The underrated gem is right on Liverpool’s doorstep
The island is famously dog-friendly so I made sure to bring Nando(Image: christopher megrath)
A charming island that offers everything you could want from a scenic, laid-back retreat has quickly risen in my estimations. With sweeping coastal views, stunning cliff-top walks, mountain tram rides and a chilled atmosphere, the Isle of Man is an underrated gem right on our doorstep.
Getting there is relatively simple as the dedicated ferry terminal on Triskelion Way at Liverpool’s Waterfront North offers return tickets from around £65. Condé Nast readers also voted it one of the best islands in the world – ranking it third in the UK.
The island is famously dog-friendly, with most businesses and attractions welcoming well-behaved pets. With that in mind, I brought my own dog, Nando, along for a relaxed weekend adventure to discover what I’ve been missing all this time.
The market town with a lot to offer
Tynwald Parliament in Douglas(Image: Visit Isle of Man)
The main shopping hub in Douglas is Strand Street, just a five-minute walk from the Sea Terminal. Here you’ll find a mix of high-street brands alongside a variety of independent local shops. Out across the water stands the Tower of Refuge, a charming landmark that adds character to the coastline and once served as a safe haven for shipwrecked sailors.
Douglas also offers an abundance of cafés, restaurants, and pubs, with no visit complete until you’ve stopped by Noa Bakehouse to try the island’s famous sourdough. As evening falls, the quiet town transforms, with locals heading out to enjoy good food and lively company.
Some stand-out options include VIBE, a 100% plant-based vegan café and restaurant; Fig & Olive, a laid back Italian experience with a variety of specials; and Refuge, one of the island’s top restaurants focusing on local and ethically sourced ingredients. Although you won’t be clubbing until 7am, cocktail bars like Kiki’s offer everything you need from atmosphere to bespoke drink options.
For a scenic stroll, the Douglas Promenade provides a picturesque 20-minute route around the town, passing the Gaiety Theatre, an array of shops and eateries, and leading onward toward Laxey.
Tiny village hidden away in the cliffs
Manx Electric Railway(Image: Visit Isle of Man)
Located on the East coast of the Isle of Man, Laxey is one of the island’s most iconic destinations thanks to its famous landmark and character. From the peak of Snaefell, the Island’s tallest point, down to the quaint village of Agneash then into the lush Laxey Glen and village before reaching the beach, Laxey provides various insights into the industrial and social life of the 19th Century.
A tram is the best and most scenic method of getting there. The Manx Electric Railway, constructed between 1893 and 1899, connects the island’s capital, Douglas, with Laxey to the east and Ramsey to the north. It is the longest narrow gauge vintage electric railway system in the British Isles and still operates with its original Victorian and Edwardian rolling stock. Two of its trams are actually the oldest regularly operating tram cars in the world.
You can explore the Great Laxey Mine Railway at Valley Gardens. Passengers travel in a tiny carriage, hauled by a replica of one of the original steam engines, through the Island’s only railway tunnel and along the line which once carried wagons loaded with the metal ores.
The towering Lady Isabella
Laxey Wheel, also known as Lady Isabella(Image: Visit Isle of Man)
Turning left instead will take you on the path to discover one of the world’s largest landmarks, Lady Isabelle, otherwise known as the Laxey Wheel. Lady Isabella is the largest working water wheel in the world and Isle of Man’s most iconic landmark, standing tall at 72 feet and six inches, for more than 170 years.
Visitors can take a look around the wheel and watch it turn from the ground or high up the spiral stairs for panoramic views of Glen Mooar Valley. Lady Isabella is surrounded by natural beauty as far as the eye can see, from towering aqueduct water channels in the sky trailing behind tree tops to gentle streams flowing over rocks and under wood bridges surrounded by flowers. The wheel is worth the visit and honour of Isle of Man’s best landmark.
Panoramic views of the Seven Kingdoms
The island is famously dog-friendly so I made sure to bring Nando(Image: christopher megrath)
A different tram from Laxey, in operation since 1895, will take you to Snaefell summit, a five-mile journey on a winding trip around the island’s only mountain. Reaching heights of 2,036 feet above sea level, the panoramic views are nothing short of breath-taking.
Once you reach the peak, you’ll be rewarded with the magnificent views of the Seven Kingdoms – England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man and the kingdoms of heaven and the sea.
A vantage point hanging over the mountain side acts as the perfect photo opportunity from the flattest surface around which is located directly in front of the café. You can rest and admire the views or walk around the grassy, rocky peak and discover a few stone artefacts like the cairn and a compass rose.
Milner’s Tower over the beach
Milner’s Tower at Port Erin(Image: Visit Isle of Man)
At the southwest side of the island lies the charming Port Erin beach, where you’ll find ice cream shops, pubs, beach food shacks and traditional chippies offering the quintessential seaside experience. There’s even a free railway museum to enjoy.
Heading north over Bradda Head brings you to the beautiful Fleshwick Bay, while a walk south past the old Marine Biological Station leads toward The Sound. Dominating the view beyond the golden-white sands, Milner’s Tower rises above Bradda Glen, accessible by a winding coastal path.
The Glen offers numerous vantage points with benches where walkers can pause and enjoy a picnic. On calm days, you can even spot basking sharks.
Castle ruins and lively pubs
Castle Rushen and harbour(Image: Visit Isle of Man)
During my visit, I stayed in a lovely cottage overlooking Castletown Bay. The island’s former capital is most well known for Castle Rushen which allows curious guests to venture inside the grounds, around the castle walls and peer into the building’s history through eerily lifelike displays.
Arguably one of the biggest draws to the sleepy southern location is the lively traditional pubs that overflow with people in the evening. From here, you’re only a short drive away from Port Erin and Douglas, making it a reasonable centre point for a cross island adventure.