Isle of Man: A Wild & Ancient Heritage

Nestled in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man boasts a unique accolade: an independent crown dependency, it is the only entirely self-governing territory to have been awarded UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, reflecting a harmonious relationship between people and nature. Visitors to its shores soon discover why: the island’s remarkable human history, dating back to 6500 AD, has left evocative traces on the landscape alongside some of the most captivating seascapes and clifftops in the world.

This tour has been carefully designed to reflect this balance between humans and nature. From a base in historical Castletown – the island’s former capital – we will explore several of its most rewarding natural environments. The heather moorland of Dalby Mountain Reserve will introduce us to a wide variety of birdlife including chough, hen harrier, snipe and red grouse; while a rich array of wildlife will greet us at the Ballaugh Curraghs Ramsar wetland, an internationally recognised site of biodiversity. Visits to the small villages of Cregneash and Port Erin will present some of the best opportunities to see seabirds including kittiwakes, fulmars and black guillemots, and the stark beauty of the landscape will come alive as we walk along the Point of Ayre alongside its rare lichen-rich coastal heathland.

As a cultural counterpoint to the natural elements, our tour will also touch on the island’s 10,000 year-old social and political history. Founded in the 5th century AD, Maughold parish church is home to several historically important Celtic crosses: the Pillar Cross displays one of the oldest ‘three legs of man’ – or triskelions – on the island. We will engage further with the island’s past with a visit to Douglas’s Heritage Museum, which touches on more recent WWI and WWII history, and Peel’s Leece Museum, home to a fascinating array of local objects including the last birching stool to be used on the island. Our excursion to the fishing port of Peel will also take us via Tynwald Hill in St John’s, thought to be the oldest continuous parliament site in the world, originally founded by Norse settlers over one thousand years ago.

Further highlights will include a visit to Peel Castle and coastal walks boasting picturesque views towards the Calf of Man. Several visits will take us along routes used during the island’s famous TT race, later in May and June.

We will stay at the historical three-star George Hotel in Castletown, conveniently located for the visits on our itinerary.

This tour will be led by Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, a conservationist and environmental consultant with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. Kevin has led many projects linking nature and communities, and was a Director of the Tree Council in the UK for 13 years. He has overseen a team providing access to the British countryside for hard to reach groups, and a project on eagles, vultures and other wildlife in Albania. In April 2017 he was appointed President of the Cambridge Natural History Society.