Isle of Man
Short
Holiday -
Mannin Hotel -
Douglas
Coach to and from Epsom to London City Airport
Flight To Isle of Man - Excursions on Island - Half Board
£330.00 Per Person Including Coach, Flights, Excursions
and AccommodationThis event has had to be CANCELLED due to events outside of the control of the organising committee. It is possible a new date will be arranged in the future. So watch this space.
Douglas is the Island's capital and chief town. It is situated about midway along the East Coast the town fronts onto the magnificent semi-circular Bay of Douglas, which has Douglas Head to the south, and Onchan Head to the north
Douglas is the centre of the Island's Government, has the termini of the Victorian steam railway which runs south to Port Erin and of the electric tramway which follows a scenic route north along the coast to Ramsey. Both systems arouse keen interest amongst railway enthusiasts.
The seafront at Douglas consists of a continuous series of promenades extending along the entire length of the bay. These provide a relaxing walk from the pier sea-terminal building, at the southern end, to the horse tram and electric railway depots to the north. What better way to get some healthy exercise and to give one an appetite for lunch?
The pier terminal building has a slender spire rising up out of its centre and, because of its shape, is often referred to locally as the lemon squeezer. Near the start of the Victoria Pier, a massive, strangely shaped concrete casting is displayed. This is known as a stabit and thousands of these were used in the construction of the harbour's outer breakwater
The first of the promenades, the Loch Promenade, was constructed on land reclaimed from the sea in 1863. Lined on its inland side by brightly painted hotels and guesthouses, its seaward side is occupied by sunken, ornamental gardens, which are a riot of colour from Spring until Autumn. The gardens end at the town's War Memorial which is surmounted by a "British Tommy" of the 1914-18 war. Opposite is St Thomas's church with its prominent clock tower.
The Esplanade is a good example of architectural symmetry .A short distance further on, set high above the promenade is the Falcon Cliff. This castellated, white-finished building dates from the 1840s.
In the evenings, the semi-circle of the promenades is outlined by a blaze of decorative lighting which is reflected a thousand times over as it sparkles in the waters of Douglas Bay. Douglas, is a convenient base from which to explore the rest of the Island.