Experience the fall closer to home
Why travel thousands of miles to experience the New England fall, when the Isle of Man is only a short flight from most UK airports, and has equally stunning autumnal landscapes.
With the children back at school, get into the Island’s relaxed pace of life and take yourself on an afternoon horse ride across one of the unspoilt beaches before the winter nights draw in, or hire a bicycle and explore the Island’s pretty villages in their full autumnal glory.
The Isle of Man’s seventeen national glens are also a must see in the upcoming months so grab your walking boots and enjoy the breathtaking valleys between hills and coast which offer thriving conditions for wild vegetation. If you prefer less energetic activities you could always opt for a relaxing journey on the steam railway from Douglas to the south of the Island and witness the beautiful scenery from the comfort of a cosy Victorian railway carriage.
History fans can visit Rushen Abbey, founded in 1134, and one of the Island’s most important heritage sites. Visitors to Rushen Abbey will have the chance to learn about Christianity on the Island and what life was like for the Cistercian community here. The Abbey Gardens are also a colourful and striking place to visit this season so make sure you pass them by and have fun collecting conkers as well as crunching the autumnal leaves under your feet.
You can walk through the remains of substantial medieval buildings and see where archaeological research has revealed traces of buildings below ground whilst observing the changes in nature that happen as we transition from summer to autumn. When all the exploring gets you hungry then there is the new Abbey Restaurant which opened last month and boasts a hearty menu including many local specialities such as mouth watering Manx Queenie scallops and the Abbey burger made with 100% minced beef.
With half term at the end of October and with Halloween on the horizon, why not consider a break away with the kids? You could join one of the famous ghost walks around the historic remains of Peel castle or taking the ghost train at the Great Laxey Mine Railway on the 24th October. This year the Island is also hosting several special events to mark Hop Tu Naa, a Celtic festival unique to the Isle of Man and celebrated on 31st October. Pre-dating Halloween, this is the celebration of the original New Year's Eve and was a time renowned for prophesying, weather prediction and fortune-telling. On this evening you can ride the train to Castletown and prepare yourself for a ‘Quartet of Horror’ in four spooky scenes in Castle Rushen. Caution this is only for the brave!
The exciting events occurring on the Isle of Man around Halloween this October coupled with the spectacular landscapes and stunning coastlines will guarantee an autumn break perfect for children and adults alike. Three night short break packages for two adults including a round of golf at the Mount Murray Golf Club via ferry from Heysham start at just £229. Four night packages this half term for two adults and two children from Liverpool via ferry start at £659.
For information on holiday packages to the Isle of Man, visit: regencytravelholidays.co.uk
Also keep your eyes peeled for some great travel offers - EasyJet flights from Liverpool currently start at just £18.99 one way.
To find out more about the Isle of Man go to: visitisleofman.com