Laxey

Laxey is a small and very touristy village on the Isle of Man - its Great Wheel is an icon of the island. Laksaa in Manx means salmon, like the modern Scandinavian and German words, and the river descending steeply from Snaefell has a run of salmon. From the 18th century Laxey was a metal-mining village, as it was possible to drill horizontally into the mountainside - such "adits" are technically easier than vertical "shafts", and much easier to drain. The Great Wheel is the best known of several large waterwheels installed to pump out the mines.

Laxey is also the start of the mountain railway up Snaefell. In 2021 the village population was 1656.

Get in
For flights to Ronaldsway and ferries to Douglas see Isle of Man. Laxey is 7 miles northeast of Douglas along A2.

Bus 3 runs from Douglas, taking 30 min via St Ninians, Onchan and Baldrine, and continues north to Glen Mona and  Ramsey. They're every 30 min M-Sa and every two hours on Sunday.

has electric trams hourly from Douglas Derby Castle mid-March through October, taking 30 min and continuing to Ramsey.

The station is also the start point of Snaefell Mountain Railway, which connects with the trams and takes 30 min to ascend Snaefell.

Throughout the TT fortnight in June, the mountain section A18 is one-way southbound from Ramsey to Creg-ny-Baa approaching Douglas, and cyclists are prohibited. This is apart from the complete closures during races and practice. A2 through Laxey village remains open.

Get around
The village is small enough to walk around.

See

 * is a chambered burial tomb 4000-5000 years old. It's within the garden of a private cottage on Ballaragh Road, but there's free access. King Orry himself is mythical, but is based on the 11th century Godred Crovan, a Norse-Gaelic warrior. He was on the losing side at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, fled to Mann, and somehow attained its kingship. At its zenith his rule stretched around the Irish Sea and Hebrides, but he was ousted from Dublin and died on Islay in 1095. He's probably buried on Iona where the many medieval royal burial plots can no longer be identified.
 * Snaefell Wheel or Lady Evelyn Wheel above the railway station is the survivor of a pair of 50 ft (15.24 m) pumping wheels installed in 1865. They fell into disuse in 1910 and this one worked for a time in Cornwall, but was returned and restored in 2006.
 * is the Isle of Man's highest peak and the only one you'd call a mountain, at 2037 feet / 621 m. As the name indicates, it's the only point where snow is likely to lie in this mild maritime climate. Take a look at the cloud cover before deciding to go up. Most visitors ride the mountain railway to the summit station, where the cafe is open daily. See below for hiking routes.
 * ("Castle of the Heights") is a large chambered burial tomb 4000 years old, on the hill above Glen Mona. It's about 130 ft / 40 m long, oriented east-west, giving its unknown occupants a view of the farmlands below. Its bones of a young man have not been dated, but the pottery shards were typically Neolithic. Some of the stone has been recycled into nearby buildings. The site is free to explore 24 hours.
 * is the Isle of Man's highest peak and the only one you'd call a mountain, at 2037 feet / 621 m. As the name indicates, it's the only point where snow is likely to lie in this mild maritime climate. Take a look at the cloud cover before deciding to go up. Most visitors ride the mountain railway to the summit station, where the cafe is open daily. See below for hiking routes.
 * ("Castle of the Heights") is a large chambered burial tomb 4000 years old, on the hill above Glen Mona. It's about 130 ft / 40 m long, oriented east-west, giving its unknown occupants a view of the farmlands below. Its bones of a young man have not been dated, but the pottery shards were typically Neolithic. Some of the stone has been recycled into nearby buildings. The site is free to explore 24 hours.

Do

 * Laxey beach is below the river outlet and little harbour. It's sandy.
 * Snaefell on foot is usually ascended from The Bungalow on A18 - at 1360 ft this is the highest point on the TT race circuit, and the penultimate stop on the mountain railway. Head straight north up the clear grassy trail, and reckon 30 min to the summit. A 7 km trail ascends from Laxey Wheel and there are several others.
 * Dhoon Glen is accessed by a footpath starting off A2 two miles north of Laxey. It winds down to a sandy beach.
 * Raad ny Foillan coastal path courses from Douglas to Laxey then inland to Dhoon and Glen Mona, with a zigzag to take in Port Cornaa and Cashtal yn Ard.

Buy

 * Coop Food is by the station, open M-Sa 08:00-19:00, Su 09:00-17:00.
 * Laxey Woollen Mills sell knitware Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00.

Eat

 * Laxey Beach Cafe is open daily 09:00-17:00.

Drink

 * Mines Tavern next to the railway station is open daily 12:00-23:00.
 * Queen's Hotel on New Rd midway up the village is open Su-Th 12:00-23:00, F Sa 12:00-00:00.

Sleep

 * Seascape B&B remains closed in 2023.
 * Seascape B&B remains closed in 2023.
 * Seascape B&B remains closed in 2023.
 * Seascape B&B remains closed in 2023.

Connect
Laxey 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 has the most accommodation and visitor amenities.
 * Ramsey to the north is a resort town.