The Isle of Man Coastal Path – what you need to know
Raad ny Foillan (The Way of the Gull) is a 98 mile footpath around the coastline of the Isle of Man. It was opened in 1986 to mark the island’s Heritage Year and owes its unique beauty to its geological structure, varying from the volcanic rock and slates of the south to the sandy shingles of the north. Here's what you need to know.
Isle of Man Coastal Path
Raad Ny Foillan - The Way of the Gull; The Millennium and Herring Ways
£12.95
Guidebook to walking the Isle of Man coastal path, the Way of the Gull (Raad ny Foillan). The spectacular 98 mile route is described in 9 stages and takes in beaches, glens, moorland and rugged sea cliffs. It can be walked in around a week. Two other paths, the Millennium Way (Bayr ny Ree) and the Herring Way (Bayr ny Skeddan), are also described.
More information| What? | The Isle of Man Coastal Path |
| Also known as? | Raad ny Foillan or The Way of the Gull |
| Start and end points? | The route is circular and starts and ends in Douglas, but it can be picked up anywhere along the route. |
| How long? | 98 miles |
| How long to complete? | Around 1 week. |
| How hard is the route? | Mainly coastal walking with short ups and downs. |
| How fit do I need to be? | It is suitable for the gentle walker to do in short day-walk sections, for the dedicated backpacker, and for the fit fell-runner to set up his own personal record for the delightful circuit of this beautiful island. |
| How many stages are there? | The route is describes in 9 stages. |
| How long are the stages? | The longest is 15.5 miles and the shortest is 7 miles. |
| What accommodation is available? | Hotels, bed and breakfast, hostels and campsites are available. Campervans and motorhomes are welcome all year round but caravans require a valid permit from the Department of Infrastructure. |
| What time of year? | Year-round walking on the Isle of Man is possible, although spring and summer weather is best. April, May and June are driest; May, June and July are sunniest; July and August are warmest. |
| Route highlights? | Point of Ayre, historic Laxey, the cliffs and secluded bays and inlets of the south and west and the remote west coast. Sea life and birds. |
| Author's highlights? | Highlights include peering down the cliffs at the myriad gulls circling below, looking at a huge basking shark in Port Erin Bay and sitting by the clifftop path with a stonechat hopping around my feet. The four-horned Laoghtan sheep were an unusual sight, too. But I heartily recommend walking this amazing path and collecting your own memories. |
| Short route description? | In its journey round the Isle of Man Raad ny Foillan offers a variety of scenery, from the rugged cliffs and mountain moorland in the south, to the glens, beaches and dunes of the north. It wends its way through several nature reserves and along a disused railway. It passes scenes of historical interest, colourful fishing villages and peaceful havens. It takes to the road in several places, yet these country lanes have their own charm and little traffic. The single stretch of main road is of short duration. The footpath is never far from the sea or the cry of the gull. |
| Bonus routes? | The guidebook also includes two ancient routes across the hills and moors of the island’s interior. The Millennium Way stretches 23 miles from Ramsey to Castletown, while The Herring Way is 14 miles from Peel to Castletown. Picts, Celts and Vikings have all left their marks by the footpaths. |
| Stage | Distance (miles) | Max height (ft) | Height gain (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas harbour to Castletown harbour | 15¾ | 300 | 750 |
| Castletown harbour to Peel St Mary harbour | 6½ | sea level | negligible |
| Port St Mary harbour to Port Erin | 7 | 400 | 1000 |
| Port Erin beach to Peel harbour | 14½ | 1434 | 3018 |
| Peel harbour to Kirk Michael | 7½ | 200 | 200 |
| Kirk Michael to Point of Ayre | 15 | sea level | - |
| Point of Ayre to Ramsey harbour | 7 | sea level | - |
| Ramsey harbour to Laxey harbour | 13 | 650 | 1524 |
| Laxey harbour to Douglas | 9½ | 350 | 750 |
Isle of Man Coastal Path
Raad Ny Foillan - The Way of the Gull; The Millennium and Herring Ways
£12.95
Guidebook to walking the Isle of Man coastal path, the Way of the Gull (Raad ny Foillan). The spectacular 98 mile route is described in 9 stages and takes in beaches, glens, moorland and rugged sea cliffs. It can be walked in around a week. Two other paths, the Millennium Way (Bayr ny Ree) and the Herring Way (Bayr ny Skeddan), are also described.
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