6th August Douglas and Ramsey

With a rucksack packed with lunch we were on our way to the bus stop by 10ish. We timed it just right as the number 5 bus to Douglas had just arrived as we were walking up to the bus stop.

Our bus journey took us on some of the TT course - made obvious by telegraph poles and garden walls with hefty crash pads wrapped round them. There were also mini scaffolding platforms where people had put up their own viewing spots.

In IoM there is no national speed limit so once you're in those areas people can go as fast as they like. Sadly some go too fast with the record of 20 minutes from leaving the ferry to being carted off in a box.

Our mission in Douglas was to go to tourist information at the sea port arrival centre to pick up a bus timetable as they've run out in Peel. Once our mission was accomplished we walked along the sea front - a much larger bay with the Tower of Refuge on a rocky area to the side. The idea behind this being if you were stranded or shipwrecked there you would have shelter.

                 The Tower of Refuge

It's amazing what you find out on your meanderings. I never knew the Bee Gees were from IoM.

               A tribute to the IoM boys

We managed to get on the horse drawn tram just as it changed direction. So we didn't even have to walk all the way to the electric tram station which was at the other end of the bay to the port.

Not everyday you get on a horse drawn tram

We've made good use of our GoExplore cards as we then jumped on the electric tram all the way to Ramsey - about 18 miles. A lovely scenic trip along the coastline. We could even see England (the Lake District we think) in the distance.

A bit chilly sitting outside on the way there so we made sure we were inside on our return

We had a potter around Ramsey and had lunch. A few quaint and pretty bits but further out it seemed to be a bit run down. Our experience so far is that everything seems really quiet even in peak holiday season. Peel seems to be our favourite place so far.

             A florist shop in Ramsey

Back on board we were going to stop off at Laxey to see the wheel and go up Snaefell. However, the last train up only stopped there for 5 minutes before returning so we'll do that trip after the weekend. 

We returned on the No. 1 carriage which is the oldest operating tram car in the world. Starting service in 1893 it's still going strong.

Sitting behind the driver with a good view

This time we walked all the way back along the front (horse tram was full). I felt we needed some exercise after being on trams and buses all day 😅. Another bus to Peel and we're quite exhausted from our travels. We'll be spending the day in Peel tomorrow as it's carnival day.