Riding in the Isle of Man

wotan · L Plate Warrior Joined: 13 May 2010 Karma :

I'm going to the Manx Grand Prix this year.
How do you get about whilst the racing is on ?
Is it possible to traverse the island without blundering out on to the race course ?
My idea is to stop at various camp sites around the course - any recommendations ?
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1986 BMW K75C Ethel the Beemer

Nyarlathotep · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Karma :

When roads ard closed for racing, they are roped off and usually have marshalls too - it's pretty difficult to blunder onto the course.
Getting around the majority of the Island is possible when roads are closed - it just takes longer than usual. That said, it isn't a big place - you are best basing yourself at one site and taking trips out from there.
I live in the Isle of Man (Ramsey) so feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to give you a sensible answer!

keigs · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Karma :

I live about 3 miles from Glenlough Campsite, just west from Union Mills, which is itself just west of Douglas (the capital). It's a really lovely site and right next to the course...

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=5086

There is a handy bus stop right next to the site, with good connections to Douglas and the rest of the island. They sometimes have a beer tent up at the site, or there is a good pub (with it's own beer garden track viewing area) down the hill in Union Mills.

wotan · L Plate Warrior Joined: 13 May 2010 Karma :

keigs · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Karma :

https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Isle+of+Man&ll=54.172053,-4.544209&spn=0.002255,0.006968&t=h&z=18

This is the site. For most of the year outside of TT and the MGP there aren't too many people staying there.

The A1 road is the main Douglas to Peel road and is also part of the circuit.

Give the people there a ring - they're good, friendly farming folk.

You can (just about) move around the island while racing is on by using particular access points and special service roads. For example, there is a 'tunnel' here...

https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Isle+of+Man&t=h&ll=54.161353,-4.505449&spn=0.000564,0.001742&z=20

The means you can go from the 'outside' of the circuit to the 'inside'.

Cheers.