Isle of Man things to see and do

Home to around a third of the island’s population, Douglas is the capital of the Isle of Man and the centre of commerce. In its heyday during the mid-19th century the town was a favourite with Victorian visitors. Less popular and less pretty now, it still has a faded air of elegance, especially along the promenade. It’s also home to many of the island’s best hotels and restaurants.

Built in 1854 to pump water from a mine, this giant wheel measures 22m (72.1ft) across and draws up to 1140L of water per minute from 550m (1,804ft) below the surface. Well-maintained and visually impressive, this is the largest wheel in the world of its kind. It is named after the wife of the then lieutenant-governor.

The whole island has tracks allowing you to explore on foot and the Isle of Man is often described as having some of the best walking in Britain. The Millennium Way runs the length of the country amidst spectacular scenery and the Road of the Gull (Raad ny Foillan) is a 153km (95 mile) circuit of the island; fairly tough, it meanders all around the coast, over cliffs, through glens and down steep gorges; it typically takes five days to complete. The best sections include Bradda Head, where a stone tower has panoramic views over Port Erin, and Maughold Head, which is home to puffins. Tynwald National Park and Arboretum offers a more relaxed walk.

Reaching 621m (2,036 ft) at its peak, Snaefell is an attractive proposition for walkers. There’s a simple 1.5hr walk to the top or some trickier routes across more rugged and boggier ground. Alternatively you can cheat and catch the electric tram from Laxey. From the summit you can see all of the island and the bodies of water surrounding it; the local claim is that you can see seven surrounding kingdoms: Mann, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, Neptune and Heaven although the last two are more debatable, even if you get clear weather.

This Viking relic stands proudly atop St Patrick's Isle and is connected to Peel by a causeway. It is open to visitors in the summer months. The ruins of the castle are surrounded by emerald grounds, and look out towards the water; stroll here at dusk for particularly spectacular sunsets. Keep a look out for basking sharks and seals along the breakwaters as well.

There’s plenty of fishing off the coast of the Isle of Man and you can enjoy great fresh seafood straight off the boats, often cooked over a hot grill or served simply. Chomp on one of Man's famous kippers (smoked herring), to which Moore's Traditional Museum in Peel is dedicated. So they must be good.

Based in the City of Peel, the House of Manannan examines the seafaring heritage of Celtic, Viking and modern day islanders. Using multimedia displays, the guide for the tour is Manannan, the island's mythological sea god shape-shifter.

The most famous event on the Isle of Man are the TT Races (www.iomtt.com). The series of motorbike races, is one of the most important meetings in the world. The riders hurl along the closed roads at cheek-wobbling speeds, and has its fair share of spills, especially on 'Mad Sunday' when anyone can ride the mountain section.