Return of the Walk-a-Blog

Just like I always seem to be on Marine Drive when I mention training, I'm sure that this isn't the first time Irene & I have been out for a 'walk-a-blog' when we've ended up in Laxey, though our route this time was almost entirely different.

As we set off with young Happy in the pram, the weather looked glorious but as we hit the Promenade, soon realised that our entire journey would be into a stiff and extremely cool N.N.E. breeze.

We continued onto King Edward Bay Road, following the coast as far as Groudle and then continuing on another half a mile or so and this time, instead of turning right to head off to St Adnan's (Lonan Old Church,) we took a left across the Manx Electric Railway tracks, up the extremely steep climb to Bibaloe Beg (where the is one of those farms where you can pick your own produce at various times of the year, the crop depending on the season but I reckon it'll be strawberries soon.)

From there we crossed the A2 main road to Laxey, up the Begoade Road where they now hold an annual music festival which last year was headlined by Manx world wide superstar, Davey Knowles http://www.thegardenparty.im/ held on July 6th & 7th this time around.

There isn't the same gradient as at Bibaloe but it's a longer haul of perhaps 2 miles up past Coan Rhenney Plantation and you certainly feel it pushing a pram. This is another area of the Island where they are improving the green lanes for mountain bikers and moto cross riders but there are also picnic stops.

Instead of continuing to Creg-ny-Baa, we navigated North East, on this occasion opting to continue straight on past Axnfell instead of the winding road around Glen Ruy and Baldhoon as we feared Harry might be starting to become a little hungry. Therefore, we had a well earned pint at the Mines Tavern, sat outside in the sunshine. The plan had been to eat but unfortunately, the menu was somewhat reminiscent of pub grub circa 1985 and the roast beef which I might have had was 'off.' So, we ended up next door at the Manx Electric Railway Station café and had three lovely bowls of soup and it was better value too! Apparently there is a new eatery in Laxey by the wheel which my mother ate at recently and she recommends.