Walking on the Isle of Man. Terry Marsh

      Looking across the bay to Bradda Hill (Walk 30)

Walking and access

      The scope for walking on the island is considerable, and with a very distinctive flavour. Being an island, and a smallish one at that, many walks touch upon the coastline at some point, and it is almost true to say that on every walk in this book you can see the sea at some stage. It is equally valid that with few exceptions all the footpaths are well signed, whether it is for the normal paths or one (or more) of the long- and middle-distance trails that criss-cross the island.

      There is limited opportunity for walks in excess of, say, 16km (10 miles), though the diligent person can string together quite a few smaller walks to make something more demanding. So, the emphasis here is on shorter walks, suitable for half days, or for families. More committed walkers will still find they can spend long days crossing the hills that form the central spine of the island, but the number of opportunities to do so is limited. Even so, you can come here for a month and still follow a new walk every day.

      And being so close to the sea produces its own brand of weather conditions for the walker to contend with – from hot balmy days to real howlers on the tops. Sea mist can be quite a problem, too, so if you can’t navigate in poor visibility, it would be a good idea to wait for a clear day.

      As in the UK great swathes of the Isle of Man are open access, here known as ‘Public Ramblage’. In essence this means there is a freedom to roam at will. Large parts of the high ground fall within this definition. Other areas hold ‘Scenic Significance’ or are held by the Manx National Trust or Manx National Heritage, and here access is generally not a problem, though there may be local restrictions.

      Elsewhere, the island has 17 National Glens, maintained and preserved by the Forestry Department, because it is largely in the glens that the island’s main areas of tree cover are to be found. There are two types of glen, coastal and mountain. The coastal glens – like Glen Maye, Groudle Glen, Glen Wyllin and Dhoon Glen – often lead down to a beach, while the mountain glens – Sulby, Glen Mooar, Colby Glen – have splendid streams, waterfalls and pools.

      Spread across the island is a network of ‘Greenway Roads’ and ‘Green Lanes’. A Green Lane is an unsurfaced road through the countryside for pedestrians, 4x4s, motorcycles, mountain bikes and horses, similar to a Byway Open to All Traffic in England. Some are ‘Greenway Roads’ which have restrictions. On Green Lanes, vehicle users should give way to pedestrians and horse riders, and be aware that farm animals may be in the road at any time.

Mapping

      One of the problems, probably the only significant problem, for walkers visiting the island is the mapping. The British Ordnance Survey produces a single Landranger map (Sheet 95), at a scale of 1:50,000, and experienced walkers will find this adequate. But, at the time of writing the first edition, there was no corresponding larger scale OS map. What existed was a two-sheet 1:25,000 Outdoor Leisure Map produced by the Isle of Man by reducing old six-inch maps. The result was often text too small to read with the naked eye, although rights of way were clearly depicted. This has been replaced by a more modern map which is a little better in this respect. A modern 1:30,000 map, produced by Harvey Maps, is probably the best map for walkers.

Using this guide

      Walking across Maughold Brooghs (Walk 10)

      The walks range across the whole island and are grouped, roughly equally, North or South, on no stronger relationship than that they have with the A1 Douglas to Peel road. There is no other geographical significance to the grouping.

      The descriptions in this guidebook all follow the same format. The information box gives the stage start and finish location accompanied by grid references, stage distance (km/miles), height gain, details of places close to the route that offer refreshments and hints on parking.

      The map extracts which accompany each route are taken from the 1:50,000 OS mapping, blown up to 1:40,000 for greater clarity. A summary table of all walks in the guidebook, to help you select the most convenient route for you and your walking party, can be found in Appendix A.

      THE NORTH

      Track leading through Glen Mona (Walk 11)

WALK 1

      Ayres, Point of Ayre and Bride

Start/Finish	Ayres Visitor Centre (NX 435 038)
Distance	12km (7½ miles)
Height gain	80m (262ft)
Refreshments	Tea room in Bride
Parking	At visitor centre

      This walk is for birdwatchers and those who love being close to the sea. The island’s northern coastline plays host to almost every species of bird listed for the island at some time during each year, and invariably includes many interesting migratory, passage birds. Unfortunately there is quite a bit of road walking to make the walk into a proper circuit, and this detracts from the walk a little as well as introducing a note of danger as the roads are not pedestrian-friendly, having neither footpaths nor verges. Consider retracing your steps from Phurt rather than risking the road section, especially if there are young, elderly or animals in the party, although Bride is always worth a visit.

      AYRES NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE

      The nature reserve has a total area of 272ha (673 acres). The site is internationally important for breeding birds, and the whole area of outstanding interest for natural historians. Out at sea gannet, shag, cormorant, guillemot, and little, common and arctic terns are frequent visitors – along with the occasional black-throated and great northern diver. Don’t be surprised to spot the dorsal fins of whales and porpoises, as well as the bobbing heads of grey seals. Along the shore, and inland among the dunes and heath, expect to find ringed plover, oystercatcher, sanderling, dunlin, curlew, stonechat, skylark and whinchat. Wild flowers are especially rich here, and include pyramidal and early purple orchids, wild thyme and burnet rose. From 1 April to 31 July, dogs must be on a lead.

      Fishermen favour this northernmost tip of the island, and can often be seen here, shore casting for mackerel or plaice.

      From the Ayres National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre (rarely open as it is staffed by volunteers), either take to a grassy track starting from near the information panels heading towards the distant lighthouse, or walk back along the access road for about 50m to a paved path that sets you off in the same direction, but with firmer footing, something that will be appreciated at certain

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