Friday 20th September 2019, Isle of Man
On the bus this morning we purchased a couple of day tickets enabling us to use all the forms of public transport available on the island. Determined to make best possible use of all these charming, antiquated services, we were in the centre of Douglas at the same early hour as the residents turning up for work. Ian had spent the previous evening poring over maps and timetables, and if I thought it was something to be enjoyed, I'd definitely got it wrong. The day was planned out with military precision and it was a campaign Ian was determined to win!
In Douglas we took another bus along the promenade to Derby Castle, the terminus for the Manx Electric railway. It has been operating since the 1890s and still uses the original engine and open carriages.
Manx Electric Railway, Douglas, Isle of Man.
At Laxey we transferred to the Snaefell Mountain Railway, built in 7 months in 1895. In original bumpy wooden carriages we started our ascent up the mountainside with superb views of the massive Laxey wheel from above. The wheel had been used for pumping the water from the lead mine. Around us the lower slopes of Snaefell were bright with gorse and wild scrub.
Laxey. Isle of Man.
Typically of course, as we were carried up the steep incline a mountain mist enveloped us. Excellent for atmosphere but the ruination of decent photos. After crossing the TT route at Bungalow Halt we pretty much disappeared into the mist.
Laxey. Isle of Man.
Laxey. Isle of Man.
Laxey Mine, Isle of Man.
From the cafe at the summit we were supposed to be able to see seven kingdoms: Man, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Neptune's kingdom and the Kingdom of heaven. Peering down at our feet we could scarcely even discern the kingdom of Man!
Snaefell Mountain Railway, Snaefell, Isle of Man.
Snaefell Mountain Railway, Snaefell, Isle of Man.
Snaefell Mountain Railway, Snaefell, Isle of Man.
Jill on Snaefell. Isle of Man.
Determined not to miss out on the summit of Snaefell we groped our way up the track, soaked by the swirling, clammy mist by the time we found the triangulation point marking the highest point. It was cold and wet with visibility pretty well zero. So we made our way back down where we found our fellow travellers watching a video in the cafe showing what we had been unable to see on the mountain slope above. In need of warming up we remained behind with mugs of hot coffee when the little train set off back down the track to Laxey.
Snaefell Mountain Railway, Laxey, Isle of Man.
Manx Electric Railway, Laxey, Isle of Man.
Manx Electric Railway, Laxey, Isle of Man.
Manx Electric Railway, Laxey, Isle of Man.
Manx Electric Railway, Laxey, Isle of Man.
The descent to the terminus at sea level was delightful, coming down out of the mist to bright sunshine as the track wound down, side by side with the road, passing isolated cottages and hamlets and with a bright blue backdrop of the sea. From here even poor old Douglas looked enticing!
Douglas. Isle of Man.
Douglas. Isle of Man.
Douglas. Isle of Man.
Then back along the seafront on the bus to the centre of Douglas and a brisk walk along the harbour side to the steam railway for our ride down to Port Erin at the southern tip of the Isle.
Harbour, Douglas, Isle of Man.
Harbour, Douglas, Isle of Man.
Douglas. Isle of Man Steam Railway.
Douglas. Isle of Man Steam Railway.
This little train carried us on the single track railway at a slow, bumping, rocking pace along the coast, through Ballasalla and Castletown to Port Erin with its sandy beach, framed to the south by its harbour and to north by Braddon Head, topped by Milner's Tower.
Port Erin. Isle of Man.
Port Erin. Isle of Man.
Here we brought a couple of sandwiches and sat in the sunshine on the warm sunny beach with our toes buried in the sand. This was the best and most picturesque part of the island for us. It was too late in the day to consider walking out to Milner's Tower and there was still a cream tea to be taken in the tea-shop! Weary but delighted with our day we reboarded the train for the return trundle back to Douglas and the bus back to the campsite where Modestine had spent the day communing with the campsite's resident cat. If it had a tail or not we never noticed.
