28-Apr-2026
We're currently hosting the Other Tern's lovely mum. She's in her late eighties, and lengthy journeys have been a bit daunting for a few years now. So it's a very long time since we've been able to have her to stay, and it has been lovely to make a start on putting that right.
She also turned out to be a bit of a weather goddess, and we had a stunning fortnight, full of sunshine and big, bold, bright views.
The first few days of our itinerary are in the previous post: Tynwald Mills; the steam train from Port Erin to Douglas (after the obligatory ginger cake at the station cafe); and Sunday brunch in Castletown.
But after that:
We'd just finished our picnic at the end of the Marine Drive when the steam train went by
Big day out: First, pulled pork baps and home-made ice cream at the Laxey Beach Cafe...
Next, a walk along the prom, and a sit in the sun
Then, a look round Laxey Woollen Mills
And to round off the day, a trip on the electric tram to the top of Snaefell
Great views of the Laxey Wheel on the way up...
...and of all the folds and gouges in the land. Ours was the last tram to go up that day (because of the super-high winds at the top), so once up, we just had time to pick up a cup of tea before heading down again. The pay-off for the wind was the immense clarity, giving beautiful views both ways
The guardian of the birthday picnic, Mooragh Park, Ramsey
And this is the Polish tall ship, Dar Mlodziezy, that was visiting the Island last week
Ramsey has quite a vibrant high street, and we all came home with some impromptu purchases.
We'd done one half of the TT course to reach Ramsey, and on the way home, we covered the second half. And, as I said, we had a birthday to celebrate, so that evening there were bubbles...
Not the subject of photographic record, but no less important for that, were various trips to local garden centres. MIL is a keen gardener, and managed to galvanize us into making the first inroads into our back and front patches.
Also of note were a Chinese takeaway, and two opportunities to benefit from the fish-and-chip van that visits our locality on a Friday evening.
On Saturday we went to Peel. So WARM... I was way too hot sitting over at the Breakwater Kiosk... Never thought I'd hear myself saying that on the Isle of Man
It was busy in Peel that day. The sight of little families camped on the beach with deckchairs and buckets and spades took me right back to childhood. And, of course, you have to have Davison's ice cream...
There were various craft stalls displaying their wares on the sea front, and we all really enjoyed the Peel Charity Shop, the source of lots of loot
We continued birthday week with Sunday lunch at the Victory Cafe, up on the flanks of Snaefell. They do phenomenal pies and quiches
Another visit to Castletown, before heading to PT's family for afternoon tea
What else? Well, there were little walks to local shops and cafes, souvenir shopping in Douglas, and a quick visit to Port St Mary (where we could admire the sea views, but couldn't drive through the centre, because of the filming that was in progress).
And now there's just one more full day. The time has gone incredibly quickly, and as we've barely scratched the surface of the Island's attractions, we hope our guest will return.