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PORT ERIN AREA
Port Erin is especially fortunate in its many places of local interest easily reached on foot, by car, by boat or kayak or even by the steam railway.
In a northerly direction a two mile walk from the sea-front round Bradda Head can be continued to Fleshwick Bay, which is an ideal place for picnics. The lovely Sloc Road from Port Erin to Peel runs over the shoulder of Cronk ny Irree Laa and Dalby Mountain, and gives a superb panorama of the whole of the south of the Island, yet it is one of the most deserted of Manx roads, even in the height of the season.
South of Port Erin, cliff and field paths give access to the remote and old-world village of Cregneash, and to the famous Meayll Circle, a prehistoric burial place. There is a path along the cliffs of the peninsula, round Spanish Head and the Chasms, which gives fine views from The Sound of the Calf of Man which is a bird sanctuary.
Only a mile to the east lies the picturesque fishing village of Port St Mary, Gansey Bay and Chapel Bay. Although this page describes areas of local interest in the outlying area of Port Erin, the rest of the Island is very close, the furthest destination being only an hours drive away.
Local Interest in the Port Erin area
Fleshwick Bay
The remote Fleshwick Bay (green creek from the Scandinavian) is overhung by the crags of Bradda Head to the south and Cronk-na Irey-Lhaa to the north, the next inlet being Nairbyl four miles north.
Travel along these uninhabited shores on foot from Port Erin using a section of the Raad ny Follian, the coastal footpath. The path zig-zags steeply down the steep descent into Fleshwick and can be slippery after rain.
It makes a good boat trip and is popular with scuba divers. This pebbly beach may seem isolated, but many years ago there was a cafe with tennis court, and rowing boat hire serving the tourists visiting Fleshwick beach.
Geocaching link below.
Cronk Howe Mooar Fort
Nowadays, Cronk Howe Mooar is just a large green hill rising up from a flat landscape, and you need a strong imagination to see it for what it really is - the remains of a 900-year-old fort.
Also known as Fairy Hill, Cronk Howe Mooar lies the north-east of Port Erin, by the A7 road, and is the earthwork remains of a motte and bailey castle , possibly the site of a timber fortification built by Magnus Barelegs [Barefoot] c1100.
Meayll Circle
The Meayll or Mull Circle, a short walk or drive from Port Erin, is an outstanding bronze age burial site with commanding views of the south of the Island.
Mull Hill Stone Circle is a unique archaeological monument. It consists of 12 burial chambers placed in a ring, with 6 entrance passages leading into each pair of chambers. Shards of ornate pottery, charred bones, flint tools and white quartz pebbles have been found in burial chambers. This archaeological monument was built around 3500 BC; it is a site of legends with diverse stories about haunting.
Port St Mary
Port St Mary fishing village only a mile away from Port Erin. The village takes its name from the former Chapel of St Mary (Manx: Keeill Moirrey) which is thought to have overlooked Chapel Bay in the village.
Travel there on foot, by bus, or take the steam train.
Port St. Mary has a small, but busy yacht harbour with fishing and sailing boats regularly coming and going, with access at all states of the tide. Chapel Beach is a pretty, sandy, sheltered beach. and is a popular venue for open-water swimming and has a swimmers' raft.
Cregneash
Cregneash is a small village and Manx National Heritage site, about one mile from Port Erin. It was one of the last strongholds of the Manx language and customs which characterised the crofting way of life and until the start of the 1900's, the village had not been effected by technology. It is now a living museum showing traditional farming practices in action home to a flock of the rare four-horned Loaghtan sheep.
Chasms and Sugar loaf rock
The public footpath at the Chasms has been closed until further notice following the appearance of a small ‘sinkhole’ on the footpath directly above one of the main Chasms. For your safety, MNH request that the public do not enter the area. Along the coast near the village of Cregneash is an impressive collection of fissures, caves, cliffs and chasms. The fissures known as The Chasms and other rock formations including Sugar Loaf rock (a stack), The Anvil rock. There are well defined paths formed over time by lots of walkers, but great care is needed. Another enjoyable way of seeing the rocks is by boat trip from Port Erin Bay.
Spanish Head
South along the coast from the Chasms are Black Head and Spanish Head which rise almost vertically over 100 m from sea level showing intricate geological formations which provide nesting spaces for many sea birds.
Dramatic and rugged, it is an area that appeals to walkers, photographers, birdwatchers and rock climbers. The waters below yield a number of excellent dive sites and it is a great place to see by boat. The name of the promontory is often thought to arise from the tale of a ship from the Spanish Armada becoming wrecked in the area.
The Sound
Only 2 miles away, on the southernmost tip of the Island you reach the Sound. A café offers panoramic views across to the Kitterland and Calf of Man and the racing tidal currents which separate them. This is one of the most popular visitor destinations on the Island. A great place for seal spotting.
Calf of Man
The Calf of Man is a beautiful island, situated half a mile off the south-west coast of the Isle of Man. As a Nature Reserve and Bird Observatory, the Calf is the ideal location to see bird life, flora and fauna. Around 33 species of birds breed on the Island annually, including Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Shag. Other species normally observed on the island include Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Chough..
Estate and ornithological wardens live on the island looking after the island’s population of resident and migrant birds.
The Drinking Dragon
This is a sight to be seen by boat. The Drinking Dragon at the southeast corner of the Calf of Man. Known locally also as ‘ the Burroo’ which is Norse for ‘fortress’. Christened the ‘drinking dragon’ because a head and neck are created by a vast arch where rock has eroded, while large pinnacles resemble wings and scales.
Chicken Rock
Chicken Rock is the southernmost island of the Isle of Man. It lies southwest of the Calf of Man, 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) off Spanish Head on the Manx mainland.The most prominent feature of the rock is the 19th century Chicken Rock Lighthouse. The 44 metres (144 ft) lighthouse was first lit in 1875, and is owned and maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board.