Seven Kingdoms.

With us buying an explorer ticketfor £20 each at the beginning of the holiday, which enabled us to go to all the Heritage sites on the Island, we decided to take the electric train back to Snaefel for a coffee at the top of the mountain. Seemed a bit eccentric but that ticket had already paid for itself two fold so coffee and cake at the top was a luxury we could afford. The weather wasn't quite as good as when we went last Thursday (sun and showers) but still clear enough to see all around. It’s the only place in the British Isles where you can see the seven kingdoms, (Mann, Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of the sea) just by turning around.

We then stopped at Laxey, caught the electric train to South Cape and walked down to the beach and harbour.

All very well walking down but those that go down must come up and by George it was a steep climb back up. Once at the station, which is a request stop so stick out your arm and hope it stops, we all had a welcome breather and managed to make the shelter just before the rain came. A spectacular rainbow appeared while waiting for the train and it was then that Ian decided to walk down the track to see if it was coming. Sure enough it came round the corner and Ian had to leg it back.

Reaching Douglas we caught the bus to Rushey Monastery, a 25 minute ride away. Of all the attractions we have seen on the Island this was the most disappointing. Most of the explenations were set up for children and I felt the look of the monastery was spoilt by the board walk around the ruins. Still it didn't cost us anything (thank you explorer ticket) and the bus ride was pleasant taking us through parts of the island we wouldn't otherwise have seen.

See what I mean about the board walk.

Exciting day tomorrow. As its our last day on the Island the coach is taking us around the TT race course. Hopefully a bit more sedately then the normal 100 mile plus the bikers do!