Whilst studying for my A Level in Biology I’d spent a week at the Marine Biology Station in Port Erin and some years later I visited Ramsey when my father, a Glass Furnace Engineer, was working at Manx Crystal. I’d always wanted to return to the Isle of Man, so in January this year when I retired, I joined the Ramblers and signed up for Walk the Isle of Man 2022.
The weather forecast for the week was mixed so waterproofs, boots and lots of layers were essential as well as a warm hat and gloves. Five of us travelled by air from Birmingham and around an hour after take-off landed at Ronaldsway Airport, collected our luggage and headed towards Douglas on the bus. Our journey took us over Fairy Bridge, where we said ‘hello’ to the fairies, to the centre of Douglas and along the seafront to the ‘Spar Shop’ where we alighted and after a short walk up the hill, arrived at the Ascot Hotel. Others travelled by ferry from Heysham or Liverpool or by air from Gatwick or Liverpool. Robert joined us on Tuesday morning after travelling overnight on the ferry. Plans were changed at the last minute to ensure a return to Reading on the Saturday by car following the announcement of yet another ‘rail strike’!
Richard had chosen our hotel well. The Ascot staff were welcoming, friendly and helpful; rooms were comfortable, spacious, and quiet; breakfast and dinner offered a varied menu of tasty meals to suit all. Lee came armed with quizzes for the evenings which were enjoyed by many staying at the Ascot. We were all good at the ‘Round Britain’ quiz with just a few points between each team. Thank you Lee.
We’d been asked to choose our walks some months ago from a selection of six walks on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Walks were graded as either Easy/Interest, Easy/Moderate or Moderate and all walks were led by a guide. A Go-Explore card was included in the package which gave us free access to buses, steam trains, the Manx Electric railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway. The Welcome Reception on Sunday evening gave us an opportunity to meet our fellow walkers, check out the routes for the walks we had chosen and listen to a briefing about the event.
A group from our hotel had chosen the walk at Kirk Michael on the west coast on Monday, a lovely walk through one of the National Glens, past the old residence of the island’s bishops to the breezy coast at Glen Trunk before returning along a disused railway line. The rain came down at lunchtime but our guide quickly called her sister, the church was opened for us to eat our sandwiches with a welcome cup of tea! The wind strengthened as we stopped at Peel on the way back – a lovely village but staying upright in the wind by the beach was a real challenge! The next day was very wet for our walk on the east coast south of Laxey – our lunch stop at Garwick Bay was rather soggy!!
Wednesday, a free day was glorious, so up Snaefell it was. The views were impressive – England, Scotland and Ireland (and possibly Wales) all visible. The railway was very busy but with John’s bargaining skills we were soon on our way down. Next stop the famous Laxey Wheel with free entry to National Trust members before a walk down to Old Laxey and an ice cream by the beach. Here we were lucky enough to spot dolphins and a seal.
Stormy weather and probably no walking was forecast for Friday so a change of plan was called for on Thursday and a visit to Castletown to join the ‘Volcanoes and Vikings’ Walk, a lovely coastal walk before taking the bus to Port Erin and then a relaxing return journey to Douglas on the Steam Railway. Friday was as predicted but after a few hours in the Manx Museum the sun came out again. Later in the day we had chance to say ‘goodbye’ to our fellow walkers at a Farewell Reception.
Thank you to Richard and Diana for organising a very enjoyable trip. Sadly the Marine Biology Station and Manx Crystal have both closed down, but much was the same as it had been all those years ago.
Liz