It was a struggle to say the least, to generate enough interest within the group for this trip to be viable. Posters were put up everywhere to muster enough bums on seats to visit this beautiful island and non walkers were encouraged to join us. It’s thanks mainly to the coach company – namely John Cropley’s - negotiating skills with the ferry company and hotel that we went ahead at all as after a last minute cancellation we had only 25 passengers and driver, Bob.

The outward journey was uneventful in as much as we arrived with plenty of time to spare, and the crossing from Heysham to Douglas was smooth despite white horses all across the Irish Sea.

We arrived at the Chesterhouse Hotel, Douglas to be welcomed by Alex, the manager, and other staff who helped us to our rooms. After a long journey we had a relaxing evening and dinner in the hotel restaurant. This hotel is to be recommended.

On Tuesday we took the coach to the North of the Island to Ayres Visitor Centre and walked against a gale force head wind to the light house at Ayres Point, seeing a few seals popping their heads out of the water along the way. Once reaching the point we turned south with the wind mainly behind us, but alas it started to rain quite hard and we were wet before we got to Phutt. Here we were picked up by the coach and travelled to Maughold Head, just south of Ramsey where we did a shortish walk (according to the guide book) along the cliffs. We came across a tiny baby bird looking very fed up and wet sitting on a big tuft of grass. We all said hi to him and he didn’t attempt to fly away as we went on our way up and down the cliff path, then away slightly from the sea and then back to the cliffs. We stopped at a shelter for a bite to eat with a view of the village on one side and of the sea on the other. We continued along the cliff tops until we came into the village and unfortunately had to hike another mile on tarmac up hill to pick up the coach as he had had to wait on main road because of road works. (Not planned)

This evening we were entertained at dinner by a musician in the hotel.

On Wednesday we had planned to walk from Port St Mary to Port Erin again along the cliffs. W e set off but again the weather was not terribly kind to us, a bit grey but good walking temperatures. Finding the way onto the coastal path proved to be frustrating as it was slightly hidden but once on the path it was well marked and easy to follow. We had an apple stop in a shelter which used to be a café. Nearby was ‘The Chasms’ where it was said that the earth moved as Christ was crucified and big splits in the earth appeared. Later when there was a war the soldiers captured were beheaded and their bodies thrown into the chasms. A somewhat gory apple stop!! We carried on along the cliffs which were getting higher and higher, and then the Calf of Man came into view. As we were coming off the cliffs and down to the café at The Sound, the weather came in and the cloud came down so it was sometimes difficult to see ahead to where the path went. We decided it would be fool hardy to go on to Port Erin along the cliffs as they were now shrouded in cloud. So we stopped at the café for some refreshments and tried to call the coach to pick us up, only to find no signal at all on anyone’s mobiles. The café had an interesting animated display inside.

Due to health and safety regulations we weren’t allowed to use the phone at the café as it was in the kitchen. So there was another walk towards Cregneish (the point where mobiles worked again) all up hill on tarmac (Yuk). Half way there we were able to flag down the local bus that took us on to Port Erin and returned us to the coach. As there were no other passengers on this bus we must have doubled the week’s takings! On the way we passed a green telephone box that had been painted for the film Waking Ned which was set in Ireland but filmed on the Isle of Man. They had special permission to keep it green.

Again there was entertainment in the hotel after dinner – singing, quizzes and competitions. Some of us won prizes which caused much hilarity! And others had the added thrill of meeting a Johnny Depp look-alike in the foyer and have photos to prove it!

On Thursday, the weather was fine and at times sunny. This walk was from Glenmaye along a glen and then onto the cliffs again to Peel. Before we started walking we had an adventure with the coach. We overshot the drop off point and decided to go into a farm to turn around only to find the coach was too long to do so. The owners of the farm were very kind, although found it quite amusing, and let us turn around in a field. Once back to the starting point we walked through a car park and down some steps beside a waterfall and along a stream to disused watermill housing – the actual wheel long gone. Across the road and up on to the cliffs where we stayed all day. Occasionally some sea mist would come in but never enough to lose the way. We could see boats setting lobster or crab pots and leaving markers, and the sea birds busy nesting and fishing. Finally we came off the cliffs and into Peel with the ruined castle standing at the entrance to the harbour. Here we had an ice cream and a rest before making our way back to the coach and Douglas.

This evening most of the party went to watch the practise for the TT races before dinner. Outside the hotel on the promenade a funfair had been erected – but no-one visited it from our party!

Friday morning brought an early start to catch the ferry for a beautifully calm crossing.

Everyone enjoyed this trip, and walking on the island is to be recommended. The non-walkers were able to visit various attractions, including a lap around the TT course, thanks to Bob.

We would like to thank Wendy, Bob and John Cropley for working hard to make the trip possible.

Here are a few more pictures taken on the trip -

Click the first photo -