Trail Around Two Baldwins

The loop around the Baldwin Valleys has long been a favourite for local athletes, cyclists and dog walkers but as we set out on Saturday, it occurred to me that it must be very rare for visitors to the Island to ever find it, except by chance.

Therefore, with apologies to local readers who have probably done it hundreds of times (though I learnt one or two things I didn't know before researching it) I decided to make a blog of it.

Irene has recently entered the year's End to End Walk 21st September www.endtoendwalk.org , so although she has done a few strolls, it was time to start approaching this year's event in earnest.

We started from home, so the total distance from the Welbeck Hotel would be nearer 20k or just over 12 miles in old money rather than the 17.4k we endured.

There are of course several ways to access the main loop but we headed along the Tromode Road, past the Head Quarters of what was the IOM Water Authority but now they have taken the step of merging with the Manx Electricity Authority which has to be a dangerous move in anyone's books, though we did manage to pass it without electrocution which is always a bonus.

It is also the location of the Isle of Man Cadet Forces, Cronkbourne Cricket, Bacchanalians Hockey & Gymnasium Football clubs, so with a traffic free footpath and the River Glass on the other side of the road, it is always a pleasant start and I am always struck by how quickly after leaving home. we are virtually in countryside.

So far, I've never been brave enough to just walk along the river as it would surely cut out a long diversion. I'm a bit famous for my shortcuts within my family and this might just be one too far.

On this occasion we opted to turn North at the end of the road before climbing Johnny Wattersons Lane until the roundabout when we headed West along Ballanard Road and then left at Abbeylands Crossroads, down towards Sir George's Bridge. I had always heard this referred to as St George's Bridge but it was in fact named after Sir George Drinkwater who was part of a Liverpool/Isle of Man family, born on the Island though he later became Mayor of Liverpool.

There is a short, sharp climb and then we took a right on to the East Baldwin Road. From here on in, there is usually very little traffic before the main road is rejoined at Injebreck Reservoir and I think on this occasion, we didn't meet a single vehicle, nor even another pedestrian.

Glass is Manx for clear or green but apparently it is also called the Tromode River and it's tributaries include Baldwin, Injebrek, Colder and Sulby (though this is not to be confused with the largest river on the Island which flows into Ramsey.)

This is all 'On Road,' there are various opportunities to take public footpaths, and although I cannot say how clear they would be, I intend to find out at some stage and will report back to you ( of course I would be delighted if someone else would comment.)

After passing the old animal waste plant (not sign posted,) about 1k along there is now a private dwelling here but it was once a paper mill, after which the house is named.

It is a steady ascent for the next 2k or so, after which you take the road to the left when it becomes a serious ascent! I am somehow always surprised how close you are to the Mountain Road at this stage but fear not because this is the hardest it gets and at the top you are able to choose to turn left to go down to West Baldwin or right, up to St Luke's Church which at around 200m is as high as you go.

In fact it is on the site of an old kiell, St. Abbans, the highest church on the Island and is one of three built to the same design, the others being St. James in Dalby and St Stephens in Sulby. They also doubled as school rooms.

From there it is down the long hill to the bottom of the dam and then I made a 100m detour to see the Injebreck reservoir, constructed from 1900 to be 1905. There was even a railway built from Douglas and it is the main water supply for the town.

At one stage there was a pleasure park that even had its own roller coaster and the old village can be seen during very dry spells.

I am indebted to John Lord for the photographs!

From there it meanders down to West Baldwin, though you have to be a little more careful as this is a thoroughfare to the Bhein-y-Pot Road.

It is a pretty little hamlet, though there does seem to be quite a lot properties for sale, including the former pub, The North Star which is now a private house. With its stables situated behind, it was once a popular stopping point for travellers heading to the top of the Isle of Man and for quarry workers from Early Veg.

If you fancy reinstating it to its former use, I'm not sure it would be a great business move but I can think of two thirsty walkers who would have happily sat outside for a cool beer last Saturday.

Usually there is a couple of peacocks in evidence here but there was no sign the other day.

There is one more hill to negotiate on the way up Mount Rule before you walk the final 4k to Douglas through Ballamillaghyn, Strange, past the hospital and then past Cronkbourne, birthplace of the famous artist and jeweller, Archibald Knox, which is the only Manx industrial village, built to house the workers from Moore's Sailmakers who had a factory in the industrial estate opposite, though more locals would remember Clucas Laundry which once supplied linen for most of the hundreds of hotels and guest houses.

I have given directions on a Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=zHd0d29vDqUw.kHOVMcpB7p-o

http://www.gov.im/ded/iomfilm/locations/ViewLocation.aspx?locationid=106