The North
Ramsey, Ballaugh & the Ayres
Big skies, empty beaches and the closest thing the island has to wilderness.
North of Ramsey the island flattens out and keeps going. This is the quiet quarter: a plain of farmland and wetland ending in a shingle spit at the Point of Ayre, where the lighthouse marks the northernmost scrap of land.
Ramsey itself is a proper town with a harbour, a long beach and a Victorian pier. Inland, the curraghs are wet woodland full of birds and, improbably, a colony of wallabies.
Things to do
What to do in the north
On the water
- Mooragh Park lake A saltwater boating lake in the middle of Ramsey. Paddleboards, kayaks and dinghies, with no swell to worry about.
- Ramsey beach Two miles of sand at low tide. The shallowest water on the island.
- Sea fishing From the harbour walls or by boat, with bass and mackerel through the summer.
- Kitesurfing The northern shore gets consistent wind and space to use it.
On foot
- The Ayres boardwalks Short, flat, and through the strangest habitat on the island: heath, lichen and shifting shingle.
- Point of Ayre to Rue Point A shingle walk with the Mull of Galloway on the horizon and seals in the water.
- Sulby Glen and reservoir Wooded at the bottom, open at the top, with the mountain road above.
- The Bride hills Low glacial hills with sea views in three directions.
- Raad ny Foillan, northern section Flat, wide and easy walking, with the cliffs of Maughold at one end.
History and heritage
- The Queen's Pier A Victorian iron pier reaching out across Ramsey's sands, slowly being brought back.
- The Albert Tower A stiff climb above Ramsey to the spot where Prince Albert stood in 1847.
- Norse crosses at Andreas and Jurby Carved stones in working parish churches, free to visit.
- Maughold churchyard A cluster of Celtic and Norse crosses on the headland.
Wildlife
- Little terns and ringed plovers They nest on the open shingle of the Ayres. Stay on the paths from April to August.
- Wallabies in the curraghs Escapees from decades ago, now wild and thriving. Dusk is your best chance.
- Grey seals at the Point Hauled out on the shingle, often in numbers.
- Hen harriers Quartering the curraghs at dusk through the winter.
With children
- The wildlife park in the curraghs Small, well-kept, and walkable in an afternoon.
- Mooragh Park Playground, boating lake and space to run.
- Ramsey beach at low tide Enormous, shallow and safe.
- The Electric Railway The northern terminus is in Ramsey. Ride it to Laxey and back.
When it rains
- The wildlife park Enough undercover to see out a shower.
- Ramsey's shops and courtyards Small, independent and mostly sheltered.
- The Electric Railway to Douglas An hour and a quarter of coastline through the window.
Good to know
Before you go
- The Ayres is fragile. Keep to marked paths from April to August and keep dogs on leads.
- The Point of Ayre is genuinely exposed. Take a windproof even in July.
- The north is flat, which makes it the best cycling on the island.
- Ballaugh Bridge is a live road junction, not a viewpoint. Watch it from a distance.
Stay here
Homes in the North
Every home in the collection is visited, inspected and looked after by people who live on the island.