Perhaps Keppel Gate’s name holds a clue to its past. Keppel Gate on the Isle of Man, locally pronounced with a distinct sound, stands as more than just a point on a map. It whispers tales of ancient pathways and transformation. It’s part of a former UK HM Commissioners of Woods and Forest estate. This area includes former highway mountain gates. Today, it is common land in public ownership. Keppel Gate is one of three purpose-built former Crown Road sections. These sections are now part of the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. This road is famous for the Isle of Man TT races.
The area around Keppel Gate, including Kate’s Cottage, sits between the 4th and 5th Milestone markers. It lies on the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road, within the parish district of Kirk Onchan. The ridge of Keppel Gate is part of Slieau Lhoost. This is a large area of former Crown Commons grazing mountain land. This uncultivated upland lies near Slieau Ree, the Mountain of Heather, at 316 meters above sea level. Nearby is also Slieau Meayl, the bare mountain.
Keppel Gate and Slieau Ree consist of acid grassland and heath. This hillside fell offers views of Baldwin Valley and Beinn-y-Phott Mountain. The Isle of Man Wild Life Act allows for Areas of Special Scientific Interest. Keppel Gate’s heath is one such area. It protects the North Atlantic sub-montane heath. This is a European Union priority habitat. The Northern Uplands’ heather moorland, including Slieau Ree, is also an ASSI.
The name Keppel Gate has several possible origins. It might come from Old Norse, meaning “the road to the summit” or “the Horse Road.” Another theory suggests it derives from “Kappafjall,” meaning “The Champion’s mountain.” “Gata” is a Scandinavian word for a farm lane, path, or road.
The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road section from Keppel Gate to Park Llewellyn was built on former Crown Commons land. The UK Crown purchased this land after acquiring feudal rights from the Duke of Atholl in 1765. The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road reflects 19th-century highway construction. It evolved from horse paths and ancient rights of way. The Keppel Gate section lies between the 4th and 5th milestone markers.
In 1863, land sales financed new mountain road sections on Crown Common lands. A new road section was built from Creg-ny-Baa corner to Kate’s Cottage between 1864 and 1866. This new “Keppel Gate Road” bypassed a section of the former right of way.
In 1933, the Isle of Man Government purchased the Crown Commons land at Keppel Gate. This purchase was for fencing the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road and removing two mountain gates. The Mountain Shepherd G. Rhodes Tate operated hill-sheep grazing at Keppel Gate from 1926. He and his wife Gladys lived in Keppel Gate Cottage, now known as Kate’s Cottage.
The Keppel Gate section was part of the Highland Course for automobile racing. It was later used for the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races starting in 1911. In 1921, the Auto-Cycle Union considered moving the TT races to Belgium. The Isle of Man Highway Board then redeveloped the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. This included the narrow section from Windy Corner to Keppel Gate. The old stone mountain track was improved during 1921-23.
In 1947, the section from Thirty-Third Corner to Keppel Gate was widened. In 2009, a section of grass bank was removed to provide a run-off area. In 2015, the Highways Section of the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure landscaped Keppel Gate corner. Keppel Gate stands as a testament to the Isle of Man’s rich history. Its evolution reflects the changing needs of transportation and motorsport. Today, it remains a landmark. It invites all to reflect on its storied past.