We had a wonderful day today! We chose to come here on spec, knowing little about the place and just including several islands on our itinerary. We could spend a couple of weeks here and not be bored. At the Information Centre we were able to buy Explorer Travel Vouchers for 32 pounds all up (AUD60) and they saved us a lot.
First trip started at the old Railway Station of Douglas, where Lyn had a coffee while waiting for the steam train which took us south to Port Erin.
It took an hour and we shared a dog box with four nice ladies who gave us some local knowledge. We agreed it was as good a steam train trip as we have ever had. The scenery was really great. The locos they used were small but pulled strongly all the way.
At Port Erin we wandered along the cliff top overlooking the Irish sea to the west
and then descended to the Cosy Nook Cafe for morning tea on the "beach".
The place reminds us in many ways of Robin Hood Bay in Yorkshire and had a relaxed, serene atmosphere.
and then descended to the Cosy Nook Cafe for morning tea on the "beach".
The place reminds us in many ways of Robin Hood Bay in Yorkshire and had a relaxed, serene atmosphere.
On the way back to Douglas a local man came into our compartment with a dog that knew all the stops the train makes. When he got off to go to the pub, a couple got on with two dogs for a couple of stops. Back at Douglas Station we hurried to the start of the Horse Train which took us the three kilometres along the promenade to the electric train terminus.
The wind was very cold today and nobody elected to sit in the open air carriage on the train.
It was a 30 minute trip north to Laxey, where we changed to another train with one enclosed carriage.
This one took us to Snaefell summit, which was 2,035 feet high. From here you can find yourself surrounded by seven kingdoms: Isle of Man (which has its own sterling notes that we had to buy), Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, Heaven above and Neptune's realm below. After a minute or so the train stopped to allow us to photograph the huge water driven Laxey Big Wheel.
The scenery on the way up was exceptional
but just before the summit we entered the clouds and the wind intensified. We had to take refuge in the Dining Room because we could not walk into the gale force wind.
but just before the summit we entered the clouds and the wind intensified. We had to take refuge in the Dining Room because we could not walk into the gale force wind.
On the way up and again on the way down we saw rainbows. We came back to Douglas in the open carriage which was very cold.
All our transport today ran on old rails that caused loud click clacks, went quite slowly (about cycling speed),
rattled, swayed, creaked, squealed and had no air conditioning. Absolutely marvellous!
But we always had a conductor and we saw a large part of the island.
The man designated Sir N.W. yesterday was Norman Wisdom. The favourite son here is the cyclist Mark Cavendish.
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