Since I needed to take all my camping stuff + bike + walking kit, it was the car for me. That meant the Isle Of Man Steam Packet Company ferry from Heysham to Douglas. It’s a conventional RO-RO vessel from Heysham, but a “high-speed” catamaran to/from Liverpool. So I booked one of each – the BEN MY CHREE to Douglas and the MANANNAN back to Liverpool. Sailing times I chose were sensible too.
The road from the M6 to Heysham port is pretty impressive now, as there is a new link bypassing Lancaster. Ah yes, the M6. Just as well I left early, as there was a 2 hour enforced stop near Stoke – big accident, diesel all over the road, etc. Must’ve been bad as it made the local radio news headlines……..
Anyway, got there OK. Never been on this sea crossing before, but it was still a bit like going abroad, as they did random checks for commercial goods being “smuggled” into the IOM, mirrors under the car, etc. I kept forgetting that the IOM is not really part of the UK as it’s a “self-governing British Crown dependency”, so just a teeny bit “foreign”.
Being me, I spent a few more pennies and upgraded to the Premier Lounge on the ferry – more comfortable seats, dedicated staff to look after you, free tea/coffee/snacks, newspapers, laptop charging points, etc – very nice. Good view out the front (sorry, the bow) as well. I did look at a cabin, but they’re mega-expensive for a singleton, 4 berth cabin or nothing, it seems.
Four and a half hours later, Douglas hove into view. Easy disembarking (no customs !!!) and off north to Ramsey, through the “rush hour” in Douglas. For those who don’t know the island at all ( like me initially !). there are two main roads north – the so-called “mountain” road (used as part of the TT course) and the slower coast road via Laxey. By a sort of mistake, I ended up on the mountain road, but the bonus was that I was able to enjoy my first glimpses of the magnificent Manx mountain scenery.
I’d decided to camp in Ramsey as I was immediately attracted (on the old inter web, naturally) to a campsite called Silly Moo’s at a farm on the Lezayre Road. How could I resist ???? It’s a TT visitor favourite, it seems, but MY week, I was the only one there ! First time I’ve had a campsite to myself. Great really, as I could use the facilities whenever I liked. They have a big community barn with table chairs, benches, free tea/coffee, microwave, food fridges,wi-fi – all modern conveniences. So it was breakfast every morning in comfort.
During the trip over, I’d tried to sort out A PLAN for the week, but, as you can no doubt guess from its position in the middle of the Irish Sea, the weather can be somewhat fickle, especially at this time of year. So having taken in local knowledge, it looked a good bet to get a 3 day GO EXPLORE pass, giving me unlimited travel on the various trains trams and buses, hoping the weather would co-operate. It did – just about !
My initial aim was to “do” the two bike courses (Mountain and Billown) plus all of the trains/trams, then see what there was else to see. Some of the “standard” tourist places were already on the list, eg museums, Laxey Wheel. I soon realised, however, that a week was not going to be enough.