The Isle of Man is something of an oddity amongst the pantheon of islands and inhabited regions of Britain. Neither uniquely Irish nor English, the island and its people have embraced their own cultural identity, often referring to themselves as Manx. Visiting the island, one may come under the immediate impression that it is a destination caught in a temporal rift. The island simultaneously maintains its appeal as a destination for walkers and nature lovers, harbouring a lot of charm in its coastal settlements which have not changed much in the last century, whilst its status as a tax haven continues to attract a growing raft of international companies and start-ups, that is reshaping the island’s identity.
Governed by the 1,000-year-old Tynwald, the world’s oldest continuous parliament, the Isle of Man occupies a constitutional middle ground. It is not part of the United Kingdom but a British Crown Dependency, loyal to the King, yet legally autonomous. Though quite small in size at just 33 miles long and 13 wide, The Isle of Man is steeped in Norse and Celtic history and surrounded by sea mist and rugged cliffs. It is one of the most distinctive locations within the British Isles, yet remains almost entirely separate from the rest of the territory.
Between the Mountain and the Sea
Steep cliffs dominate the west coast of the island, dropping dramatically into sea-carved inlets whilst the south is home to sweeping bays and the island’s chief settlement, Douglas. Further inland, low-lying glens and ancient oak woodlands give way to rising moorland ridges and heather-covered peaks. Snaefell is the island’s tallest mountain at just over 2,000 feet. On clear days, visitors who hike or take the winding open-air mountain railway to the summit are rewarded with a view of all nations that make up the British Isles.
Much of the landscape remains uncultivated, save for sheep grazing freely across upland fields. The more rugged and wild nature of the island is a big draw for cyclists and walkers, following old railway paths and Victorian carriageways that loop through glens, across stone bridges, and bring them teasingly close to cascading waterfalls. It's possible to drive around the island in around an hour depending on traffic, with the road up to Snaefell being particularly exhilarating for some thanks to the lack of speed restrictions, which draws no shortage of motoring enthusiasts who wish to experience the thrill of ascending the mountain and take in the sweeping views, in record time.
The Manx Spirit
The Isle of Man has never fully aligned itself with any of its neighbours. Its culture is a curious blend of Celtic roots that resisted Roman occupation for centuries before ultimately being conquered and permanently settled by the Vikings, who established the Tynwald and remained on the island for the next 500 years. At that time, the Manx language, a close cousin of Irish Gaelic, endured the occupation, but after being sold to the Scottish and successfully conquered by the English, the language had all but vanished by the mid-20th century.
In recent decades, Manx has seen a quiet revival, with road signs now bilingual and Manx being taught in local schools. Events like Tynwald Day (a national holiday on July 5th) are marked with ceremonies and rituals stretching back to the medieval period. The island is more easily recognised as the destination for the terrifying Isle of Man TT races, drawing thousands of international visitors each June to witness high-speed motorcycles navigate a race course that is composed of ordinary roads that circumvent the entire island.
Supercharged motorbikes race at speeds of up to 200 mph as residents and visitors watch on from their front gardens or along humble roadside walls, completely exposed without the protection of crash barriers. Held over two weeks in late May to early June, such a dangerous race is the last of its kind anywhere within the Northern Hemisphere, where fatalities are not uncommon each year amongst both riders and the crowd. But the sense of freedom, wild nature and independence of events like the TT perfectly encapsulate the spirit of the island and its people. To outsiders, much of life here may indeed feel like it belongs to a bygone age, but to the natives, it is their identity and has not changed despite centuries of outside influences.
Life on the Island
Though it sits just a short ferry ride or flight from both Liverpool and Belfast, the Isle of Man often flies under the radar of British property buyers, yet it remains an attractive prospect. With zero capital gains tax, no inheritance tax and low corporate rates, it has experienced a small but significant boom in popularity over the last decade. Unlike the Channel Islands, it does not impose housing permit systems, and ownership is open to non-residents which helps broaden its international appeal even further.
Whilst much has been mentioned already of the island’s stunning natural beauty, the communities are an eclectic mix of rustic villages and charming Victorian seaside towns, without any urban sprawl or density anywhere to be found. Transport links across the island combine heritage railways and trams with more modern buses and routes. Air links from Ronaldsway Airport provide regular service to London, Manchester and Dublin, with even a few flights to further abroad in continental Europe, leaving each day, as the island’s appeal continues to expand across the globe.
Market Potential and A Unique Proposition
Properties on the island range from Victorian villas overlooking the seafront in Douglas, to restored farmhouses tucked into coastal hills near Peel or Castletown, as well as an interesting array of larger estates that change hands every few decades around the island. One such property is the bountiful estate at Araggon Moor. Stretching out over more than 22,000 square feet, the home is a marvel of Palladian architecture and design, encapsulated perfectly by the soaring 32-foot atrium, with a galleried first floor that sets the tone as soon as one sets foot in the residence.
Boasting a cinema room, a photography studio, a magnificent private spa and pool complex, formal rooms, and a total of six bedrooms and five bathrooms, it is a residence that offers every comfort within the private confines of a beautiful seaward-facing estate. Outside, the grounds feature formal English parterre gardens, an orangery, rockery, pond and an eight-car garage. Three self-contained cottages with en-suite bedrooms round out the estate’s inventory, at what is surely one of the island’s most characterful homes.
Whilst the Isle of Man holds many financial incentives to prompt a move to its shores, its sheer wild and untamed beauty is irresistible. For those who move, the charm of the more secluded and sheltered nature of island life is the perfect tonic to escape the fast-paced nature of inner-city living and provides a brilliant alternative to the increasingly popular British countryside. The Isle of Man is unashamedly different from any other part of the British Isles but offers something wholly unique in return.
