Travel in Isle Of Man – Hotels, Isle Of Man Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide



A Sightseeing Vacation On The Isle Of Man

Vacation and Travel to Isle Of Man
Overview of Isle of Man, a little island between Great Britain and Ireland, taken from an airplane.

The Isle Of Man is located in the Irish Sea and was a Celtic-Norse community in 1079. It is said that on the summit of Mount Snaefell, one can see the six kingdoms of the world; those of Mann, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England and Heaven. How the Isle of Man got its name is unclear, it is said that the name may have come from Gaelic, Roman or Goidelic languages, but nobody can be certain.

The name Ballabeg which finds its roots in the Manx term, Balley Beg, means simply homestead. The most populated and well-known Ballabeg on the Isle of Man is Castletown, located in the south. The village is quaint and small and offers visitors much to explore. There is the famed parish of Kirk Arbory, a Methodist Chapel and railway station. The largest home is called “Parville”, which is located in the middle of the town and has gorgeous landscaped gardens. The Parish Church has a cemetery with grave stones dating back to the early 1700's, though the church has been standing much longer. The most famous inhabitant buried in the grave yard is Captain John Quilliam, who commandeered the ship Victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. The island is also famous for its annual Laa Columb Killey festival which is held on the grounds of the parish of Arbory.

The Wildlife Park at Curraghs is also an interesting place to visit. The park is open year round and welcomes visitors from all over the world who travel to the zoo to see the vast array of animals who call the location home. There is a miniature railway, the Manx Steam and Model Engineering Club which runs on the Orchid line and takes guests on a half-hour of the zoo. There are tour guides that take visitors through the zoo and talk about the various wildlife found in the park. For the children there are interactive shows and exhibits that are engaging and informative and an adventure playground. The Butterfly Trail is a part of the park that has acquired over 250 different species of moths and 18 native butterflies, the trail winds around and is filled with nectar plants for the adult moths and butterflies and food plants for the caterpillars.

Visitors who tour the islands during the summer will not want to miss the Tynewald Day Ceremony on July 5th. Everyone meets up in St. Johns and the festivities begin at both the Royal Chapel of St. John the Baptist and on Tynewald Hill. The ceremony is marked by the placement of a wreath at the National War Memorial, that was erected in 1923. At eleven o'clock, people gather for a religious service at St. John the Baptist and from there they walk down a rush strewn path to Tynewald Hill to celebrate and pass laws. Tynewald Day is also marked by a fair and market, these customs still continue to the present day and recently the residents have begun to incorporate more traditions into the ceremony. Upon the conclusion of the occasion, there is a concert held in the evening, the Isle Of Man National Anthem is played, followed by a huge fireworks display.

The Isle of Man offers tourists some very unique and outstanding hotels and resorts to accommodate them during their stay. The Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club, is a beautifully designed hotel and offers guests a restaurant, private gardens, a large swimming pool, a solarium and a health and wellness spa on the grounds. The Glenn Helen Inn located on St. John is perfect for the traveler seeking a smaller more personalized setting. The inn prides itself on providing their guests with the highest quality of service and have been a landmark on the island due to the live music shows that are held here on the weekends. The Isle of Man, may not be a typical vacation spot but it is here that people get to experience picturesque landscapes swathed richly with history and traditional Irish customs.

User Contributions:

1
christer alm
Dear Encyclopedia...
I am writing a book about classic motorcycleracing and the photo of Isle of Man (overview) here, would be nice for the book.
Question can I use it- copyrights?

Regards

Christer Alm
Finland

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