13 Best Beaches on the Isle of Man

You’re never too far from a beautiful beach in the Isle of Man. And in this article, I’ll be sharing 15 of the best Isle of Man beaches so that you can check them out for yourself.

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Best Beaches on the Isle of Man

1. Port Erin Beach

Port Erin is one of few sandy beaches on the island. Not only that, it is coved and sheltered, meaning the water is often calm.

For this reason, Port Erin Beach is a firm favourite among locals and tourists alike. It’s a popular beach for water sports such as paddle boarding and kayaking. It’s also a sunset hotspot.

There are a some great pubs and restaurants such as The Bay and Foraging Vintners. I also recommend La Gusto for a delicious take away pizza.

2. Peel Beach

Peel Beach is one of the most unique beaches on the island. Actually, it’s up there as one of the most impressive beaches I’ve ever visited.  

That’s because of the medieval Peel Castle ruins that dominates the view. The castle is one one of the most interesting historical attractions on the Isle of Man, so worth a visit.

Besides the ruins, Peel Beach is the perfect place to relax and unwind. It’s also one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset.

3. Fenella Beach (Peel)

We don’t need to travel far for our next Isle of Man beach. You’ll find Fenella Beach tucked away beneath the Peel Castle ruins.

I’d argue that Fenella Beach is more picturesque than Peel Beach. Only instead of sand, it has thousands of different shells all along the shore.

It’s also not uncommon to spot a variety of marine life here. We’ve seen both seals and dolphins from this very spot.

I encourage you to take a walk up Peel Hill to the left of the beach for a stunning birds-eye view.

4. Laxey Beach

Bordered by the scenic Laxey hills, Laxey Beach provides another dreamy beach setting here on the island. It’s fairly sheltered and accessible, so it’s especially popular during the Summer.

The mile or so stretch of bay is a mixture of sand and pebbles. You’ll find it gets sandier the closer you get to the water. The water is generally calm and clear here, ideal for swimmers and gentle water sports. 

Alongside the beach, a few other attractions are nearby, such as the Laxey Wheel, the electric railway to Snaefell mountain, and various coastal and woodland walks.

5. Secret Beach (Douglas)

You’ll find ‘Secret Beach’ beneath the Douglas Head Viewpoint and a little further down from the famous Douglas Lighthouse.

A small coved pebble beach surrounded by dramatic dark cliffs, it has quite an adventurous and rugged feel. It’s no surprise then that it’s popular amongst wild swimmers and cliff jumpers.

I prefer this beach over the main Douglas beach for swimming. It’s more secluded and there is less seaweed to contend with. It’s also just a really cool place to hang out in general.

6. Douglas Beach

While Douglas Beach isn’t necessarily my favourite beach on the Isle of Man, it is my local beach. So I certainly spend more time on this one than any other on the island.

Don’t get me wrong; it’s a beautiful beach. Particularly as you make your way to the Southern End, where it’s mostly sandy. I just have a hard time swimming here as there tends to be a lot of seaweed.

We do love to walk our dog here though. There are gorgeous views of the surrounding landscapes, and the tower of refuge makes for an interesting scene.  

7. Dhoon Glen Beach

Alongside our immaculate beaches, we have 18 national glens on the Isle of Man.

One of the most breathtaking glens on the island is Dhoon Glen. With its rugged landscapes and majestic waterfalls, it feels almost tropical and often reminds me of Bali.  

The hike down into the glen can be treacherous and steep at times. But if you don’t mind the challenge, you’ll come out to a beautiful remote bay overlooking the sea.  

This one is a real hidden gem with a fascinating history. It’s believed locals sent packhorses through the glen back in the day to smuggle contraband onto the island.  

8. Point of Ayre Beach

The Point of Ayre is the Isle of Mans most northern point. It’s marked with an iconic looking lighthouse which also happens to be the oldest lighthouse on the island.

This part of the island is pretty remarkable. It’s one of the most remote and unspoiled coastal areas, attracting nesting birds, flying gannets, and plenty of marine life.  

With its gravelly beach and dramatic sea current, it’s not the ideal spot for a beach day or swimming. But for nature and wildlife lovers, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.

9. Kirk Michael Beach

Kirk Michael Beach makes up most of the North-West coastline of the island.

It’s a vast stretch of shingle and sand that gets sandier the closer you get to the water. With this in mind, the best time to visit is when the tide is out.

Being a little bit out of the way, it’s considerably more remote than other more popular beaches on the island. We love this as we often find ourselves alone there.

Our favourite time to come is in the afternoon during the warmer months, as we can catch a few rays and stick around to watch the sunset. Being a west-facing beach, we’ve seen some pretty epic sunsets here.

10. Jurby Beach

Located just south of the Point of Ayre, Jurby Beach is one of the most interesting beaches on the Isle of Man.

There are have been numerous excavations on the beach and around the surrounding area, uncovering Viking artefacts that are now on display in the Manx Museum.  

It’s also the beach where a a fishing boat collided in 1931 and due to adverse weather conditions, they couldn’t salvage the wreck. So now, you can visit the shipwreck during low tide.

11. Port Cornaa

We are heading over to the island’s diverse east coast now, to Port Cornaa Beach.

To experience the beauty of this area in its entirely, I suggest walking through the enchanting Ballaglass Glen to reach Port Cornaa.

Through the glen, you’ll encounter all kinds of natural wonders such as majestic streams and waterfalls, as well as the ruins of historical buildings.

Over the years, storms have caused an enormous barrier of pebbles at Port Cornaa and during high tide, there’s a popular swimming area called the ‘blue lagoon’.  

12. Garwick Beach

At the foot of another coastal glen, this time, Garwick Glen, lie the serene and picturesque Garwick Beach.  

Garwick Beach is unlike any other beach on the Isle of Man – a secluded cove complete with dazzling clear waters and overhanging trees. On a warm day it reminds me of the kind of beach you’d find in Thailand.  

There’s also a cave known as Dirk Haiterick’s Cave that lies behind the beach. It is thought to have been used by smugglers in the 18th century.

13. White Beach (Niarbyl)

Last but by no means least on our list of Isle of Man beaches is Traie Vane – best known as White Beach.

Located on the west coast off Niarbyl Bay, White Beach is another prime spot for astonishing views and unforgettable sunsets. It’s also made up of small white pebbles, which local legend suggests is the currency of the mermaid kingdom.

Local folklore and other interesting facts about the Isle of Man is a whole different story. But regardless of what you believe, White Beach is well worthy of a visit.

Enjoy Our Isle of Man Beaches!

Well, that concludes our list of the best beaches on the Isle of Man. I hope you found it helpful. If you have any questions, please ask. Otherwise, I wish you happy and safe travels.

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