What comes to mind when you think of The Isle of Man? Manx cats? TT racing? The 3-legged emblem on the flag? A giant waterwheel? Well, it is all of these and more! The Isle of Man is a wonderful destination for walkers with such a huge variety within a small area. There are some of the best coastal walks in the UK, plenty of history and legend, a mountain summit with views over England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland on a clear day, hidden coves, lush glens, dramatic moorland…the list goes on. If you have never thought of the Isle of Man as a walking destination then it’s time to think again. There are 2 long distance routes on the island, the coastal Raad Ny Foillan (Way of the Gull) and the Millennium Way which crosses the island. There is a beautiful coastal path linking Port St Mary and Erin and wonderful views from Snaefell which at 621m /2034ft is the highest point of the island. We will take in the famous Laxey Wheel and experience a journey by steam train and electric railway. It should make for a few days of great walking on the many and varied trails.

Staying in Douglas, we will head out each day by public transport, covering a good part of the island as we go.

Itinerary (subject to change):

Day 1: Arrive in Douglas by air or by ferry. Settle into the accommodation before a holiday briefing followed by dinner.

Day 2: Peel Circular We take the bus to Peel on the opposite side of the island to Douglas. From Peel castle we take the dramatic coastal path to the beautiful wooded Glen Maye and then head inland on quiet roads and paths via Patrick and back to Peel with time to explore before heading back to Douglas. 8.5 miles 480m ascent

Day 3: Port St Mary to Port Erin Today we take the steam train to the south west of the island and alight at Port St Mary. From here there is a dramatic coast path following the southwest headland taking in views across the Calf Sound to the Calf of Man and then we head on to the seaside town of Port Erin where we take the bus back to Douglas. 7.5 miles 500m ascent

Day 4: Laxey Wheel Our mode of transport today is the electric railway which runs between Douglas and the Laxey Wheel, the Isle of Man’s iconic water wheel. From the wheel, we head up to the village of Agneash and visit King Orry’s grave on our way down to the coast at Laxey where there are beachfront cafes. As this is a shorter walk, the rest of the day is free to explore more of the island at leisure. 5 miles 300m ascent

Day 5: Snaefell to Ramsay Today we take the electric railway towards Snaefell, descending at Bungalow station and walking the final 221 metres uphill to the summit. From here, we have great views in all directions before walking east along to North Barrule. There are more spectacular views on this undulating, wide ridge walk before we descend to the coast at Ramsey for a well earned ice cream. 8 miles 450m ascent

Day 6: The holiday ends after breakfast when you make your way home by air or ferry.

• Price
• Grade
• Accommodation
• Guide
• Travel

Single occupancy ensuite room £1240 Twin shared ensuite room £200 discount per person Price includes: 5 nights hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast basis; qualified walking guide; travel by steam train, electric railway and bus Not included: Travel to the accommodation in Douglas Lunch and dinner Insurance Personal expenses Additional activities Discretionary tips

The walks will be between 5 and 8.5 miles with up to around 500m of ascent on some days. There is a mixture of rugged coast, moorland and country lane walking.

We will stay at the Premier Inn in the centre of Douglas which is convenient for both eateries and transport. Rooms are clean and spacious. Breakfast included.

Your guide for this holiday is Clare Kelly, owner of Her on a Hill. Clare has been guiding for over 25 years travelling all over the world.

You can reach the Isle of Man by plane or ferry. There are a variety of flights from many UK airports and it is a straighforward journey from the airport to the accommodation. We will provide full details of how to get there. By ferry, there are sailings from Liverpool, Birkenhead, Heysham, Dublin and Belfast. For details see: https://www.steam-packet.com/