Castletown, Port St Mary, Port Erin & South Accommodation

Port Erin

Church scene towards the Calf of Man

The Calf of Man

Port Erin Tourist Information Isle of Man Railway Museum Beaches Seals Birds Calf

Striking Port Erin nearly at the southern tip of the Isle of Man is conveniently the southern port for the Steam Railway which comes all the way down from Douglas. It makes the perfect lively base for moving further south to explore the Calf of Man, but then returning to Port Erin for specialist shopping, arts and crafts, golfing or beautiful sandy beaches. Key attractions in Port Erin include the Erin Arts Centre which serves as the centre for the internationally renowned Mananan International Festival of Music. There's the Railway Museum as well. 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. In the 1880s it was Lead that was mined in this area.

The sanctuary that is the Calf of Man, surrounded by the swirling waters of the Sound has to be one of the most magical places on the island. The old farm on the island is the base for an extensive bird monitoring project and if you do plan a seasonal visit to this small island you'll be treated to a viewing of diverse wildlife and plants, including possible sightings of Manx Shearwater birds which are now beginning to breed here again. Or watch out for the grey seals and their pups, or the unique Manx breed of sheep, the

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The Railway Museum

The Railway Museum is situated close to the Victorian station at Port Erin, the southern port of the Steam Railway running from Port Erin to Douglas. This excellent little museum has restored steam engine models, and explores the history of the steam railway on Manx. A must of steam railway fans!

There's a gift shop on site as well.

Open 1st April - 29th October/ 10am-5pm. Adults £1, children 50p

Erin Arts Centre & Mananan International Festival of Music

The Erin Arts Centre is the main cultural centre on the island offering an array of performance including drama, music, and more. One of its most renowned annual events is the Mananan international Festival of Music, which actually has three sessions - the Summer Festival, the Winter Festival and the wonderful Opera Festival.

Booking Office: 01624 832662

Check out the comprehensive website below for forthcoming events and how to book.

www.erinartscentre.com/whatsnew.html

The Calf of Man & The Sound

The landscape of the Meayll peninsula is a rugged mass of geological formations, with carved enclaves in the rocks making perfect havens for sea birds. The area around Spanish Head and Black Head approaching the Sound tidal waters and the Calf of Man itself is littered with ancient burial grounds. In the Sound waters Kitterland, or small islets protrude out of the waters, where many a ship has come a cropper! Start your exploration of this historic and beautiful natural environment at the Sound Centre which is free to enter, and open all year round. This centre has been carefully designed to blend in with the landscape, and offers the perfect base to grab refreshments, information and take in spectacular panoramic views of the Calf of Man and surrounds. Perfect for seal watching as well!!

Boat trips to the Calf of Man can be taken from Port Erin and Port St Mary. Information on these trips can be found in the harbours of the two towns. Obviously the boat trips are seasonal and depend on the weather and the tide. You don't want to end up on one of the Kitterlands! Parts of the Calf are also off-limits at certain times of the year because of breeding birds. There is some self-catering accommodation on the Calf of Man - for the brave - you can find out more about this by contacting the Manx National Heritage on + 44 (0) 1624 648000

The Norse 'Kalfr', the Manx Yn Cholloo, or known to us as The Calf of Man is an island of 250 hectares. On this small island today is a bird observatory and nature reserve. Evidence of farming over the last couple of centuries is there on the Calf. Once considerable livestock roamed the island and someone tried to establish a Red Deer herd but this didn't work for some reason? Now only one breed of rare Manx sheep remain. This wonder of nature is the remains of land masses colliding, with the soil on the Calf a result of sediments left by retreating ice which covered this area during the ice age.

The swirling tidal waters of the Sound which separate the Island from the Isle of Man mainland are a rough crossing indeed, but seasonal boat trips to the Calf of Man can be taken. Shame Edward Hopper didn't pop to the this spot to paint some of the fascinating lighthouses on show. The first two lighthouses on the Calf were first lit in 1818, designed in synch to point down and illuminate the dreaded Chicken Rock tidal reef zone, just 1 mile south of the Calf. Eventually by 1875 a lighthouse was placed on Chicken Rock itself. Although damaged by fire in 1960, it still shines it's light. Yet another lighthouse was completed in 1968 on the Calf, constructed by the Northern Lighthouse board and it's this one that is the main functioning lighthouse. Take time to view these lighthouses, plus there's a deserted cottage called 'Jane's House', and the 1878 farmhouse which now serves as the Bird Sanctuary. Visitors should be aware that there are no toilet or catering facilities on the Calf of Man, and weather can be changeable so bring warm clothes and your own supplies on your trip!!!!

Wildlife and Birds on the Calf of Man

Rabbits, rabbits and more rabbits inhabit the island, as well as the sheep and with all that dung enter the beetles, including the Minotaur and the fascinating Green Tiger Beetle. The Calf of Man has no trees, and a landscape of heath land and coastal grassland. Watch out for the beautiful Spring Squill which is related to the Bluebell.

A key attraction to visitors is the diverse range of birds to be viewed on the Calf, particularly migratory birds such as the Chough which has red legs! Just a few of the breeds you're likely to see on the island include the Manx Shearwater, which almost became extinct because they were being regularly culled in late summer. Now they are protected and returning again to the Calf to breed. Plentiful Gulls about as you'd expect, including the Herring Gull as well as the Kittiwake, the Common Guillemot, the Black Guillemot and the Storm Petrel. A birder's paradise I'd say.

Branching out from the Calf of Man on the Coastal Path

Back on the mainland of the islands stands the Parade which is thought to be the site of an old Iron Age fort. It was nicknamed the Parade because soldiers trained here in the 20th century. Take a look at the promontory Burroo Ned, you can see it from the Parade spectacularly jutting out into the sea. Or view the rocks at Spanish Head which rise 350 feet above sea level. Viewing these fascinating natural phenomena is easy, just follow the coastal path.

Walking West will take you along the coast to Port Erin. Or head East towards Spanish Head and Burroo Ned. You can push further East on this path as well, to Port St Mary taking in the Chasms rock formations and the Sugarloaf. Care is needed as the path is narrow in places and can get slippery when wet!!

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