Definitely more suited to children and teens. The videos felt old and tired and Manannon's voice…read moredreary. We were in an out in 30 mins. Good to do while waiting for Peel Castle to Open. The highlight was the Longboat that had sailed down a few years ago.

The second big Tourist Attraction in Peel is the House of Manannan. This large and detailed museum…read moreis the ideal place for a rainy day on the island - but even if the sun is shining, it is worth to come here and have a look at the very good exhibition. We came here on a sunny day and stayed much longer than intended because it was fun exploring the different rooms and stories behind the objects. The museum shows the history of the Isle of Man more or less in chronical order, but instead of using big boring signposts, the curator chose a more interesting approach. Each room depicts scenes from the life on the island. For example you can explore the interior of a Celtic roundhouse or a Viking longhouse, all with different scenes depicting everyday live. Some figures tell stories about how life was at this time and if you touch some of the exhibits there are short films about the history of the person linked to it. One of the most interesting exhibits is a real Viking ship. It was built in Norway and a crew of adventurous Norse and Manxmen sailed the ship down to the Isle of Man to commemorate the Millennium Year 1979 of the first Tynwald in 979. You can walk round the whole ship and read all about the 1500 mile journey and how the crew had to learn to live and think like real Vikings to brave the seas and overcome storms and even a capsize of the open boat. We really enjoyed our visit here and would recommend this place to anybody coming to the Isle of Man. You can learn so many new things about Celtic, Viking and Manx history and even have a lot of fun - perfect!

It's beautiful in every way. A piece of engineering, a piece of Art and a piece of history. The…read morepaint job is immaculate, no disrepair here at all. I first tied to climb in 1974, made it to the second level and had to be brought down by a school dinner lady. Tried again yesterday 2025, made it to the second level again and was brought down by a kindly Scottish fella. Pablo climbed the spiral all the way to the top. Make sure someone is on the ground to get a picture of you because its one of the best photo ops in IOM. Gifts available at the ticket office. Walk on after to the Mine Exhibit, put on your helmet for a 30 yard walk into the mine, It was very wet inside so be prepared. This is a tourist attraction at its best.

The Great Laxey Wheel is one of the most quirky attractions you can find on the Isle of Man. On the…read moreone hand you are right - it is just a big (very big) water wheel - but honestly, even if you have seen it on pictures before you visit, you are still awed by the sheer sitze of this engineering feat of the Victorian Era. In a time when industrialization shifted from water power to steam power, a small band of engineers in the hills of Laxey resisted the changing times and started to build one of the biggest water wheels that the world had seen - and which is now the highest functioning water wheel in the world. But for what did they build it? The 22m high structure was built to pump water from the mines deep under the Snaefell Mountain and it did it for quite some time until it finally had to succumb to the bigger power - steam, and eventually the end of mining in this place. But the wheel was never dismanteled, and over the last years it was restored to old glory. So what can you see here beside of a f. big water wheel? The whole place is a Manx Heritage Sight and there is a lot information about the Wheel, the History and especially about the life of the Miners in that time. Everything is explained in great detail and especially the part about the miners is very interesting as you get deep insight into the life of miners, how dangerous the work was and what it meant to live without social security. Beside of this you can walk up to the top of the wheel and have splendid views over the surrounding area or you can explore a small mine shaft to get a better feeling what working conditions were like in this place. Yes, it is true that you can see the Wheel also from town without paying a penny for it - but the closer you get, the more impressive it is and with all the additional information and the view from the top it is well worth the money. So if you happen to be on the Isle of Man, you should make Laxey part of your itinary. The Wheel, the Snaefell Mountain Railway, the Electric Railway and an awesome tea shop give Laxey enough attractions to keep you occupied for a whole day!

Tynwald - The oldest continuous parliament in the world…read more Tynwald Hill at St John's is the traditional ancient meeting place of the Manx parliamentary assembly, dating back at least to the late first millennium AD. Over a 1000 years old. You are walking in history, it's not just a hill!. The hill itself is an artificial mound, stepped in profile, approximately 25m in diameter at the base, and 3.6m high. Its earliest phase dates to later prehistory, when the first indications of communal assemblies can be glimpsed. Later the development of a royal centre focused in the nearby upper Neb valley allowed the site to increase in importance, and by the early 2nd millennium AD Tynwald Hill was in use as a national meeting place. The site continues to be active today and in 1979 it celebrated its millennium as a continuous parliament. The Tynwald Court now meets in the Island's modern capital, Douglas, on the third Tuesday of each month, but once a year on July 5th an open air ceremony is still held at Tynwald Hill. This day is a national holiday for the island, and the laws passed during the year are proclaimed in both Manx Gaelic and English. The site of Tynwald Hill is thus one of the most important ancient monuments in the Island, representing not just a symbol of the rich heritage of the Manx people, but also a contemporary focus where the future life and culture of the community is forged.

It's not a holiday without a Steam Train right. Douglas to Castletown (35 mins) on this visit…read more The train is immaculate both inside and out as are all the stations on route. The stationmasters are very chipper and clearly proud to be part of the Railway. It is lovely, steam curls round in billowing clouds as you chug along. Time is turned back for a little while. This trip was enhanced by a school party on an Evacuees day out. They were dressed in costume and looked very in place on the train.

The IOM Steam Railway was not only a must-see attraction for my one-day visit to the Isle of Man,…read moreit was also my primary means of getting around (especially after breaking a toe on the beach at Port Erin)! Embarking at Castletown station, I rode westward to the aforementioned Port Erin to climb the steps of Milner's Tower, stop for lunch at "The Station" hotel, then turned around and made my way to Douglas, in search of the real, original "Fairy Bridge" (not the imitation one on the A5 northeast of Ballasalla). My dirt cheap rail ticket (~£16-ish, I believe) covered my entire journey, both ways, taking 20-ish minutes to get from Castletown to Port Erin, and 45 minutes to cross half the island from Port Erin back to Douglas. Having ridden many trains before, the experience of a true locomotive, chugging away like an out-of-breath jogger, belching steam with each wail of the horn, as the idyllic, pastural landscape of the Isle of Man slipped by me on a perfect, clear, sunny day, I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful experience. I felt as if I had slipped back in time several decades to a simpler era, free of the burdens of modern "convenience", despite snapping away with my cell phone, taking pictures and video of everything sheep and signpost on the way! For those who find themselves on this time-lost isle, the IOM Railway is among the crown jewels of experiences one can have here. Very, very recommended for young and old alike!

This is a small historical village illustrating crofter life style of the 1800.'s where weaving and…read moreknitting often took place in the homes of the villagers. There are a few cottages and someone waiting to give you a demonstration and backround story of village life. It was harsh indeed. There will be a fire lit in one of the buildings. There is a small church, tearoom and gift shop with museum upstairs. We arrived as it was opening and it was a very misty morning, the Cloak of Manannon added an authenticity to the village. The Calf of Man was visible only momentarily. We saw a caped figure scuttling off to one of the cottages, later whom would be telling us a story. It was quite lovely and a highlight of the trip. There is a car park about 10 minutes walk away or if you are early there is room right outside the giftshop for small cars. Meayll Circle is a short walk away, about 20 minute round trip.

The near life-sized statue of Sir William is cast in bronze and is the work of local sculptor…read moreAmanda L. Barton of Kirk Michael. The statue stands on a rectangular concrete slab contained within a rectangular concrete enclosure filled with loose Manx stones. The Statue depicts Sir William wearing a heavy full-length coat/cloak the collar of which he has gripped in both hands held close to his chin. He is looking out into the bay towards the Tower of Refuge. FOUNDER OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTIUTION.

The Great Union Camera Obscura is a Victorian landmark located at Douglas Head. Built in 1887, the…read morecamera obscura comprises of a darkened room of 11 lenses and mirror which enables visitors to view the surrounding area. Enjoy a 360 degree view of Douglas Harbour, the lighthouse and seascape. The camera was originally built for astronomy but was also used for people-watching the tourists at the swimming baths or courting couples along the promenade, a popular form of Victorian entertainment. The Isle of Man's Great Union Camera Obscura is one of only 4 remaining in the British Isles. Free to visit - watch out for the Flag flying above the building which marks whether the attraction is open. Weather permitting. Open from May until mid-September, Saturdays 1pm - 4pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am - 4pm. Disabled access is limited and there is ample parking close to the attraction.

The Meayll Circle is an unusual passage grave located on the side of Meayll Hill, from where most…read moreof the South Island can be seen. But not today. The cloak of Manannon shrouded us today. If we had not had a friend with us I doubt we would have found it. It was a bout a 15 minute round trip from Cregneash Village. The passaged tomb is estimated to be 4,000 years old. Scattered around here are the remains of a radar station used in World War II

A very pretty shaded glen which is famous for Bluebells in spring. We visited early April and…read morethere were just a few bluebells around the edges. We visited a week later and still no change. It is now the end of April and there are more out. From the carpark on the main road you can walk down a pathway and see babbling water along the way and set your feet in it to cool down. Look out for the old wooden sculpture The Wizard of Man For those visiting by car, take the A2 main Laxey to Ramsey road. Turn right down to Maughold village on the Maughold Road then turn right down the road marked Cornaa. A large car park is provided at the bottom entrance to the glen. By Tram It has easy access from the electric tram, which stops at its top entrance. The stone buildings located within the glen were erected by the Great Mona Mining Company which operated from 1854 to 1857 and 1866 to 1867. The glen is very popular with artists and photographers.