13-Jul-2026
Regular Purple Tern readers will know that we've recently been doing bits of the Island's Millennium Way. First up was Crosby to The Bungalow, and just a few days ago, we covered the stretch from The Bungalow to Ramsey.
Today we again took the early bus to Crosby, with the goal of walking to Ballasalla. Why not Castletown, you ask, when that's the official finish? Well, we fairly frequently walk along the river between Ballasalla and Castletown, most recently last month, after the Southern Vintage Engine and Tractor Club Show. So we thought we could legitimately finish at Ballasalla, and call it quits.
This bit of the route has you walking more on roads. Generally, this isn't a problem. They're quiet roads, with pastoral views, and only the very occasional car. The big downer is the bit you have to do on the Ballamodha Straight. This is a busy road, and not pleasant to walk on. So the half-hour you spend on it feels like a lot longer. I presume the Millennium Way follows this route because that's the way the ancient Via Regia would have gone. But it's perfectly possible to find footpaths to avoid the road, and next time that's what we'll do.
But the rest of the experience was very good, and went like this:
Once off the bus, you climb up out of Crosby on the southern side of the valley this time
The colours of an early morning in summer...
Our breakfast spot was the churchyard of Old St Runius. There are many who would consider me mad, but I can't think of many nicer things than eating your breakfast, before seven has even struck, in a quiet, ancient churchyard on a bright July morning...
The original building dates back to about 1200, but it was enlarged in 1754
Its role as parish church was taken over by Marown New Church. But there are still services here sometimes, and I would love to go to one. It's hugely atmospheric here
Celtic crosses
The Margaret Lace memorial stone, designed by Archibald Knox
Having left your breakfast spot behind, you're on the road for a bit, but -- as I said -- all is quiet
Unfortunately, they'd closed part of the road we were headed along, in order to do some drainage work, but the guys very kindly stopped their digger so we could get past the first obstruction, and we were able to deviate off on footpaths for a while to avoid the rest of the roadworks
A tad overgrown in places...
But picturesque...
And here we are, back on track
This is St Marks, where it's time for a spot of nineses
And on again...
We'll draw a veil over the Ballamodha bit, which just has to be got through, but the reward at the end is beautiful Silverdale Glen
At the bottom of the glen there's a boating lake, playground, and -- a cafe! Tea and scones all round!
And then you keep following the pretty river until you get to Ballasalla
Ballasalla's St Mary the Virgin, also known as the Abbey Church (for Rushen Abbey, just down the road)
And in Ballasalla, you can get the bus home...
So, there's a very different flavour to this part of the route, but it's still absolutely worth doing.