Walking on the Isle of Man. Terry Marsh

      Looking back to Slieu Curn from the slopes of Slieau Freoaghane

      Extension to Slieau Freoaghane

      Anyone wanting to bag Slieau Freoaghane (one of five Marilyns on the island) should simply leave the track here and climb steeply to the summit on a clear, if boggy, path. The top is adorned by a large pole, trig pillar and quartz cairn. This will add about 1km (½ mile) to the distance, plus 100m (328ft) of ascent. Come back the same way to rejoin the broad stony track, heading south to Sartfell Plantation.

      About 200m after the junction, between the main track and the extension to Slieau Freoaghane, another clear, rutted track branches left, parallel with a wall and alongside a fence. Turn sharply onto this, still waymarked as a greenway, and follow it across the flanks of Slieau Dhoo.

      The track eventually runs down to meet a gate, where the greenway ends. Keep forward with the ongoing track, which descends to meet a surfaced mountain road. Turn left. As the road later starts to bend to the left, leave it by branching right onto a stony track, once more the Bayr Glass.

      Again there is a choice. The main route keeps forward across the western flank of Mount Karrin and eventually descends through Ballacuberagh Plantation to meet the Sulby Glen road.

      Alternative route via Sulby Glen

      This alternative visits Killabrega, immediately leaving the main route by branching right, heading towards Snaefell. The track descends to a five-bar gate near the edge of a plantation. Go through the left-hand one of two gates, and continue on a descending track that goes down to another gate giving onto Manx National Heritage land. Go through a kissing-gate, and walk down a little further to encounter the ruins of Killabrega farmstead. Continue down past Killabrega, going out through a wall gap, and then descending steeply towards the Sulby Glen road below, roughly targeting a standing stone in a roadside pasture on the other side of the valley road. A path leads down through an expanse of bracken (seasonally overgrown) and reaches a fence corner where there is a small step/stile. Over this, continue along a steep, zig-zagging path down to the rear of a cottage. Here, bear right along an indistinct path that shortly turns down to reach the Sulby Glen road.

      On reaching the road, turn left and, taking care against approaching traffic, follow the valley road all the way to Sulby, passing the main line of the walk below Ballacuberagh Plantation.

      In Sulby, the continuation heads down the Jurby road, to the right of the Sulby Glen Hotel, until the old railway trackbed is once again encountered. Turn left onto this and keep on, passing the Curraghs Wildlife Park, to return to Ballaugh.

WALK 4

      Orrisdale and Glen Trunk

Start/Finish	Orrisdale (SC 327 929)
Distance	4.4km (2¾ miles)
Height gain	55m (180ft)
Parking	Limited roadside parking at Orrisdale

      This deceptively simple walk is full of interest and has the advantage of seclusion. It wanders quiet lanes, visits the beach and comes back past one of the great seats of power on the island in times gone by.

      The first part of the walk heads down the lane through the scattered hamlet of Orrisdale. Just before the Methodist chapel, a lane branches right at an interesting house with a weather vane and pump. This lane leads to a spot marked on the map as a Cairn.

      Also known as the Druid’s Circle, on Cronk Koir, this is a pre-Christian site comprising large quartz boulders set in a circle.

      Gorse-lined path through Glen Trunk

      Back on the village lane, go past the chapel and follow the lane through a few twists and turns as far as a signed footpath (SC 322 926) branching on the right to the seashore. Beyond a gate a delightful grassy path leads down between gorse bushes towards the shore. This is Glen Trunk, quiet, secluded and little visited. The path leads past a lime kiln finally to reach a shoulder overlooking the beach just south of Orrisdale Head.

      Just before reaching the seashore, there is a fine lime kiln tucked neatly into the flank of Glen Trunk. It is one of the largest and most complete to be found on the island. Although not certain, it is likely that the lime would have been brought into the glen by boat and left on the shore for collection and processing.

      Here, dip left to cross a wooden footbridge spanning Glen Trunk burn, climbing on the other side to join a vehicle access lane near an isolated cottage. Follow the lane out to meet a surfaced road. Go briefly left and then through a kissing-gate into a field, following a field edge grassy path to a gate at the top of a narrow track, then head downhill to the trackbed of the railway line that once operated along this stretch of coast.

      Turn left onto a footpath following the old trackbed, passing behind the impressive building, Bishop’s Court.

      Bishop’s Court

      BISHOP’S COURT

      One of the great houses of interest on the island, Bishop’s Court’s origins are traditionally attributed to Bishop Simon in the 13th century. It was a fortress tower and, in its early days, was moated – the old name for this and the surrounding area was Ballachurrey, which means ‘marshy place’. The first mention of the building occurs in 1231, so there was evidently some significant building on this site before Bishop Simon arrived. In those days, the bishop was a vastly powerful man and, in his own right, a baron, with the power of life and death over his subjects, which gave this outpost something akin to the forts that developed throughout the Border Marches of Wales.

      Bishop’s Court was sold into private hands in 1979, so ending more than seven centuries of association with the Diocese of Sodor and Man.

      Go onward until the path finally emerges at a lane. Turn left, towards Orrisdale, to complete the walk.

WALK 5

      Kirk Michael and Slieau Freoaghane

Start/Finish	Kirk Michael (SC 319 909)
Distance	14.5km (9 miles)
Height gain	533m (1750ft)
Refreshments	Kirk Michael
Parking	Kirk Michael

      Slieau Freoaghane – which Manx Gaelic speakers advise me is pronounced ‘Sloo Ferrane’ – is one of five Marilyns on the island, and likely to be popular on that count alone. But it is a fine hill to climb regardless of this dubious distinction, though the shortest, most direct route – and least interesting – is from the cross-mountain road near Sartfell Plantation.

      This route partially reverses Walk 3, as far as Ballaugh, but then makes use of the old railway trackbed to return to Kirk Michael. It is a splendid walk, best reserved for a clear day, when the views over the western side of the island and across the Irish Sea to the mountains of Northern Ireland and northwards to southern Scotland are outstanding. There are times when the Mountains of Mourne seem so close you feel you could simply reach out and touch them.

      The key to the start of this walk is the lane opposite the turning into Glen Ballyre. Turn into