Isle Of Man: Douglas and beyond — East London Mornings

A long weekend in the Isle Of Man

The Isle of Man might be a small island (only 32 miles long), but it has so much to offer. I was planning my visit for many years and finally happy to say I made it. It is best known for TT motor racing and a three-legged symbol on a national flag. But as you may guess I’m here for food, history and culture.

A self-governing kingdom with a parliament established by the Vikings over a thousand years ago, the Isle of Man has its own language and its own currency (though £ is accepted everywhere). Points of interest include heritage railways, ancient castles, local food specialities like kippers and ‘queenies’ (small, sweet Manx scallops), wildlife walks, fresh air and a fascinating history.

First things first. I left Gatwick at around 7pm and by 9pm I was already sipping tea at my Isle of Man base for the next two days - The Claremont Hotel (18 Loch Promenade, Douglas IM1 2LX).

In the morning I started my adventure with visiting Peel Castle. One of the most interesting sites on the Isle of Man, which was built by the Vikings. In the 8th or 9th century Vikings landed on the island and controlled it for the next few centuries. They established a parliament on the island known as the Tynwald, possibly the oldest continuous parliament in the world.

Next stop, The Great Laxey Wheel. Also known as Lady Isabella it is the largest working waterwheel in the world. A brilliant example of Victorian engineering she was built in 1854 to pump water from the Laxey mines. Today a climb to the top is rewarded with panoramic views across the Laxey Valley.

Manx Food Festival

Second day of my trip was all about food. Every year, the festival draws over 10,000 visitors, caterers and local producers to celebrate the very best of local Manx food and drink, with more than 60 exhibitors attending the event. One of its big attractions is the street food style Saturday evening event with music, drink and theatre attractions taking place. I’ve started the morning by meeting Martyn Perkins, member of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. I’ve learned that the island is fully focused on ensuring the highest quality Manx produce, and has recently created the Provenance Label, part of the Island’s Food Matters strategy aiming to increase the value of food and drink to the economy by £50m over a 10-year period (2015 – 2025). The label indicates that produce is grown, reared, caught and/or processed in the Isle of Man and/or contains mostly Manx ingredients. The Government encourages entrepreneurship, innovation and market focus through its grants systems. As a result, new and artisanal businesses are sprouting (I’ve met an ex E5 bakery employee who moved here and runs a very successful Noa Bakehouse now), including root beer, yoghurt, a business based around exchanging apples for cider, microbreweries. In 2017, 56 Isle of Man products won awards at The Great Taste Awards – an excellent testament! Furthermore, the Isle of Man is the only nation to get awarded UNESCO status as a world biosphere region – a prestigious accolade. This highlights that all the farming produce on the Island is sustainable and of high quality.

I was also very lucky to witness how “Queenies” (Queen Scallops) were being crowned as the national dish of the Isle of Man.

Last day I began with a breakfast at Cycle 360. It’s a unique place where cycling, fitness and cafe culture all meet under one roof. It’s not in the Douglas city centre, but very worth a ride for the most delicious morning bowls and brunch classics.

But the best I kept for the last evening - a visit to Foraging Vintners. A craft winery based about half an hour drive from Douglas in Port Erin. MaryBeth and Ian produce non-grape based varieties of sparkling wine, ciders, ginger beer and now a range of rum. This place is absolutely not to be missed if on the island. The tiny bar is so cute and cosy! It was October and chilly to appreciate the ocean views from the terrace, but I’m hoping to return in summer time and explore more.