26 July continued: Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries – photos and an account of of visit to the Groudle Glen Railway (for excellent cake!) and a rainy ride to Port Erin and back. (‘Erin’ is very nearly an anagram of ‘rain’. Hmm)
Visit Groudle Glen (and rainy Port Erin) for the soggy details!
Author: geoffspages
Day 3: A Manx Glen
26 July: There are several scenic glens around the Isle of Man. Groudle Glen is a good example, and has the added attraction of a super little 2′ gauge railway – one which “runs uphill to the sea”. That’s why we’re here, but before the trains start running, we’ll enjoy the glen (and make the most of a dry morning – there’s rain coming later)
Peel to Port Soderick: closing the gap
25 July continued: The entries below cover our two explorations on foot – Peel Castle and the Douglas Head Marine Drive. There was railway interest en route – remnant of the steam railway at Peel, and our steam-hauled journey from Douglas to port Soderick. Visit Peel to Port Soderick on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for the full(ish) story and photos.
Port Soderick to Douglas
25 July: Douglas Head Marine Drive – tramway no more
This standard-gauge (4′ 8½”) tramway closed immediately before the war in 1939, and never reopened. Providing a spectacular ride along the cliffs, the high-level route connected to sea level at either end using funiculars. Today we must use steps and feet… There’s a good road surface much of the way, though a short unstable central section is closed to vehicles, so there’s no through traffic, making for a quiet and most enjoyable walk.
Wikipedia: Douglas Southern Electric Tramway
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=236505&Y=473975&A=Y&Z=120
Day 2: Peel – the castle
25 July: The railway from Douglas to Peel closed 55 years ago. Can’t help thinking it would be a valuable part of the island’s transport infrastructure today (and a more relaxing journey that the bus…). Unlike Castletown’s Castle Rushen, Peel’s castle is a ruin – a spectacular one on its rocky perch above the sea, and great for an exploration on this fine sunny day.
Day 1: Manx Electric
24 July: After arriving at Douglas and getting to our hotel, a stroll along to Derby Castle is just what’s needed. Passing horse trams on the way, we’ll then watch the arrival and putting to bed of the trams on the Manx Electric Railway. Visit “Manx Electric: Douglas” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more…
Manx variety
24-29 July: We arrived home yesterday evening after five nights in Douglas on the Isle of Man. There primarily for the railways and tramways, we intended to enjoy the island’s other attractions too, particularly some we missed on our last visit four years ago. It will take a little while to work through the hundreds of photos; in the meantime here’s a sample of some of the things we saw and did.
Ripening
The wheat and barley, the damsons, the lords and ladies – and the wild raspberries. There were only three or four, and they’d been eaten before I could get a photo…
View OS map in Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367470&Y=298250&A=Y&Z=120
Cound wandering
Up the lane to Harnage – and then it’s almost all paths and tracks in this interesting little area threaded by the surprisingly deep valley of Coundmoor Brook. The season’s first blackberries are ripening, there are fine apples near the ford and some good-sized puffballs beside the lane – reminders that, though it’s still July, autumn is little over a month away.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=356010&Y=304105&A=Y&Z=120
Dodging the showers at Dudmaston
Perfect choice – not a drop of rain, until we were half-way home in the car (it’s only about 10 miles away). Plenty of colour in the gardens, and in the various flying things – the camera caught a couple of damselflies, but the truly splendid dragonflies in the dingle just wouldn’t co-operate.
Vie OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374425&Y=288752&A=Y&Z=115
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