Castletown

Castletown (in Manx Balley Chashtal) is a fishing port in the south of the Isle of Man. For some 800 years it was the island's capital, but in the 19th century government functions moved away to Douglas. Last to migrate was Tynwald, the parliament, in 1874. In 2021 Castletown had a population of 3026.

Get in
is at Ronaldsway, two miles north of Castletown, with year-round flights from the UK and Dublin.

Buses 1, 2 and 11 each run hourly from Douglas to the airport, Castletown (30 min), Port Erin and Port St Mary, so collectively the service is every 20 min. The last bus is around 21:00, with a night bus N1 just after Friday midnight.

is on the IOM Steam Railway, which operates mid-March to end of October. Four trains a day take 40 min from Douglas, and continue to Colby, Port St Mary and Port Erin.

Get around
Town is compact and walkable. The buses run past the motorcycle museum, aviation museum, Ballasalla (for Rushden Abbey and Silverdale Glen) and Balladoole. You need your own wheels for Langness Peninsula.

Taxis are based at the airport, the town operator has folded.

See

 * Old town around the castle is Georgian / Victorian. Old St Mary's, the original Anglican church on Market Square, is nowadays offices.
 * St Mary's on the Harbour is the replacement church, at 9 Hope St. It was opened in 1838 as a school. By 1980 it was the parish hall and in 1989 it was consecrated.
 * St Mary's on the Harbour is the replacement church, at 9 Hope St. It was opened in 1838 as a school. By 1980 it was the parish hall and in 1989 it was consecrated.
 * is about 45 ft in diameter and 6 ft high. It's not been excavated but is probably a Viking pagan burial mound of the 9th / 10th century.
 * St Mary's & St Columba's is the RC church, at 24 Bowling Green Rd. It's small and plain.
 * Derbyhaven is tucked away on the coast east of the airport. It was a significant port into the 18th century, with guns on Fort Island to protect it. It's nowadays just a neighbourhood of Castletown and you only come this way to join the road onto Langness Peninsula.
 * Derbyhaven is tucked away on the coast east of the airport. It was a significant port into the 18th century, with guns on Fort Island to protect it. It's nowadays just a neighbourhood of Castletown and you only come this way to join the road onto Langness Peninsula.
 * Derbyhaven is tucked away on the coast east of the airport. It was a significant port into the 18th century, with guns on Fort Island to protect it. It's nowadays just a neighbourhood of Castletown and you only come this way to join the road onto Langness Peninsula.
 * is a daymark near the south tip of the peninsula. Dreswick Point, with a lighthouse, is the most southerly point on IOM main island.
 * or St Michael's Island is a bird sanctuary connected by road to Langness Peninsula. Ruins here are Derby Fort (an artillery position built in 1645), and St Michael's Chapel from the 12th century.
 * is an archaeological site on a hilltop west of Castletown with millennia of use. It was first excavated in 1944 / 45 by Gerhard Bersu, a German archaeologist interned on IOM during wartime. Elements include a Bronze Age cist, an Iron Age hillfort, Keeill Vael an early Celtic chapel, and a Viking boat burial. The area is free to explore 24 hours.
 * is a genteel parkland and recreational area above Rushen Abbey, owned by the Manx National Trust. There's a boating lake and bosky footpaths.
 * is a genteel parkland and recreational area above Rushen Abbey, owned by the Manx National Trust. There's a boating lake and bosky footpaths.

Do

 * Golf: Castletown Golf Links are on Langness Peninsula near the causeway to St Michael's Island. White tees 6431 yards, par 72.
 * Southern Agricultural Show is late July, half a mile south of Fairy Bridge. The next is 27-28 July 2024.

Buy
The town only has a couple of convenience stores, Coop Food on The Parade by the castle, and Shoprite at 11 Arbory St.

Drink

 * The Sidings is at the railway station, open Su-Th 11:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-00:00.
 * The Sidings is at the railway station, open Su-Th 11:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-00:00.

Sleep

 * Knock Rushen House is a B&B south edge of town near the mound.
 * Knock Rushen House is a B&B south edge of town near the mound.

Stay safe
Usual caution over traffic and safeguarding valuables.

Connect
Castletown and its approach roads have 4G from Sure and Manx. As of April 2023, 5G has not rolled out on the Isle of Man.

Go next

 * Douglas the capital is the island's transport hub and has the main concentration of sights.
 * Port St Mary is a small harbour. Boat trips sail to the Calf of Man.