| Isle of Man: |
The Isle of Man, almost equidistant from Ireland, England,
Wales and Scotland, is one of the most beautiful spots in Britain, a
mountainous, cliff-fringed island just thirty-one miles by thirteen, into which
are shoehorned austere moorlands and wooded glens, sandy beaches, fine castles,
beguiling narrow-gauge railways and scores of standing stones and Celtic
crosses. It takes some effort to reach, and the weather is hardly reliable,
factors which have seen tourist numbers fall since its Victorian heyday. This
means, though, that the Isle of Man has been spared the worst excesses of the
British tourist trade: there's peace and quiet in abundance, walks around the
unspoilt hundred-mile coast line, picket fences and picnic spots, rural
villages, steam trains and cream teas Ð a yesteryear ensemble if ever there was
one.
Although the landscapes are wonderful, the island's main tourist draw is the TT
(Tourist Trophy) motorcycle races in the first two weeks in June, a frenzy of
speed and burning rubber that's shattered the island's peace annually since
1907. This is only the most famous of a summer-long list of rallies and races
on the island's roads, from the Manx Rally (May), International Rally and Manx
Classic (both Sept) to the Kart Racing Festival (July), when go-karts buzz
through the streets of Peel. If you want to stay on the island at these times,
book your accommodation well in advance. |
| Find out more information on Ferries to the
Isle of Man by clicking on the following links: |
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Isle of Man tourist board:
http://www.isleofman.com
Isle of Man TT: http://www.iomtt.com
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