Explore Manx National Heritage

MANX NATIONAL HERITAGE EXPLORE

A WARM WELCOME FROM MANX NATIONAL HERITAGE

Failt Erriu - welcome to our 2023 visitor guide, brimming with information and inspiration to plan your days out and to help you make the most of your time on the Isle of Man.

From castles to coastlines, art to archaeology, forts to feats of engineering, museums and their magnificent collections, visit our incredible places and spaces to experience and enjoy the Island’s finest heritage sites.

With one of the richest historic landscapes in Europe, our stunning island offers an abundance of unique and inspiring days out.

Your support of our work to conserve and promote our historic places is greatly appreciated. By visiting, buying gifts in our shops or making a donation to our charity, you are helping to protect our historic places for future generations to enjoy.

We look forward to welcoming you at our sites.

Manx National Heritage

Isle of Man charity no. 603

KEY TO SYMBOLS

To help you find and share exact locations what3words divided the world into 3 metre squares and gave each square a unique combination of three words. To use, download the free app to your personal device.

OUR CHARITY CARES FOR...

The world’s largest working waterwheel

Over 950 plant species in our gardens

The oldest surviving schooner in the world

Calf of Man Bird Observatory of international importance

More Viking Age silver per square kilometre than England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

More

than 2,500 acres of landscape

Over 1 million items in our collections

525

Ancient monuments

Manx National Heritage is responsible for conserving, protecting and promoting the Isle of Man’s natural and cultural heritage. We are a registered charity and look after some of the Island’s most special places, spaces, archives and museum collections.

MANX MUSEUM

Thie Tashtee Vannin

OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR

9.30am - 4.30pm

D onations welcome

Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Situated in the heart of Douglas, the Manx Museum is bursting with artefacts and treasures unique to the Isle of Man. Highlights include some of the finest Viking treasures in the British Isles, temporary exhibitions, and spectacular galleries including a new TT Gallery opening spring 2023 and MUSEUM100, an exhibition celebrating 100 years of the Manx Museum.

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES

Explore our vast archives and printed resources, language, folklore, archaeology and landholdings are just some of the subjects to uncover. Open Wed - Sat, 10am - 4.30pm

ACHIEVING GREAT THINGS WITH YOUR SUPPORT

We’re celebrating our 100th anniversary year, now caring for over one million objects and archives in our national collections. Your support helps our charity conserve, protect and promote these resources for future generations to enjoy.

FIND US AT

Kingswood Grove, Douglas, IM1 3LY

Tel: 01624 648000

Transport: Buses 3, 3A, 22, 22H, 25, 25H

Horse Tram Broadway Stop, Manx Electric Railway and Steam Railway Douglas stops visit.sums.gentle

Manx Museum

Thistle Brooch, c.AD950

MANX MUSEUM 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Explore even more at the Manx Museum this year with exciting new exhibitions and activities.

New Isle of Man TT Gallery

Open for TT 2023, our spectacular new Isle of Man TT Gallery tells the story of the Isle of Man TT from its inception in 1907 to the present day, through the real-life stories of riders, families, mechanics, marshals and fans.

This must-see gallery is an immersive experience not to be missed, featuring world famous TT trophies, machines, leathers and helmets from titans of the TT races.

Museum 100 Exhibition

On display until 27 October 2023, this exciting exhibition celebrates the centenary of the Manx Museum and features a kaleidoscope of treasures from our collections including the oldest surviving Manx registered car and the museum’s first ever acquisition, Viking treasure!

View our full exhibition programme at manxnationalheritage.im/whats-on

To view our full What’s On programme scan the QR code

TT Gallery Museum 100 Exhibition

HOUSE OF MANANNAN

Thie Vanannan

OPEN DAILY ALL YEAR

9.30am - 4.30pm

Adults £13, Student £6.50 (with a valid student card). Children aged under 18 FREE. Multi-site savings available (see p21)

Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Embark on a magical tour through the Isle of Man’s rich Celtic, Viking and maritime past with the mythological sea god Manannan as your guide. Discover the Island from its time as the centre of the ‘Kingdom of Mann and the Isles’, to the busy fishing ports of the 19th century and the beginnings of The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Step inside life-size reconstructions of a Celtic roundhouse and a Viking longhouse, hear

fascinating stories carved into ancient stone crosses and see Odin’s Raven, a magnificent replica Viking longship. Walk through quayside warehouses, discovering the sights and sounds of sailmakers, coopers, chandlers and the superstitions of Peel’s fishing folk.

FIND US AT

Mill Road, Peel, IM5 1TA

Tel: 01624 648090

Transport: Buses 4, 4B, 5, 5C, 6, 6A pink.directly.lucky

Scan the QR code to find out more about the House of Manannan

Discover our thoughtfully curated range of gift items, books and much more, inspired by the Isle of Man. Browse our online collections, including stunning prints of Peel quayside from the Manx National Heritage Art Collection at magnoliabox.com/collections/manx-national-heritage-prints

Replica Viking ship Odin’s Raven Forest of Masts Gallery

HOUSE OF MANANNAN 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Get the most from your visit with our fascinating programme of exhibitions and activities.

Thirty

11 MARCH – 14 MAY 2023

An exhibition celebrating 30 years of the Isle of Man Arts Council Modern and Contemporary Loan Collection.

Thirty seven and three quarters

27 MAY – 25 JUNE 2023

An exhibition by artist and motorsport journalist Rachael Clegg.

Raad Yrarn –

Iron Road

1 – 30 JULY 2023

A celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Douglas to Peel Line with Isle of Man Railways.

Wildlife Photographer

of the Year

5 AUGUST – 8 OCTOBER

Nature as you have never seen it before in a breath-taking internationally renowned exhibition in association with the Natural History Museum, London.

PEEL CASTLE

Cashtal Phurt Ny H-Inshey

OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Adults £9, Student £4.50 (with a valid student card). Children aged under 18 FREE. Multi-site savings available (see p21)

Follow in the footsteps of Christian missionaries, kings and Vikings at Peel Castle, an impressive fortress on St Patrick’s Isle. Overlooking Peel harbour, legend has it that St Patrick visited the island bringing Christianity to the Isle of Man. Renowned for its glorious views, St Patrick’s Isle was a place of worship and later became a fort for an 11th century Viking king. Once a royal residence, this magnificent castle was a centre for the Island’s government for over 200 years until power moved south to Castle Rushen.

AMAZING ARCHAEOLOGY

Around 40 years ago, the grave of a wealthy woman from around 950 AD was discovered inside Peel Castle. It contained a necklace made of 73 glass, jet and amber beads from Britain and Europe. Some were 300 years old when the Pagan Lady wore the necklace.

This spectacular necklace is on display at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

FIND US AT West Quay, Peel IM5 1TB

Tel: 01624 648090

Transport: Buses 4, 4A, 5, 5C, 6, 6A doctor.puzzles.spine

NEARBY DISCOVER: TYNWALD HILL

Discover a living legacy of the Viking era at Tynwald Hill the traditional, ancient meeting place of the Manx parliamentary assembly, the oldest continuous parliament in the world. The four tiered hill at St John’s was made with sods of earth from each of the Island’s parishes and continues to be used for the Island’s annual Tynwald Day ceremony which takes place each year on 5 July. hilly.corrections.centuries

Scan the QR code to find out more about Peel Castle

1h+

Peel Castle

Pagan Lady’s Necklace

GROVE MUSEUM

Thie Tashtee Yn Chell

OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Adult £9, Student £4.50 (with a valid student card). Children aged under 18 FREE. Multi-site savings available (see p21)

Step inside the cherished home of the Gibbs of the Grove, charmingly displayed as it was left by sisters Janet and Alice Gibb. Built as a summer retreat for their grandfather, a wealthy Victorian shipping merchant, later it became the Gibb family home. Lovingly preserved, a visit to the Grove is like stepping back in time. Re-acquaint yourself with familiar items from our recent past as original costumes, jewellery, toys and fine furnishings show the story of the family, while the scullery and kitchen reveal what life was like for the maid. Outside, walk through the cobbled courtyard to see vintage farm machinery and enjoy our lovely garden, home to our very own colony of

NEARBY DISCOVER: CASHTAL YN ARD

honey bees, looked after by our expert bee-keepers.

DON’T MISS

When visiting the Grove, don’t miss out on a jar of Grove Honey, available from the Grove Shop. Every purchase supports our work in caring for the Island’s heritage.

FIND US AT

Andreas Road, Ramsey IM8 3UA

Tel: 01624 812686.

Transport: Buses 18K

Manx Electric Railway Ramsey Stop. doves.conjures.elevator

Cashtal yn Ard meaning ‘Castle of the Heights’ in Manx, an exceptional example of a Neolithic long cairn dating to around 3000 BC. clean.thrills.bleat

Grove Museum, Ramsey

Landscaped gardens at the Grove

Scan the QR code to find out more about Grove Museum

CASTLE RUSHEN

Cashtal Rushen

OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Adults £13, Student £6.50 (with a valid student card). Children aged under 18 FREE. Multi-site savings available (see p21)

Located in the ancient capital of the Isle of Man, Castletown, this impressive fortress is one of Europe’s most finely preserved medieval castles and was once home to the Kings and Lords of Mann. Originally built for a Norse king in around 1200AD, Castle Rushen was developed by successive rulers until the 1600s. During its time it was used as a fortress, royal residence, a mint and even a prison. Inside, immerse yourself in the castle’s history and hear from some of its inhabitants, including Bishop Wilson in his prison cell. Meet the castle guards in their vaulted rooms, climb the spiral staircases for stunning views

and return indoors to dine with the Kings and Lords of Mann. An interactive 3D scan of the castle (situated on the ground floor) enables all visitors to virtually climb the castle’s winding staircase and enjoy rooms above ground level.

FIND US AT

Castle Street, Castletown, Isle of Man, IM9 1LD Tel: 01624 827413

Transport: Buses 1, 2, 2A, 8, 11, 11A, Isle of Man Steam Railway Castletown Stop crisps.perfect.littler

Scan the QR code to find out more about Castle Rushen

NEARBY DISCOVER: ST MICHAEL’S ISLE

Visit the scene of two ferocious battles, fought nearly 800 years ago. In the first, the Manxmen were victorious but 25 years later, they succumbed to the Scots, who took control of the Island. These tumultuous events are recorded in the ‘Chronicles of the Kings and Lords of Mann and the Isles’, a medieval manuscript written by monks at Rushen Abbey. The round fort on the Island was built on the orders of Henry VIII to guard against attacks from France and Spain at Derbyhaven. Later, during the English Civil War, it was manned by musketeers. dogs.notifies.robe

The banqueting hall inside Castle Rushen Castle Rushen

THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Yn Chenn Scoill Grammeyoys

Built around 1200AD as the first church for the settlement that grew up around Castle Rushen, the Old Grammar School, later became a school for boys during Victorian times. During your visit you can experience a Victorian classroom setting and find out more about the young scholars who attended the school from the time. In 1950, this fascinating building was saved by our Charity from destruction when a preservation order was pinned to its door as the bulldozers approached. Today, it remains the oldest roofed structure on the Isle of Man.

TO VISIT

Join our Castletown Heritage Tour. Book at Castle Rushen or online at manxnationalheritage.im/shop

FIND US AT

airfields.imprecise.them

Scan the QR code to find out more about the Old Grammar School

THE OLD HOUSE OF KEYS

Shenn Thie yn Chiare as Feed

Greeted by the Secretary of the Old House of Keys, step inside the former home of the oldest continuous Parliament in the world and centre of 19th century political life on the Isle of Man. Take your seat in the finely restored debating chamber for a theatrical debate on setting the Island’s laws and discover how democracy develops as animated portraits bring Members of the House of Keys to life. Should racing be allowed on Open Roads? Should women get the vote? You decide in this immersive experience.

TO VISIT

Book a sitting at manxnationalheritage.im/shop

FIND US AT

pretended.narrowest.executive

Scan the QR code to find out more about the Old House of Keys

Old House of Keys, Castletown

Old Grammar School, Castletown

NAUTICAL MUSEUM

Yn Thie Tashtee Lhuingey

Uncover the fascinating story of the inventive Captain George Quayle, his eccentric boathouse and his most significant possession, the Peggy. A rare survivor, the Peggy is one of the world’s oldest wooden boats and the earliest example of a British Isles armed yacht. Built by Captain Quayle, a Manx banker, soldier and inventor, secret doors and panels in the boathouse can be discovered alongside Captain Quayle’s personal story, recently uncovered dock and previously unseen archaeological finds.

THE PEGGY CONSERVATION TOUR

The Peggy is the oldest complete vessel on the UK National Register of Historic

Vessels. Of international importance she has undergone conservation work in preparation for her future return to Castletown. To hear more about her story, join us for a free guided tour of our conservation facility at Cooil Smithy. See the Peggy, learn about her owner, Captain Quayle, get an update on her conservation and hear plans to return one of the world’s oldest wooden boats to Castletown.

limit.bony.cubicles

CASTLETOWN HERITAGE TOURS

Enjoy a tour of three Manx National Heritage sites in Castletown and explore the extraordinary history of the Old House of Keys, Old Grammar School and the Nautical Museum with our expert guides. Pre-booking required on manxnationalheritage.im/shop

Scan the QR code to find out more about the Nautical Museum

Nautical Museum, Castletown The Peggy, conservation tours

RUSHEN ABBEY

Mannishter Rushen

OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Adult £9, Student £4.50 (with a valid student card). Children aged under 18 FREE. Multi-site savings available (see p21)

In Ballasalla, the remains of Rushen Abbey sit in the Abbey Gardens. Originally the home of monks from the Sauvignac Order, who wrote the Chronicles of the Kings and Lords of Mann, the abbey dates back to a gift by King Olaf in 1134. During your visit, discover the abbey in it’s time as a monastery, a school for girls, jam factory and entertainment venue renowned for strawberry and cream tea dances. Outdoors, enjoy the charming Abbey Gardens, see the remains of medieval buildings and enjoy activities for families of

all ages. Relax in the peaceful surroundings of Rushen Abbey.

KEEPING OUR GARDENS BLOOMING

Thanks to your support, we keep our gardens blooming with spring flowers and wildflower meadows.

FIND US AT

Mill Road, Ballasalla

Tel: 01624 827413

grounding.indicative.bristled

Scan the QR code to find out more about Rushen Abbey

NEARBY DISCOVER: BALLADOOLE VIKING SHIP BURIAL

Just outside Castletown, Balladoole is one of the Isle of Man’s most impressive ancient monuments. Excavations have revealed a number of significant finds here including prehistoric flints, Bronze Age burials, Iron Age earthworks and early Christian lintel graves. A 10th century AD Viking boat burial which contained a 36ft long Viking ship and the bodies of a man and woman were among the many discoveries. zebras.craved.maps

Rushen Abbey gardens , Ballasalla Join in Monky Business activities for kids

GREAT LAXEY WHEEL

Queeyl Vooar Laksey

OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Adults £13, Student £6.50 (with a valid student card). Children aged under 18 FREE. Multi-site savings available (see p21)

The Great Laxey Wheel is the Isle of Man’s most iconic landmark and the largest working water wheel in the world. At 72 feet 6 inches in diameter, this extraordinary feat of Victorian engineering has brought tourists flocking to the picturesque village of Laxey for almost 170 years. During your visit, see this magnificent wheel turning and take the spiral stairs to the top to enjoy panoramic views of Glen Mooar Valley. Beyond the wheel, learn about the lives of the Laxey Miners, explore the mine trail and take a trip into the adit to experience life underground. Find out why the wheel is also known as Lady Isabella during your visit.

FIND US AT

Wheel Hill, Mines Road, Laxey, IM4 7NL. Tel: 01624 861136

Transport: Buses 3, 3A

Rail: Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway Laxey Stop fighters.chickens.drilled

HELP US KEEP THE LAXEY WHEEL TURNING

Help keep the Great Laxey Wheel turning for future generations by donating today at the Great Laxey Wheel or online at: manxnationalheritage.im/donate

1h+

Scan the QR code to find out more about the Laxey Wheel

Underground at Laxey mines

Lady Isabella

CONSERVING THE WHEEL

In 2022, Manx National Heritage completed the first phase of an extensive conservation programme, during which the Lady Isabella was carefully studied and conserved. Old render and defective timbers suffering from decay were replaced, ironmongery repaired and the wheel, housing, railings and viewing platform re-painted. Standing static during her conservation, the world famous

waterwheel began turning once again last autumn, concluding the first phase of the most comprehensive conservation project completed on Lady Isabella since her restoration almost 40 years ago. This year, the next phase in this momentous project will see work undertaken on the wheel’s rod duct and T-Rocker.

NEARBY DISCOVER: KING ORRY’S GRAVE

Despite its name (which refers to a Viking King and is an invention of local folklore) this fascinating ancient monument on the outskirts of Laxey is in fact a Neolithic chambered tomb, built around 6,000 years ago. It comprises two separate chambered monuments built in such close proximity that they have become confused as one. myth.luck.fame

View from the top of the Laxey Wheel

Conserving the Laxey Wheel, 2022

CREGNEASH Creneash

OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Adult £9, Student £4.50 (with a valid student card). Children aged under 18 FREE. Multi-site savings available (see p21)

Step back in time at Cregneash, a picturesque village, with thatched Manx cottages open to explore and enjoy. Visit Harry Kelly’s cottage, which opened back in 1938, marking the start of the first open air Folk Museum in the British Isles. Enjoy regular craft demonstrations in the cottages, visit Church Farmhouse and learn to say a few words of Manx in the cottage once lived in by Ned Beg Hum Roy. Visit our shop for gifts, including knitting wool from our own Loghtan Sheep flock, a rare native breed famed for their four horns, which greet you in the village. For refreshments sample freshly made cakes in the cafe.

Over May Day weekend, Laa Boaldyn

(Manx May Day), is celebrated in the village. At the end of October the village comes to life with children carving turnip lanterns for Hop tu Naa which marks the start of winter and Celtic New Year’s eve.

UPCOMING EVENTS

1 May, Laa Boaldyn

21 – 29 October, Hop tu Naa

FIND US AT

Howe Road, Cregneash IM9 5PX

Tel: 01624 834993

soups. blatant.relieving

1h+

Scan the QR code to find out more about Cregneash

Manx Loghtan Sheep

Cregneash Village

CALF OF MAN

Yn Cholloo

Available to visit during the summer. Day trips and overnight accommodation available. Visit manxnationalheritage.im for more information.

Located amidst spectacular scenery half a mile off the southern tip of the Isle of Man, the Calf of Man is a small island extending to approximately 600 acres. Under the care of Manx National Heritage the Calf provides the ideal destination for birdwatchers, being home to a number of species including seabird colonies and thousands of migrating birds. Around 33 species of seabirds breed on the island, including Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Shag. Other species normally observed on the island include

NEARBY DISCOVER: MEAYLL CIRCLE

Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Chough. The Calf of Man is accessed by small boat operators running return trips from Port St Mary and Port Erin. Sailings are subject to suitable weather conditions, tide and the availability of the boatmen and all journeys must be booked in advance.

Overnight stays are available in Manx National Heritage’s hostel accommodation, the Calf of Man Bird Observatory during summer months. Find out more on page 24.

Scan the QR code to find out more about booking trips to the Calf of Man

Meayll Circle, a Neolithic chambered cairn near Cregneash village, is the most outstanding of the Manx megaliths. Constructed more than 5,000 years ago with 12 burial chambers or cists arranged in pairs around the circumference of the monument, it is an exceptional monument in the Isle of Man and also within the British Isles. Each cist contained fragments of charred bone, pottery and flint, which help tell the story of people who lived in the Neolithic period. Artefacts found at the site are on display at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

tungsten.representing.litter

View of the Calf of Man Razorbills

GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

Shopping with Manx National Heritage

Our wonderful range of products include handmade gifts, textiles, homeware, books and more, inspired by our beautiful Island. 100% of our profits from your purchase supports our charity’s work.

CAN’T FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

Get gifts, books and prints delivered with the help of our Manx National Heritage online shop at manxnationalheritage.im

EXPLORE MORE FOR LESS

Turn the price of one day out into multiple adventures with our multi-site tickets.

Holiday Pass - £30

Offering unlimited access to all Manx National Heritage sites for up to 14 days from first use, our Holiday Pass is the perfect ticket for your holiday break.

Go Explore Heritage Pass - £69

Hop on board the Isle of Man Steam Railway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell

Mountain Railway, Bus Vannin and Douglas Bay Horse Trams, and enjoy entry to all Manx National Heritage sites for up to 5 days from first use.

Annual Pass and Membership - from £35

An annual pass is available for Isle of Man residents to enjoy, providing unlimited entry to Manx National Heritage sites. Proof of address required. Membership is also available through the Friends of Manx National Heritage.

Tickets can be purchased at all Manx National Heritage sites and manxnationalheritage.im/shop

Gallery Shop, Manx Museum

ISLE OF MAN HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD

To find out more fascinating information about the Island’s historic places, archaeological sites, landscape, shipwrecks and historic buildings, visit the Isle of Man Historic Environment Record at isleofmanher.im

DIGITAL COLLECTIONS

Discover over 1 million records on our ever expanding online portal.

Explore art to archaeology, baptisms, marriages, burials, sound archives, books, maps photographs, posters, prints and more than 150 years of digitised Manx newspapers. Visit imuseum.im to find out more.

CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS

BAY ROOM CAFÉ

Manx Museum, Douglas

A delightful small café serving light refreshments. Reopening Summer 2023. Check website for opening dates.

THE COFFEE STATION

House of Manannan, Peel

Start your day with a coffee or enjoy a sandwich, cake or snack.

THE CASTLEGATE

The Quay, Castletown

BUILDING

A scenic harbour-side Costa café offering coffee, cakes and snacks.

THE ABBEY RESTAURANT

Rushen Abbey, Ballasalla

Fine dining next to the site of Rushen Abbey.

Cafés and restaurants at our heritage sites are managed by independent operators.

CREGNEASH CAFÉ

Cregneash Village, Sound Road

Open seasonally for hearty food, coffee and cakes in the picturesque setting of Cregneash Folk Village.

NIARBYL BAY CAFÉ

Dalby Village

All day dining and evening meals in a picturesque location overlooking the Island’s west coast. Temporarily closed for refurbishment, reopening later this summer. Check website for opening dates.

THE CAFÉ AT THE SOUND

Sound Road, Cregneash, Port Erin

Dine in a panoramic location overlooking the Calf of Man.

Scan the QR code to find out more about Cafés and restaurants.

For your convenience, opening times are published on manxnationalheritage.im or please visit each café’s own website for full details. Information correct at time of going to print (April 2023).

The Café at the Sound The Coffee Station

STAY WITH US

With so many fascinating heritage sites, archaeology, wildlife and wilderness to enjoy, many of our visitors return to the Isle of Man time after time. We offer unique places to stay, providing the perfect base for your next self-catering holiday and a warm Manx welcome for all who visit.

THIE THOOIT 4 ★

Our stunning thatched cottage on the Island’s north coast is the ideal retreat for stargazing and spotting the Northern Lights. A registered historic building, our romantic thatched cottage sleeps 2 people and offers guests an unforgettable rural retreat. Enjoying access to Lhen beach and Cronk y Bing nature reserve, the cottage is perfect for nature lovers. islandescapes.im/property/562727

EARY CUSHLIN 4 ★ GOLD

Nestled on the Raad ny Foillan coastal footpath, our tranquil farmhouse is located in a beautiful location on the Island’s west coast. Sleeping up to 9 people, Easy Cushlin offers the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts including stargazers, nature lovers, mountain bikers and walkers. islandescapes.im/property/562726

CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY HOSTEL

Switch off, shut down, log off and enjoy a digital detox on our remote island nature reserve. Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty cared for by our Charity, the Calf of Man offers a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of modern day life. On the voyage to the island by private charter boat, you’ll be welcomed by the local wildlife including seals and sea birds. islandescapes.im/property/563693

Our holiday accommodation is managed on behalf of Manx National Heritage by Island Escapes, an independent Isle of Man holiday cottage rental agency.

To check availability

Call 01624 830200

Email visit@islandescapes.im

Scan the QR code to find out more about Manx National Heritage holiday accommodation

Thie Thooit Calf of Man Bird Observatory

View at Eary Cushlin

The Lhen beach, Thie Thooit

ACCESS FOR ALL

Manx National Heritage wants all our visitors to have a great experience with us. Our Access Guides provide helpful information about the accessibility of our sites and can be found under the ‘Accessibility’ section of manxnationalheritage.im

Access guides are available to download, providing accessibility information for all our sites in one location to assist with planning your visits.

To help facilitate your visit, it is our policy that carers are admitted free of charge to all Manx National Heritage properties.

Assistance dogs are welcome at all Manx National Heritage properties.

Descriptive tours for visually impaired visitors and familiarisation visits to help visitors with learning or sensory difficulties can be arranged on request.

Visitors with specific needs are welcome to contact Manx National Heritage in advance of their visit on 01624 648000.

SAFE PLACES

We are committed to providing a safe environment for all visitors to our sites. Our staff receive training in safeguarding and have a shared responsibility for the protection of children and vulnerable adults engaging with our sites and services.

PLANNING GROUP VISITS

Each year we welcome thousands of group visitors to Manx National Heritage sites. We are here to help make your group visit to the Island extra special and to ensure everything runs smoothly. Please contact us to assist with any aspect of your arrangements. We can help with itineraries, timings, cruise ship visits and tailored or special interest tours. Group rates are available for pre-booked admissions for groups of 15 or more.

GET IN TOUCH

Write to us at:

Manx National Heritage, Manx Museum, Kingswood Grove Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 3LY.

Telephone: 01624 648000

Group Bookings Office: 01624 648017

Email: enquiries@mnh.im

COUNTRYSIDE AND ANCIENT MONUMENTS

During your journey around the Isle of Man, take time to enjoy the Manx countryside from the coastal heath of the Ayres to the bird-lined cliffs of the Chasms. You will discover one of the richest archaeological landscapes in Europe, evidence of the people who lived here in the past. From Mesolithic remains to Medieval Megaliths, the Island has a remarkable variety of archaeological sites.

MANX CROSSES

One of the most outstanding collections of over 200 medieval carved stone crosses anywhere in the British Isles can be found on the Island. Some are protected in churches and shelters, while others stand in the open air of churchyards and even fields. More are displayed at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

FORTIFICATIONS FROM THE BRONZE AGE

Thought to date from the Bronze Age there are more than 15 promontory forts around the Island’s coast, built mainly for defence or refuge to provide shelter from attack.

Cronk ny Merriu, the ‘Hill of the Dead’ is an excellent example. Overlooking Port Grenaugh in the South of the Island, this ancient site also includes the remains of a Norse style building and was part of a system of coastal lookout posts.

Find the site at swell.steam.rosette

In the North, Kerroogarroo in Andreas is a remarkable star-shaped earthwork inland

fort constructed in the mid-17th century by Sir James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, Lord of Mann, a Royalist who fortified the Isle of Man against Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War. It is the only one of its kind on the Island, designed to withstand almost all forms of artillery attack.

Find it at defends.stylist.beige

IRON AGE AND VIKING FARMSTEADS

Visit The Braaid to find remarkable remains of Iron Age and Viking farmsteads sitting side-by-side. A stone circle is all that remains of a large roundhouse, probably lived in and used as an animal enclosure in the Iron Age. No conclusive evidence has ever been found for the date and original purpose of the roundhouse, however, it seems likely that it is the earliest visible structure on the site and served as a home and later as a pen or enclosure for animals when the later Viking longhouses were built.

Discover the site at hoop.highly.pure

DISCOVER MORE…

To discover more, pick up a copy of Archaeological Sites of the Isle of Man, the ideal companion for anyone wanting to explore these treasures and learn more about the complex history of the Manx people from earliest times.

Available from the Manx Museum Shop and manxnationalheritage.im/shop

Manx Crosses at Old Lonan Church

Cronk ny Merriu, Port Grenaugh

Kerroogarroo Fort, Andreas

Braaid

Onc han Laxey

Manx Museum

Douglas

Sea T erminal

A Roads B Roads TT Cours e Railw ay s

T he Br aaid Cronk ny Merriu

St J ohns

Tynw ald Hill

Dalb y

Niarb yl Ba y

South Barrule

Rushen Abbey

Ballasalla Airpor t

Hill peak

Sta y Wi th Us

Balladoole

Eary Cushlin

Castleto wn

Derb y F ort

P ort St Mary

Br adda Head

Cregneash

P ort Erin

Mea yll Hill

T he Sound

Celtic & V iking Crosses

Ancient Sites Glens

Dark Skies Disc ov ery Site

Nature Reserv e

Manx National Heritage Site

Castle Rushen Old House of K eys

Nautical Museum Old Gr ammar Sc hoo l

Calf of Man

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Manx National Heritage is an Isle of Man registered charity and looks after the Island’s most cherished places and spaces, including historic buildings, landscapes, archives and museum collections.

Your support in volunteering, visiting, shopping, fundraising, donating or leaving a legacy to Manx National Heritage is greatly appreciated and helps protect our heritage for the benefit of future generations.

Thank you for your support

See more at manxnationalheritage.im