In Manx terms the beach North of Ramsey was very popular, ie there were 5 or 6 people walking dogs. I even found one that was scared of hats, which may be unique. There is a known phobia of clothing (Vestiphobia), but not hats.
I just timed the trip right, because as I hit Ramsey the weather changed, and just as I sat down in a pub overlooking the harbour, the blizzard started. It was a grim pub (Ramsey is the industrial bit of the island, such as it is), but is was still heartening looking out at what I'd just missed!
(Ramsey was also home to the most unwelcoming Indian Restaurant in the world. They really really really didn't want me to eat there.)
Looking inland, you can see how bad the weather had been the day before.
This is a fabulous bit of coastline: everyone on the island raves about Maughold, and I can see why now. These views don't do it justice.
It also has one of the oldest churches on the island, with a huge collection of wonderful old crosses, and the second oldest 3 Legs of Man symbol (sorry, wonky!)
Laxey is really nice, but don't visit on a Monday if you expect to get food, because you will struggle.
Breakfast the next morning was a bit surreal as I discovered that my landlord at the B&B had been an art teacher at my old school while I was there. So we had a long chat about what he'd been up to, Oldham, Breeze Hill, and so forth.
This was only a little bay, but I could have sat on that beach all day quite happily. And if you accidentally go up the glen afterwards, past the Private sign (well, I thought there was a footpath), you get to an abandoned wonderland. It has to be one of the most beautiful glens on the island, with a nice footpath running through, but otherwise looking so wild and fresh. After a while, I had to turn back, because the footpaths were blocked by fallen trees: it was clear this place used to be some sort of park or attraction, but had been abandoned not too many years ago.
I don't know how many gems are hidden, but I found an overgrown maze, and also this very curious cave (which was a bit wet: whether it really was a smugglers cave I couldn't say, and the sign was less than helpful!)
That's what they call action photography!
...and then I got the most fabulous views of the entire Lake District, all standing out covered in snow. (Yeah, my camera didn't quite bring them out well!) Even Snowdonia was in view, if a bit small for photos.
And that was about it...
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