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Everything you need to know about vacationing on the Isle of Man

Situated in the Irish Sea, between the Lake District and Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State -- her formal title is Lord of Mann. It has its own government, parliament and like its Channel Island neighbors farther south, its own currency-- the Manx pound, which is pound-for-pound the same as sterling.

The island's parliament Tynwald is said to be the world's oldest, established in 979.

The Isle of Man stretches 32 miles from north to south and 14 miles from east to west. It is much bigger than any of the Channel Islands and driving from the south to the north can take over an hour. Given the size and the beauty of the island, a rental car is recommended for anyone wanting to truly explore. In fact, whilst the capital Douglas makes sense as a base (though the other towns on the island have rural and remote charm), the splendor of the island is very much away from Douglas.

Read more : Whisky, walking and wonderful views: The ultimate Scottish road trip

Influenced by Celtic culture and with "Northern rough charm" (given the windy and rainy weather conditions that can prevail from the Irish Sea), the island has just under 100,000 residents. But during the annual motorsport events -- the Tourist Trophy race in May/June and the Grand Prix in August/September -- the number of people on the island can double.

Unless you are into motorbikes, those four weeks are probably best avoided as accommodation sells out a year in advance, prices soar, roads are closed due to the races and the funfair on the promenade in Douglas -- whilst fun and lively -- can resemble the stereotypical picture of a British seaside resort at its least charming.

Given its location in the Irish Sea, the weather is always going to be on the fresher side so be prepared for slightly colder temperatures and rain year-round. Whilst no guarantee of a particular climate, the summer months naturally have the best chance of blue skies and great views across the ardent green countryside, hills and the sea.

How to get to the Isle of Man

The island's main transportation link is Ronaldsway Airport (IOM), which is to the south of the island. Flybe was offering a number of flights to and from the island, though since its demise, Loganair has stepped in .

Normally, there are direct scheduled flights to the Isle of Man from:

• Belfast International
• London City
• London Gatwick
• London Heathrow
• London Luton

These are operated by British Airways CityFlyer, EasyJet , Aer Lingus and Loganair.

Ferry services to and from Douglas are available from Liverpool and Heysham, Lancashire, as well as from Belfast and Dublin . Services are carried out by fast ferries taking two hours and 45 minutes from Liverpool as well as a larger, traditional (and slower) ferry taking around four hours from Liverpool and Heysham. Crossings to Belfast and Dublin take just under three hours. Timetables and routes offered are seasonal and dependent on weather conditions.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, carrying out these crossings with its two vessels, is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, celebrating its 190th birthday in 2020. One of its two vessels -- the MS Ben-my-Chree -- is affectionately called "the Ben" by locals and you'll hear weather interruptions to the service ("the Ben isn't sailing today because of the wind") discussed in the pubs between locals.

Towns on the Isle of Man and where to stay

Douglas is the capital and largest town on the Isle of Man with a third of the population living there. It has a seat-front promenade that invites strolls and in the middle of the bay is the Tower of Refuge. Horse-drawn carriages operate along the 1.6-mile "prom" during the summer months.

Aside from the horse-drawn carriages, there's an electric railway that operates up Snaefell, the island's highest mountain, and to Ramsay, as well as a steam train though the latter is more of a visitors' attraction than a means to getting around. A rental care, as said, is definitely recommended.

If in doubt and unless you are after a much more remote experience, Douglas is the default base for any visitors to the island and offers the most hotels, bed & breakfasts and restaurants.

Read more : 9 of the most amazing spas worth traveling for

The second-largest town on the island is Ramsey. Situated north of Douglas and though worth a visit as part of a drive around the island (there are some pubs around the harbor for a spot of lunch), staying in Ramsey doesn't make sense. It doesn't have the buzz of Douglas nor the stunning remoteness on offer on the rest of the island.

For those seeking more privacy and nature, the island has a lot of smaller villages. A drive around the island including the lighthouse at the north in Bride, the road down the west coast passing through Kirk Michael and Glen Rushen all the way south to Port Erin and Cregneash, is highly recommended. Given the distance, such a drive in itself will fill most of the day.

Peel offers the charm of a fishing village with its bay and harbor as well as Peel Castle and a small range of pubs and restaurants. Accommodation options are more limited than in Douglas but a trip to Peel should certainly be on your things-to-do list.

Castletown is situated on the south coast of the island and south of the airport. Castle Rushen is situated in the middle of the town giving it a very different vibe from Peel. Accommodation options are still limited, though there's a bit more choice than in Peel. The proximity to the airport is neither an advantage nor bothersome given the limited number of flights per day.

Take advantage of the stunning scenery

This might be an obvious statement and one that applies to many islands and beauty spots but the Isle of Man has some truly glorious parts to it -- and its size means there's variety beyond the classic coastal areas. I'll let these pictures do most the talking.

Things to do

As already mentioned, the Isle of Man becomes a major international attraction for motorsports fans twice a year -- more so during the TT Races than during the Grand Prix. Even outside of those weeks, given there is no national speed limit on the Isle of Man on roads outside of towns, it is popular with visitors who want to test their motorbikes or cars to the fullest of their capabilities. Most roads are small and windy so the attraction is testing your skill, as well as speeding. Jeremy Clarkson is a resident on the island and various episodes of Top Gear (and other motorsport programs) have been filmed there.

The obvious other sport is golf and the island's eight golf courses (including a links course in Castletown) offer some truly stunning and breathtaking backdrops.

The highest mountain on the island, Snaefell, with an elevation of just over 2,000 feet, offers visitors views of all parts of the U.K. on a clear day -- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The mountain can easily be reached by car or via the electric railway which also operates between Douglas and Ramsay. Both options end just below the peak which can be reached by a short hike.

The Laxey Wheel

Another must-visit is the Laxey Wheel, the largest working waterwheel in the world. Laxey can be found on the coastal road between Douglas and Ramsay so is easily reachable and the village itself is worth it for a short stroll and coffee break. The wheel itself, with its 72-foot diameter, stands imposingly just north of the village.

Unspoiled nature

Undoubtedly the biggest attraction of the island is simply its wonderful natural beauty. It is a beautiful green island with stunning views, cliffs and coastal lines but also inland treats such as two reservoirs and lots of windy creeks and rivers. Aside from a drive around the island on the coastal roads, any visitor should head inland too and explore.

If it rains, Douglas also offers all the usual indoor activities like shopping, museums, cinemas or the casino.

Bottom line

The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are often grouped together and compared despite being separate nations and not close in proximity.

Whilst French influence and charm can be felt in Jersey, the Isle of Man has a very different though equally alluring Celtic vibe about it. It is both more rustic and given its bigger size, more varied -- think valleys and creeks, winding mountain roads and dramatic coastal cliffs.

Once described as "the Naples of the North", the Isle of Man -- and Douglas in particular -- can have a British seaside resort feel but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Go and see yourself, the Isle of Man is a great choice for a vacation within the British Isles.

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Visit Isle of Man announces strategic plan to 2023

Visit Isle of Man, an Executive Agency within the Department for Enterprise, has today (Tuesday 25 February) unveiled its 3 year strategic plan at its ninth annual Industry Tourism Day, held at the Villa Marina.

Over 100 representatives with an interest in tourism and the visitor economy were in attendance to listen to presentations which outlined the agency’s ambitions of attracting 340,000 visitors per annum to the Island by 2023, which in turn will bring visitor spending of £159 million into the Visitor Economy, supporting more than 3,500 jobs in the sector.

Building on our UNESCO Biosphere status and drive for sustainable tourism, the strategy set out six core actions to ensure the targeted promotion and consistent development of the sector: visitor experience, partnerships, product and event innovation, promotion and marketing, policy development and enhanced research and measurement.

Rob Callister MHK, Political Member with responsibility for Visit Isle of Man and Motorsport commented:

‘The competition for the tourism pound is fiercer than ever and in order to compete effectively we must create a common sense of purpose and strategic direction to build and promote the Isle of Man as a quality visitor destination. There are considerable opportunities across the UK and Ireland, with the UK staycation market currently worth £14 billion to the UK economy. Amid economic uncertainties, this market shows no sign of slowing and we must therefore look to capture a representative share. ‘Providing an exceptional visitor experience and promoting a service culture is fundamental to Visit Isle of Man’s strategy. The core business disciplines and visitor first approach which have been developed by the Agency to date is testament to this. The annual Industry Tourism Day is an integral component of this strategic action, providing the perfect platform for industry and agency to collaborate and network. It was wonderful to see so many in attendance this year.

Ranald Caldwell, Non-Executive Chair of Visit Isle of Man, added:

‘Today we have outlined an ambitious vision for tourism which cannot be achieved by Visit Isle of Man alone but must happen in the spirit of partnership. Experience from other jurisdictions tells us that more effective relationships with travel trade and local stakeholders will be the single biggest improvement for Visit Isle of Man in terms of attracting more visitors whilst improving their experience on Island. Our primary focus for the duration of the strategy will therefore be to take the lead on the formation of an enhanced network of key operators and agencies and engage with a mix of distribution partners who will champion the Isle of Man as a quality visitor destination and position us in the market.’ ‘Whilst today outlines our strategy to 2023, the agency has recently started work on an enhanced 10 year strategy which looks at the work and commitment required if we want to achieve 500,000 visitors per annum by 2030. Our industry partners will all have the opportunity to take part in this exciting journey that has the potential to transform the industry and the quality of Island life.’

Keynote speaker on the day, Linda Moir, expert in HR and customer service, further extolled the importance of providing an exceptional visitor experience. Further to Linda’s valuable insights on customer experience, the agency outlined its promise to deliver a supplementary programme of learning and development to encourage the best use of tools and channels to improve the efficiency of the sector for the benefit of visitors to the Island.

The Visit Isle of Man Strategic Plan to 2023 is available online.  

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The best way to start your visit to the Isle of Man is by visiting one of the Island’s tourist information points to help you plan what of the Island's many attractions, places to visit and things to see and do you want to include on your itinerary.

The Isle of Man Welcome centre can be found at the Sea Terminal in Douglas and is a great place to start. Visitor information centres can also be found in some of the main towns and villages around the Island, usually located in the public libraries or town commissioners’ offices. Leaflets, books, maps - some of which are free and produced in French and German - and helpful staff to answer your questions are available at most information centres.

Visitor Brochures & Guide

The Isle of Man Government also has Visitor Guides and Brochures available for download as pdfs on their website.

  Discover Our Visitor Information Centres

The Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal

Located at the Sea Terminal on Douglas Promenade, the Isle of Man Government Welcome Centre is the Island’s multi-functional premier tourism and information centre. View

Castletown Tourist Information Point

Located within the Castletown Civic Centre on Farrants Way, the Castletown Tourist Information Point features information about the Isle of Man. View

Laxey and Lonan Heritage Visitor Information and Shop

Located within the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust Shop in Laxey, the Visitor Information features information about the Isle of Man. View

Peel Visitor Information Point

Located in the Manx Wildlife Trust Gift Shop in Peel, the Peel Visitor Information Point features information about the Isle of Man. View

Port Erin Visitor Information Point

Located on Bridson Street in Port Erin, the Port Erin Visitor Information Point features information about the Isle of Man. View

Ramsey Visitor Information Point

Located within the Ramsey Town Hall & Library in Parliament Square, the Ramsey Visitor Information Point features information about the Isle of Man. View

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Visitor Information Centres

There are Visitor Information Centres in all of the Island’s main towns, but the first place to start should be the dedicated Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal in Douglas. Here you’ll find knowledgeable staff to advise you, as well as a wide range of printed guidebooks, maps and other information to help you on your journey.

You can even book tickets for shows at the Gaiety Theatre, Villa Marina and Broadway Cinema as well as for Heritage Attractions , buses and the Railways .

You’ll find Visitor Information Centres at:

• Ramsey Library (open every Monday to Saturday)
• Castletown Civic Centre (open every Monday to Saturday)
• Castle Rushen (open daily between April and October)
• The Old Grammar School, Castletown (open daily between April and October)
• Port Erin Commissioners (open every Monday to Friday)
• Port St Mary Commissioners (open every Monday to Friday)
• Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal (open every Monday to Saturday, plus Sundays from Easter Sunday onwards throughout the summer season)
• Onchan Library (open every Monday to Saturday)
• Laxey Heritage Trust (open daily between Easter and September)
• Peel Commissioners (open every Monday to Friday)
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The Isle of Man is now welcoming back fully vaccinated visitors.

Who can travel to the Isle of Man

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