Kirkmichael to Jurby

A nice sunny start to the day, but the sea was very rough. It is a little worrying when you are walking between a rough sea and some extremely unstable looking cliffs: you have to give them 10 feet or so clearance, because if it does suddenly come down it would be a killer.

There's lots of interesting rocks on the beach, here's some fossilised coral;

It has to be said that this isn't the best stretch, and it did get very windy, hence I didn't really feel like taking photos. Eventually I battled my way to Jurby (started by the Vikings). It's an odd place. Jurby church was rebuilt by servicemen from the airfield during World War 2, and the graveyard is sadly full of mainly Canadian and Polish casualties.

The airfield is still there, and the island's new prison is being built next to it. I can't help thinking there's a bit of a flaw in the planning there...are prisons meant to have excellent transport links? Isn't is better to put them somewhere where escapees at least have to put in a bit of work to get out of the vicinity?

Also next to it is the very curious Jurby Junk. This is both the biggest and most bizzarre junkshop ever, seeingly built on the principle that all tat has a value if you keep it long enough. If you want a dozen paddles, some 70's plates, industrial quantities of knicker elastic, old TT tshirts, or 20 identical 1960's uniforms, this is the place for you. Has to be seen to be believed.

I can recommend Goldies Loughan as an excellent place to stay. Wonderful rooms, very cheap, and you get a lift to the pub and back so you can eat in the evening.

written by

martin_b on March 17, 2007 from Jurby, Isle of Man

from the travel blog: Isle Of Man Coastal Path

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