Hi

After a Lakes trip this weekend – Wrynose and Hardknott and a stay at the Black Bull in Coniston – we debated our next big trip in the Spring. We want to ride the Isle of Man, any route recommendations? The TT course seems like a cool thing to do but looking at the OS map it’s a lot of main roads (however, I’m guessing traffic volume is not great) and there are some great looking minor roads up to Snaefel etc.

Want plenty of climbing and a good distance but prob no more than 50miles which should be adequate to take in most of the island and not scare some in the group!

Also, any accommodation recommendations? Good quality hotel or B&B in Douglas rideable with a bag/rucksack from the ferry terminal.

Thanks

Steve

You can do a loop of the island, Douglas to Ramsey via Laxey then back through Peel / St Johns in a day. Then down south to Castletown / Port St Mary / Port Erin another day. Its a small island so not a great deal more than that though.

The mountain road (the upper part of the TT course) is no speed limit so you get some right idiots doing 100+ on what would essentially be a 50 or 60mph max road in the UK. There’s numerous accidents on there every week (on an island with a population of just under 100,000) so not the most relaxing of rides.

Why not take the MTB and do it that way? There’s some fantastic riding over there.

The TT course is not that bad. You come across very few bikes going very fast, and you can hear them coming a long way away.

The hills down south also offer some good riding and are a bit quieter.
Nothing is too far so staying in Douglas will be fine.

As a mountain biker, I would go +1 on the mtb option.

Whether road, or MTB, there are load of quiet country roads, and given its size, you are never far away from a small town or village, to get you bearings again, so no real need to have a pre planned route. You could do a full lap of the island in a day, or split north and south over a couple of days. If mountain biking, you could spend a week here, and still not get around to every trail. If you decide off road, try http://www.loaghtanloaded.com or http://www.manxmtb.com websites for social rides, they have one each weekend, and most evenings.

For accommodation, loads of old Victorian hotels on the main Douglas promenade, which is just minutes from the boat. Try http://www.sleepwellhotels.com they used to sponsor the IOM e2e race, and have storage, or http://www.welbeckhotel.com. They are just off the main promenade, but have a good restaurant, and just a few mins walk to local bike shop.

If you want any further advise, just contact me, and if you decide on bringing MTB’s I can try and sort out some trips out.

If you came across as a foot passenger with a mountain bike and stayed in Douglas – it’s there enough good mountain biking from the town itself? Or do you need a car to access the start of the trails?

Hey Rik, No problems coming without a car, you can be on trails within about 5 mins of leaving Douglas. There is an old railway line which cuts across the island, and loads of opportunity to cut off this, then head north or south. If you are all reasonably fit, and can take a day in the saddle, there isn’t anything out of range.