History & Heritage of the Isle of Man

Day 1 – Ramsey

Scheduled flight to the Isle of Man from your preferred airport – transfer in our private executive coach to the 3* Ramsey Hotel in Ramsey.

Day 2 – ‘Lady Isabella’ Water Wheel, Snaefell Mountain Railway & Manx Electric Railway

Dating back to 1854, the Great Laxey Wheel, known locally as ‘Lady Isabella’ after the wife of the island’s governor at that time, is the largest water wheel in the world and was designed by Robert Casement to pump water from the mineshafts – climbing to the summit of Snaefell, the only mountain on the Island, Snaefell Mountain Railway still operates with the majority of its original Victorian rolling stock – one way journey from Ramsey back to Laxey on the Manx Electric Railway, one of Britain’s longest vintage narrow gauge railways.

Day 3 – Cregneash Village Folk Museum, Sound Viewpoint, Castle Rushen & Castletown Steam Railway

Cregneash Village Folk Museum provides a living, working illustration of the traditional customs, crafts and skills which characterised the Manx crofter’s way of life – on one of the island’s most picturesque points, Sound Viewpoint affords wonderful views of the Calf of Man island directly opposite and beyond – free time for lunch at the old Manx capital of Castletown – Castle Rushen, one of England's best preserved medieval fortresses, was taken by Robert the Bruce in 1313 whilst attempting to invade Ireland – Castletown Steam Railway, opened in 1874 and still running with its original locomotives and the longest line of its type in Britain, takes us from Douglas to Castletown.

Day 4 – Manx Museum, Peel Castle & House of Manannan

The Manx Museum contemplates the natural history, archaeology and social development of the island – the remains of the walls of Peel Castle encircle the ruins of many buildings which are a testimony to the site’s religious and secular importance in Manx history after free time to explore – time to explore Peel, one of the world’s smallest cathedral cities, and visit Peel Cathedral consecrated in 1980 – at House of Manannan heritage visitor centre the Island’s mythological sea god, Manannan, welcomes you to his fascinating Kingdom.

Day 5 – Douglas Horse Trams & Tynwald

The Douglas Horse Trams were first introduced in 1876 to take advantage of the booming tourist trade in Victorian times and still carry tourists along the promenades – Tynwald, the Parliament of the Isle of Man, is of Norse origin and over 1,000 years old and is thus the oldest parliament in the world – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.