Isle of Man Explorer

DAY 1

Journey from your home station via rail and ferry to Douglas on the Isle of Man and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Empress Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings or stroll along the seafront before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

Today, we enjoy a ride behind steam on the magnificent Isle of Man Railway, the longest narrow-gauge steam line in Britain to still use original carriages. We journey to Port Erin with time to view the excellent refurbished railway sheds, steam trains, and carriages at the neighbouring Railway Museum before returning by steam train to Castletown. Here, we visit Castle Rushen, one of Europe's most finely preserved medieval fortresses plus the fascinating Old House of Keys, the former meeting place of the Isle of Man Parliament, where you may even have the chance to join a debate in the chamber. Alternatively, you can enjoy a full day of steam alighting at whichever stations you wish to explore before reconvening for our evening meal together.

DAY 3

After breakfast, we begin a great day of heritage boarding the Manx Electric Railway to Laxey where we have a steaming on the mines railway and visit Lady Isabella - the Great Wheel of Laxey. Afterwards, we depart Laxey by tram to Ramsey where we enjoy free time to take lunch and stroll around the pier and harbour before returning by electric railway and horse-drawn tram to Douglas. Alternatively, you can use your travel pass to take a bus from Ramsey to Peel to explore the island's main fishing port and Peel Cathedral.

DAY 4

This morning, we travel by tram to Laxey and transfer to the electric Snaefell Mountain Railway for our journey to the top of the island's highest peak, Snaefell at 2,036ft, where breathtaking views await. After a lunchtime break, we return to Laxey and continue by tram to Groudle* for a steam train journey on the narrow-gauge Groudle Glen Railway to the cliff tops of Sea Lion Rocks. We return to Douglas and can visit the Manx Museum, bursting with artefacts unique to the Isle of Man from Viking treasures to the world-famous TT races, before returning to the hotel for our final evening meal together.

*In April, we do not visit Groudle Glen Railway before returning to Douglas.

DAY 5

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the Isle of Man and board our ferry to Heysham for our homeward journeys.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner