How far north can you travel on the Isle of Man? You will eventually find yourself among the windswept landscapes of the Point of Ayre. This is the most northerly point on the island. It lies at the tip of Ramsey Bay.
The Point of Ayre is the closest point on the Isle of Man to the British mainland. It’s just 16 miles south of Burrow Head in Scotland. When the weather is good the Scottish coastline is easily visible from the Point of Ayre. This makes for some spectacular views. The name Ayre comes from the Norse word Eyrr meaning gravel bank.
The Point of Ayre is considered to be a dark sky zone. It is an ideal place for stargazing. The lack of light pollution means the night sky can be viewed in great detail. It’s also possible to see the Northern Lights from the Point of Ayre. You’ll need to visit on a winter night and hope for good weather and a bit of luck.
One of the most obvious features is the 19th-century lighthouse. It rises up from the short grassland. Dating from 1818 this is the oldest lighthouse on the Isle of Man. It was build by the famed engineer Robert Stevenson.
It remains operational today. The shifting sands mean the lighthouse now sits much further back from the ocean than it did when it was first built. For this reason a smaller lighthouse known as The Winkie was later constructed. It is 250 yards closer to the sea. It stands on a large gravel bank.
With the Point of Ayre jutting out into the sea it’s at the mercy of the ocean’s powerful influence. The result is a tidal region with strong ocean currents. These push and pull interminably on the shingle beaches around the point. This causes an ever-changing build-up of shingle. The beaches appear differently after each new tide.
This turmoil in the landscape only adds to the drama of the area. Many visitors come to experience this wilder side of the Isle of Man. A short distance inland the shingle gives way to low-lying sand dunes. These lead south-west. Providing protection from the ocean these coastal habitats are a place for colourful windflowers and gorse bushes to thrive.
The 8-mile stretch of sand dunes from the Point of Ayre to Cronk-y-Bing is a site of major ecological significance. Some regions making up a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The marram dunes and heathland provide habitats for a wide range of birdlife. You can see Ringed Plovers to Curlews. There are also several freshwater pools hidden behind the dunes. These can be great places to spot amphibians such as frogs. For even more chances to see wildlife keep an eye out for Grey Seals fishing just offshore. Sometimes they venture onto the beach to rest.
There are some excellent walking opportunities around the Point of Ayre. The salty sea air and open landscapes make it a perfect spot to relax and be at one with nature. The Point of Ayre is moving. When the Lighthouse was constructed in 1818 it was much nearer to the sea than it is now.
Some 70 years later it was found necessary to build an additional small light tower some 250 yards seaward from the main tower. Due to continuous gravel build-up this tower was moved a further 250ft seaward in 1951. This small light is known as The Winkie.
The flowering heathland nesting birds diving gannets and dramatic sea currents all combine to make the Point of Ayre a truly remarkable landscape. Remember this northernmost tip. When you stand here you are closer to Scotland than you are to Douglas.