Isle of Man
Staying at the Empress Hotel located in Douglas on the sea front. Lounge, bar, restaurant and close to the town centre.
Hotel Empress Isle of Man
Overnight Barton Grange Hotel. (outward journey only)
Day 2, We will have time this morning for a short stop in Morecambe before we catch our ferry from Heysham to Douglas.(Ferry 3 1/2 hours) Arriving at the Hotel Empress in Douglas early this evening. again on a dinner bed & breakfast. (Hotel is very close to Port). The Empress commands a prime position on the Victorian promenade overlooking Douglas Bay and is just a short walk from the town centre. Built at the end of the last century, the Hotel has been extensively upgraded.
Included Tour– Full Days Tour including guide.
Lunch stop to be decided by guide on day (at own cost)
A circular tour of the TT Race Course, passing through Union Mills, Glen Vine, Ballycraine, Greba, Glen Helen, Kirk Michael, Ballaugh, famous for its hump-back bridge, then over the mountains to Creg-Ny-Baa and back to Douglas.
A Day at Leisure for you to explore the surrounding area. Why not take a ride on the famous Horse Drawn Trams, the world’s oldest surviving horse tram service, dating back to 1876. Or take a walk along the sea front, see the Jubilee Clock or have a look at the many shops. Douglas centre very close by.
Optional Tour: Full Day Tour to Laxey
Join an electric train from Douglass that will take you to Laxey. Here you will join the Snaefell Mountain Railway, the only such railway in the British Isles, which takes you to the summit of Snaefell Mountain, 2036 feet above sea level, the highest point on the Isle of Man. There will also be free time in Laxey famous for the Laxey Wheel, the largest working water wheel in the world, it is also known as Lady Isabella, named after the former Lieutenant Governor Hope’s wife.
Optional Trip: coach and train with guide
Option to take the steam train from Douglas to Castletown which will take you through some stunning scenery. Or you have the option to travel by coach. The guide will meet us at Castletown and will continue to Port Erin and Cregneash. Along the way we will see the famous sheep with four horns. We then head to Fairy Bridge. It is a long known hide away for some of the ‘little people’ of the island. Folklore says that should you cross the bridge on the main road without saying as much as Laa Mie (good day) to the fairies, you cannot be sure of a safe and pleasant visit. Also included a visit to Peel, often referred to as the rose red city or sunset city due to the red sandstone used to build its Castle and other buildings. It also faces west and enjoys beautiful sunsets over the Irish Sea.
Our return travel will commence after an early breakfast and short drive to port, Ferry will travel Douglas to Heysham, 3 1/2 hours long. The Ferry will have a range of food outlets and shops to pick up a snack or a newspaper etc. After our relaxing ferry we will travel back home arriving later this evening. Comfort stops en-route.
