Absolutely Sound

I've written about the Meayll Peninsula before(and walking round it) but was shocked to discover that it was just over three years ago and having read my efforts http://michaelswelbeckblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/meayll-peninsula.html I reckon I can add a little to it, especially photographically.

Irene & I set off from Douglas, opting to take the bus this time. It costs £5.70 each return to Port Erin (or that zone)

A couple of herring gulls perching above the old marine biological centre.

Having just had a knee operation just over two weeks before this walk and also because I stopped to take so many photographs, this time the journey times were 1 hour(3 years ago just 45min) to the Sound Cafe and a further hour and a half from there to Port Erin, though we do still maintain a fair pace, so allow a little longer if you are not used to this type of terrain or if you like to break off to enjoy the views, flora or fauna.

I've been slightly disappointed with the quality of photograph from my i-phone 5c but my daughter patiently explained (yes right) that I've inadvertently being using the wrong setting, so you'll have to imagine the colours.

As I alluded to earlier, this walk is at times challenging under foot, particularly if there has been rain and there are places where it is muddy and others where you have to rock-hop a little. On the section between the Sound and Port St. Mary, there is a particularly steep hill, so it would require a certain level of fitness and though I have done this route with young children, be warned that you could end up carrying them at times.

The Calf Sound is one of the most visited areas on the Island and there is a cafe which is supposed to blend into its surroundings and therefore looks a bit like the Telly Tubby House but does generally provide decent food and drinks.

Invariably you will be able to see seals on Kitterland (small islet between mainland and the calf) and they often swim right up to the rocks, so there is an opportunity to get quite close to them if you fancy a bit of a climb.

On the way around Spanish Head you also pass the Chasms which is well worth the detour if you have the time.

On this occasion, we didn't follow the footpath right along the coast into the village because my aforementioned joint was starting to ache a little, so we sneaked between the golf course, missing Perwick Bay where there used to be a hotel.

You can eat at Port St. Mary in the golf club and there is also a cafe about a mile further along the coast, though on this occasion, we opted for the Albert Hotel which is a pub.

Unfortunately, the other pub, the Bay View is closed at the moment

The cat walk which runs over the beach which was damaged in the winter storms but is apparently now re-opened.

If you have left your vehicle in Port Erin, there are two ways which should get you there in about 15 to 20 minutes, though the bus and the train do run directly from Port St. Mary.

Harry Birthday Happy!

Almost unimaginable that it could be three years today since Lucy's twins, Harry & Christopher were born and that the premature tiny sack of breathing bones could have grown to be a fully fledged monster with such alacrity!

Last Saturday, Irene, Harry and I made the trip to Silverdale Glen which is situated probably about a mile outside Ballasalla (which is a 20 minute drive from The Welbeck) and it's a lovely walk via Rushen Abbey if you've travelled by bus or train.

There is a boating lake, (not yet open last Saturday) a mixture of businesses (more of which later) a large field with picnic area, some pretty areas to walk around and of course the main purpose of our visit, the children's play area, the main feature of which is a Victorian Carousel built in 1890. This roundabout is powered by a water wheel originally from the Foxdale mines.

Not the best picture, I'm afraid but most of my time was spent chasing Harry, so it was a matter of positioning myself to block the routes of escape/danger rather than finding the best photographic angle.

The buildings are part of an old mill and there has always been a cafe which has enjoyed varying degrees of success. They make their own ice cream but their menu is somewhat limited at the moment. https://www.facebook.com/SilverdaleGlen

Our view while we enjoyed a pot of tea and an ice cream outside

Over the course of the last ten years or so other businesses have opened and there is a gallery: garrettsgallery.webs.com run by local artist, Karl Garrett.

There is a studio where you can paint your own ceramics and pottery: www.craftworks-studio.co.uk/

On the level of the boating lake is Dolittle's which houses a small selection of animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs that you and the children can stroke as well as a big selection of toys for the little ones who haven't the slightest interest in small furry things (no names mentioned ;) )They had a little puppy too. The cost was £2 per adult and £1 per child.



There will also be a shop selling hand made and second hand toys opening in the near future.



Whilst I was trawling the internet looking for information, links and perhaps some photos better than my my feeble efforts with my phone, I found a virtual tour of Silverdale. Have a look:

http://www.vrisleofman.co.uk/isle-of-man-virtual-tour/Silverdale-Glen.html

Mayhem in the Curraghs Wild Harry Park

It's a hard job being a grandparent as I referred to a few weeks ago but as we find it marginally easier to have our monster out of the house rather than creating mayhem inside it, it is giving us opportunity to keep current with our various tourist attractions.

A few weeks ago, we added to the Wildlife Park at the Curraghs by visiting with Harry. We did leave it a little late in the day but I suggested that we had to go because we'd told him we would. Irene didn't think he'd really be bothered because last time we had been, albeit a year earlier and not nearly three, he took no notice of them whatsoever.

I was on the verge of agreeing with Irene, a moment later a voice piped up from the back seat, "Amnals! Amnals! I want to see the amnals!" and off we went, 'Amnals, Amnals!' all the way and he didn't seem to believe we were going there at all!

gov.im/categories/leisure-and-entertainment/curraghs-wildlife-park



(New website coming later this week on )

Of course, people who have read my previous blog will probably have already gathered what happened next.

A portrait of our Grandson Harry.

Having shelled out the best part of £20, we had a look at the first display which is the Humboldt penguins and his next words were, 'Gaddad's car! Gaddad's car! I want to go to Gaddad's car!' (Note I am 'Daddad' no more!)

'You will see the blooming Amnals and you will enjoy it!'

I think we lasted just over an hour before his determination to take us in every direction but the one we wanted to go and see everything but the 'Amnals' in wore us down.

However, there is a lot to see and on Sundays, there is also a mini railway run by volunteers.

The play park is now a much bigger and in a new area than when we used to take our children and they have extended the outside area of the cafe.

Journey to The Tower of Refuge

Most people who have been to Douglas will have seen the castellated structure in the bay built on Conister Rock or St Mary's Isle as it also known.

The scheme to construct it was orchestrated by William Hillary who moved the the Isle of Man in 1808, later founding the RNLI whose very first boat was housed at Douglas in 1824. He had witnessed some ships lost on the rocks and following the wreck of the St.George* in 1830 when despite being washed overboard, he helped rescue the entire crew with no loss of life.

< Sir William reasoned that the Tower of Refuge would give sailors shelter while they waited for help, so fresh water and food was provided and the building was completed in 1832 and almost 200 years later it is still standing firm, welcoming all sea visitors to the Island .

We've had the shocking weather with huge waves and high tides earlier in the year but at around this of the season, there are also very low tides and a handful of times in the calendar, it is actually possible to walk the Tower of Refuge is built.

Quite different from the last time I was there, a brat looking for adventure one morning having stayed out all night some 33 years ago, on Wednesday there was an organised walk, sponsored by local company, Tower Insurance in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Apparently, some 3400 people took the opportunity and one gentleman even proposed to his girlfriend.

* The St George was the flagship of The St.George Company, the earliest rivals to the present Steam Packet.