Isle of Man Trip
We made another quick trip over to the Isle of Man this weekend.
I say “quick,” but I think we actually had an extra day compared to usual — which made a difference.
This time we took the boat. In some ways it’s better: we have our own car, can take more with us, and everything feels a bit more flexible. The trade-off, of course, is the weather. That said, our last few flights have been delayed by wind, fog, or air traffic control, so we wondered whether the ferry might actually prove more reliable.
As it turned out, it did.
We stopped off at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet for lunch, a bit of shopping, and a car charge on the way to Liverpool. The ferry left on time, the crossing was a little lumpy thanks to the wind, but we arrived as planned and were in the cottage by 11pm. Somehow I failed to take any real photos whilst on the island, but I did take this one in the ferry terminal, where negotiating a normal flight of stairs seems to have been promoted to an extreme sport!!
Yes, both Anna and I never had more than one point of contact, we took more than one step at a time and jumped off the last few! Somehow I think this sign will just encourage people to be silly and will lead to mopr accidents than it prevents!
The next few days settled into an easy rhythm.
We’d have breakfast, head down to see Anna’s mum (Pat), then head out for errands, food shopping, or a wander somewhere around the island before lunch. We spent time in Douglas, picked up bits from B&Q, and strolled along the prom in Port Erin. There were a few relaxed stops in shops like Robinson’s, and plenty of just… slowing down.
In the afternoons, Anna and I would usually do our own thing. One day we sat overlooking Castletown Bay, watching the wind whip across the water — the kind of day where, a few years ago, I’d definitely have found an excuse to bring the windsurf kit.
We also headed north to visit the island’s gin distillery, then on to a nearby nature reserve in search of the island’s famously unexpected residents — wild wallabies. No luck this time, but it still felt like part of the adventure.
There were stops for tea and cake in Jurby, hot chocolates back in Port Erin, and patches of warm sunshine in between.
On Sunday, we drove up to Kirk Michael so I could pick up a few more miles of the coast path — a small but satisfying continuation.
Evenings were simple. Back to Pat’s for dinner, helping out with a few light DIY or gardening jobs, then a wander back to the cottage to wind down.
The return crossing couldn’t have been easier — calm seas, smooth sailing, and a quick journey back before the drive home.
You never quite know what you’re going to get with the ferry (we’ve had some rough ones in the past), but this time everything just worked. And when you factor in having your own car and the flexibility it brings, the cost isn’t far off flying and hiring anyway.
A short trip, but nice all the same — a mix of family time, fresh air, and just enough movement to feel like you’ve done something with the days.
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