Wildflower Walks
The Isle of Man is home to many glorious wildflowers that come into their own in the springtime!
Port Grenaugh Daffodil Walk’s name speaks for itself. The walk can be elongated by joining the Raad ny Foillan, or you can simply stroll along the flower-filled pathway, leading to Arragon House. The entrance to the walk can be found on your left as you approach Port Grenaugh Beach, which you can see clearly signposted as a footpath.
Tynwald National Park and Arboretum is a blooming lovely spot for the whole family to enjoy a casual amble. The paths wind around a lake where you can feed the ducks whilst enjoying the vibrant flowers. There’s also a playground in the arboretum for little ones.
Baldwin Bluebell Walk takes you past the rural St Luke’s Church and towards Injebreck Reservoir, where you can see the striking bluebells before looping back to the church. Additionally, if you follow Saint Luke’s to Brandywell Road past the church you’ll come upon the Old Tynwald Hill which is commemorated with a dry stone enclosure.
What’s On- For the Kids
To give the kids an authentic farm experience check out Lambing Live, held every Easter at Knockaloe Beg Farm. Activities include bottle feeding the newborn lambs, hand feeding the goats and sheep, a trailer ride, and even donkey and pony rides for an extra £2. What’s more, Red Mie offers a Springtime Farm Experience where you can feed, groom and cuddle the baby animals (lambs, goats, chicks, ducklings and goslings). You can even collect eggs and buy them if you wish! High Tilt Farm is also running their Kidding Chaos event where you can meet over 80 goats, cuddle lambs and kids, and collect eggs!
Why not take the kids on one of the island’s unique railway experiences? The Great Laxey Mine Railway Easter Egg Hunt and the Groudle Glen Easter Trains & Easter Egg Hunt provide a great day out for the whole family.
If you fancy dining alongside the Easter Bunny, you can’t go wrong with the Little Shed’s Little Easter Bunny Brunch or Tynwald Mills’ Breakfast with the Bunny, keeping little ones thoroughly entertained while you sample some delicious local produce.
If you’d like to add some culture into your Easter plans, Cregneash’s egg rolling competition will appeal to you! The event also offers egg decorating crafts, best decorated egg competition and a welly walk. What’s more, the Dragon Egg Hunt at Castle Rushen gets children to find clues hidden around the castle in order to crack the secret code and release the dragon egg!
What’s On- For the Adventurers
This Easter the island is hosting both the Isle of Man Easter Festival of Running and the Manx Mountain Marathon, ideal events for those who love to stay fit and healthy! Not only do they give you the opportunity to challenge yourself, but also to experience the marvellous Manx scenery and immerse yourself in nature.
Another event for those seeking adventure is the Easter Monday Orienteering at Archallagan Forest. It’s suitable for all ages and you can make it as difficult or as laid back as you please, meandering through the forest trying to find as many controls as possible in one hour!
What’s On- For the Culture & Heritage Seekers
If culture and heritage is your cup of tea, Manx National Heritage are offering some incredible events over the holidays. Their Derby Castleyard Tours allow you to get up close to the different types of electric trams and learn how they're maintained, while the Douglas Workshop Tours offer guided tours of the steam railway workshops, steam sheds and more. If you fancy trying your hand at driving one of the electric trams yourself you can do so on the Motorman Taster Lessons, where you'll drive the cars between Laxey and Lewaigue!
Springtime Dining
There are some delicious Easter themed dining services available on the Isle of Man this Easter, the Steam Railway’s Dining Car is hosting two lovely events on Easter Sunday, a Sunday Lunch and an Afternoon Tea. Both sittings include return travel from Douglas to Castletown. Additionally, Fynoderee Distillery and Filbey’s Little Food Shack are teaming up this Easter with a delicious seafood inspired dinner menu on both the 6th of April and the 7th of April, as well as bringing back their infamous rustic roast for Easter Sunday, all held at Fynoderee Distillery’s Fyn Bar. If you’re more interested in beverages, the CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival takes place from the 6th to 8th April, offering over 120 real ales, ciders, perries, fruit wines and mead, as well as tasty food and snacks, held in the Villa Marina’s stunning Royal Hall.
With the arrival of spring comes an abundance of tasty produce, much of which is served in local restaurants, cafes, and pubs. Kiki Lounge’s cocktail expert Drew Fleming sees foraging as essential to creating drinks that celebrate and reflect local identity, head to the bar on Douglas Promenade to sample his magnificent springtime concoctions. Versa, located in Port Erin, has a changing menu every evening to truly reflect the season! Foraging is a massive part of what they do and they even offer foraging tours.
Foraging Vintners use local ingredients in the creation of their non-grape based varieties of sparkling wines, ciders, ginger beer and rum. What’s more they’ve recently added Hawkins Barbecue to their bar, offering affordable and hearty BBQ food to customers!
Countryside Stays
On an Easter break to the Isle of Man, you can truly embrace the season by choosing accommodation in the gorgeous countryside.
If you fancy something a little different, check out Ballawyllin Farm Manx Dome Cottages. Set in the orchard and meadows of Ballawyllin Farm, the two dome cottages provide the perfect countryside escape in a unique setting. Additionally, Glen Helen Glamping, based at the foot of the alluring Glen Helen is a fun glamping experience on the doorstep of one of the island’s most pretty glens.
If a farm stay is your idea of springtime heaven, the island has an abundance of accommodation options. You can embrace country living at Kionslieu Farm Cottages, The Stable at Glendown Farm or Ballavoddan Farm Cottages to name a few. For larger properties located in the middle of lush scenery, The Barn at Ballaloaghtan and Balladuke Farmhouse could be your ideal retreat.
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