Castletown, Port St Mary, Port Erin & South Accommodation

Lighthouse scene on the Castletown coast.

Castle Rushen, Castletown

Beautiful Castletown coastal scene.

The Castletown harbour at low tide.

Castletown, Port St Mary Erin Tourist Information Isle of Man Castle History UK

Stunning Castletown, once the capital of the island, was named after it's splendid medieval castle - Castle Rushen. Castletown makes an ideal location on the island, being close to Ronaldsway Airport and full of life with it's busy harbour, open air market and plenty of specialist shops.

Castletown is a fascinating haven for some of the oldest landmarks on the island, including the Old Grammar School and of course the castle itself. The Nautical Museum offers a fascinating insight into boating history in the area and if you have time north of Castletown in Ballasalla is what remains of Rushen Abbey built in 1134. Extensive excavation has been carried out here by Manx National Heritage and around the fascinating ruins are exhibitions exploring the lives of the Monks of the Sauvignac Order who came from Furness Abbey in Cumbria.

Castle Rushen

Castle Rushen is renowned for being one of the most beautifully preserved medieval castles in Europe, so a visit really isn't to be missed. Recently considerable renovation and investment has been put into it, culminating in new interior decor in period, and various exhibitions exploring medieval life.

Going further back, the spot was originally fortified in the Norse period, but was really developed between the 13th and 16th centuries. There's a great film on show in the castle museum taking you through the various events in the castle's history. Note particularly the oldest part of the castle - the central stone courtyard and Keep dating from around 1265 and the time of the very last Viking King of Mann - called Magnus. He died in the castle.

Touring Castle Rushen is impressive indeed. You'll enter through the enormous Inner Gatehouse which has a rather nasty killing ground with murder holes above. Here trapped intruders were killed by various gruesome means via the murder holes!! The castle complex consists of towers in the south, east and west as well as the site of the chapel, the surrounding moat and inside guard rooms, cells and some of the stories which went on in these rooms are waiting for you to explore. Watch out for the one fingered clock, supposedly donated by Elizabeth 1. www.castletown.org.im/heritage/castle_rushen_p1.html

Open from the 1st April - 10am-5pm, Adults £4.25, Children £2.25.

The Old Grammar School

There's a few 'The Old' buildings in Castletown, and the Grammar school is one of them. Not always a school, this white building seemingly stuck in the middle of nowhere, was the town church 650 years ago. Parts of the main roofed building of this structure are even older than the castle itself which in itself makes this attraction worth a visit.

From 1570 it served as a school, Free entrance from 1st April, open 10am - 5pm

The Nautical Museum, Castletown

The Nautical Museum in this location down on Castetown Harbour evolved when an old 18th century yacht called 'The Peggy' was found in the cellar, apparently fully intact and previously owned by a guy called George Quayle.

You can see the Peggy in the Manx Museum now, but here at the Nautical Museum the boathouse above the cellar has been transformed into a space displaying various exhibits on Qualye's boating interests, plus information and exhibits on the history of boating and fishing in the area. Up in the loft, there's a reconstruction of a sail-making workshop. A must this museum for anyone wanting to learn more about the making of boats, and the fishing industry.

Entrance: £3.50 Adults, £1.50 children. Open from 1st April.

The Old House of Keys

Fancy finding out a little more about Manx political history. Then a visit to the Old House of Keys, now newly restored to how it was in 1866, is a must. It makes an excellent starting point to understand political developments on the island before visiting other significant political sites such as Tynwold Hill in St Johns.

Entrance £3 Adults, £1.50 children

The Millennium Way & Silverdale Glen

The Millennium Way footpath on the Isle of Man is 28 miles long and runs from Castle Rushen in Castletown to just one mile outside Ramsey town centre. The pathway runs through Ballasalla, Silverdale Glen, Crosby, and Baldwin. This is the route of an ancient pathway called Regia Via, or the Royal Way to Ramsey. It's easily split up into easier sections.

Silverdale Glen is particularly popular with visitors, especially families as there's a children's play area on site and an intriguing water powered Victorian roundabout. Also in this glen is a boating lake and cafe and it's fully equipped with toilets. Follow one of the many marked walks around Silverburn River. Spot Silverburn Mill with adjacent dam, with nearby Rushen Abbey. It's a beautiful spot easily accessible by car, bus or by the steam railway.

Take time to look at the evidence of early mining work on the northern cliffs of Bradda head after the Cistercian monks of Furness Abbey had set up their daughter house, the Abbey of Rushen, on the Island in the 13th century. This mining took place under the royal warrant of the king of Man.

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