There was great enthusiasm from the organiser and BBN members who booked on the holiday – that the Isle of Man appears so high on everyone's list of places to visit. The holiday did not disappoint and it was a fabulous walking week for all of us. 

The Arrandale apartments in Douglas seemed to meet our accommodation needs, in that we could stay together in one place, have breakfast together, announce the walk  and share thoughts on where to eat in the evening. Those coming, had to book their rooms and travel arrangements to the island individually, along with bus passes for the 5 days they were there. Late arrivals on the Liverpool ferry got a welcome lift to the hotel but missed the evening meal and Ian was lost for 2 hours finding the hotel.

Day 1 began with breakfast as it should. The walk devised was a circular around Douglas starting from the hotel, out to Onchan Head & Port Groudle before heading inland through deep glens to Hillberry Corner on the TT circuit. Taking small roads toward Strang, the walk veered down to Quarter Bridge to reach the river Dhoo and river Glass where they merge to form the name of Douglas. Walking south past the Nunnery, the walk entered the old town at the ferry port and finished at the Bee Gees statue – a tribute to the brothers who were born on the island.

Day 2 began with an earlier breakfast, to catch the bus to Port Erin to walk the ‘Way of the Gull’ coast path. Heading north to the tower at Bradda head and onto Bradda hill it became clear the walk was not going to plan. A strong headwind, overgrown vegetation made for slow progress and we hadn’t reached near halfway, The Stacks, before deciding to return back inland to Port Erin. The weather brightened to make a splendid walk through Sorby and the golf course to the railway station for a cuppa.

Day 3 began early to catch the bus to Laxey, where some took the tram to the top of Snaefell, while the rest, walked past the Laxey Wheel up to the mine before crossing a bog to Bungalow station and up to Snaefell. We all met there at the cafe and took pictures at the top. Someone spotted another hill in the distance and it became the next destination – North Barrule. A dominant fell to look across the north coast of the IOM and down into Ramsey. The walk ended quickly by flagging a bus at Corrany.

Day 4 began with an early breakfast to catch the bus again to Port Erin. This time walking south to the Sound that separates the Isle of Man from the Calf of Man. From the cafe there, along to the Chasms – a collection of fissures cut deep into the cliffs and into Port St Mary for lunch. Following the Raad ny Foillan coastal path into the old Manx capital of Castletown, we caught the bus back to Douglas and crossed the fairy bridge, not forgetting to say “hello” to the little people as the bus drove over.

Day 5 began as it had all week by catching a bus to Peel on the west coast. It was the endpoint of the walk on day 2, the ‘Way of the Gull’ which was abandoned. This time walking south to Niarbyl cafe passing Corrins Tower to catch the afternoon bus back to Peel. The day continued with a walk back to Douglas along the disused track called the Steam Heritage Trail until Crosby where the bus was caught. The holiday was celebrated at the 1886 Bar & Grill where the food was loved on a previous visit.

Can I thank everyone on the BBN holiday for making it so enjoyable to lead. 

Roy Carter