Upcoming Walks
21st September 2019 - Plants & Flowers at Langness
Join us on Langness to discover the plants and flowers growing on the peninsula and its salt marshes, including their edibility and uses.
The Langness Peninsula is located in the south of the island, close to Castletown. The walk will take us around the peninsula, with an optional visit to its salt marsh habitat, which is unique on the island.
We will hope to see a wide variety of plants on this walk, including the island's native Ragwort (or Cushag), Devil's Bit Scabious and some rare salt marsh plants such as Sea Aster and Marsh Samphire.
The footpaths around the peninsula are flat and well-maintained and should be easy for most walkers. The salt marshes can be more difficult to navigate, but you will not be required to walk through them.
As usual, please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions. Waterproof footwear is advisable if you wish to visit the salt marshes.
The start time for this event is 2pm.
25th September 2019 - Wildflower Walk around Conrhenny Plantation
To celebrate the release of a new book – Isle of Man Wildflower Walks – author Simon Smart, who runs Wildflowers of the Isle of Man, leads a walk around the beautiful Conrhenny Plantation to talk about the Island's plants and flowers, including some rare species.
The walk begins from Conrhenny Plantation car park and proceeds through the plantation, looking at the plants and flowers to be found along the way and their uses, with species hopefully to include Lady's Mantle and Woundworts.
The footpaths are wide and well-maintained and should be easy for most walkers, but please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions.
Past Walks
29th June 2019 - Wildflower Walk at Niarbyl
This walk will begin from the Niarbyl Cafe car park and follow the cliff path to White Beach, identifying plants along the way.
As well as being one of the island's most spectacular locations, Niarbyl is also home to a surprising variety of wild plants. We'll identify as many as possible, along with their edibility and uses.
The cliff paths can be narrow and steep in places. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions.We can expect to see many different plans on this walk, including orchids, wild thyme, hemp agrimony, tree mallow and sea sandwort.
The start time for this event is 2pm.
16th June 2019 - Wildflower Walk at Port Soderick
Port Soderick offers a diverse range of habitats for plants and flowers in a small area, including coastal plants near the beach and both woodland and wetland plants in the glen.
Port Soderick has recently reopened after works on its footpaths. Unfortunately this has caused damage to some of the wetland area, but it it still well worth visiting.
One this walk we can expect to see many common woodland and coastal plants, along with some rarer specimens such as Ragged Robin, Water Crowfoot and the edible Salmonberry which is very rarely seen outside this area.
The footpaths are in good condition and should be easy for most walkers, but please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions.
The start time for this event is 2pm.
2nd June 2019 - Wildflower Walk at Scarlett Point
Scarlett point is a unique habitat for wildflowers on the island. Its alkaline soil means that plants grow here that can’t be found anywhere else on the island, and some that are rare throughout Britain. On this walk we will hope to see the rare Purple Milk Vetch, as well as Bogbean which is rarely seen outside of the Curraghs. Several edible plants can also be found here, including Sea Beet and Rock Samphire.
5th May 2019 - Wildflower Walk at Clypse and Kerrowdhoo
Situated not far from Douglas, the area surrounding the Clypse and Kerrowdhoo reservoirs is home to a wide variety of wildflowers.
On this walk we'll hope to see Common Bugle, speedwells, horsetail and many others, perhaps including some early orchids.
19th May 2019 - Wildflowers and Wallabies
Please be aware that the road to the wildlife reserve is in very poor condition. It is passable with care but very badly potholed and may need to be navigated carefully.
The wallabies are wild animals and seeing them is very likely but not guaranteed, especially with a large group.
The Curraghs is home to some rare flowers, including the spectacular Bogbean which is rarely seen anywhere else on the island. We'll also hope to see water mint, yellow iris, horsetails, ragged robin and many others.
14th July 2019 - Plants & Flowers at The Raggatt & River Neb
Join us at the Raggatt to discover the plants and flowers growing along the banks of the River Neb, along with their edibility and uses.
The Raggatt is located on Glenfaba Road near Peel. The walk will take us through The Raggatt and along the old railway line towards St John's.
The Raggatt is home to a wide variety of flowers, and is one of the best places on the island to find Dame's Violet. We will also hope to see many others, including Himalayan Balsam and wild orchids, as well as edible plants such as Garlic Mustard and Elder.
The footpaths are flat and well-maintained and should be easy for most walkers, but please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions.
The start time for this event is 2pm.
28th July 2019 - Plants & Flowers at Glen Maye
Join us for a walk in the spectacular Glen Maye, to learn about its plants and flowers, including some that are only found at Glen Maye.
This walk starts at the Waterfall Glen car park and will take us down through the glen to the shore, returning via the cliff path where some rare species can be found. We will identify the plants and flowers growing along the way, along with their edibility and uses.
Glen Maye is known for being home to rare flowers, including some microspecies that are only found in this area, along with the rare Wood Vetch that cannot be found anywhere else on the island. We'll also hope to see a wide variety of other plants, including Common Valerian, Restharrow, Meadowsweet and many others.
The footpath through the glen should be easy for most walkers, but can be slippery in some places so please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions. The cliff paths are steeper so some may prefer to return through the glen.
The start time for this event is 2pm.
11th August 2019 - Plants & Flowers at The Ayres
Join us for a walk through the unique habitat of the Ayres to discover the plants and flowers in the area, along with their uses.
The Ayres Visitor Centre is located among the sand dunes in the far north of the island. The walk will take us through the dunes to the Ayres Plantation.
Along the way we will hope to see many plants that are unusual on the island, including Sea Holly, Pyramidal Orchids and Springbeauty.
The footpaths in this area are very wide and flat, making it easy going for most walkers. As usual, please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions.
The start time for this event is 2pm.
25th August 2019 - Plants & Flowers at Conrhenny Plantation
Join us at Conrhenny Plantation to discover the plants and flowers in the area, including their edibility and uses.
Conrhenny Plantation is located close to Douglas and is home to a surprising variety of wild plants, including some rare and protected species. The walk will take us on a circuit of the plantation, beginning and ending at the car park.
Along the way we will hope to see many interesting plants, including the rare Greater Spearwort, Redcurrant, Lady's Mantle and Woundworts.
The footpaths are wide and well-maintained and should be easy for most walkers, but please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions.
The start time for this event is 2pm.
8th September 2019 - Plants & Flowers at Port Mooar
Join us at Port Mooar to discover the plants and flowers growing along the shore and coastal path, along with their edibility and uses.
Port Mooar is located in Maughold in the north of the island. The walk will take us along the coastal path towards Maughold Head.
On this walk we'll hope to see many different plants, including bindweeds, willowherbs and the Manx variety of harebell.
The coastal paths can be narrow in places. As usual, please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions.
The start time for this event is 2pm.