Isle of Man
Travel Guide > Europe > Isle of Man
In this Article
- Introduction
- Brief History
- Geography
- Sheadings
- Towns
- Sights and Activities
- Events and Festivals
- Weather
- Getting There
- Getting Around
- Red Tape
- Money
- Work
- Study
- Language
- Eat
- Sleep
- Drink
- Health
- Safety
- Keep Connected
Quick Facts
[edit]
- Local name
- Mannin
- Capital
- Douglas
- Government
- Crown dependency of UK
- Nationality
- Manx
- Population
- 75,000
- Languages
- English, Manx
- Religions
- Christianity (Protestant, Catholic)
- Currency
- Pound Sterling
- Calling Code
- +44 1624
- Time Zone
- UTC
- Daylight Saving
- UTC+1
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Introduction
Just a stone's throw from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, the Isle of Man occupies a mighty 227 square miles in the Irish Sea. Though awfully close to its larger neighbours, the island kingdom is unique. It boasts the world's oldest continuous parliament, Tynwald, a relic of the island's Scandinavian influence. A further sign of the island’s proud heritage is the revival of Manx, a local form of Gaelic which died away in the 18th century.
For the traveller, the Isle of Man is culturally fascinating. The fact that almost half of the island is unpopulated also adds to the appeal, as vast stretches of open countryside offer wonderful opportunities for avid walkers. For those less inclined to use their legs quite so much, the harbour-side capital of Douglas is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway.
Like the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man is not part of the UK, nor of the European Union. It is a Crown Dependency of the UK. The UK is responsible for its defence and external relations.
Brief History
Geography
Sheadings
The Isle of Man is divided into six administrative districts, called sheadings.
- Ayre
- Glenfaba
- Garff
- Michael
- Rushen
- Middle
As well as the main island of Man itself, several small islands are included in the Isle of Man. These are the Calf of Man, Chicken Rock and St Patrick's Isle.
Sights and Activities
Vintage Railways
The people of the Isle of Man have uniquely and painstakingly maintained their rail network as it was at the turn of the (19th) century. The Island can be explored travelling on the Isle of Man Steam Railway (1873), the Manx Electric Railway (1893) and the Snaefell Mountain Railway (1895).
Basking Sharks
The waters around the island provide an ideal environment for basking sharks. Sharks can sometimes be seen from the beaches around Peel.
Laxey Heritage Area
Once home to a thriving community based around the mining and textiles industries, the village of Laxey offers the modern visitor an insight into the 19th Century. As well as exploring the reconstructed mine it's possible to view the iconic Laxey Wheel, the largest working waterwheel in the world.
Peel Castle
An important historical monument in an attractive location on St Patrick's Isle, Peel. Some parts of the structure date from the 11th Century.
Snaefell
The highest point on the Isle of Man, at 2036 feet. On a very clear day it's possible to see England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland from the summit.
Events and Festivals
- Isle of Man TT - Since 1907, the Tourist Trophy races run for two weeks every year, with the racers completing nearly 38 miles of public road. One of the most famous racers is Joey Dunlop, winning 26 times.
Weather
Getting There
By Plane
Isle of Man Airport (IATA: IOM, ICAO: EGNS), located 11 kilometres southwest of the capital Douglas, is the main gateway to the country. Manx2 is based here and has flights to Blackpool, Leeds, Jersey, Nottingham, Gloucester and Belfast.
Other airlines flying into this airport include Aer Arann (from Dublin), Blue Islands (Jersey, Guernsey), Eastern Airways (Birmingham, Newcastle), Flybe (Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton), Loganair (Edinburgh, Glasgow), VLM (London).
By Boat
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company run a regular service from Heysham, near Lancaster (England), and a slightly less frequent service from Larne, (Northern Ireland).
Getting Around
By Train
Train is an interesting way to travel in the Isle of Man with three historic rail lines - the Isle of Man Steam Railway (1873), the Manx Electric Railway (1893) and the Snaefell Mountain Railway (1895) - all maintained by the Isle of Man Transport Authority.
By Car
The island's towns are connected by a well-maintained road network. Manx roads are particularly popular with motorcyclists, partly due to the success of the Isle of Man TT race.
By Bus
The Isle of Man Transport Authority operate a good bus network connecting the island. The main depots are at Douglas, Peel, Ramsey and Port Erin.
Red Tape
Money
See also: Money Matters
The currency of Isle o Man is the pound sterling with the international currency code GBP (Great Britain Pound). The currency sign for pound is £ (the symbol is derived from the letter L). It is also known to the locals as quid (both singular and plural), which a slang term, so you might hear people say "two quid" instead of two pounds. One pound is divided into 100 pence (singular: penny).
Work
Study
Language
Eat
Sleep
Drink
Health
Safety
This is version 23. Last edited at 19:02 on Oct 17, 08 by Utrecht (+29). 6 articles link to this page.
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