Walking on the Isle of Man. Terry Marsh
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Название: Walking on the Isle of Man
Автор: Terry Marsh
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Книги о Путешествиях
isbn: 9781783622153
isbn:
The Bay at Port Cornaa (Walk 11)
Three successive glacial periods are thought to have affected the island, with glacial deposits most noticeable in the north, but still significant elsewhere. The ice sheets came mainly from south-west Scotland and north-east Ireland, and boulder clays, along with sands and gravels, are distributed over much of the island.
An unusual feature of the Manx landscape, something that has existed for centuries, is the almost complete absence of trees. It is clear that when humans first arrived, the coastal lands would have been covered in oak woods, but today trees only occur in the sheltered glens and in recently re-afforested areas.
A wealth of wild flowers
The immense diversity of habitat on the Isle of Man generates a range of flora and fauna bordering on the spectacular. There are wild flowers throughout the year, from the primroses, celandine, sorrel and wood anemones of spring, when rafts of wild garlic are already filling the air with their pungent smell and bluebells (blue, white and pink in hue) are starting to carpet whatever remaining stands of woodland they can find. Gorse is already in heady, scented bloom come early April, when the delicate coastal squill, sea campion and thrift are also starting to flower. Orchids flourish in June, while the heathers that bring a purple hue to the Manx hillsides start to flower from July onwards.
Later in the year, into autumn, a few sheltered woodland spots start to produce fungi as the great colour change of the year begins. Throughout the year it is impossible not to notice the luxuriant growth of lichens, mosses and liverworts – clear indicators of a clean and healthy climate.
Cattle at Port Grenaugh
Birdlife
The island is well suited to birdlife, and a free leaflet from tourist information centres tells you where to look, and when, for the island’s most interesting species.
You may be able to spot red-throated, black-throated and great northern divers, Manx shearwater, storm petrel, water rail, hen harrier, bar-tailed godwit, long- and short-eared owls, siskin, redpoll, crossbill and chough. See Appendix C for information about the work of the Manx Wildlife Trust.
Climate
Because of the influence of the Irish Sea, the Manx climate is temperate and lacking in extremes. In winter, snowfall and frost are infrequent. On rare occasions snow does occur, but seldom lies for more than a day or two. February tends to be the coldest month, with an average daily temperature of 4.9°C (41°F), but it is also often dry. However, the island is rather windy. The prevailing wind direction for most of the island is from the south-west, although the complex topography means that local effects of shelter and exposure are very variable. April, May and June are the driest months, while May, June and July are the sunniest. July and August are the warmest months, with an average daily maximum temperature around 17.6°C (63°F). The highest temperature recorded at the island’s weather centre at Ronaldsway is 28.9°C, or 84°F. Thunderstorms are infrequent and short-lived.
Although geographically small, there is, nevertheless, significant climatic variation around the island. Sea fog affects the southern and eastern coasts at times, especially in spring, but is less frequent in the west. Rainfall and the frequency of hill fog both increase with altitude. The highest point of the island – Snaefell at 621m (2036ft) – receives some 2¼ times more rainfall than Ronaldsway, on the south-east coast, where the annual average is 863mm (34ins).
Niarbyl (Walk 23)
The Three Legs of Man
No one really knows how the Three Legs of Man motif, the symbol of independence, came to be adopted as the national emblem of the Isle of Man. The three-legged device certainly has a long history, dating far back into pagan times, and represents the sun and its daily passage across the heavens. The Manx form was derived from a design that showed the spokes of a wheel and which, in turn, represented the rays of the sun. This has led to it being described as a solar wheel, a symbol of pagan sun worship. Other related symbols include the cross and the fylfot, or four-legged swastika.
It is believed that Alexander III of Scotland may have adopted it when he gained control of the Isle of Man following the defeat of King Haakon of Norway at Largs in 1263 and the end of Norse rule that followed. Credence is given to this notion by the fact that the seal of King Harald Olaffson, granting a mining charter to the monks of Furness Abbey in 1246, still bore a ship emblem as its seal, not the Three Legs motif. The oldest representation of the Three Legs in existence is on the Manx Sword of State, and there is another use on the Maughold Market Cross, now in St Maughold’s Church.
St Michael’s Island (Walk 40)
Getting there
It might be worth checking the sporting calendar before beginning to plan your trip, as the famous TT (Tourist Trophy) motorbike race and the Grand Prix rather take over the island when they’re on, and there are other races throughout the year. The main TT weeks are late May/early June and the Grand Prix is late August/early September.
By air
Frequent flights are provided to and from London (Gatwick, Heathrow and Southend), Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Blackpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Gloucester, Leeds/Bradford, Jersey and Dublin. There are also connecting flights linking the island to Newcastle, Edinburgh, East Midlands and Southampton and to many international destinations.
On arrival on the island, you are greeted with a very modern airport terminal, with an assortment of shops, café, seating areas and telephones. Security checks exist, as in all UK national airports. In addition, flights to and from Ireland are subject to duty free allowances.
Getting through the airport is relatively quick compared to UK airports. Immediately outside the airport terminal is the main bus route and stop for travelling to Douglas and the south. Inside the terminal are a number of car hire firms.
By sea
The island’s principal port is Douglas, which has deep-water berths and facilities for handling passengers, cars and freight vehicles and general cargoes. Peel, on the west coast, has a deep-water berth and facilities for handling limited passenger traffic and general cargoes. Ramsey in the north-east is a drying harbour with a busy trade in general and bulk cargoes.
The island’s main sea routes are between Douglas and Liverpool, and Douglas and Heysham, a modern port in the north-west of England closely linked to Britain’s motorway and intercity rail networks. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company operates multi-purpose and freight RORO vessels on the Heysham route, providing twice-daily services throughout the year for passengers, cars and freight vehicles. The Steam Packet Company also has twice-daily fast craft services from Liverpool from April to October and conventional weekend services during the winter.
In the summer months the Steam Packet operates additional fast craft routes for holiday traffic to Dublin and Belfast, as well as extra sailings to Heysham and Liverpool with СКАЧАТЬ