Crown Dependency

Isle of Man

Self-governing Crown Dependency in the middle of the Irish Sea, famed for the TT motorcycle races and the Manx Gaelic language.

Open on the map →
Isle of Man

Part of the Crown Dependency islands map.

Names

Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Mhanainn; Irish: Oileán Mhanann; Welsh: Ynys Manaw; Manx: Mannin; Cornish: Ynys Manow; Scots: Isle o Man; French: Île de Man

Geography

A central upland of slate and shale, with sea cliffs at the Calf of Man and the Sound. The island has its own Manx cat and four-horned Loaghtan sheep.

Geology

Bedrock: Ordovician Rocks (Undifferentiated) (Mudstone, Siltstone And Sandstone), Ordovician–Ordovician. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026, licensed under the BGS Open Data Licence (OGL v3.0). Source: BGS DigMapGB-625 Bedrock & Superficial WMS.

History

Home to Tynwald, often described as the world's oldest continuous parliament (founded c. 979 AD). Norse rule until 1266.

How to reach it

Steam Packet ferries from Heysham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin. Flights into Ronaldsway from many UK and Irish airports.

Accommodation

Full range of hotels, guest houses, hostels and self-catering, with a long Victorian seaside tradition in Douglas.

Nearby and related islands

Last reviewed: 2026-08-13.