Castle Rushen, located in Castletown in the south of the island is the most complete castle ruin on the Isle of Man. It looks over Market Square to the south-east and the small but perfectly formed harbour to the north-east. The castle is amongst the best examples of a medieval castle anywhere in the UK. As a modern visitor attraction it has several of the facilities you would expect such as on site toilets, gift shop etc
On gaining entry to Castle Rushen you are immediately faced with 2 options. You can either walk around the outer area which is mainly grass complete with various ye olde wooden buildings. This outer area has several cannons and stocks and it’s also possible to walk around the curtain wall. The other option is to head over the drawbridge for the main inner part of the castle. Each room within the main castle building has been updating to reflect a certain period within the castles history. On a sunny day it’s nice to be able to spend some time outside but on days when the weather isn’t so great the main part of Castle Rushen provides ample shelter making it a more suitable site to visit than the other main castle on the island, Peel Castle. So if the weather is looking a little dodgy then a visit to Castle Rushen may be a better bet than Peel Castle. As mentioned above the castle is in very good condition and gives an amazing opportunity for insight into times gone by.
Castle Rushen has a long and interesting history, it has changed hands between the Scots and English and served many functions for the Isle of Man, including in the 18th century acting as a prison. All this is detailed in great detail by the various guides that operate within the castle though so I don’t want to go in to too much detail here, it’s far better experienced first hand! Climbing to the very top battlements also gives fantastic views of Castletown.
As a site to visit Castle Rushen is easily accessible but there are some limitations. There are a large number of busses that go through Castletown (Look for number 1 and 2 routes), the traditional steam train stops in Castletown or if you prefer there is parking very close by in the town square. As part of the Story of Mann entrance for adults costs £5 and £2.50 for children. It must be said that as you would expect for castle ruins the site is not easily accessible for the disabled or very old. Castle Rushen has plenty of stairs to walk up and down so please keep that in mind. Whilst the lower levels can be seen, to get the most from Castle Rushen you really need to be able to travel further into the building.
Once you’ve finished in Castle Rushen, Castletown has several pubs that serve traditional pub lunches. There is the harbour to visit which has the Boat Museum by its north entrance. However a lot of people prefer to just grab a sandwich or picnic and head for the gardens which surround the castle.
There is no denying that a lot of what the Isle of Man has to offer is very weather dependent. Thankfully though there are still things to do if the weather isn’t so great and one of those things is Lazer Blast.
If you’ve never played Lazer Blast before then let me explain a little bit about what you’re in for. If you take Star Wars and cross it with the games of soldiers that we used to play as kids then you’re on the right lines. You’ll enter a dark battle arena either as individuals or as 2 teams and it’s then up to you to shoot the enemy. Because of the dark room and smoke you do get to see the lazers, very Star Wars! It’s then a case of racking up as high a score as possible. It’s fantastic fun. For such a small island the Isle of Man has a great Lazer Blast setup, it’s located in a barn as you travel out of Onchan towards the Liverpool arms. 
Lazer Blast is on your right hand side about half way down the straight towards the Liverpool Arms. All the equipment you need is provided and there are refreshment facilities on site, just make sure you dress comfortably.
It’s a good way of whiling away an evening as a family (for ages 5 and up). You can either just turn and up and pay and play or if you prefer (and if there is enough of you) you can pre-book a a group event. So whether it’s team building, a family evening out or just something to do on your holidays when the weather takes a turn for the worse Lazer Blast is great fun.
The Basking Shark is the second biggest fish in the sea, second only to the Whale Shark and MUCH bigger than the more infamous Great White. These docile sharks feed on plankton in the upper levels of the sea and the rich waters around the Isle of Man provide the perfect feeding grounds. The Isle of Man is one off if not the primary spot for watching Basking Sharks in the world with large numbers of sharks congregating to feed during the summer months (from May to September). The west coast of the island in particular attracts many Basking Sharks and it’s not uncommon to be able to count 10 sharks and upwards at once. Whilst on a clear day these beautiful creatures can be seen from the shore (especially Peel breakwater and the footpaths between Peel and Port Erin) by far the best way of getting up close and personal with a Basking Shark is to take a Basking Shark tour.
Several charter boats operate from the port of Peel and each skipper has significant experience in getting you close to these amazing sharks, some of which reach 36 feet in length. Because a Basker feeds right on the surface and has an inquisitive nature sharks will often approach right to the very side of a boat and even rub along side. Again it’s worth mentioning that these sharks pose absolutely no danger to man, they have no teeth so at worst would be able to give you a nasty suck! The Isle of Man has strict rules on how vessels can approach Basking sharks and your skipper will be trained to make sure that the sharks are not disturbed. It’s the sharks inquisitive nature that will bring them close to you ready for that perfect photograph!
The Isle of Mans reputation for Basking Shark watching is well deserved and a Basking Shark Tour should be seen as a “must do” for anybody with even the smallest interest in the natural world. As well as seeing Basking Sharks it’s also not that uncommon to find Dolphins and various Whale species (including Killer Whales) in the waters around the island.
There are certain images that people always associate with the Isle of Man. One is the three legs, one is the Manx cat in profile looking towards you, right up there with those other 2 is that of the Laxey Wheel, the largest working water wheel in the world.
Dating all the way back to 1854 Lady Isabella (as the wheel is known) was named after the wife of Lieutenant Governor Hope. Impressively the wheel was designed and built by a local man, John Casement, a resident of Laxey. The Laxey Wheel measures in at a sizable circumference of 227 feet with a diameter of 72 feet and was built for the purpose of pumping water from the Laxey mines. This it achieved with ease managing to remove 250 gallons a minute from the mines situated over 1500 feet below ground level!
Today the wheel is a major tourist attraction, visitors from far and wide come to stand at the top of the Laxey Wheel. The views offered over Laxey are spectacular from the vantage point. Around the Laxey Wheel there are also several other attractions worth visiting including some very nice trails to walk, a picnic area and you can even venture into the entrance of the mines. Overall the Laxey Wheel is a must see for anybody visiting the island.
Depending on your requirements prices to visit the Laxey Wheel range from £3.50 for a single adult ticket to £1.80 for under 16’s however several concessions are available for group and family visits. For example a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) will only pay £8.50
We’d recommend that if you are going to see the Laxey Wheel that you make an afternoon of it. The electric tram system runs from Douglas promenade to Laxey and from there it’s a short walk to the Wheel. Laxey has the feel of a quite village (well I suppose it is really!) but there are several pubs that do a good pub lunch. The harbour is also well worth a walk around. If you’re on a flying visit though and want to get to the Laxey Wheel by car then there is lots of parking very close by.
The Isle of Man offers a diverse coastline, from the highest steepest cliffs to gently sloping beaches. A lot of this coast is best enjoyed from the sea and what better way to get up close and personal with the local sea life than in a Sea Kayak? Launching from several locations around the island local Sea Kayaking specialists Adventurous Experiences can ensure a safe but memorable sea kayaking experience of a lifetime.
Sea Kayaking trips are typically run over 3 hours or a full day. As you’d expect safety is of paramount importance and all safety equipment will be provided. Courses available include Discover Sea Kayaking, which is run over 4 three hour sessions that aims to cover a different part of the Manx coast with each session. For beginners the Introduction To Sea Kayaking course comprises of 4 two hour sessions where you’ll learn vital skills like control and manoeuvre and how to prevent a roll. The guys at Adventurous Experiences are very flexible though so whether your reason for taking to the water you should contact them to see what they can do for you.
The Isle of Man is lucky to have some fantastic wild life and around our coasts you could see Puffins, Chuffs, Basking Sharks, lots of seals and a variety of sea mammals including dolphins and whales.
Your chance to enjoy wheel to wheel racing action in the latest Go-Karts. The Isle of Man’s own self drive karting ciruit is located at Jurby Airfield in the north of the island. The 375 metre track gives ample opportunity to hit top speed and overtake. There’s no need to book in advance, just turn up between 10am and 6pm Saturday and Sunday and take part in the action!
The track operates 200cc BIZ Karts geared to a maximum speed of 35mph, plenty of speed for a lot of fun but safe enough for anyone over 150cm (5 feet) tall to enjoy. Timing is done via transponders so there can be no arguments over who set the fastest time! In keeping with the family orientated nature of the karts the facilities available are top notch. All your safety equipment is provided including gloves, helmets, rib protectors and overalls. There are marshals on track at all times and for those members of the family not interested in taking part a heated viewing gallery will keep them warm. Parking is free and hot and cold drinks are available all day and there are toilet facilities on site. There’s no excuse for not giving Go Karting a go!
Prices range from £14.50 for 10 minutes of racing to £32.50 for a full half hour.
Peel Castle is a castle in Peel originally constructed by Vikings. The castle stands on St Patrick’s Isle which is connected to the town by causeway (or as we like to call it, a road) . It is now owned by Manx National Heritage and is open to visitors during the summer. The castle was built in the 11th century by the Vikings, under the rule of King Magnus Barelegs. While there were older stone Celtic monastic buildings on the island, the first Viking fortifications were built of wood. The prominent round tower was originally part of the Celtic monastery, but has had battlements added at a later date. In the early 14th century, the majority of the walls and towers were built primarily from local red sandstone, which is found abundantly in the area.
Excavations in 1982-87 revealed an extensive graveyard as well as the remains of Magnus Bareleg’s original wooden fort. The most spectacular finds were the 10th century grave of “The Pagan Lady” which included a fine example of a Viking necklace and a cache of silver coins dating from about 1030. The Castle’s most famous “resident” is the so called Moddey Dhoo or Black Dog ghost. Legend has it that the black dog used to visit the castle guards through a tunnel, one night one of the guards decided to follow the dog back through the tunnel but after much screaming neither was never seen again.
Once inside Peel Castle it’s a short walk up the steps and a turn right to the gatehouse ramparts which offer nice views back over Peel and the bay. Underneath the ruins of this building you’ll find one of the dungeons (or cellar) and the famous giants hand print. Once you’ve done the compulsory “put you hand in his” (and discover that it’s not such a big hand print after all) it’s time to wander around the perimeter of the castle. The castle walls are still largely in good condition and the south west portion provides fantastic views of Fennella beach and around the back of Peel hill. This area of coast is frequently visited by basking sharks during the summer months.
Peel Castle will take a good couple of hours to enjoy, don’t forget to have your picture taken sat on the cannons to your left as you enter the castle! There is parking available in the Fennella Beach car park or on the break water although it can get very busy on nice summer days. For a more relaxed trip out to the castle you may want to consider leaving your car in the House of Mannanan car park and taking a stroll out along the harbour and newly constructed Marina.
Once you’ve finished in the castle some of the best rock pooling on the Island is available just around the corner. Nets can be bought from the local kiosk and the upper rock pools are safe to enjoy at all states of the tide. If you’re that way inclined some good fishing can also be enjoyed behind the castle, with plenty of Pollack (locally Callig) to be caught on light float tackle.
A trip to Peel Castle followed by some rock pooling and general wandering around the breakwater on a hot summer’s day takes some beating.