£940 pp
15 – 21 June 2025
In conjunction with Manx Wildlife Trust, Isle of Man Events are laying on an exclusive Manx Wildlife Experience week in June.
Based at the impressive Knock Rushen House in Castletown, your six-night stay will feature a full and varied programme of activities – spread across the Island’s stunning vistas and landscapes – led by highly experienced and knowledgeable Manx Wildlife Trust field experts. It’s an unrivalled opportunity to witness the wonders of the Manx wildlife in its many guises (see itinerary below).
The bulk of these experiences are not generally available to the public – so your Manx Wildlife Holiday is guaranteed to be unique and personalised.
Ideal for small groups or individual travellers, early bookings are advised, as spaces are limited, and demand is sure to be high.
Please Note: The weather on the Isle of Man can be variable, it may be necessary to swap some of the experiences around to accommodate the conditions. In prolonged periods of bad weather and strong tides, boats to the Calf of Man may be cancelled for safety reasons.
Day 1
Monday - 16 June
A private boat trip to and around the Manx National Heritage owned Calf of Man, a small island off the south coast of the Isle of Man, which is of international importance to wildlife. The bird observatory houses a team of Manx Wildlife Trust wardens and volunteers who look after the islet and its wildlife. You will stop at the Calf to visit the Bird Observatory and experience hands on bird research with our senior ornithological warden, Aron Sapford before taking a guided boat trip around the island to witness the spectacle of the many hundreds of seabirds breeding around the Calf’s coastline.
About Aron Sapford – Aron has a long-standing association with the Calf of Man, having originally been employed as assistant warden in 1988 and returning as warden in 1989 & 1990. He has been involved with several local bird studies, working for the Manx Chough project and then as co-founder and scientific officer for the charity Manx Bird Atlas, as well as now being the longest serving Calf warden.
Please note this trip is subject to suitable weather and marine conditions.
Day 2
Tuesday - 17 June
Morning
The makings of a temperate rainforest - a guided hike around Manx Wildlife Trust’s Creg y Cowin Nature reserve, where the Trust envisions the planting of around 35,000 trees over the next five years. Over the decades and centuries these will re-form patches of temperate rainforest (Atlantic Woodlands), which would have been the dominant landcover for the Manx uplands for thousands of years before the landscape evolved.
Afternoon
A tour of the Manx BirdLife Point of Ayre National Reserve
Manx BirdLife are transforming a once bleak, industrial landscape into a thriving new refuge for Manx wildlife. In 2019, Island Aggregates granted Manx BirdLife a long-term lease to manage their exhausted quarries at the Point of Ayre to create a new nature reserve. In partnership with Island Aggregates and RSPB, Manx BirdLife will create a diverse mix of habitat including freshwater lagoons, shallow ponds and extensive areas of mixed dry scrub, all of which will provide important habitats for a wide range of wildlife.
While the restoration work has only just begun, nature is already making a comeback with the reserve already showcasing a diverse range of flora and fauna. Already, some 200 species of bird have been recorded on site, but it’s not just about the birds with rare clouded yellow butterflies, a fantastic array of orchid species and dragonflies like Black-tailed skimmers (which, when 2 males appeared on newly created dragonfly pools in 2023 it was just the 2nd record for that species on the Island) also being recorded.
Evening
Manx Bat Group bat walk. Watch bats emerge from their roost at sunset followed by a boardwalk stroll through the woods and back to the boating pond to see Daubenton’s feeding.
Meeting at 9.15pm for a ½ walk to a bat roost for sunset at 9.45pm
Day 3
Wednesday 18 June
Morning
A two-hour wildlife photography session at a MWT community led nature reserve, delivered for digital SLR cameras, but can be adapted to smart phones.
Your Guide, Clare Payne – Manx Wildlife Trust marine assistant. Clare is a keen scuba diver, a passionate artist and an advocate of art conservation and was the inaugural MWT biosphere artist in residence.
Afternoon
A two-hour guided walk and talk at flagship MWT reserve Close Sartfield to see the outstanding display of thousands of orchids.
Your Guide, Tricia Sayle – Manx Wildlife Trust reserves manager with 25 years’ experience of working at Close Sartfield.
Day 4
Thursday - 19 June
Morning
Peel Wildlife Walk. A gentle 1.5-hour stroll around Peel harbour, outside of the castle and historic town centre, with a chance to visit the MWT sustainable gift shop. Your guide will help you look out for black guillemots, Atlantic Seals and great black backed gulls.
Your Guide - Manx Wildlife Trust Community Ranger, Hannah Phillips.
Afternoon
A nature friendly farming tour. See the Island’s oldest tree, the world’s largest rare-breed Loaghtan sheep flock, a river rewilding project, hay meadows and meet the farmers committed to nature friendly farming for the future. Includes a trip to the wool shop.
Evening
Birds of the Isle of Man supper talk.
Day 5
Friday - 20 June
Morning
Guided walk of The sound and the Chasms, Located on the southernmost tip of the Island, experience stunning views across to the Calf of Man, enjoy refreshments in the café with its panoramic views. This area is a popular destination and a great place to spot seals.
Afternoon (4 - 5pm)
Seawatch between The Sound and Port St Mary. A one hour sealife spotting session with local experts from Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch.
Day 6
Saturday - 21 June
Morning
Optional self-guided walk to Scarlett Nature Discovery Centre at Scarlett Point, Castletown.
Or free time before the journey home.
Knock Rushen House
Photo Credit to Island Escapes
Black Guillemots
Photo credit to Graham Makepeace-Warne
Scraayl and drinking dragon
Photo credit to Graham Makepeace-Warne
Close Sartfield Reserve
Phot credit to Tricia Sayle
Grey Seal
Photo credit to Graham Makepeace-Warne
Package Contents
Manx Wildlife holiday Includes:
- 6 Nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation
- Sea travel as Foot passengers
- Welcome Dinner and introduction from the Manx Wildlife Trust CEO
- Packed Lunches
- 2 Midweek Dinner and talks
- Private group transport
- 5 Days fully Guided / immersive tours with local conservation experts.
Notes
- Places are limited to 15 people,
- Room prices based on 2 people sharing, Double or Twin bedded rooms
- Limited Single occupancy
- Packages by Air are available on request.
If you would like to learn more about the holiday before you book, call us on 01624 664460 or email info@iomevents.com
Package Prices
Accommodation | Nights | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Double ensuite | 6 | £940 pp | Book Now |
Twin ensuite | 6 | £940 pp | Book Now |
Single ensuite | 6 | £1030 pp |
Book Now Limited |
Single or Twin standard | 6 | £920 pp |
Book Now Limited |