Land and Sea - Thalloo as Keayn

At the southern end of the Meayll peninsula lies the stretch of water known as the Sound. It separates the main Island from Kitterland and the Calf of Man. This is a fascinating part of the Isle of Man, rich in wildlife and dramatic history.

The Calf of Man is a 250-hectare island lying off the southwestern tip of the Isle of Man. The Norsemen called it kalfr, meaning a small island near to a large one. In Manx it is Yn Cholloo. Encircled by precipitous cliffs, the Calf is isolated from the main Island by a swirling tidal race, the Sound (Yn Cheyllys).

Once a refuge for Christian monks and hermits, the Calf was farmed intermittently for several centuries, the principal livestock being sheep. During the 18th and 19th centuries there were several hundred animals together with five or six families, latterly including lighthouse keepers, resident on the Calf. Now it is a bird observatory and nature reserve.

Please see the Visitor Information page for details of opening hours.