Castletown and the Local Area
We want to use this page to tell you about some of our favourite things to do in and around Castletown.
It’s nowhere near an exhaustive list of everything for you to see and do, but we hope it will help and inspire you to begin exploring the town and the island.
Castle Rushen
Originally built for a Norse king in around 1200AD, Castle Rushen was developed by successive rulers until the 1600s.
Over the years, it’s been used as a fortress, a royal residence, a mint and even a prison.
The castle’s limestone walls were tall enough to have been visible for miles around – and you can still climb the spiral staircases to the roof where you can take in the views of Castletown and beyond.
Inside the castle you’ll be able to find out about its history, and hear from some of its former inhabitants.
If you like spooky tales, see if you can find a guide who can tell you a story or two about the castle ghosts.
Castle Admission: Adults £10.00, Students £5.00, Children FREE
Poulsom Park
Poulsom Park is a traditional children’s play park near to Castletown’s pretty little train station and the Silverburn river.
There’s a large enclosed play area suitable for toddlers and older kids.
For older children, or dare-devil grown ups, there is a concrete bowl skate park and a BMX track.
There’s also a zip line and plenty of wide-open grassy space to kick a ball around.
Beaches
The horseshoe-shaped Castletown Bay, is a mixture of sandy stretches and pebbly coves.
The beach is a favourite among watersport fans, and the bay offers great windsurfing conditions. When there is a big swell, it’s common to see brave surfers tackling the big waves on the outside of the harbour.
The shore is also a great spot for walking.
Further smaller beaches and coves can be found in the areas around Derbyhaven, and at Scarlett.
Scarlett is also a brilliant spot for fossil hunting. The preserved forms of ancient creatures called Crinoids, which are related to starfish, can be found in many of the limestone rocks.
The area is also of interest to geologists and it’s easy to find evidence of ancient volcanoes, with solidified lava flows and volcanic rocks.
Birdwatching
The coastline around the Castletown area is a paradise for twitchers and photographers, with many species of resident birds and seasonal visitors.
Little Egret, Grey Plover, Knot, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, both Godwits, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Golden Plover, Short-eared Owl and Chough are among the species which can be seen in the area.
The ‘Stinky Dub’ at Langness is a fantastic habitat and there’s often something interesting to see there. We recommend checking out manxbirdlife.im, if birdwatching is an activity you’d like to enjoy during your stay.
The Town Square
On a sunny day, there’s a lovely buzz about the town square, as the deck chairs fill up with people relaxing and watching the world go by.
Settle down with an ice cream by the castle walls, perch at a table to eat your picnic or wallop your companions at a game of table football.
The square is a brilliant outdoor space to relax and recharge.
Fort Island
St Michael’s Isle, known commonly as Fort Island, is not only an historic site, but it also has beautiful panoramic views, and is a fun and interesting place to explore.
The island was the site of two huge battles in 1250 and 1275. The Manx were fighting England and Scotland for control of the Isle of Man. The Manx won the first battle, but 25 years later they lost and the Isle of Man was then ruled by Scotland (later by England).
There are two ancient buildings to be seen on Fort Island. The oldest is a 12th Century Norse-Celtic chapel, dedicated to St Michael. It is now roofless and consists of just four walls and a bell turret. The other building is a round fort built in 1645 to defend Derbyhaven during the civil war in England. It’s on the site of an older fort, which was built around 1540 by order of Henry VIII.
So, the area must have been pretty important at some point, if its defence was of concern to an English king!
