I've had a whinge (albeit along with constructive criticism attached,) I've gone all Jamie Oliver on you, I've blatantly advertised the Welbeck, I've turned rock groupie/critic, went all gaga about the twins, before trying to bludgeon a few pence out of you for charity and sailing the high seas but it's a while since I've done a 'Walkablog.'
Having had a tough week with racing the Isle of Man Marathon, The Foxdale 6 (miles that is) and a hard training session on Saturday morning, Sunday, awash with sunshine was time to walk for fun!
Even with all the cutbacks and being the Sabbath, the transport service on this Island remains excellent, so it was on the Peel bus we began our adventure. The original plan was to head along the coastal path down to Port Erin.
However, Peel Hill served as a timely reminder that enjoyment, rather than endurance was the order of the day and I didn't need much persuading that we should defer the 1400ft climb from Gob ny Ushtey at almost sea-level to the summit of Cronk-ny-Arrey-Laa .
The cliffs fall steeply to the rocks and sea below as you circumnavigate Corrin's Tower which isn't visible from the narrow track, so you probably would want to only try this one if you are reasonably agile and only take the kids if they are not likely to try escaping and are good with heights. Perhaps a good opportunity to lose the mother-in-law (fortunately, mine doesn't do interweb;-)
The revised route as such involved hugging the seaside until Glen Maye which is the Island's only natural canyon, I believe and then making our way inland to see the waterfall, before stopping to refuel at the pub, named after the main feature of the Glen.
Unbelievably, the whole way along the Raad ny Foillan, we didn't meet another soul!
Although this hostelry has had its ups and downs over the last few years, it seems to have had a revival under its present ownership. Sheltered from the breeze that had kept us from overheating on our outward journey, it's a lovely spot to relax while disappearing a steak sandwich and a hard earned couple of beers.
It was at this point I realised I hit upon a great subject for a blog but unfortunately, I'd already missed the spectacular cliffside and the waterfall and just my luck: the best of the sunshine.
Not particularly wanting to retrace our steps exactly, we headed off down the road back towards the beach, before once again rejoining the lower sea cliff.
A few years ago, on this very same stretch of path, we came across a basking shark only a 20 metres below us. However, it's been a poor year for sightings of the great fish (the second biggest in the world after the whale shark) but there were plenty of birds to make up for our disappointment.
On this occasion, we followed the Bayr ny Skeddan route diverting inland rather than ascending Peel Hill. Judging from the way everywhere was so overgrown, I think it's a while since anyone else had followed the same track which finally emerged on the outskirts of the City at The Raggatt.
It's great name for what was once a former tip but now has been landscaped to form a park before joining the old railway line which runs alongside the River Nebb all the way into the harbour.
Apart from supporting Bus Vannin, not bringing the car also enabled us to once again sit outside the pub, this time the Peveril to catch the last of the sunrays, while watching the pleasure boat traffic entering or leaving the port.
A fabulous day and much recommended. Some of the walk is quite hard going and rough underfoot but it took us about one and a half hours to get there about 70 minutes for the return. Don't forget to take your mother-in-law and you could bring her back as well!
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