What to See and Do in Douglas
Sights Douglas Horse Trams – The famous Douglas Horse Drawn Trams are the world’s oldest surviving horse tram service, which first began running in 1876. The trams are fitted with roller bearings to ease the load on the horses bred to pull them. The trams link the Manx Electric Railway and depot at Derby Castle along Douglas Promenade to the Sea Terminal and Port. The line was opened by its creator, Thomas Lightfoot, a retired Sheffield civil engineer. In 1882, Lightfoot sold the line to Isle of Man Tramways Ltd, which came later to be known as Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co Ltd. In 1902 the Douglas Corporation purchased the lines from its bankrupt owners. The trams have been running ever since, only seeing brief breaks during World War II, and are a popular form of transport for locals and tourist alike. Gaiety Theatre – This theatre was built in 1899 and is the longest-running and most prestigious centre for performing arts on the Isle of Man. It is also incidentally one of the best surviving works of the renowned architect Frank Matcham. The Tower of Refuge – This tiny tower standing on Conister Rock in Douglas Bay was built on the orders of Sir William Hillary to serve as a sanctuary for shipwrecked sailors – the Conister Rock was infamous for causing shipwrecks. In 1931, William Wordsworth visited the site and wrote his poem ‘Tower of Refuge’ which is how the sanctuary received its name. Great Union Camera Obscura – The original camera obscura was built in 1887, and was unusual in having twelve separate mirrors, offering a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. Although this original was destroyed in a fire, a replica was constructed which gives an equally impressive view. Manx Electric Railway – Connecting the Horse Trams to Derby Castle some 17 miles away, Douglas’s electric-powered trains are one of the easiest and most elegant methods of seeing the scenery along the east coast. The track follows a steep, twisting route through the towns of the east coast before terminating at Ramsey. The round trip takes about four hours, though you can just go one-way if you like. The service still uses two original tramcars dating back to 1893, making them the world’s oldest original tramcars. Isle of Man Steam Railway – Running from Douglas to Port Erin on the south side of the island, this railway was built in the 1800s and is yet another archaic form of transport which has survived and thrived on the island, whilst its counterparts on the mainland have disappeared. Take the train to see the rolling farmlands of the south, and pass through some picturesque stations and rural communities on the way to Port Erin. Food & drink The Island has some wonderful local produce and can boast a tremendous range and variety of places to eat out. Dy row main mie errn (Bon Appetit in Manx Gaelic)! Back to Douglas
