Port St Mary to Port Erin walk - Walks Around Britain

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Walks from Season One - Port St Mary to Port Erin

A small but stunning part of the epic Raad ny Foillan - the Isle of Man coastal path - between Port St Mary and Port Erin.

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A walk from Port St Mary to Port Erin on the Isle of Man
Route Directions

  • The walk starts at the Port St Mary railway station.  If you are arriving to Port St Mary by car, either park in Port St Mary and pick up the walk at the nearest point, or park carefully along the A29.

  • Leave the station through the gate and turn right to walk along the A29 called Four Roads.  Cross over the junction with Plantation Road and continue down what is now Station Road into Port St Mary.

  • Just after the flagpoles on the left frame a wonderful view of the harbour, there’s some steps down to the specially constructed walkway which allows the coastal path - the Raad ny Foillan – to hug the coast as much as possible.  Turn right to follow the walkway as it snakes around the harbour and eventually joins up a road called The Underway.

  • At the junction of roads, turn left along The Quay and then right down Lime Street, where you’ll see the Port St Mary Lifeboat Station on the left, just before the road bends to the right.

  • Lime Street turns into Clifton Road after the junction with Queens Road, and you follow this road all around the bottom of this point, carrying on when it becomes a “No Through Road”.  The Raad ny Foillan is well signposted, so follow the path to the left.

  • The path brings you out on a road called Perwick Bay.  Turn left here, and follow it around to Fistard Road.  Turn left and walk along Fistard Road.  After a white cottage on the right, there’s a turning circle with a path straight ahead which is signed “Unsuitable for motors”.  Take this path, and the walk really starts from here.

  • Follow the path until the paved section finishes and it enters a field.  Follow the Raad ny Foillan signs and follow the wall until you reach a building.  Turn left here, cross the stile and follow the obvious path as it hugs the coastline.

  • The path ungulates with the contours of the landscape, and eventually you do a sharp hairpin turn to the right at Black Head, and then a more gentle turn to the right at Spanish Head.

  • Just after some dramatic near edge walking, the impressive Sound Visitor Centre comes into view.  Walk to the far side of the car park to continue the walk – but from hereon, dogs are not allowed on this section.

  • Again, the path is clearly defined as it bends around the coastline.  On this part of the walk, there’s another stunning cliff ridge known as Clett Aldrick from which you drop down from to get your first view of Port Erin in the distance.

  • The path eventually turns right along a straight section before turning left and dropping down to emerge on to quayside from behind part of the former University of Liverpool Marine Biological Station and carries on in front of the Port Erin Lifeboat Station, which open in 1884.

  • Here, turn right, and walk along the harbour road to reach the lovely beach at Port Erin.

  • To get to Port Erin Railway Station, continue along the harbour road, which is now called Shore Road, and turn right to walk up Strand Road, following it around as it turns to the left.  At the junction, turn right along Station Road, and the station is on your right.


Walk Info
Distance
7.7 miles (12.4km)
Minimum time
hours
Total ascent
369ft (112m)
Level of difficulty
Challenging
Paths
Well defined coastal paths -
some difficult climbs
Can be boggy in parts

Map
Start/finish
Grid SC 20676 68453
Dogs?
On leads -
Not allowed after The Sound

Parking      
Off-Road parking A29
Port St Mary Railway Station

Public Transport
Isle of Man Steam Railway
Toilets/Refreshments
The Sound cafe
Share this walk
Relevant Links


Information about the island, accommodation and events from the offical website of Visit Isle of Man.


The Isle of Man on the Walks Around Britain podcast
Our visit to the Isle of Man to film this walk is featured on the Walks Around Britain podcast.

Isle of Man Steam Railway

Information about the historic Steam Railway running from Douglas to Port Erin.

Port St Mary Lifeboat Station

A really detailed site about the station from the crew themselves.

Manx National Heritage

The website of the island's heritage custodian.

Northern Lighthouse Board - The Calf of Man

Information and history about the lighthouses on the Calf.


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