With unbeatable views across open countryside, historic sites to explore in the ancient capital, and an abundance of places to eat and drink, there’s a good reason why our Isle of Man campsite is located in the south.
The Isle of Man isn’t just about the bikes – there’s so much more to discover during your stay. We love the south of the island so much that we’ve pulled together our top 10 things to do here. We’re confident you’ll find something on the list to please your mates, your misses, or whoever else you’re bringing with you to enjoy the races.
Our Isle of Man campsite is perfectly located to easily explore the towns in the south – Castletown, Port Erin and Port St Mary.
1. Walk the streets of the Island’s Ancient Capital
The Island’s capital until 1869, Castletown has many interesting and historic attractions to explore as well as a variety of cafes, pubs, and restaurants to choose from. We whole-heartedly recommend checking out the hipster street food vibe at The Secret Pizza Company or unwinding for an hour or two in an authentic Tuscany Restaurant.
If you need something to work up an appetite, Castletown’s cobbled streets are dominated by a well-preserved medieval castle – Castle Rushen – just waiting to be explored. By the time you’ve made it up the winding staircase to the top, your belly will be grumbling for attention!
2. Take a lap of the 4.25 mile Billown Circuit
If you’re a fan of motorcycle road-racing, you may have heard of the Southern 100. Although not as famous as the TT races, the Southern 100 is just as exhilarating to watch.
The Billown Circuit – one of the courses used for the Southern 100 – is 4.25 miles (6.8 km) long and is in the parishes of Arbory and Malew. It has been lapped with an average speed over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) on a number of occasions – just imagine the thrill!
If you’re planning on bringing your bike to the island, why not take a lap of Billown to see just how narrow the course is – there’s little margin for error due to the close proximity of the stone walls.
3. Enjoy an ice-cream on Port Erin beach
Located in the southwest of the island, Port Erin beach sits in a sheltered bay with views to the Irish coast and the Mountains of Mourne in the distance. With its soft golden-white sand, it’s the perfect place to enjoy an ice-cream whilst taking in the sea air.
There are many cafes, ice-cream parlours, tourist shops, and pubs nearby to make a day of it. There’s plenty of parking for your bike close to the beach or you can take the charming Victorian steam train from Castletown to Port Erin.
4. Travel on a Victorian Steam Railway
How do you fancy taking a ride on the longest narrow gauge steam line in Britain that still uses its original locomotives and carriages? Running between Douglas and a range of destinations in the south, the steam train is an interesting way to explore the island.
Many of the heritage attraction and beaches are located near to railway stations making it a convenient way to travel. Simply sit back and enjoy the beautiful Manx countryside as you journey in style.
5. Take a trip to the Calf of Man
Approximately half a mile off the southern tip of the Isle of Man, the Calf of Man is a small island home to a number of species of birds and a large colony of seals which live and breed on the rocky coastline.
The Calf is accessible in suitable weather conditions by small boat operators running return trips from Port St Mary and Port Erin. Even if the tide conditions or weather isn’t safe for a boat trip, you could always view the Calf followed by lunch at the scenic Sound Café in Port St Mary.
6. Savour local produce
In the south, we are spoilt for choice with eateries offering the highest quality of local produce. From freshly caught queenies to handpicked vegetables, there’s many a mouth-watering dish to make your stay memorable.
Whether you fancy a cosy Sunday Roast or a fine-dining experience, you have many bars, cafes, pubs, and restaurants to choose from in the south of the island.
7. Explore historic sites
If you fancy learning more about the Isle of Man’s fascinating history, a trip to Castletown will give you just that.
Castle Rushen, the Old House of Keys, Nautical museum, and Old Grammar School, are all located around the picturesque harbour and in easy walking distance from each other. There are plenty of cafes nearby to stop for a coffee in between.
8. Stargazing at Fort Island of The Sound
The Isle of Man’s low light pollution makes it the perfect destination for star-gazers. There are 26 Registered Dark Sky Discovery Sites around the Island, with several in the south.
Fort Island and The Sound offer some of the best scenic viewpoints to explore the night sky. You can’t get more romantic than sitting with a flask of tea under the twinkling stars. It’s a real contrast from the excitement of the TT races.
9. Step back in time at Cregneash Village
Cregneash is a working farm characterising the traditional crofting way of life. Dedicated to the preservation of Manx culture, Cregneash is like stepping back in time to the 19th century.
With thatched-roof cottages, traditional farming practices, and Loaghtan sheep, take some time to enjoy the unique natural history in charming surroundings.
10. Walking tour of Port St Mary
Nothing beats getting outside to experience the stunning countryside and costal footpaths of the Isle of Man. There are many stunning walking trails in the south, one of our favourites being the walking history trail through Port St Mary.
The signposted trail takes around 45 minutes – though you may wish to spend more time taking in the stunning views, and visiting the friendly cafes and pubs on the route.
As you can see, the Isle of Man isn’t just about the bikes – there’s plenty to keep you occupied on the days where no racing takes place or at any time throughout the year. Our fully equipped campsite is located close to the island’s only airport, making it the perfect place to stay when you come over for the TT or the Classic TT/MGP.
Book your tent now to stay in the spectacular south of the island close to an abundance of things to see and do.
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