{"id":48232,"date":"2026-04-23T14:32:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=48232"},"modified":"2026-04-23T14:32:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:32:47","slug":"isle-of-man-coast-path-glen-mooar-to-ballaugh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/2026\/04\/isle-of-man-coast-path-glen-mooar-to-ballaugh\/","title":{"rendered":"Isle of Man Coast Path \u2013 Glen Mooar to Ballaugh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whilst on the\u00a0Isle of Man\u00a0last weekend, I managed to tick off another small section of the Coast Path \u2014 the Raad ny Foillan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last time I\u2019d made it as far as\u00a0Glen Mooar<\/a>, so that was where I had to start today. However, when we arrived in\u00a0Kirk Michael, the road to the glen was closed for a walking event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan B.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We parked in Kirk Michael instead, and I set off along the road, running the mile and a half past\u00a0Glen Wyllin\u00a0to rejoin the coast path at Glen Mooar. It added a bit of distance to the day, and meant I was running head-on into a constant stream of hi-vis clad walkers. There were hundreds of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most offered a cheerful \u201cGood morning,\u201d or the inevitable \u201cYou\u2019re going the wrong way!\u201d I replied in kind, or joked that I\u2019d already finished and was heading back. After the first 50 times, though, it did start to wear a bit thin, so I was glad to finally turn off towards the coast and leave them to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glen Mooar to Kirk Michael<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From Glen Mooar, I dropped down onto the beach and headed north, with a calm sea to my left and steep sandy cliffs rising to my right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The running wasn\u2019t easy. There were stretches of firm sand, but also softer, pebbly patches that kept breaking any rhythm. Progress slowed, but it didn\u2019t matter \u2014 it was a good place to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Isle<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Isle<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After a mile or so, the path cut inland slightly, passing through the campsite at Glen Wyllin \u2014 I\u2019d run past here in the opposite direction not long ago. I crossed the river via a small bridge, climbed a short set of steps, and then joined the line of the old railway. From here, it was an easy, flat run back towards Kirk Michael.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Glen
Glen Wyllin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Kirk Michael to Ballaugh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Crossing the road, I briefly rejoined the walking event at a feed station before continuing along the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I passed the occasional dog walker out for a morning stroll and under several bridges. Eventually, I reached a barricaded bridge marking the end of this section.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Under<\/a>
Under Bridges on the Old Railway Line<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A quick climb up and over, and I headed back towards the coast via quiet back roads, double tracks, and a grassy footpath that led down to another small bridge \u2014 and a slightly awkward scramble back onto the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Down<\/a>
Down to the Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From here, it was a long stretch along sand and shingle beneath tall cliffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This section disappears completely at high tide, but I had a decent window before the sea pushed in. I tried to stick to the firmer sand near the water\u2019s edge, though it was often rippled, puddled, or submerged, forcing me back onto softer ground. Still, I was moving well. The sun was out, the sea was calm, and I had the place almost entirely to myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before long, I reached the access point at Ballaugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back to the Car<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was on the wrong side of the river, but rather than doubling back, I waded through the calf-deep and very refreshing water, before climbing up into the car park<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick check of the map revealed that Anna and Pat were actually parked about two miles away\u2026 along the road, but back in the direction I\u2019d just come from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I briefly considered continuing along the coast and meeting them further on, but instead turned and ran back along the road, straight into the walking event once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By now, I was passing many of the same people as before. A few recognised me, which made the repeated \u201cGood mornings\u201d slightly more amusing this time around. I\u2019d covered around seven miles along the beach, while they\u2019d taken a much more direct route along the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, I reached Ballaugh, found Anna and Pat, stopped the watch, and got changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In total, it was an 8.5-mile run \u2014 though only just over five miles of that was actually on the Coast Path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>