The Raad ny Foillan, Manx Gaelic for "Way of the Gull," is the Isle of Man's premier long-distance footpath. Spanning almost 160 km (100 miles), it offers the chance to walk around a complete nation!
Alex Mason and I embarked on this incredible journey from June 12th to 17th, 2023, experiencing stunning coastal views and unforgettable moments. ๐๐๏ธ
๐ฎ๐ฒ IOM ๐ฎ๐ฒโน๏ธStats - Day 1 - travel day.
Home ๐ก dropped of by Car ๐- (๐Dad) at Hoylake Station - train ๐ 12.09pm to James St, Liverpool. Visited the Albert Dock. Walked๐ถ๐ผโโ๏ธ to the ferry terminal - 10 mins. Ferry โด๏ธ to IOM. Check in at 1.30pm. Boarded at 2pm - arrived at 5pm start of adventure ๐ฅณ
Date: 12th June 2023
Weather: sunny & warm โ๏ธ
From: Douglas Ferry Terminal - IOM ๐ฎ๐ฒ
Start time: 5.50pm - we went to see some street art and pick up some bits from M&S.
To: Laxey Campsite
End time: 10.20pm
Terrain: roads, pavements, very badly maintained paths through stinging nettles, brambles and other things which were bitting and scratching!
Accommodation: camped โบ๏ธ camp site.
Food: breakfast at home - 2 boiled eggs, half an avocado, 6 pieces of bacon.
Snack - rice cake bar, naked bar.
Lunch - egg Mayo sandwiches on gluten free bread, flapjack, & crisps.
Dinner (same again) egg Mayo sandwiches, crisps, flapjack & a handful of jelly sweets.
๐ฅพMiles: 13.7 miles via watch
๐ฆถSteps: 28,173
Total miles completed: 10/98 10 miles measured via Hiiker app (pro feature)
๐ฐCosts:
Food Resupply - Aldi ยฃ20
Train ๐ to Liverpool ยฃ5.20
Ferry ticket ยฃ66 (one way)
Camping ยฃ12
= ยฃ103.20
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 9/10
Fatigue: 2/10
Ease of terrain: 4/10
Challenges: trying to find wild camping ๐๏ธ- it was very populated on this section and not many options. I called up the camp site and they had space. So we ended up there. Itโs about 10 mins off the route.
Highlights: awesome to be hiking with Alex again. We last walked together on the Wales Coast Path in 2022. gorgeous weather until late at night. Super easy getting the ferry. Nice being on a quieter walk with less people. Havenโt seen any other hikers yet. Really excited about about the following few days. ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ
๐ฎ๐ฒ IOM ๐ฎ๐ฒโน๏ธStats - Day 2
Date: Tuesday 13th June
Weather: sunny and hot โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
From: Laxey Campsite - 10 min walk back to the trail
Start time: 7.50am
To: Point of Ayre (most northern point of the IOM)
End time: stopped at costa coffee at 1.30pm - started again at 4.30pm. Finished walking at 7.30pm. Bed by 9.30pm - so tired my eyes are starting to go.
Terrain: pavement & road, large rocky uphills paths, green flat sections, country lanes. Pebble beaches.
Accommodation: wild camped ๐๏ธ
Food: breakfast bag (oats, chia seeds, protein powder, creatine powder, collagen powder, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins) with water.
Snack - flapjack, rice crispy bar.
Lunch - egg sandwich & 1/2 ham sandwich with crisps & rice crispy bar.
Snack. Fanta, cashew cookie naked bar.
Dinner - pack of cooked chicken, crisps, baby tomatoes. Sweets.
๐ฅพMiles: 23.5 - according to my watch
๐ฆถSteps: 48,631
Total miles completed: 33.5/98
๐ฐCosts: ยฃ2.45 Fanta drink at Costa
ยฃ5.70 pack of chicken & cherry tomatoes ๐ for dinner tonight from CO-OP
= ยฃ8.15
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 7/10
Fatigue: 4/10
Ease of terrain: 6/10 - a bit tougher today. Not as populated but a few more ups and downs. Plus a 6 mile pebble beach walk.
Challenges: my pack is heavy with all the food and water - very different from the Camino (when my pack weighted under 7kg).
๐The pebble beach walking was brutal especially towards the end. My back in killing me - as I wasnโt able to tighten my hip belt straps too much as my hip bones are hurting. So all the weight is through the shoulders.
Highlights: stopped off at Ramsey Town.
7 miles to the Point of Ayre - where we want to wild camp tonight.
๐Found a great little spot - beautiful views of the ocean and the seals playing in the water.
๐ฎ๐ฒ IOM ๐ฎ๐ฒโน๏ธStats - Day 3
Date: Wednesday 14th June.
Weather: โ๏ธsunny and bright. Blue skies ๐
From: Point of Ayre (most northern point of the IOM)
Start time: 7am
To: Peels Campsite
End time: 7.10pm - we chilled on the bench for a while not putting up our tents until later. In bed at 9.20pm
Terrain: pebble paths, through sand dunes 6 miles - then 6 miles of beach walking!
Accommodation: camp site - tent โบ๏ธ
Food: breakfast- tangerine ๐, fruit roll ups, flapjack, final few crisps
Lunch - jacket potato with margarine, tuna Mayo and salad. With apple and almond cake for dessert* still canโt get over the cost of the piece of cake - I should have said no!!
Dinner - flapjack, apple, rice chocolate bar, sweets.
๐ฅพMiles: 25.2 miles
๐ฆถSteps: 51,950
Total miles completed: 50/98 - according to Hiiker and the guidebook
๐ฐCosts: Lunch out at The Dovecote Tearooms. lunch - jacket potato & salad ยฃ11, 2x drinks ยฃ2.40 & cake ยฃ4.25 = ยฃ17.80 + camping โบ๏ธ ยฃ10. Total ๐ฐ ยฃ27.80
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10
Fatigue: 5/10 - we stopped and had a few breaks!
Ease of terrain: 7/10 - tough day with pebble and sandy beaches. Plus overgrown ferns with biting flies.
Challenges: The Beach walking was hard going on your feet.
๐ชฐSo many flies during the final 6 miles into Peel ๐ชฐplus they were biting us! Lower back felt a little sore at the end. It was so good to lie down and stretch out.
Highlights: great weather, stunning views of the sea. Enjoyed the walking. Good chats with Alex as well ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ
๐ฎ๐ฒ IOM ๐ฎ๐ฒโน๏ธStats - Day 4 - Beautiful but Brutal.
Date: Thursday 15th June
Weather: โ๏ธsunny and hot all day! Plus some good wind ๐จ blowing against us.
From: Peels Campsite.
Start time: 7.30am
To: just past Port Erin
End time: 7.25pm (we stopped at a few places. A beach for 1hr 15mins, Port Erin about 1hr)
Terrain: flat grassy walking, a little bit of climbing out of peel. We also passed a few cows ๐ - then it got difficult- brambles, nettles, thin narrow paths on a slant. Constant climbing. The final 11 miles was tough going.
Accommodation: wild camped ๐๏ธ
Food: breakfast - peanuts, dried mango, jelly sweets.
Snack - half a naked bar.
Early Dinner - half a whole chicken, chips & salad with a sprite
Snack before bed - @eattrek protein bar (9g of protein & gluten free)
๐ฅพMiles: 21.2 miles
๐ฆถSteps: 43,883
Total miles completed: 69/98
๐ฐCosts: ยฃ2.25 resupply - 3x @eattrek protein bars. Dinner at local fish & chip place ยฃ12.25 = ยฃ14.50
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10 - tough day - but I felt like Iโd worked hard. It was nice to finish walking.
Fatigue: 6/10 - felt super tired around 4.30pm - was wiped out! So tired!!!
Ease of terrain: 7/10 - the first 6 miles out of Peel were great. Then the really tough sections happened - Constant uphill walking in the heat of the day with heavy packs is hard going. Felt quite drainer during it.
Challenges: very windy ๐ฌ๏ธ last night. Needed to get out of bed to fix the tent as one side collapsed!
Beautiful scenery - but some parts were brutal!! Wasnโt expecting it to be so tough.
My legs and arms are also super scratched from all the nettles and brambles we were walking through. Some parts of the path have not been well maintained and itโs hard going getting through.
Highlights: reaching Port Erin - good food, wild camping ๐๏ธ . Watching the sunset ๐
๐ฎ๐ฒ IOM ๐ฎ๐ฒโน๏ธStats - Day 5
Date: Friday 16th June
Weather: windy and dry - not as hot as the previous few days.
From: past Port Erin
Start time: 7.55am
To: past Castletown
End time: 8.15pm ish
Terrain: nice paths in the am to the cafe. Much flatter and easier today. A bit more road walking.
Accommodation: wild camped ๐๏ธ
Food: 2x gluten free toast, 2x bacon, 2x sausage, 2x eggs, avocado smash, beans, 2x hash browns, large mushroom.
Lunch snack - @eattrek protein bar
Early dinner - the George Hotel, Castletown - poached Salmon salad.
Evening snack - wine gums & half a galaxy vegan & diary free chocolate bar. I ate well today!! ๐
๐ฅพMiles: 18.7
๐ฆถSteps: 38,750
Total miles completed: 82/98
๐ฐCosts:ยฃ15.80 at Sound Cafe- gluten free breakfast & hot chocolate (diary feee)
Shore Hotel - drinks ยฃ3.50 Vimto & blackcurrant and water.
The George Hotel - Blackcurrant & water & poached salmon salad ยฃ14.95
Co-op ยฃ7.25 - vegan & diary free chocolate bar, 3x @eattrek protein bars, & wine gums
ยฃ41.50 - I think most expensive day so far! All on food!!!
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10 - another solid day.
Fatigue: 4/10 - feel ok. I think itโs because Iโve eaten so much good food. And it was proper meals.
Ease of terrain: 4/10 - so much easier today - no real hard sections.
Challenges: walking past port Mary - the smell of sulphur ๐คข๐คข๐คข
Highlights: breakfast & dinner ๐ฝ๏ธ was epic - all gluten and diary free. big portions. Just what I needed.
๐ฎ๐ฒ IOM ๐ฎ๐ฒโน๏ธStats - Day 6 - Final Day!!!
Date: Saturday 17th June
Weather: rain in the am ๐ง๏ธ got a little warmer later on but not glorious sunshine like the past few days.
From: past Castletown
Start time: 10.20am
To: Douglas- arrived at 6.40pm
End time: 8.35 pm in the tent โบ๏ธ
Terrain: grassy banks, steep cliff edges, by the side of farmers fields (one with cows), a long road walk at the end, with a few steep stairs thrown in for good measure.
Accommodation: camped for free - thank
You Colin ๐
Food: 7am - the rest of the vegan chocolate bar, 2x @eattrek protein bars.
Breakfasts - 2x poached eggs, 2x bacon, 2x gluten free toast.
Snack 2x protein bars
Dinner - packet of Beef (29g of protein), egg Mayo, half a bag of crisps, wine gums. Ribenna, & fake jelly strawberries.
๐ฅพMiles: 20.6 miles (included an extra 1.5 mile walk to the campsite).
๐ฆถSteps: 42,476
Total miles completed: 98/98 โ
๐ฐCosts: Breakfast at Cafe Bar Twenty Six ยฃ9.90. Snacks & dinner food ยฃ14.05
Total = ยฃ23.95
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10
Fatigue: 5/10
Ease of terrain: 4/10
Challenges: raining and I need to wee but didnโt want to leave the tent! We set off pretty late and made our way past the golf course and around the bay to a cute little cafe. The food was spot on and set is up for the rest of the day.
Highlights: finishing the trail, free camping โบ๏ธ
โน๏ธTOTAL Stats ๐ฎ๐ฒIsle of Man Coastal Walk๐ฎ๐ฒ.
6 Days. From 12th - 18th June. with @masonalexandra
Travel: home ๐ , car, Train ๐, walk, Ferry โด๏ธ , walk, Ferry โด๏ธ, walk, Train, Car ๐, home ๐ก
From - To: Douglas to Douglas - North around the island. Anti clockwise.
Accommodation: ๐๏ธCamped a6 nights. 2 camp sites ยฃ22, 1 free camping & 3 wild camping ๐๏ธ
Weather: all days sunny & warm - apart from the last day little bit of rain in the am. But otherwise it was glorious โ๏ธ
โฐEarliest start time: 7am
โฐLatest time: 10.20am
โฐLatest time we finished walking: 10.20pm - this was on the first day. When we struggled to find wild camping and needed to use a campsite.
โฐEarliest time we stopped: 7.10pm
๐ฅพTotal Miles: 123 (info from my watch)
Total distance of the walk: 98 miles
Average Daily Miles: 20
Total Kms: 198
Average Daily Kms: 33๐ฆถTotal Steps: 253,863
Average Daily Steps: 42,322
๐ทTotal Costs: ยฃ262.50 ๐ท
Average Daily Costs: ยฃ43.75
๐ท acc Costs: ยฃ22
๐ทTotal Travel Costs: ยฃ109.40 ๐ฐFerry โด๏ธ ยฃ99, Train ๐ ยฃ10.40.
๐ทTotal costs (not travel): ยฃ153.10
Average over the 6 days = ยฃ25.51
๐ท๐ฝ๏ธTotal Food Costs: ยฃ131.10
๐ฝ๏ธMost expensive meal - lunch at Dovecote ยฃ17.80 (it was that piece of cake ๐ฐ ยฃ4.85 - it still annoys me that I paid so much for a piece of cake!!!)
๐ฝ๏ธCheapest Meal - breakfast at the Caff, Douglas - ยฃ5.20 - awesome breakfast & such a good price!
๐ฝ๏ธAverage Daily food costs: ยฃ21.85
๐ทreduce costs - would have been to not eat out. Just resupply from supermarkets.I ยฃ75.90 on eating out. ยฃ55.20 on resupply.
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
๐Enjoyment: 48/60 - average each day 8/10
๐ฉFatigue: 26/60 - the lower the better. Average fatigue 4/10. Not that tired.
โฐ๏ธEase of terrain: 32/60 - the lower the easier I found the terrain. Average 5/10. Terrain was ok. A few challenging bits to make it worth the walk.
Challenges: some parts of the trail were very overgrown. It was brambles, thistles, nettles, ferns etc. We also need to be careful of ticks.
Highlights: stunning walk. We had beautiful weather. Itโs also nicely challenging. lots of options for resupply & cafรฉs.
I would recommend if your looking to go for about a week and have some time out. But not be completely remote and isolated.
๐#gifted๐
๐ @inov_8 TRAILFLY Ultra G300 ๐DM for discount code ๐ฅณ
๐ถ๏ธ @waterhaul_co use TOUGHGIRL15 for 15% off
๐ @ospreyeurope Tempest 40
๐ก๐ @zoleolifeeurope connects phone to satellite
Watch the Vlog below!
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