Walking on the Isle of Man. Terry Marsh

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      AYRES NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE

      The nature reserve has a total area of 272ha (673 acres). The site is internationally important for breeding birds, and the whole area of outstanding interest for natural historians. Out at sea gannet, shag, cormorant, guillemot, and little, common and arctic terns are frequent visitors – along with the occasional black-throated and great northern diver. Don’t be surprised to spot the dorsal fins of whales and porpoises, as well as the bobbing heads of grey seals. Along the shore, and inland among the dunes and heath, expect to find ringed plover, oystercatcher, sanderling, dunlin, curlew, stonechat, skylark and whinchat. Wild flowers are especially rich here, and include pyramidal and early purple orchids, wild thyme and burnet rose. From 1 April to 31 July, dogs must be on a lead.

      Fishermen favour this northernmost tip of the island, and can often be seen here, shore casting for mackerel or plaice.

      From the Ayres National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre (rarely open as it is staffed by volunteers), either take to a grassy track starting from near the information panels heading towards the distant lighthouse, or walk back along the access road for about 50m to a paved path that sets you off in the same direction, but with firmer footing, something that will be appreciated at certain times of the year. When the paving ends, the path joins the grassy track, running close enough to the upper level of the beach to give good sightings of the birdlife here.

      Ayres National Nature Reserve is a favoured breeding ground for birds, so during the breeding season care needs to be exercised in the placement of one’s feet, and any dogs need the control of a tight rein.

      Regular visitors to the reserve include ringed plover, little tern, common/Arctic tern, oystercatcher, curlew, black-throated diver, eider, shag, cormorant, gannet, stonechat, meadow pipit and skylark.

      The grassy track leads on steadily to the Point of Ayre lighthouse.

      The Point of Ayre lighthouse

      The Point of Ayre lighthouse – controlled by the Northern Lights Board of Scotland, not Trinity House, as might be supposed – was built between 1815 and 1818 by Robert Stevenson, the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson.

      Just beyond the lighthouse, the coastline heads south, so either bear right or get your feet wet. Offshore, it is not unusual to be treated to the sight of some turbulent water: two different tidal systems meet here and produce quite a frenzy on a good day. But on dry land, the route heads south, and continues just above the shore edge as far as a couple of cottages at Phurt. It is possible to turn inland a little earlier than this, when the ongoing track does so, but otherwise a narrow, field-edge path leads on to Phurt.

      From here on, all is road walking; first to the lovely village of Bride, with its church dedicated to St Bridget. And from there along the A10, through Glentruan, continuing as far as the turning to Ballaghennie Farm (NX 439 019). There, turn right, down a road lovely in spring with wild flowers, leading back to the shore at the visitor centre.

WALK 2

      Sulby and the Millennium Way

Start/Finish	Sulby Claddagh (SC 386 940)
Distance	10km (6¼ miles)
Height gain	358m (1175ft)
Parking	Small car park by the river

      This is an exhilarating walk, beginning beside the Sulby River and climbing high onto the gorse uplands to the south. Choose a clear day (the map, the signposting and the paths don’t always agree and in poor visibility this could be a problem), and enjoy the airy freedom of mountain heath patrolled by hen harriers, kestrels and short-eared owls.

      Set off alongside the Sulby River, going with the flow and parallel with a road, and when this bends right, go with it, soon to reach a bridge spanning an in-flowing burn. Ignore the bridge, and keep forward on a gently rising lane (signposted ‘Snaefell Mountain Road’). Walk up the lane until the road surfacing ends and there branch left over a stile beside a gate, giving onto a rough track rising steadily to the edge of Ohio Plantation.

      Keep forward on a rising track that climbs to the top edge of the plantation and there leave it at a gate, going forward between gorse. The track is gated and eventually climbs to a convention of gates, a place where the right of way shown on the map and the tracks underfoot do not coincide.

      Striding out along the Millennium Way above Sulby

      Go forward, maintaining the same direction along a broad track with an earth embankment on the right. Continue up the track until a signpost directs the route left to a larger-than-normal ladder/stile. Over this, turn left again, along a broad grassy track, and keep going to a gate in a fence corner. From there, go forward through heather on a rough track that closes in on a wall on the left as it approaches two metal gates at the top of a rough road descending left to Sulby.

      From the gates (ignore the road), turn right and СКАЧАТЬ