Ramsey

Ramsey is the largest town in the north, built around a harbour on the Sulby river with a long shingle and sand bay running north from it. The Queen's Pier, an iron structure of 1886 running over six hundred metres out to sea, closed in 1990 and is under slow restoration by a volunteer trust, which reopened the first three restored bays in July 2021. Mooragh Park with its boating lake sits behind the northern beach, and the electric railway terminates in the town.

History

The name comes from the Old Norse hrams-á, "wild garlic river", after the plant called ramsons. The town is also known as "Royal Ramsey" after visits by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1847 and by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902 (Wikipedia, Ramsey, Isle of Man).

The main sights

• The Queen's Pier - the 1886 iron pier running over six hundred metres to sea.
• Mooragh Park - the Victorian park and boating lake behind the north beach.
• The harbour - the working port on the Sulby river at the town centre.
• The railway terminus - the northern end of the Manx Electric Railway.

When to go

April to September for the park and beach. The electric railway does not run in deep winter. The town is quiet out of season.

What to expect

Only the first restored bays of the Queen's Pier have reopened, so its full length cannot be walked. Parts of the town centre are struggling and shopfronts are empty. The beach is shingle in long stretches.

Nearby

Milntown Estate is south, and Point of Ayre is north.

Key facts