Travel Guide > Europe > Isle of Man
Just a stone's throw from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, the Isle of Man occupies a mighty 227 square miles in the Irish Sea. Though awfully close to its larger neighbours, the island kingdom is unique. It boasts the world's oldest continuous parliament, Tynwald, a relic of the island's Scandinavian influence. A further sign of the island’s proud heritage is the revival of Manx, a local form of Gaelic which died away in the 18th century.
For the traveller, the Isle of Man is culturally fascinating. The fact that almost half of the island is unpopulated also adds to the appeal, as vast stretches of open countryside offer wonderful opportunities for avid walkers. For those less inclined to use their legs quite so much, the harbour-side capital of Douglas is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway.
Like the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man is not part of the UK, nor of the European Union. It is a Crown Dependency of the UK. The UK is responsible for its defence and external relations.
The Isle of Man is divided into six administrative districts, called sheadings.
As well as the main island of Man itself, several small islands are included in the Isle of Man. These are the Calf of Man, Chicken Rock and St Patrick's Isle.
Manx2 is an airline which has its base on the Isle of Man international airport (IOM). It has flights to Blackpool, Leeds, Jersey, Nottingham, Gloucester and Belfast. Aer Arann has connections with Dublin and Eastern Airways with Birmingham and Newcastle. EuroManx, based on the Isle of Man, flies to and from Liverpool, Manchester and Belfast.
This is version 11. Last edited at 11:23 on May 2, 08 by Peter (+609). 7 articles link to this page.
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