St Michael's Isle

St Michael's Isle, generally called Fort Island, is a low grassy islet joined to the Langness peninsula by a causeway, and it holds two structures: a roofless chapel of the twelfth century built of local stone, and Derby Fort, a circular gun battery raised in the 1640s during the English Civil War to cover the approaches to Castletown. Both are open ground with no ticketing. Seals haul out on the rocks and the exposure is total.

Background

In Manx the island is called Ellan Noo Mael or Ynnys Vaayl. It lies in Malew parish, covers 5.14 hectares and runs about 400 metres from west to east, joined by a narrow causeway to the Langness Peninsula near Derbyhaven. The rock is slate and the soil strongly acidic, yet it supports important communities of maritime plants. People have used the island since the Mesolithic period. The chapel on the south side is named as Kirk Michael in a record of the Rushen Abbey boundaries compiled around 1376. The fort at the eastern end began as work by Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby, and was upgraded in 1645 by the 7th Earl to protect the port of Derbyhaven.

Source: Wikipedia, "St Michael's Isle"

The main sights

• The twelfth-century chapel - a roofless stone building on the open islet.
• Derby Fort - the circular gun battery of the 1640s covering the approach.
• The causeway - the link across from the Langness peninsula.
• The seals - the animals hauling out on the rocks around the islet.

When to go

April to October is best for conditions. The causeway is exposed and can be washed over in storms. Winds here are constant.

Practical notes

The islet is entirely exposed with no shelter of any kind. Both structures are open ruins with minimal interpretation. Access can be cut in bad weather.

Nearby

Langness Peninsula is beside it, and Castletown is northwest.