Peel (Isle of Man)

Peel (Manx: Purt ny h-Inshey – Port of the Island) is a small fishing port and beach resort on the west coast of the Isle of Man. Its main attraction is the castle, occupying an islet linked by road. In 2021 Peel had a population of 5710.

Get in

Peel is 12 miles by road from Douglas, the capital and ferry port, follow A1 west.

Bus 6 is the quickest from Douglas, running hourly daily and taking 35 min via Union Mills and St Johns.

Bus 4 / 4B runs from Douglas every two hours, taking an hour via Foxdale.

Bus 5 runs from Douglas every hour or two and takes 45 min, then turns east across the island to Ramsey, another 35 min.

Night Bus N5 runs from Douglas shortly after Friday midnight.

The main bus stop in Peel is by Town Hall.

Get around

Peel is small and walkable. The bus to Douglas will take you to Tynwald, but you need your own wheels for Niarbyl.

Anne's Taxis are on +44 1624 843799.

See
  • 🌍 Peel Castle (Cashtal Phurt Ny h-inshey), West Quay IM5 1TB, ☏ +44 1624 648050. Apr-Oct daily 11:00-15:00. This occupies St Patrick's Isle, a tidal islet now connected to town by road. There was settlement here from the Bronze Age, and a monastic community possibly visited by St Patrick, and in the 11th century the Norwegians fortified this obvious defensive position. The impressive red sandstone curtain wall was built in the 14th century, while the church / cathedral remained in use - the round tower was probably its free-standing belfry. Fortifications continued to 1860, but the site within the walls is mostly open. The cathedral fell derelict in the 18th century; the other main ruins are of the Governor's residence. Adult £9, child free. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 🌍 Peel Lighthouse is the harbour light at the end of the breakwater, built in 1896. You can walk or drive here via West Quay, which skirts the castle walls, for views back over town.
  • Castle Jetty is a little pier along West Quay, with a stubby green-hooped harbour light built in 1946, looking like a dalek trying on a Celtic football shirt but failing to find its size.
  • East Quay on the other river bank has the best vista of the castle. Fenella footbridge is the shortcut to West Quay.
  • 🌍 Leece Museum, Old Courthouse, East Quay IM5 1AR, ☏ +44 1624 845366. Tu-Sa 10:00-16:30. Small museum of local history, mostly about motorbikes. Free. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 🌍 St Peters is a ruin on Castle St. It was built in the 15th century as a "chapel of ease" - the one you used if you couldn't reach the island cathedral - and when that fell derelict St Peters became the parish church. It was abandoned once the new cathedral opened, and most of it was lost to fire in 1954.
  • 🌍 House of Manannan (Thie Vanannan), Mill Road IM5 1TA, ☏ +44 1624 648090. Daily 09:30-16:30. Excellent museum recounting prehistoric, Celtic and Viking eras, and the background to Manx nationhood. Adult £13, child free. (updated Apr 2023)
  • Isle Contemporary Art Gallery is on Mill Rd opposite House of Manannan, open W-F 14:00-17:00, Sa 11:00-17:00.
  • 🌍 Manx Transport Heritage Museum, Brickworks Office, Mill Road IM5 1TB, ☏ +44 1624 842448. Apr-Sept Sa Su 13:00-17:00. Small but absorbing museum. Its tiny highlight is the Peel P50, once the world's smallest road-legal car, manufactured in Peel in the 1960s. Free. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 🌍 Cathedral Isle of Man (Saint German's Cathedral), Derby Rd IM5 1HH, ☏ +44 1624 844830. A fine Gothic Revival church built in 1879-84, over a century after the castle cathedral fell into ruin. St German of Man (410-474) was a Celtic missionary; his pattern day is 13 July. It's the senior Anglican church of Sodor and Man, rebranded as Cathedral Isle of Man in 2015. (updated Apr 2023)

Further out
  • 🌍 Tynwald Hill was the original site of the island parliament, in the hamlet of St John's. On Tynwald Day 5 July (corresponding to midsummer day by the Julian calendar) crowds gather to hear all new legislation proclaimed in Manx and English, and there's a fair.
  • Tynwald Arboretum is a bosky park north side of Tynwald Hill.
  • 🌍 Niarbyl is a scenic promontory and shingle beach. The "Japetus Suture" is visible here: the opposite of a fault line, this is where the continents of Laurentica and Baltica fused 420 million years ago as Japetus Ocean closed up. The thatched fisherman's cottage has featured as a film location.

Do
  • Peel beach is one of the best on the island, long and sandy with views of the castle. No dogs April-Sept.
  • Centenary Centre hosts shows and events. It's at 22 Atholl St by the Town hall and cathedral.
  • West Coast Fitness is east off Poortown Rd. They have a gym and fitness classes, with day-membership available.
  • Hike: Raad ny Foillan is a coastal footpath right around the island. Southbound it's 15 miles to Port Erin, a little shorter if you skip Niarbyl and Bradda Head. Northbound is 7½ miles to Kirk Michael then another 7 to Jurby.
  • Golf: Peel GC is on Rheast Lane south edge of town. White tees 5919 yards, par 69, visitor round £35.
  • Viking Longboat Races are in July, with the next on Sa 22 July 2023.
  • Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering is a music festival based in Peel. The next is 24-30 July 2023.

Buy
  • Convenience stores are Shoprite (two branches), Co-op Food and Spar, all open daily to 21:00.

Eat
  • Manx Kippers are a local delicacy. Moore's is a smokehouse on Mill Rd next to the Transport Museum, offering hot food to go, collections from the shop and mail order. They no longer offer factory tours.
  • Quayside Fish & Chips is next to the Leece Museum, open M-Sa 11:30-14:00, 16:30-21:00.
  • 🌍 Marine Hotel, Shore Rd IM5 1AH, ☏ +44 1624 842337. M-Sa 12:00-21:00, Su 12:00-18:00. Popular place for trad pub grub on the seafront. They no longer have rooms. (updated Apr 2023)
  • Harbour Lights Cafe, Shore Rd IM5 1AH (seafront opposite Marine Hotel), ☏ +44 1624 843543. W Th Su 10:00-17:00, F Sa 10:00-21:00. Good menu selection and portions. Dog-friendly. (updated Apr 2023)
  • Davison's Ice Cream Parlour is on Shore Rd next to Harbour Lights, open daily 10:00-16:30.
  • The Boatyard, East Quay IM5 1AR, ☏ +44 1624 845470. W-Sa 12:00-13:45, 17:30-20:45, Su 12:00-15:45. Bright cheerful seafood place by the harbour. (updated Apr 2023)
  • Black Dog Oven is a pizzeria on East Quay next to The Boatyard, open Th F 16:00-23:00, Sa 12:00-23:00, Su 12:00-21:00.
  • Dining by Chris Franklin, East Quay IM5 1AR (by House of Manannan), ☏ +44 7624 431146. W-F 17:00-21:00, Sa 10:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00, Su 12:00-17:30. Casual fine dining with Sunday lunches. (updated Apr 2023)
  • Royal India, 6 Atholl Place IM5 1HE (by Town Hall and cathedral), ☏ +44 1624 845678. Tu-Su 17:00-23:00. Great reviews for their Indian cuisine. (updated Apr 2023)

Drink
  • The Central, 12 Castle St IM5 1AN, ☏ +44 1624 844143. W-Su 18:00-00:00. Sound trad pub with food. (updated Apr 2023)
  • White House Hotel, 2 Tynwald Rd IM5 1JZ (south side of cathedral), ☏ +44 1624 842252. M Tu 13:00-00:00, W-Su 12:00-00:00. Grand atmospheric traditional pub. (updated Apr 2023)
  • The Creek Inn, 14 Lake Lane IM5 1AT (opposite House of Manannan), ☏ +44 1624 842216. Daily 12:00-00:00. Friendly pub with good food. (updated Apr 2023)
  • The Miller's T'Ale is at 33 Michael St towards Town Hall, open M-Th 17:00-22:30, F-Su 16:00-22:30.

Sleep

Connect

Peel 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 is the island transport hub and has the most amenities.
  • Ramsey is a resort on the east coast. See that page also for the north end of the island to Point of Ayre.
  • Port Erin on the southwest coast has boat trips to the Calf of Man.
Routes through Peel
merges with ←  W  E  → St John's → Douglas



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