Douglas; Saturday, 30 June, 2012

With breakfast consumed I wandered down the hill to the prom and then walked along the front the mile or so to the tram station at Derby Castle.

From there I caught the Manx Electric Railway up to Laxey and then took the Snaefell mountain railway up to the highest point on the island, the summit of Snaefell. Unfortunately, the lovely sunny weather down on the coast was not being mirrored up the mountain, and by the time we reached the summit the whole mountain had disappeared into a thick and eerie fog that left visibility at less than 50 foot.

I had a wander around the strange muted landscape before grabbing a welcome cup of tea in the café and then catching the next tram back down to Laxey.

I had a wander around Laxey near the station and then caught the Great Laxey Mines Railway through the only tunnel on the island to the Laxey Wheel, the symbol of the Island.

I’d forgotten from my previous visit quite how much of a site there was to explore at Laxey and after taking in the wheel, mines and some of the walks around the valley sides it was time for lunch, for which I caught the local link bus the short distance down to the sea front in Old Laxey.

After lunch I picked the tram back up and continued north to its terminus in Ramsey. I walked the mile or so out to the Grove museum of Victoria life and had a look around that before walking back into the town centre for a wander around.

Having taken in the sights of Ramsey I headed back to the bus station and was in time to pick up the bus down the Western coast of the island to Peel.

I had a quick look around Peel before catching the bus back into Douglas, dinner and a welcome sleep.