Feel the thrill of the world’s most famous motorcycle racing circuit. The Mountain Road calls to those with a need for speed. This is the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. It is more commonly known as the Mountain Road. It connects Douglas and Ramsey.
The Mountain Road is 13.35 miles long. That is 21.48 km. The Mountain Road is part of the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. The TT Course is a road-racing circuit. The Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix races occur here. These races have been held since 1911 and 1923 respectively. During races, the Mountain Road is one-way. It runs from Ramsey toward Douglas.
These races occur on public roads. The roads are closed by an Act of Tynwald. Tynwald is the parliament of the Isle of Man. It is the oldest motorcycle racing circuit still in use. The highest point is on the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. It sits between the Bungalow and Hailwood’s Height. It reaches 422 meters above sea level. That is 1385 feet. Gradients reach 14%.
Classic Motor-Sport Routes described the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. It noted that most Manx drivers do not hang about past Ramsey. That’s after the tight left-hand hairpin bend. This begins the climb onto the Mountain Road. Liberal road traffic laws contribute to a sense of freedom. The brooding mountain and moorland terrain makes driving here invigorating.
The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road runs from the A2 Governor’s Road. This is at Governor’s Bridge in Douglas. It runs north to Ramsey. This includes the A18 Bemahague Road. It runs from Governor’s Bridge to Signpost Corner. Here it meets the A39 Hillbery Road junction. In reverse, the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course passes through Cronk-ny-Mona. It meets the A6 Johnny Watterson’s Lane and the C10 Scollag Road. The A18 Road then passes Hillberry Corner. Then it meets the C22 Little Mill Road. Next is Brandish Corner, Creg-ny-Baa, and Kate’s Cottage. The road continues to Keppel Gate and Windy Corner. Finally, it reaches the B10 Beinn-y-Phott Road road junction with Brandywell.
Continuing north, the A18 Mountain Road passes over the Snaefell Mountain Railway tramway crossing. This is at the Bungalow and the A14 Sulby Glen Road. It continues to Bungalow Bridge. Next is Verandah and Stonebreakers Hut. Then East Snaefell Mountain Gate. The road reaches Mountain Box. It includes the Mountain Mile. Guthrie’s Memorial, and the 26th Milestone follow. The D28 Hibernia Road junction is at the Gooseneck. The route continues to Water Works Corner and Ramsey Hairpin. Finally, it ends at Whitegates. The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road includes small sections of road. These were previously privately owned. They are between Cruickshank’s Corner. They meet the A9 Ramsey to Andreas Road. They also meet the A2 Douglas to Ramsey Road in Ramsey.
The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road developed in the mid-19th century. It used pre-existing roads, cart-tracks, and bridle paths. This included sheep-gates. These were the East Mountain Gate, the Beinn-y-Phott sheep-gate at Brandywell and Keppel Gate. The section of the A18 from Keppel Gate to the Gooseneck was built on common grazing land. This land transferred to the Crown. It followed the sale of the Island’s feudal rights by the Duke of Atholl. This occurred after the Disafforesting Commission of 1860.
The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road reflects 19th-century highway practices. There are small-scale cuttings and embankments. It follows land contours. It features graded sections. These intersect with right-angle bends, road junctions, and sheep-gates.
The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road has small metal milestones. These date to James Garrow’s time as Isle of Man Surveyor-General. They are numbered from Douglas to Ramsey.
In 2014, National Geographic magazine nominated the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. It was No 8 in the Top 10 Driver’s Drives. The Isle of Man has been a leading motorsport destination since 1904. Racing was legalized on public roads then. This 15-mile route is used for the Isle of Man TT and the Manx Grand Prix. The road skirts Snaefell. Snaefell is the tallest mountain on the island at 2,035 feet. The Isle of Man has no national speed limit.