← Isle of Man Marathon·2 nights

Castletown and Port Erin: Two Nights in the South

The old capital with its medieval castle, then a small bay at the south-west tip of the island, linked by a steam railway that ends close to the airport on the way home.

Duration2 nights
TransitVia Douglas; the steam railway from Douglas to Port Erin takes about an hour
DepartsRamsey

After the Isle of Man Marathon: Castletown and Port Erin

The Route: Ramsey → Douglas → Castletown → Port Erin → Ronaldsway Airport Logistics: Bus from Ramsey to Douglas, then the Isle of Man Steam Railway south. The airport is a short ride from Castletown. Marathon Month: August Duration: 2 nights

Ramsey ──(bus to Douglas)──> Douglas ──(approx. 1 hr, steam railway)──> Port Erin
                                │                                          │
                                └──> Castletown ◄──────(rail or bus)───────┘
                                           │
                       Ronaldsway Airport (IOM) ◄──(short taxi or bus)

The south of the island is the place to go if the flight home matters more than the sightseeing. Ronaldsway Airport sits beside Castletown, and the steam railway runs straight through the middle of the route. You can leave Ramsey on Monday, be at the far end of the line by lunch, and still be ten minutes from the airport on the day you fly.

August in the south is the middle of the railway's season. The Isle of Man Steam Railway runs a seasonal timetable, so check the 2027 dates before committing. Castle Rushen is open daily from 09:30 to 16:30 in the 2026 season, and the 2027 hours should be confirmed. Book both nights once the marathon date is announced.

Night one: Castletown

Castletown was the island's capital until 1869, and it still looks the part. The harbour is small and mostly full of dinghies, and Castle Rushen dominates the centre. It is a limestone fortress with a clock presented by Elizabeth I, and it is among the best-preserved medieval castles in the British Isles. The courtyard, the towers and the exhibits take about two hours. There are many steps, and they punish tired quads. Take the stairs one at a time, and use the handrails.

Around the castle are the Old House of Keys, once the island's parliament, and the Nautical Museum, which holds a schooner built in the eighteenth century. Both are within a few minutes' walk of each other. The town is flat and the streets are narrow.

Where to stay: The Castletown Golf Links Hotel, on the Langness peninsula, is the obvious name. Check that it is open and bookable before you plan around it, and ask how far it is from the town and the station.

Night two: Port Erin

Take the steam train to Port Erin. The journey from Douglas takes about an hour, and the line follows a cut through farmland and then runs down towards the sea. Port Erin sits in a sheltered bay at the south-west tip of the island, with a sand beach, a breakwater and a view across the water to the Calf of Man, a small bird-observatory island. The promenade is flat and long enough to walk off a stiff leg without effort.

Where to stay: Falcon's Nest Hotel overlooks the bay, but confirm that it is open and what the rooms are like before booking.

Where to eat: The bay has several cafés and pubs with fish on the menu. Ask at your hotel which one is serving on the night you want to eat.

Getting to Ronaldsway Airport (IOM)

Castletown is the closest town to the airport, and a taxi from Port Erin or from Castletown takes minutes. If you stay in Port Erin on the last night, allow time for the train or a taxi to Ronaldsway, and do not rely on a single service to get you there. Buy a flexible fare for the day of the flight.