUCTION

      How to get there

      The best time to walk

      Accommodation

      Parking

      Public transport

      Climate

      Tides and times

      Maps and compasses

      Geology

      Nature along the footpaths

      History

      RAAD NY FOILLAN: THE WAY OF THE GULL

      Douglas to Castletown

      Castletown to Port St Mary

      Port St Mary to Port Erin

      Port Erin to Peel

      Peel to Kirk Michael

      Kirk Michael to Point of Ayre

      Point of Ayre to Ramsey

      Ramsey to Laxey

      Laxey to Douglas

      THE MILLENNIUM WAY

      Ramsey to Crosby

      Crosby to Castletown

      BAYR NY SKEDDAN: THE HERRING WAY

      Peel to Round Table

      Round Table to Junction with the Millennium Way

      Junction with the Millennium Way to Castletown

      Appendix A Glossary of Manx words

      Appendix B Selected bibliography

      Appendix C Route summary

      Appendix D IOM Coastal Footpath accommodation list

      Coming over the moor above Black Head, with Bay Stacka below

      PREFACE

      Raad ny Foillan (The Way of the Gull) is a 98 mile footpath around the coastline of the Isle of Man. This long-distance footpath was set up in 1986 to mark the island‘s Heritage Year. In its journey round the Isle of Man Raad ny Foillan offers a variety of scenery, from the rugged cliffs and mountain moorland in the south, to the glens, beaches and dunes of the north. It wends its way through several nature reserves and along a disused railway. It passes scenes of historical interest, colourful fishing villages and peaceful havens. It takes to the road in several places, yet these country lanes have their own charm and little traffic. The single stretch of main road is of short duration. The footpath is never far from the sea or the cry of the gull. It is suitable for the gentle walker to do in short day-walk sections, for the dedicated backpacker, and for the fit fell-runner to set up his own personal record for the delightful circuit of this beautiful island.

      The idea of a coastal footpath was first promoted by a former Governor of the Island, Sir Ambrose Flux Dunas, himself a keen rambler. There was no legislation similar to the Parks and Countryside Act in the UK, but he paved the way for the 1961 Rights of Way Act. By 1973 maps were prepared and the task of waymarking and improving sections of the coastal path began. Dave Woods, the Rights of Way Officer, took on the task and in the Heritage Year, 1986, Raad ny Foillan was opened.

      In this guide I have tried to introduce you to the Isle of Man as I have found it. As a child I visited Douglas, and returned with memories of seaside bustle, horse-drawn trams and a lurching ship. My next visit was as a rock climber, which fixed memories of a rugged coastline with crags and secret coves. A third visit was as a backpacker to walk the coastal path. It far exceeded my expectations. After the first day, gone were all my preconceived ideas of roaring motorbikes sporting dayglow stickers. I came away with pictures of primroses in Glen Maye, the sunset turning the surf to gold and the wet noses of the seals as they questioned my presence so close to their domain. I hope that as you follow the Manx footpaths you will collect as many happy memories as I did.

      The introduction to the guide covers the practicalities necessary to organise your ‘expedition’, as well as interesting things to be seen on the way and their background.

      The description of Raad ny Foillan sets out the circuit in stages, the longest being 15½ miles, the shortest 7 miles. The fast walker may wish to complete two stages per day, while those progressing at a more leisurely pace may decide to amble along and take in the diverting attractions along the way. I chose to begin at Douglas simply because I arrived by boat and was keen to literally step from the quay onto the footpath. As the way borders Ronaldsway Airport the starting point is a matter of choice and presents no problem.

      The footpath is waymarked and so, together with the information given in this guide, should enable the walker to progress easily and, if adverse conditions arise, safely.

      The guide also covers the island’s first long-distance footpath, the Millennium Way, which was opened in 1979 to celebrate the millennium year of Tynwald. This follows an ancient route from Ramsey to Castletown. Bayr ny Skeddan (the Herring Way), established in 1986, is an old trade route from Peel to Castletown.

      Although the Isle of Man sits snuggly in the Irish Sea surrounded by the British Isles, it is different from the rest of the United Kingdom. UK money is accepted, but your change may become mixed with the Manx currency, which is legal tender only on the island. The island government also issue their own stamps. If you post anything on the island, it must have a Manx stamp. The Isle of Man is part of the mainland telephone network and has good cellphone coverage.

      The pace of life is easy; people seem to have time to talk. I obtained some helpful advice from a gang of commissioners (council workers) who were laying a hedge. A fisherman mending his nets was only too pleased to inform me of the state of the Irish Sea and its fish over the last 10 years. (Things are vastly improved, by the way.)

      Although the early Manxmen were of Celtic origin, Man was part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until 1266. It is now a self-governing Crown Dependency, the Lieutenant-Governor being the Queen‘s representative on the island.

      The legislature, The Tynwald, has two branches. The first is the Legislative Council that comprises the President of Tynwald, the Bishop, the Attorney and eight members. The other branch is the House of Keys, which has 24 elected members. The Isle of Man has a special relationship with the EU but does not contribute to, nor receive, funds from its budget.

      Douglas is the capital of the island, a position held by Castletown until 1869. It is the home of Manx Radio, which was the first commercial radio station in the British Isles.

      Campervans are allowed on the island all year round but caravans require a permit and can stay only up to three weeks on an approved campsite, thus it remains free from the coastal developments that have so despoiled much of Britain’s coastline. The Manx treat their coastline as a prized asset and are making every effort to maintain its present beauty. Long-distance walkers will inevitably compare Raad ny Foillan favourably with the South West Peninsula Path of Devon and Cornwall, where huge static caravan sites often dominate the scenery.

      Important to the walker is that inns and hotels are open seven days a week. Most serve food and you can sample the real Manx ale. An ancient law prohibits the use of any substitutes for malt, sugar or hops, so you do get the real local brew. The Manx ice-cream is the genuine article too. I cannot vouch for the ale, but I can definitely give the thumbs up to the ice-cream.

      Aileen Evans, Preston

      INTRODUCTION

      How to get there

      The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has regular sailings from Heysham, Liverpool and Birkenhead to Douglas, and from Belfast and Dublin to Douglas (summer service and the Christmas holiday period only). Car parking is available at the dock.

      For details of timetables and fares consult the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (tel: 08705 523 523 www.steam-packet.com).

      All boats are drive on/off car ferries

      Bicycles are

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1