A Tasty Suggestion
L’Experience is the Isle of Man’s best-known French-style restaurant offering a wide range of dishes both for
lunch and dinner.
In the evenings, L'Experience offers three fixed-price menus (two at the weekends) priced at £20.95, £25.90 and £28.95 including three courses and coffee. Inspired by French regional cooking, high quality local ingredients are used wherever possible and all meals are freshly cooked to order. Well known for delicious French onion soup, freshly caught local fish, excellent sauces and home-made desserts, the restaurant has also been said to serve the best steaks on the Island! The lunchtime menu is a la carte, anything from a bowl of soup to a four-course meal and vegetarians are imaginatively catered for and will be spoilt for choice.
Opened in 1981 by Chef patron Tony and his wife, Jill, this little taste of France is tucked away at the northern end of Douglas promenade, at the bottom of Summerhill. L'Experience is candle-lit by night and decorated with unusual French memorabilia, with an accordion player adding extra French atmosphere on Saturday nights. This aptly named restaurant offers the bonus of table magic in request, performed by Tony himself. Tel: +44 (0) 1624 623103
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SEPTEMBER: The Isle of Man International Jazz Festival is held at the Hilton hotel in Douglas. It showcases jazz from both international and local talent. To find more details go to www.freewebs.com/manxjazzclub
… and here are more great things to see and do in and around the Isle of Man...
ONGOING: ''The True Glory: Manxmen at Sea in the Age of Trafalgar'' exhibition commemorates the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It features items of Captain John Quilliam and other Manx Seafarers, Manx Museum. www.isleofman.com
ONGOING: The Waterwheel Tour. The
Laxey Wheel is the world's largest working waterwheel, on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Climb to the top and take a tour of the old mine. www.isleofman.com
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Lounge before you fly
The new Rendezvous Executive Lounge in the airport is open to everyone, regardless of which airline you are travelling with. Day Passes are available at the Flight Support Ticket Desk or the Rendezvous Executive Lounge Reception. Once in the lounge enjoy a drink and snack with our compliments and relax in your comfort zone. www.rendezvouslounges.com
A paragon of culinary excellence
Try the new Paragon carvery restaurant on the first floor of the Hilton Hotel with views over Douglas seafront. It has been completely refurbished, and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus cream teas and a Sunday brunch (+44 (0)1624 625535).
Spot the shark
The Isle of Man is a basking shark 'hotspot' so it’s an ideal location for those who want to do a bit of shark spotting. The island has particularly high densities of basking sharks compared to elsewhere in the British Isles and anyone who spots one is invited to take part in a wildlife study monitoring their habits. A new website dedicated to the sharks details everything you could ever wish to know about the creatures and takes details of sighting reports. www.manxbaskingsharkwatch.com
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Just 96km (59.6 miles) from England’s northwest coast, the Isle of Man is known for its stunning scenery, sandy beaches, pristine countryside, and quaint holiday towns and villages like Port St Mary, Laxey, and Castletown. It is a part of the British Isles geographically, but not of the UK or the EU. It continues to govern itself with the parliament, Tynwald, set up for this purpose by the Vikings more than 1000 years ago.
All over the island is evidence of the part the Celts and Vikings played in its history: Celtic crosses, ancient Viking burial grounds, plus later medieval fortresses. These can be discovered via a network of footpaths that criss-cross 17 natural glens. Being only 53km long by 20km wide, the island can be explored on foot, and is very popular with hikers.
The Isle of Man hosts a number of motorcycle events – including the renowned Tourist Trophy (TT), which is the longest (38 miles of closed public road) and oldest motorcycle course in the world. It celebrates its centenary this year. It is also a favourite of anglers, who are attracted by its trout-abundant streams, rivers, and reservoirs. Its major town, Douglas, is a bustling harbour, attracting plenty of British and Irish visitors in summer, with a grand Victorian promenade, good restaurants, plenty of cafés, bars, and clubs, and a casino. The island’s catchphrase, ‘Set Yourself Free’, neatly summarises its active and outdoorsy attitude.
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Start the day with a breakfast of Manx kippers at your hotel. This is smoked fish at its finest. Then head out to Curragh’s Wildlife Park, Ballaugh, a unique wetland habitat currently home to many endangered species of bird and mammal. It is open all summer but at weekends only in winter. www.gov.im/wildlife
You can go by car but the best way to get there is to go via Snaefell. From Douglas you can take an early Manx Electric Railway Tram to Laxey and from there ascend to the summit of Snaefell on the Mountain Railway. It is best to have an Ordnance Survey map with you on which you can pinpoint Sulby. Descend down the northwestern side of the mountain towards Tholt-y-Will Glen, passing through the valley to Sulby village. By walking west from here for about 2km (1.3 miles) you reach the Wildlife Park. They do a good Sunday lunch at the park’s café.
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Alternatively, you can go to the west of the island. The award-winning House of Manannan in Peel is a heritage centre portraying the Island’s Celtic, Viking, and maritime history in an interactive way. This is a fascinating and less energetic way to spend half a day. Make sure you stock up on kippers at the Kipper Museum before heading home. Peel is also known as the Sunset City, because of the spectacular views to the west, so see if you can wait for the sun to go down. If you have any spare time, head further south to the Cregneash Folk Museum near Port St Mary and then travel 2km (1.3 miles) further south to see the beautiful view of the Calf of Man. On the return journey, stroll around the ancient capital of the island, Castletown, and its pretty harbour.
In the evening you should visit Douglas’s Sefton Hotel. Here you can eat high quality cuisine at a table overlooking the lights of the promenade at the award-winning Gallery Restaurant, or for a more relaxed dinner, try the hotel’s newly-renovated Sir Normans, which has an extensive wine list and a menu for lunch, tea and dinner. You could check what’s on at Douglas’s two cinemas, or at the beautiful Gaiety Theatre, or even visit the casino at the Hilton, but a walk along the promenade under the stars is probably best. After all, you are on holiday.
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The island has all types of accommodation ranging from four-star hotels to campsites.
The Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club in Santon offers a superb health club, pool and golf course while the Sefton Hotel in Douglas is a fine Victorian property, which has a new extension set around a unique water garden. Both of these hotels are four stars while three-star options include the Empress Hotel, Rutland Hotel, Port Erin Royal Hotel and the self-catering Cherry Orchard Aparthotel. Book on +44 (0) 871 900 8297 or www.flybehotels.com
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By bus or coach: Route 1 stops at the airport and serves Douglas, Castletown, Port Erin, and other destinations around the island. Buses run from the airport to Port Erin and Port St Mary, via Castletown, and to Douglas via Ballasalla every hour; half-hourly during peak times.
By car: Explore the city and the countryside in comfort and style at great prices! Get the best deal by checking Flybe's partner Avis for the best available car hire rates at www.flybe.com/avis.
By road: Ronaldsway Airport is on the main Douglas/Castledown Road, 3km (1.9 miles) from Castletown, and 16km (10 miles) from Douglas. The airport is well signposted and no point on the island is more than an hour’s drive away. Contact Flybe’s partner Avis for the best available car hire rate. www.flybe.com/avis
By taxi: There is a taxi rank outside the main terminal building. Destinations are covered by fixed tariffs.
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The island has some rather quirky public transport facilities, which are well worth trying out to get the flavour of a bygone era. First of all, there is the world's oldest horse-drawn tram service, dating back to 1876, which runs for 3km (1.9 miles) along Douglas Promenade during the summer.
There are also electric trains to Laxey and Ramsey in the north, leaving from the Derby Castle station at the northern end of the Promenade in Douglas. The Isle of Man Steam Railway dates from 1873, has a station on the North Quay, and runs steam trains down south to Castletown and Port Erin during the summer. Timetable enquiries (+44 (0)1624 662 525). The miniature two-foot gauge Groudle Glen Railway dates from 1896, and runs for just over a kilometre along the coast, with magnificent views of the Irish Sea. It is accessible via the electric railway line and a short scenic walk, but runs only on Sundays and selected days during the summer.
There is a conventional bus service that goes to all the towns on the island. The bus station is also on North Quay, Douglas.
Many people hire a car to get around the island. Contact Flybe’s partner Avis for the best available car hire rates. www.flybe.com/avis
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The island has plenty of entertainment options, from pubs with live music to nightclubs, cinemas and a casino.
Don't forget to visit the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre complex in Douglas, which boasts a 1,500-seat auditorium, cinema, children's play area, and conference suites. The Villa Marina complements the Gaiety Theatre, which was restored to its Victorian splendour in time for its centenary in 2000. www.gov.im/villagaiety
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Mention the Isle of Man to any sports fan and the first thought will be the annual TT races held for two weeks each June. First staged in 1907, motorcyclists still use the legendary Mountain Course, which traverses 37.75 miles of public roads.
Golf: Somewhat less frenetic is golf with a number of courses for visitors to enjoy. Among the best known are the Castletown Golf Links (+44 (0)1624 822201) in Derbyhaven. It has sea views from every side and is known for its 18-hole championship golf course and fine cuisine. Try also the Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club (+44 (0)1624 661 111) in Santon (ten minutes from Douglas and the airport), which has a superb health club, pool and golf course. The golf course is championship-standard and comprises 6,332 yards of spectacular views, contoured fairways and lush greens. There are seven other courses to try on the island. www.isleofmangolf.com
Fishing: The island has great fishing, in sea, river and reservoir. Game fishing for salmon, sea trout, and trout is popular, as is pier fishing in Douglas Harbour. There are eight reservoirs varying in size. Licences are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Douglas, along with a guide on where to fish.
Other pursuits in the Isle of Man include walking with a network of footpaths that criss-cross 17 natural glens; pony trekking; and watersports, especially windsurfing and sailing.
Mountain biking: Has increased in popularity over the last few years – you only have to look up the Manx Mountain Bike Club website and scan over the many events there are. There are also several mountain biking routes designated by the council, such as Southern Comfort Loop and A Grand Day Out, each with a difficulty rating. www.manxmtb.org
Sea kayaking: A great and unobtrusive way of exploring the coastline. Adventurous Experiences is an outdoor education provider, which offers coastseering, rock climbing, abseiling, hill navigation as well as sea kayaking. The Venture Centre also holds kayak training.
www.adventurousexperiences.com
www.adventure-centre.co.uk
Diving: Isle of Man is regarded by many to be an untapped diving market. It has excellent dive sites at Port Erin, Ramsey, Peel, The Wreck of the Glendun, The Sugar Loaf Caves, and Groudle Glen, where you can find marine wrecks and fantastic marine life, such as lobsters, wrasse, seals and basking sharks. Try Mann Scuba Divers in Port Erin (+44 (0) 1624 835 202) and Discover Diving, based in Ballasalla (+44 (0) 1624 822 442).
www.mannscubadivers.co.uk
www.discoverdiving.im
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The Bee Gees were born here, Jeremy Clarkson, Norman Wisdom and Nigel Mansell moved here - so if you fancy setting up a home on the island you’ll be in good company.
The legal system on the island is separate and quite different from the rest of the UK. Legal work involved in buying or selling property has to be carried out by a Manx Advocate as there are no licensed conveyancers on the island.
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Castle Rushen - This 12th-century fortress stands in the pretty harbour town of Castletown. There are dungeons to explore and a museum. Visit the Old House of Keys in Parliament Square and the Old Schoolhouse nearby (+44 (0)1624 648000).
Cregneash Folk Village - A village near Port St Mary celebrating crofters’ way of life in the 19th century (+44 (0)1624 648000).
House of Manannan - In Peel: this is a multimedia celebration of the island’s history, from Vikings to Celts and the present day (+44 (0) 1624 648000). There is also a Kipper Museum here (+44 (0)1624 843622), and St Germain’s Cathedral within the ruins of Peel Castle on St Patrick’s Isle (+44 (0)1624 648000).
The Manx Museum - In Douglas: comprising the National Art Gallery, archaeology, Manx history, and TT race exhibition. Good for children; includes multimedia displays (+44 (0)1624 648000).
Port Erin Steam Railway Museum - Next to Port Erin Station is the fascinating Steam Railway Museum, which houses locomotives, carriages, memorabilia, and relics going back to the opening of the island's first passenger steam railway in 1873. The museum is open daily in the main season.
Snaefell - Meaning ‘Snow Mountain’, is one of the unmissable experiences of the Isle of Man. Depending on inclination and fitness, you have three choices: either take the mountain railway the whole way from Laxey Station (+44 (0)1624 663 366), take the train halfway (to the Bungalow on the TT course) and walk the rest, or walk the whole way up. There is a café at the top of the 670m tall mountain.
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Snaefell, meaning ‘Snow Mountain’, is one of the unmissable experiences of the Isle of Man. Depending on inclination and fitness, you have three choices: either take the mountain railway the whole way from Laxey Station (+44 (0)1624 663 366), take the train halfway (to the Bungalow on the TT course) and walk the rest, or walk the whole way up. There is a café at the top of the 670m tall mountain.
Walkers will appreciate the Millennium Way, established in 1979 to mark 1000 years of the Tynwald parliament. It is 45km (28 miles) long and runs from Ramsey to Castletown. Even more of a challenge is the Way of the Gull, a coastal path running right around the island from Peel to Contrary Head. This is about 145km (90 miles) long and takes about four days.
Golfers will enjoy all the courses on offer at the Castletown Golf Links (+44 (0)1624 822201) in Derbyhaven. It has sea views from every side and is known for its 18-hole championship golf course and fine cuisine. Try also the Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club (+44 (0)1624 661 111) in Santon (ten minutes from Douglas and the airport), which has a superb health club, pool, and golf course. The golf course is championship-standard and comprises 6,332 yards of spectacular views, contoured fairways and lush greens. There are seven other courses to try on the island. www.isleofmangolf.com
The island has great fishing, in sea, river, and reservoir. Game fishing for salmon, sea trout, and trout is popular, as is pier fishing in Douglas Harbour. There are eight reservoirs varying in size from the deep, clear Sulby Reservoir (60 hectares) located directly under Snaefell, to Ballure (1.5 hectares) on the outskirts of Ramsey. The Clypse and Kerrowdhoo reservoirs just north of Douglas are restricted to fly fishing only. For safety reasons none of the reservoirs allows wading and no boats are available. Licences are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Douglas, along with a guide on where to fish. (For more information, contact Inland Fisheries Development Manager +44 (0)1624 686 044 or Freshwater Fisheries Manager +44 (0) 1624 812 224.) See Activities section for details on sea kayaking and diving.
Pony trekking is popular on the island, and you can choose from the following stables, who will offer you a variety of packages, according to your experience and age. Abbeylands Equestrian Centre, Braddan +44 (0)1624 676 717; Ballahimmin Farm, Off Little London Road, Cronk y Voddy, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man, IM6 1BB Tel: +44 (0)7624 482990 Fabulous off road trekking, Riding & Jumping Lessons. Beginners Welcome - Open all year.Horses taken for Breaking & Schooling; GGH Equitation Centre, Marown +44 (0)1624 851 574; Pennybridge Stables, Kirk Michael +44 (0)1624 878 859.
The island is a good place for windsurfing and sailing. Derbyhaven is the windsurfing centre; contact Manx Marine, 35 North Quay, Douglas +44 (0)1624 674 842 for details. For sailing, contact Douglas Bay Yacht Club, South Quay +44 (0)1624 621 823; Isle of Man Yacht Club, Port St Mary +44 (0)1624 832 088; or Manx Sailing and Cruising Club, North Quay, Ramsey +44 (0)1624 813 494)
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Tourism in the Isle of Man is based around the short-break market, encouraged by the solid diary of events staged on and around the island. Apart from the motorcycle racing, there is an international car rally, the power-boating championship, and the island is favoured as a destination for car club rallies. There are two crown green bowls festivals, a World Tin Bath Championships (don’t ask!), two Isle of Man Walking Festivals, held in June and October this year, and the Viking Festival, which has replaced the food and drink festival. Also gaining increasing popularity year on year is the mountain bike End-to-End challenge, a 47-mile course, which runs from the Point of Ayre in the north to The Sound in the south.
Finance is the other main platform of the economy, as the island’s tax and duty-free status attracts a lot of investment. The main centre for finance houses is Douglas, but there are some in Ramsey too.
In recent years, the TV and film industry has brought a lot of cash to the island. Encouraged by the Isle of Man Film Commission as a co-funder and co-producer, over 70 feature film and TV series have been filmed here since 1995. The unspoilt 1950s look has made the island attractive to any producer seeking locations for historical drama, and the general absence of red tape has facilitated the movie-making process. Most recently, Stormbreaker, Keeping Mum and Lassie have all been filmed on the island.
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The glens of the Isle of Man are always mentioned in guidebooks, but tourists pushed for time on a short break often miss them out of their itinerary. Manx people are fiercely protective of the glens, and say they are like nowhere else in the world. They each have a favourite glen walk, whether it be the more accessible Glen Helen or Ballaugh Glen, or the more challenging Glen Mooar, Glen Maye, or Ballaglass Glen.
The other view not to be missed is from the top of Snaefell. On a clear day it is said that you can see all seven kingdoms: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Mann, Heaven – and the Sea. The walk will do you good, but even the locals take the 100-year-old mountain railway, which gives you more time to enjoy the view from the café at the top.
Finally, the island is as close as you can get on this earth to a golfers’ paradise. There are no fewer than nine golf courses for only 76,000 people. Even the two municipal courses are very smartly kept, and all are friendly. Try the links at Castletown, Mount Murray set in 80 hectares, the James Braid-designed course at Peel, the brand-new Glen Truan, or Ramsey, where Nigel Mansell was club champion.
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