The Isle of Man has been named the ninth best British Island by The Telegraph.
The national paper has weighed and measured more than 40 British islands, and place them into a logical order.
In doing so, it has used various metrics, from the reliability of the weather through to highest peak and population density.
It also takes into account factors relevant to tourists and sight-seers: the number of Unesco sites and listed historical properties, whether there is a heritage railway, or there is a coast path which manages a full circle of the island.
Best British Islands
The Isle of Man came in 9th place on 503 point just ahead of Arran.
The Telegraph wrote: “Quibbles about the political status of this arrowhead-shaped island in the middle of the Irish Sea (it is a British Crown Dependency rather than a formal part of the United Kingdom) and its relevance to this feature can be swept aside on the beauty of it all.
“The Isle of Man is a spectacular enclave, coming to a head atop Snaefell, the mountain whose summit offers a view of all four constituent parts of the UK. Its 2,034ft (620m) height is worth 44 points in our scoring system; the fact that you can reach the roof via a heritage railway a further 20.
“But there is plenty to enjoy below this mighty bluff. With 103 Camra-recognised pubs (20 points) – including The Trafalgar Hotel in north-easterly Ramsey – the Isle of Man is a place for a pint; perhaps after a round on one of its nine golf courses (46 points), such as King Edward Bay Golf Club, in its panoramic position on the east coast.
“And while the Isle’s August average of 17C (20 points) does not make it paradise for sun-seekers, its 20 beaches (34 points) make it ideal for scenic strolls along the sands.”
The highlight of the island, according to the Telegraph, is Langness Lighthouse.
The List
The Telegraph’s full ranking is below:
- 1. Anglesey (including Holy Island)
- 2. The Isle of Wight
- 3. Jersey
- 4. Mull (including Iona and Staffa)
- 5. Skye
- 6. Guernsey (including Herm and Sark)
- 7. Mainland (Orkney)
- 8. St Mary’s
- 9. The Isle of Man
- 10. Arran
You can read the full article here.
6 Comments