Isle of Man Tour 2023 - DS Roadcraft Tours

Sunday - Our trip began on an overcast Sunday lunchtime from Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout, where a few of us met to travel on to our first night stop in Nantwich.  En-route we stopped off at Triumph Hinckley for a cuppa and cake before heading on to the delights of the Premier Inn Nantwich, where we tucked all the bikes up for the night with as many chains, lock and alarms as we could muster.  Then on to the bar/restaurant where we met most of the other participants for well-earned beer, dinner and a chat.  Yes, we do get to visit all the best places…

Monday - Up for an early start, the group was now at full strength as we left Nantwich for Liverpool to catch the ferry across to Douglas Isle of Man.  After a somewhat foggy crossing and a few ‘moments’ before we all got our sea legs, we arrived to pleasant sunshine!  So, what to do when the sun shines but to ride our bikes.  Just a short ride from the port took us to the TT start line, from where we proceeded to ride the course backwards. 

Unfortunately, the mountain road was closed for resurfacing, so we took a short detour to a local hotel for beer before looping round the mountain section to continue riding the course.  It was already plain to see, even though we were at legal road speeds, quite what skills and nerve the TT riders must have.  Once back in Douglas we made our way to the hotel and checked in, parking the bikes securely in the underground carpark. 

Dinner that evening was the hotels own Asian restaurant, Bonsai, which we would heartily recommend.

Tuesday - We woke up to a cloudy day in Douglas, but this was not to last as it was confirmed the north of the isle was bathing in sunshine which would rapidly spread south and remain with us all day.  After a hearty breakfast the group were eager to explore and so we did; we rode the isle’s equivalent of John O'Groats to Lands’ End, in other words from The Sound Café and Calf of Man to the Point of Ayre.

We were lucky enough to have our own local tour guides when biker friends of the group who live on the isle joined us at Port Erin.  So, for the remainder of the day 7 became 9 as we were treated to some of the more hidden delights.  We were initially led inland to the waterfall at Glen Maye, a spectacular sight and a nice walk to the valley floor, but hidden away from prying eyes.

As the skies turned steadily bluer and the temperature rose, we headed via the Sloc (A36) and the coast road to Peel for a wander and some much-needed refreshments whilst enjoying the views of the marina, castle and seafront.  Devouring Isle of Man ice cream and fresh seafood is a joy to be savoured.

Our next stop was The Point of Ayre, the most northerly point, riding through many pretty villages and enjoying stunning views along the coastal road.  This took us to our last stop for the day at Ramsey for coffee & cake, where we also bid farewell to our guides.

Finally, dinner in Port Jack chippy (to be recommended) and a few pints back at Douglas finished off a perfect day!

Thanks go to Edwina & Cliff for showing us their beautiful isle and without whom, we all agreed, the day may not possibly have been as perfect as it was.  Good weather, good company and good riding.

Wednesday - We had already packed so much riding into two days it was starting to feel like we'd been there much longer!  The roads in the main were in good condition and the many unrestricted sections gave one a chance to stretch one’s legs a little bit.

Today we were met by another friend of the group, John, who we followed for the obligatory (and slightly windy!) ride up to the Victory Café for lunch, a look round and a natter.  As the mountain road was closed, we had to use the back road which in its self was a sight to behold.  Long climbs, stunning views and the odd hairpin thrown in for good measure.  Tea and cake in the Victory Café were the order of the day as John regaled us with facts, figures and stories of the isle.

Bidding John farewell we descended the mountain in glorious sunshine and took the picturesque coastal road through Port St Mary and onto Cregneash village to find the Chasms, where we took a somewhat precarious walk along the cliff to view the natural fissures.

After surviving the perilous cliffs, we visited Cregneash tea rooms for coffee and cake before taking the coast road back through Peel and on to Douglas.  After another packed day we couldn't wait to get a cold beer and take in the delights of the local Indian restaurant, Orange Indya, which is to be recommended! 

Thanks to John for some interesting local knowledge of the Victory Café and what life's like living on the isle.  Oh, did we mention, the sun shone all day?

Thursday - Once again we were treated to blue skies so we set of to circumnavigate the isle again, but anticlockwise this time.  Our first stop was Old Laxey along the coast road and a stop for pictures before heading on to Ramsey.  A trip along Ramsey seafront and through the harbour led us to the local swimming pool café, where the obligatory (and daily) tea and cake stop was made.  From Ramey we headed further north to Point of Ayre and then on to the motor museum at Jurby which had been recommended as a stop.

The museum is something to behold, with all sorts of vehicles from space shuttles to vintage motorcycles and from classic cars to classic fire engines.  There is almost too much to see in one visit.  The museum itself is on the site of an old RAF base and the old guardroom has been turned into a great café.  Yes, you guessed it, tea and cake again.  The museum staff had also recommended a visit to Maughold lighthouse, via the 1904 Gordon Bennett hill climb road and so off we headed.  A cracking ride to the top of the cliff and stunning views across the sea, the isle and of the lighthouse.  Such was the visibility that we could see both Scotland and the Lake District from our vantage point.

As the evening was fast approaching, we headed back to Ramsey, Kirk Michael, Peel and Port Erin via an ice cream stop and the cracking Sloc (A36) road.  From Port Erin we made a short hop to Castletown and back to Douglas to complete our circumnavigation.

So where to eat tonight was the question and by popular vote Port Jack chippy was winner!  Oh, did we mention, the sun shone all day?

Friday - Unfortunately, all good things come to an end; however, there was still time to enjoy the isle and the sunshine before our ferry departed.  Some went and tried the electric train, some explored the streets of Douglas, some tried the delights of Café Bar TWO-SIX and one even went back to the Victory Café.  All had more tea, cake and ice cream…

A pleasant afternoon sailing put us back in Liverpool during rush hour, but isn’t that what motorcycles are made for?  So, after bidding our fond farewells to each other and to the Isle of Man we headed back whence we came.  Happy to report that all arrived safely after what was a cracking trip; great weather, great company, great adventures and a great place to visit.  Probably also carrying a few kilos more than on the way out.

Here’s to our return!

If you fancy joining us on our next tour, then we still have spaces for our Black Forest Germany trip running 2 - 8 Jul 2023.

This tour is based on a 7 days/6 nights trip to the Black Forest Germany, leaving from and returning to Folkestone.  We will take 2 days to get there, night stopping in France, spending 3 full days exploring the Black Forest and then taking another 2 days to return home, with a last night stop in France again.  The tour is also suitable for pillions.

£925 per person based on sharing a room.

Single room occupancy £350 extra.

Check out our website www.dsroadcrafttours.co.uk for more information on this and other planned tours including Normandy France, 24 - 30 Sept 2023.