Sometimes, Mother Nature just does us all a favor. That could be said about Peel Beach, a long…read morestretch of golden sand curving along Peel Harbor from the castle, down the Shore Road promenade and Marine Parade for about a half mile. On a sunny day, it reminds me a lot of the beach towns of Blackpool, Lytham-St. Annes, and Portsmouth ... a lot of people, a lot of nice beach, a lot of touristy kiosks and ice creameries. It's a nice little jaunt and the the water's a little more warm than in other places on the Isle of Man. Would I swim in it? Mmm, that's a judgement call, but it's still chilly (andif you've got a suit on and see a 4-7 year-olds splashing around, your machismo or basic pride may not allow you to make an excuse for staying on land ). The best part is the sunset which, at least the time of year we were there, passed right down over Peel Castle.

Great beach, easy access from ramp, mainly sand with some pebbles and rock pools. Large car park…read more(£2 for 3 hours), toilets, playground and cafe. No lifegaurds. A good day out

Beautiful unspoilt sandy beach with a wee shop, cafe and carpark. If you park in the main car park…read moreyou need to get an exit token from the shop. you can find more information on the beach here http://www.fieldmaster224.co.uk/oliverstravels.html

Wow, just Wow. There are so many beaches and bays on IOM and every one a winner…read more Niarbyl is a secluded beauty spot just south of Dalby Village on the Island's west coast and of great geological interest. Discover the peaceful bay with its rolling hills, thatched cottages and dramatic coastal paths leading to White Beach. Sunsets are remarkable in this scenic location and on clear nights exceptional for stargazing. On a walk along the coast you will be able to see one of the most interesting of the Island's ancient Keeils or early Christian chapels Lag ny Killey. You'll also find quaint thatched cottages, which were featured in the film Waking Ned, and a coastal footpath which leads to an 8th Century chapel and secluded beach. During your visit you'll be offered spectacular views of the rolling hills and on a clear day you may be able to see the Mountains of Mourne in Ireland. Spot seabirds, seals and possibly basking sharks, particularly on calm sunny days between May and August. An information board and binoculars are also located at Niarbyl to assist with wildlife spotting

St. Patrick's Isle is a small, round tidal island on another bigger island ... the Isle of Man…read more Located in the town of Peel on IOM's western coast, people may be distracted from all other amenities because of its biggest feature on SPI: Peel Castle. One of the Isle of Man's must-see castles (along with Castle Rushen) is Peel Castle, on St. Patrick's Isle. It's a beautiful set of castle fortress ruins, dating back to the 10th (!) Century, that is located on an enormous, grassy hill. It's a must-see, and provides several beautiful hours of exploration and photo ops (see my specific Peel Castle and Town of Peel reviews if you want to know more). And now to those other great amenities, starting with Fenella Beach, a small sheltered cove that overlooks the castle and the beginnings of the northern Atlantic Ocean. While waaaaay cooler than the waters of, say, the Caribbean Sea, it's BEAUTIFUL. So bring your wetsuit and kayak (or rent one in the area) and float on the cold, clear waters. It's a great place to hang and take in the beauty. While there, I highly recommend walking up the trail to a) get a great view b) see what I consider to be the best statue on the Isle of Man: Fenella. Recently erected (2011) and carved from a single piece of an Ash tree, the 7-tall figure of Fenella overlooks the beach. For those unaware of Sir Walter Scott's 1823 novel "Peveril of the Peak,"--which takes place mainly on the Isle of Man and Peel Castle--Fenella is spy and the daughter of another main character, Edward Christian. It's a great statue from a great book. St Patrick's is a great Isle ... in a great town ... on the great Isle of Man. I can't wait to go back!

Spent this morning at Millisle Beach Park and have to say I was thoroughly impressed. Amazing views…read moreof the water for us adults whilst also providing an abundance of fun for the kids. The pirate ship was a huge hit and while my 2 year old nephew was far too small for it, apparently just standing on it and turning the steering wheel provides ample entertainment. They also have two play park areas, one for older children and a great one for the younger. It was quite quiet so there was no fighting over the play area or swings. In addition, they have a full seat swing for children with disabilities which I thought was a great touch and I'm sure will be greatly appreciated by those who require it. Bring your own ball and you can use the dedicated football area. As an adult I would have loved a coffee to make this a top notch destination. Fingers crossed.

Way back in 2010 I was maybe a little bit harsh on Millisle beach park. Now I'm 28 I have started…read moreto appreciate scenery a whole lot more and there's not many places as scenic as Millisle beach. The beach itself stretches about 3 miles (when the tide is out) and makes a great place to walk the dog. You can let your dog off the lead here too, which they always love. The council have recently put some cash dollar in to a community garden and they are in the process of building a new drainage system. There's a nice play park too with a big pirate ship that lets kids keep watch for pirates sailing in the Irish Sea. With plenty of parking and great views it really does make for a nice walk even on a blustery autumn afternoon.

Excellent site in great location. Static caravans, tourers and tents plus a couple of excellent…read morelodges to rent too. Nice facilities, good rates - and well layed out so no one is too cramped or close by. Electricty available for tourers and tents if required. Beach side location on working farm - great for families! Easy to find close to Gatehouse of Fleet and with Kirkcudbright nearby, Wigtown and Dumfries and even Stranraer easily reached, there is lots to do in the area like castles, gardens, smokehouses and fishing, walks, forests and good food as well as just chilling.

A nice sandy beach with great views. Not as nice or picturesque as Peel…read more A couple of pubs close by

Port Erin Beach is a must-see in a town full of must-sees. Once you've reached the western terminus…read moreof the Steam Railway, checked out the railway museums, browsed through the local shops, and had an ice cream at the Whistle Stop Coffee Shop, the next logical stop is Port Erin Bay, its grand views, and its even grander beach. You can dip your feet in the invigorating waters of the bay that is directly connected to the Irish Sea. You can overlook the great views, seeing if you can spot Milner's Monument on the top of famed Bradda Head Cliffs. You can follow the promenade thru the beach line Shops and cafes... Or, you can just hang out! It's a beautiful place, both on sunny days and others when the weather fails to cooperate. I envy the people of Port Erin for such a lovely place!

Ballyholme Beach and Park's grounds stretch al the way along Ballyholme Bay. The coastal walk from…read moreKingsland (Ballyholme) to Orlock Point (Groomsport) is one of the most scenic in Ireland in my opinion, whether it's the views of Belfast Lough right across to Whitehead and Carrickfergus or the bramble laden paths that snake all the way to Groomsport you'll find something that will take your breath away. Ballyholme beach itself comes equipped with public toilets (only open 9-5), a large car park and 1.3km of sand. On a hot summers day in North Down this place is absolutely jam packed - you even get local ice cream vans taking up spots in the car park to cool down sun worshipers. One thing to note is that Dogs ARE allowed at this beach off their leads. So if you have small kids who may be afraid of bounding labradors then keep them close and if you are a dog owner bring your pooch down for a dip in the Ballyholme swell. Personally I have great affection for Ballyhome Beach, it is the site of some of the greatest sandcastles ever built (by me) and it offers a beautiful summers walk along the gold coast of North Down.

One of the seven wonders of North Down and situated in glorious ballyholme, this beach and park is…read morethe go to place for dog walkers and playing children for miles around, even if the far end of the beach does smell quite badly these days...! There are two mini play parks at either end of the beach perfect for occupying smaller adults and loads of car parking spaces too... Ballyholme shops being very close also make it perfect place for a summer bbq with a few relaxing beverages with friends and the walk round the coastal path to Groomsport is a great walk with some off track paths and turns into a kind of mini-hike at times... I have amassed around 1 million hours of football playing time on these green grasses and it's good to still see kids playing tol all hours of the night here as the summer approaches...!

It's beautiful in every way. A piece of engineering, a piece of Art and a piece of history. The…read morepaint job is immaculate, no disrepair here at all. I first tied to climb in 1974, made it to the second level and had to be brought down by a school dinner lady. Tried again yesterday 2025, made it to the second level again and was brought down by a kindly Scottish fella. Pablo climbed the spiral all the way to the top. Make sure someone is on the ground to get a picture of you because its one of the best photo ops in IOM. Gifts available at the ticket office. Walk on after to the Mine Exhibit, put on your helmet for a 30 yard walk into the mine, It was very wet inside so be prepared. This is a tourist attraction at its best.

The Great Laxey Wheel is one of the most quirky attractions you can find on the Isle of Man. On the…read moreone hand you are right - it is just a big (very big) water wheel - but honestly, even if you have seen it on pictures before you visit, you are still awed by the sheer sitze of this engineering feat of the Victorian Era. In a time when industrialization shifted from water power to steam power, a small band of engineers in the hills of Laxey resisted the changing times and started to build one of the biggest water wheels that the world had seen - and which is now the highest functioning water wheel in the world. But for what did they build it? The 22m high structure was built to pump water from the mines deep under the Snaefell Mountain and it did it for quite some time until it finally had to succumb to the bigger power - steam, and eventually the end of mining in this place. But the wheel was never dismanteled, and over the last years it was restored to old glory. So what can you see here beside of a f. big water wheel? The whole place is a Manx Heritage Sight and there is a lot information about the Wheel, the History and especially about the life of the Miners in that time. Everything is explained in great detail and especially the part about the miners is very interesting as you get deep insight into the life of miners, how dangerous the work was and what it meant to live without social security. Beside of this you can walk up to the top of the wheel and have splendid views over the surrounding area or you can explore a small mine shaft to get a better feeling what working conditions were like in this place. Yes, it is true that you can see the Wheel also from town without paying a penny for it - but the closer you get, the more impressive it is and with all the additional information and the view from the top it is well worth the money. So if you happen to be on the Isle of Man, you should make Laxey part of your itinary. The Wheel, the Snaefell Mountain Railway, the Electric Railway and an awesome tea shop give Laxey enough attractions to keep you occupied for a whole day!