After taking the bus north yesterday, I decided to go south today to Castletown. Once onboard, and with the weather really showing signs of becoming a stellar day, I decided to ride the bus to the end of the line, Port Erin, check out the town and take a later bus back. Good choice!
About 200 meters from the train station I came to an overlook With a big curved beach in front of me and some nice condos & apartments behind
There on the hill to my right I saw a tower which the sign said was Milner’s Tower on the top of Bradda Head a hill of 382 feet (116 m). William Milner was the owner of safe company and and the 1871 tower is q memorial in the shape of a key & lock.And by now my need to see the view from “there” is well known.
As usual and the day being clear, the walk was worth it. That’s Port Erin.
The hill shows signs of being used regularly by sheep so it pays not to slip.
The land directly beings the tower is the Calf of Man
And I was told that this rubble used to be a saltwater swimming pool.
A flutter in the bushes caught my eye and I was rewarded with sighting a female grouse
And is this not the coolest house? Huge upper level deck and in the room below I could see a piano. Apparently closed for the off season
Streetside.
IoM has an electric train running north and a steam train running south. Both to Douglas.
Now in Castletown, the island capitol until 1869.
Castle Rushen is dated to between 1200 & 1300 and is the site of a Viking fort
And the House of Keys is the old parliament building
After walking along the harbor I spoke to a gentleman doing a little painting touch-up. As I walked away I saw his garage door was open and he had 2 of the most magnificent cars I had ever seen in my personal favorite color for cars (BRG). I asked if I could take pictures and he proudly showed them off. Unfortunately I failed to take notes and I am hoping that at some point he will find my card and send me the data.On the left, an MGB from the ’50’s complete with picnic basket on the boot.
And he told me when he was engaged to his wife of 50+ years her father told him he was marrying a “spitfire”. Note the hood ornament.
And I can’t remember what this is. Again it came with a story. After a broken engagement, this car buff decided he need a flashy car to meet girls. He owned one like this in red. It worked. So after 48 years of marriage he decided to see if he could find the car he had courted his wife in for their 50th Anniversary. It’s not read but perfect.
I had just missed the bus back to Douglas but just my luck there was a pub around the corner, so time to do some sampling.
Outside Man airport
A better look at the Castle of Refuge from the ferry as I departed
And the breakwater
And finally the lighthouse, this time from the water instead of above
Wit ha change of clocks it was dark when we pulled into Liverpool but that gave me a nice view before schlepping to the St. James Rail station for my trip to Eccles, just outside Manchester
I would definitely recommend the Isle of Man and will not be surprised to visit again
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