Isle of Man & The Laxey Wheel

Located between England and Ireland in the Irish Sea and with a strong Viking heritage, the Isle of Man is a unique land of scenic beauty and cultural traditions.

From the stronghold of Castle Rushen to breathtaking position of the ruined Peel Castle, the island is full of ancient buildings and sites that speak to its Celtic roots which evolved as it became a Viking territory right up to modern day where it currently exists as a self-governing British Crown Dependency. The Isle of Man has its own currency and native language which was the subject of a massive effort to preserve in the early 20th century and led to a limited resurgence in Manx Gaelic speakers.
 
For those who love a more traditional way of travelling, the island is home to a wide collection of heritage railways such as the Snaefell Mountain Railway and Isle of Man Steam Railway as well as the charming Manx Electric Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, the oldest horse-drawn passenger tramway in service in the world.

Affectionately known as Lady Isabella, the Isle of Man’s Laxey Wheel is the world’s largest working waterwheel. Set high upon the hill overlooking the village of Laxey, the wheel was built in 1854 to pump away water from the Great Laxey Mines.

Today the wheel is maintained by Manx National Heritage and its unique design has become such an icon of the Isle of Man that it features on their £20 notes.

Ramsey

The charming coastal town of Ramsey is the second largest town on the Isle of Man and is sometimes known as “Royal Ramsey” due to the visits from the English monarchy such as Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. Located on the north coast of the island and set beneath the slopes of the North Barrule, the island’s second highest peak, Ramsey offers a large bustling harbour and has miles of sandy beaches to enjoy. Ramsey is also home to the 135-year-old Queens Pier which is the only iron pier on the island and is now open to the public once again due to restoration efforts from the local community.

Peel

The historic town of Peel is a small fishing port with a big personality! This unassuming location is a must-see destination for any visitor to the island. The town’s most striking feature is Peel Castle, an 11^th-century Viking castle situated on the nearby St Patrick’s Isle which is open to visitors in the summer months. Like many of Peel’s buildings, the castle was constructed with the distinctive local red sandstone which gave rise to Peel being referred to as the ‘Rose Red City’ and ‘Sunset City’ due to its position on the west of the island.

Peel has a strong history of fishing and shipbuilding and this can be seen in the quaint fisherman’s cottages that line the narrow streets today. The town’s cultural link with its Viking heritage is represented in the House of Manannan Museum which among many artefacts, houses the replica Viking longship Odin’s Beard which was built in Norway and sailed to Peel in the 1970s.

Manx Electric Railway

Dishing up plenty of vintage charm, the Isle of Man’s Manx Electric Railway is the perfect way to take in the contrasting views of countryside and coast. Since opening in the 1890s, the railway continues to use famous Victorian and Edwardian rolling stock, which include two of the oldest regularly operated tram cars in the entire world! Enjoy a slice of history and soak up the scenery during our journey from Douglas to Laxey.

Snaefell Mountain Railway

Ready to experience some seriously breath-taking views? Then our excursion on the Snaefell Mountain Railway is for you! Venturing over 2000 feet up to the summit of Snaefell (the highest point of the Isle of Man) this is a rare chance to enjoy a trip on the one and only electric mountain railway in the British Isles.