Many people who have never been to the Isle of Man are not sure exactly where it is! The answer is that it lies in the Irish Sea, between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, less than 60 miles west of the Lancashire coastline, and it is easy to get to thanks to excellent air and sea connections. The Isle of Man is one of the most beautiful spots in Britain, a mountainous, cliff-fringed island just thirty-one miles by thirteen, into which are shoehorned austere moor lands and wooded glens, sandy beaches, fine castles, beguiling narrow-gauge railways and scores of standing stones and Celtic crosses. The Isle of Man has been spared the worst excesses of the British tourist trade; there's peace and quiet in abundance, walks around the un-spoilt hundred mile coast line, picket fences and picnic spots, rural villages, steam trains and cream teas - a yesteryear ensemble if ever there was one.
Although the landscapes are wonderful, the island's main tourist draw is the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races run in the first two weeks of June - a frenzy of speed and burning rubber that attracts motorcycle fans from all corners of the world.
Transportation in Isle of Man
By Car: : The Isle of Man has a very extensive road network which is quite well maintained. Congestion is low (outside Douglas at rush hour). Rules of the road mirror those of the United Kingdom with the exception that there is no overall speed limit for private vehicles.
By Bus: : The island is served by Isle of Man National Transport buses throughout the year. There are also a number of coach operators who operate full- and half-day excursions.
By Rail: : The Steam Railway operates from Douglas to Port Erin and the Manx Electric Railway runs from Douglas to Ramsey. Other services include the unique Snaefell Mountain Railway, and the Groundle Glen Railway which provides a limited service along a scenic track near Douglas in the summer months.
By Ferry: : Ferries are operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and sail to and from Douglas, Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast and Heysham.
By Air: : A number of airlines operate regular services to the Isle of Man from regional airports throughout the British Isles such as Manchester, Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast, London (Gatwick, Luton, London City) and Birmingham.
With a car you could see almost everything in a couple of days; even on foot, it only takes around five days to circumnavigate the entire island. Don't miss a trip on one of the two century-old rail services which still provide the best public transport to all the major towns and sights (except for Peel). The carriages of the Steam Railway rock their fifteen-mile course from Douglas to Castletown, Port St Mary and Port Erin at a spirited pace. Douglas's seafront vista has changed little since Victorian times, and is still trodden by heavy-footed carthorses pulling trams. The Manx Museum makes a good start for anyone wanting to get to grips with Manx culture and heritage. The Isle of Man TT, held annually in June, are unquestionably the greatest motor racing event on the planet. For this reason, every motorcyclist has heard of the Isle of Man and will try to make the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime, if only to find a nice clear piece of road an hurtle down it at 180mph totally legally.
Main Attractions
The Isle of Man TT
A frenzy of speed and burning rubber that's shattered the island's peace annually since 1907!
The Manx Museum
The biggest museum on the island; attractions at the museum include exhibitions on maps, geology, the Vikings as well as the renowned National Art Gallery.
Snaefell Mountain Railway
An electric railway that first began service in 1895 still operates the 4 mile stretch of track running from the village of Laxey to the top of Snaefell, the island’s highest peak.
St Patrick's Isle
St Patrick's Isle is one of the smallest Islands in the Irish Sea and yet one of the most historic, with an extraordinary history stretching back over eight thousand years.
Laxey
Built around a small harbour, the tranquil village of Laxey is situated along the sides of a glen and dates back to the Viking era.
Don't put the miles on your own family car! Rent from the car rental leader, rent and travel in style from your ferry to your destination and accommodation, and make the most of your holiday in a rented auto.
