MOTORCYCLE ISLAND | THE ISLE OF MAN'S BEST ROADS
BikeSocial members who live on the Isle of Man have voted for their favourite non-TT course roads and Web Editor, Michael Mann took an Africa Twin Adventure Sports to ride them.
Of all the racetracks around the world, where would you like to ride? Suzuka, Laguna Seca, Nürburgring, Spa, Phillip Island, Mugello? The list is long and strong. But how many of them can you pitch up and have a go on, for free, on whatever bike you wanted?
The answer? One. The startling, exhilarating, and challenging 37.73-mile Snaefell Mountain Course, host of the annual Isle of Man TT races. OK, so there’s only a 9.5-mile section over the mountain itself where speed limits are unlimited but the buzz of riding the TT circuit is like nothing else.
If you don’t live on the Island, I promise you it’s worth every amount of effort to get your bike because even away from the one of the world’s most iconic courses, there’s the rest of the Island to discover - a rural, rugged and spectacular 33 x 13-mile motorcycling mecca in the middle of the Irish Sea. It’s one that every motorcyclist should have on their bucket list – for the TT, Manx Grand Prix or any other time.
With 688-miles of roads and, in some places no speed limit, there are plenty of choices for our BikeSocial members who live on the Isle of Man. It is they who have selected the following ten which appear in no particular order but are a stunning selection of the roads to ride in either direction, although it must be said that a ‘best’ road is subjective and depends on the type of bike you ride, the surface, scenery, length, and flow.
We start in the southwest of the Island and we’ll work our way around in a clockwise direction, darting off towards the centre of the Island on a couple of occasions.
Port Erin to South Barrule Plantation/Foxdale/Ape Mann (9.7 miles)
In no particular order, we start in Port Erin in the southwest of the Island – the bay, beach and tall surrounding cliffs make it a popular venue for fishing and watersports enthusiasts. But we’re here to discover the 9 ½ mile stretch of gorgeously smooth A36 known locally as The Sloc road that heads northeast up to the South Barrule Forest Park and the Ape Mann Adventure Park. Running this road in the other direction may be of greater visual benefit as you start in the forest (aka ‘plantation’) next to the Ape Mann activity centre before heading out into a wide expanse of what looks like Yorkshire where you’ll find roads in great condition and the scenery to surpass any other. The road straightens as you pass the Round Table crossroads (that links the next choice below), before the spectacular set of bends as you close in on the west coast.
Peel to Colby (11.7 miles)
Another west island gem, this road crosses the one we’ve just ridden at The Road Table. Heading out from the gorgeous fishing port on the west coast of the Island, the road heads south running parallel to the coast through Glen Maye and Dalby before heading inland towards the Glen Rushen Plantation and over The Sloc.
It’s a quiet road away from TT-time, and narrow in places but with a wide-open vista across green fields on either side of dry-stone walls as you head towards the village of Colby.
Peel to Kirk Michael (6.5 miles)
This next stretch of fine Isle of Man tarmac was part of the original TT course in 1907 known as the St. Johns course, and the 6.5-mile section we’re focusing on runs alongside the coast on the west of the island.
Heading north out of Peel, the scenery opens up with rolling green fields on one side and the cliff tops over the Irish Sea to your left.
A highlight of this road is the ‘Devil’s Elbow, which takes you from a wide, straight approach to a tight uphill chicane and hairpin all in one, with a gravel layby/picnic area on the outside, all nestled into the rocky-hillside with views down over the Irish Sea towards Northern Island. The A4 then joins the A3 at the village of Kirk Michael, and that’s the junction where you could join the TT Course.
Then, three spectacular options from Ballaugh where, immediately after the famous bridge at which TT riders get airborne, a junction provides these:
Ballaugh to Brandywell (9.4 miles)
Follow the previous route but at the end of the Druidale Road turn right and immediately left onto the West Baldwin Road, which is another single-track beauty that takes you alongside the Injebreck Reservoir before you end up in Braddan just north of the capital, Douglas. It’s another that’ll suit the adventure bikes (stand up on the pegs to see the reservoir over the drystone wall) over the sporty ones, and again, you can find yourself joining the TT course here at Braddan Bridge, just two miles into the TT lap.
Ballaugh to Braddan (12.8 miles)
Follow the previous route but at the end of the Druidale Road turn right and immediately left onto the West Baldwin Road, which is another single-track beauty that takes you alongside the Injebreck Reservoir before you end up in Braddan just north of the capital, Douglas. It’s another that’ll suit the adventure bikes (stand up on the pegs to see the reservoir over the drystone wall) over the sporty ones, and again, you can find yourself joining the TT course here at Braddan Bridge, just two miles into the TT lap.
Ballaugh to Bride (10.8 miles)
Should you turn left at Ballaugh immediately after the bridge and follow the A10 through Ballasalla, you’ll end up in Jurby which is home of the airfield and circuit, the Motor Museum, outdoor karting, and the Isle of Man prison. Head along the Coast Road to Bride where you’ll find an excellent tea room and the option of turning left and aiming for the Point of Ayre Lighthouse (just 3 further miles, and it’s the most northern point of the Isle of Man). On a clear day you’ll be able to see the Lake District in England to the east, to the north is Scotland and to the west is Northern Ireland. You might even catch a glimpse of the Belfast to Douglas ferry.
Back to Bride and you can continue on the A10 to Ramsey, the island’s second largest town.
Sulby Glen to The Bungalow (6.5 miles)
Halfway along one of the fastest sections of the TT course – the Sulby Straight - is the A14 crossroads next to the Methodist Church. Turn right and head south to run parallel with the Ballaugh to Braddan route, though this one takes you to the east of the Tholt-y-Will Plantation instead of the west, and alongside the Sulby River. After a luscious green valley on a narrow yet smooth road with drystone walls either side, pass over a cattle grid and after a couple of tight hairpins the road gets higher and higher before an open, fast, flowing mountain section with quick corners as you head towards The Bungalow. The road quality, stone walls and forest section all add to making this one of my favourites of our ten.
For a little extra, you could opt for the Yn Claddagh road beside The Ginger Hall instead of the A14 from Sulby crossroads.
Ramsey to Douglas (via Maughold and Laxey) (20 miles)
The A2 is the coast road between the two main towns on the Isle of Man, and it’s particularly busy during TT fortnight if the Mountain Road is closed. It follows the east coast of the island but several BikeSocial readers recommended an extra loop to take in Maughold on the north-eastern point before re-joining the A2 just north of Dhoon. If you’re not a fan of the narrower roads then stick to the A2.
While Ramsey to Douglas takes around 7-minutes for the TT racing superstars who take the A18 Mountain road, you’ll need to allow 45-50 minutes for this coastal version, but it does take in the likes of Laxey and its famous waterwheel.
If you fancy a little detour then turn right in Ballacannell onto Church Road and head up the Creg-ny-Baa Back Road up to The Creg – one of the most famous parts of the TT Course. This road was part of a TT course designed for smaller capacity bikes and sidecars, used in the 60s called the Clypse Course.
Follow the A2 and you’ll end up joining the TT Course at the roundabout between The Nook and Governor’s Bridge towards the end of the lap. As an alternative route though, take a left after Baldrine and the tram crossing to venture onto the coast road, heading south of Onchan before making your way along Douglas Bay after Onchan Head.
Douglas to Castletown via Port Soderick (11 miles)
From the modern day capital, Douglas, in the southeast of the Island from the capital, the non-direct route to the ‘Ancient capital’, Castletown, via Port Soderick on the Old Castletown road that runs parallel to the busier A5 takes in some beautiful scenery overlooking the sea on the south of the island... on a nice day.
The mixture of wide-open views plus roads covered by trees with plenty of undulation too demonstrates how rural parts of this Island are. And while we don’t take in any of the TT course in this top 10 selection, we do ride a portion of the Southern 100 course.
Port St. Mary to The Sound Café (3 miles)
The shortest route on our list may lack distance but is one of the most dramatic in terms of its scenery. From the quaint quayside village of Port St Mary down to the southernmost tip of the Isle of Man and The Sound Café, the road is narrow but still two-way and reminds me a lot of some of the more off-the-beat Yorkshire gems. It’s not particularly wide so be careful of oncoming coaches full of tourists.
This is just ten of the most spectacular roads as voted for by our BikeSocial members who are residents of the Isle of Man, but that’s not to say that you have to stick to them. Ride them in whichever direction, link them together, or incorporate the TT Course into as many or as few as you wish.
And don’t forget to try the Top 10 Motorcycle-friendly cafes and restaurants while on your travels.
Video: Dom Read-Jones
Photos: Peter Callister
Words: Michael Mann
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