SUNDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER – FRIDAY 4THOCTOBER 29THSEPTEMBER –FRIDAY SUNDAY 2019 PROGRAMME If you enjoy walking, you’ll love Walk the Isle of Man! Whether you are a seasoned hiker who knows the Island well, or you are here for the first time to experience our magnificent landscapes and spectacular coastlines, Walk the Isle of Man promises a feast of sights and sounds, experiences and adventures, to treasure forever. Our 2019 programme contains a superb choice of five walks each day – covering a mixture of easy, moderate and strenuous routes - designed to appeal to all levels of walker. Simply select one walk per day. You can scale up as the week goes on, or take some days more leisurely than others. It’s entirely up to you. Each walk will be led by experienced walk leaders and supporters. Please note, you will be responsible for bringing your own food and refreshments. If you require any information about travel insurance the following link should prove helpful. https://www.gov.im/categories/health-and- wellbeing/health-advice/healthy-living/ travelling-and-health/health-insurance- when-travelling/ WELCOME Arrival: 7pm | Sunday 29th September 2019 Your rendezvous will be The Ascot Hotel, just off the famous promenade in Douglas. The Ascot can be your base for the week, but we will also be offering a choice of accommodation options in and around Douglas. Let us know your preference. During an introductory reception, you will have the chance to familiarise yourself, meet your fellow walkers and some of the walk leaders and organisers. Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided. ABOUT US Walk the Isle of Man is organised by the Island’s leading events company, Isle of Man Event Services, and Go-Mann Adventures, which is run by expert walking guide Dr Andrew Foxon. Andrew is a qualified Isle of Man Blue Badge Guide (Guild of Manx Registered Tour Guides) and a Hill & Moorland Leader (Mountain Training Association) with a background in archaeology & landscape history and a passion for the outdoors. He is supported by an experienced and capable team of Isle of Man-based walk leaders and supporters who know the Island intimately. You’ll be in safe and knowledgeable hands throughout. FAREWELL RECEPTION 7pm | Friday 4th October 2019 Our farewell reception will again be at The Ascot Hotel and will provide the perfect opportunity to reconvene and reminisce, with one or two surprises thrown in. Don’t miss it! TO BOOK YOUR PLACE For all travel, accommodation and activity packages associated with Walk the Isle of Man, including Island-based walkers who only wish to register and reserve places on any of the walks, please contact: Sally Helwich, Isle of Man Event Services Ltd, 15b The Village Walk, Avondale Road, Onchan, IM3 4EB Tel 01624 664460 | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.iomevents.com We look forward to welcoming you to Walk the Isle of Man 2019. The Routes General information • All walks must be booked in advance and there • Please always follow the guidance of the will be a maximum number of 30 bookings for walk leaders and supporters, keep behind each walk. Should the walk you wish to do not be the designated walk leader and in front of the available, you will be offered other choices. designated back marker. If you leave the walk you must confirm this with the leader or back • All walks start and finish using public transport marker. and use the Go-Explore Card which gives free access to Isle of Man buses, steam trains, the • Walk leaders and supporters reserve the right Manx Electric Railway (MER) and the Snaefell to refuse participation to any walker if they are Mountain Railway (SMR). Travel outwards on the not safely or suitably attired or if in their opinion steam train, MER and SMR has been booked. would be unsuited to undertake the walk. Outward journeys by bus and all return journeys • Walk leaders and supporters have the final are not booked and options for those journeys discretion to change the route of a walk if will be provided in advance of the event and they feel it is necessary as a result of weather supplied to your walk leaders and supporters. conditions, road and footpath closures, footpath • The Isle of Man has great coastal, countryside, conditions or other circumstances. glen and moorland walking. The weather in • On public roads, keep to the right (unless safety late September and early October can be very and the guidance of the walk leaders dictates variable! We recommend that you wear walking otherwise). Do not deviate from way-marked boots with a good grip, layers of clothing footpaths. appropriate for an Island with dynamic weather systems including waterproofs. Traditional jeans • If you have a relevant medical condition, or carry or cotton are not recommended. Walking poles medication with you, please advise the walk can be a real help on some of the more exposed leaders and supporters. This can be done in paths and slopes. confidence and is important for your own safety on the walk and for their ability to handle any • Please bring your own supplies of food and drink incident. for each day. • Dogs are not allowed on the walks which are part • Some walks take place in remote areas where of this event because of the proximity of livestock there are no toilet facilities, refreshments and farmland. facilities or shelters. • Local walk leaders, supporters, organisers and • Participating in a walk is at your own risk. participants may wish to take photographs during If you feel you have not enough information the walks and share these on social media and about a walk or what to expect, please ask as part of future publicity for the Isle of Man. If before booking. Booking for a walk is assumed you do not wish your photograph to be taken, as consent that you are capable and ready to please advise the walk leader on each walk. undertake the walk concerned. Walk descriptions and gradings: Located in the middle of the Irish Sea, the Isle The walk descriptions below give an idea of where of Man has considerable variety in its landscape each walk goes, how far it is, how much height which makes it a real treat for walkers. We is gained along the route, a rough indication of have coastal footpaths and trails along ‘natural’ timing, what we may see and what to expect. footpaths, countryside and glen walks, as well The following terms have been used to give as hill and moorland paths, all influenced by a a general grading and supported by the walk maritime climate. Some of the routes we use description: include stretches of farm track, country road or road walking. The ground we will walk on can be rough Easier: Flatter or gently-rolling landscape. and uneven and can change quickly in the course of Walking on paths, tracks and country roads a single walk. with average to good surfaces. Some walking on gentle slopes sometimes with steps or stiles en-route. Moderate: Varying landscape with more variety in paths and slopes. Occasional challenging slopes. Stiles, steps or kissing gates en route. Suitable for keen walkers and anyone regularly active. Some may be coastal and near cliffs. Strenuous: Challenging walk because of height gained and/or distance covered over rough country. Suitable for experienced walkers who are fit and active. Expect steep slopes, narrow and uneven paths with stiles and kissing gates. We have aimed to offer one easier walk, three moderate walks and one strenuous walk per day. It may be possible to make variations or changes based on actual demand. Monday 30th September Monday 1 - Easier Monday 2 - Moderate Port Soderick Glen - (also available as Wednesday 3 Marine Drive – Douglas Moderate and extended version Friday 5 Strenuous) 7.5 km/4.5 miles. What we may see: Coastal wildlife, Height gained 180m/590 feet. Port St Mary - sea birds, gulls, choughs, ravens, About 2.5 hours walking The Sound – Port Erin grey seals at the Sound. Geology. Description: Coastal walk along Iron Age promontory forts. 12 km/7.5 miles. the east coast of the Island on part What to expect: Mostly natural Height gained 270 m/886 feet. of the Raad ny Foillan/Way of the footpath along the coast and cliff, Gull long distance coastal footpath About 5 hours walking moorland areas, rocky surfaces. mostly on country roads. Description: One of the Island’s Café and toilets at the Sound. We take the 09:50 steam train from favourite coastal walks in the southwest of the Island and rated Douglas Railway Station (booked) Monday 3 - Moderate Flat as one of the best coastal walks to Port Soderick Station, then walk around the Irish Sea. Walked by through Port Soderick Glen, one of (also available as Clare Balding in ‘Ramblings’! the Island’s National Glens, to Port Friday - 3 Moderate) Explore part of the Raad ny Foillan/ Soderick Bay. After a steep stepped Way of the Gull long distance rise out of the bay we join ‘Marine Ballasalla – Ronaldsway – coastal footpath. Drive’ and walk back to Douglas St Michael’s Isle – Langness Head and Douglas on foot along We take the bus from Douglas to – Castletown the line of the former tramway Port St Mary (not booked) and walk 13 km/8 miles. exploring Douglas Head as we along the spectacular coastal cliffs Height gained 110 m/360 feet. return. and bays round the southwest corner of the Isle of Man past About 4.5 hours walking What we may see: Woodland the geological fissures known as Description: Coastal and riverside wildlife, coastal sea birds (choughs, the Chasms and by two Iron Age walk in the south of the Island gulls, ravens, peregrine falcons), promontory forts to the Sound, mostly following part of the Raad coastal plants, geology, cliff and overlooking the Calf of Man and ny Foillan/Way of the Gull long coastal views, views over Douglas Kitterland, then continue up the distance coastal footpath but also and Douglas Bay, memorials on west coast to Port Erin Bay and some riverside walking.