Clypse & Conrhenny

Clypse & Kerrowdhoo Reservoirs | Nature Trails | The Reservoir Trail | The Groudle River Trail | The Upper Groudle River | The Farm Track | The Upland Trail River & Woodland | Birdlife | Fishing Activities | How to get there | Acknowledgements

The area is rich in wildlife with a diversity of semi-natural habitats each supporting their own community of plants and animals.

The reservoirs support a rich variety of flora, invertebrates and birds. Wetland plants including rushes and willows grow on the edges of the reservoirs along with upland plants. Trees have colonised the banks in some places. From May, the grassland by the reservoirs has an attractive variety of wild flowers including common spotted orchid and heath spotted orchid. Many insects, such as stoneflies, mayflies, damselflies and dragonflies start life in the water. They take to the air when they become adults and return to the water to breed. Insects provide food for fish and small birds. Hedges and rivers are important wildlife corridors and home to many native plants and animals. The banks by the river support semi-natural vegetation, particularly in the form of trees. Mosses, ferns and liverworts flourish on the shady riverbanks and wildflowers bring colour in the spring. Gorse, hawthorn, bilberry, blackthorn, rowan and ash grow along the hedge banks by the roadways and these hedges are also excellent for wildflowers, fern and mosses.

Heather moorland is an important habitat for Manx Wildlife and there are large areas near the Creg-ny-Baa back road. Alongside the roadways, river and reservoir there is also evidence of the heath with once dominated the whole area which is now ready for you to explore.

PLEASE DON'T PICK WILDFLOWERS OR DISTURB NESTING BIRDS!

Clypse & Kerrowdhoo Reservoirs

The continual development of the Isle of Man and Douglas in particular, as a tourist destination in the last quarter of the nineteenth century saw the need to provide an additional source of water supply for the town. From the mid 1830's a private water company had existed and they engaged the services of Daniel Cregeen, a local civil engineer, to design a new and larger reservoir on the Groudle River in Onchan. The site chosen was the Clypse and construction was carried out between 1875 and 1878. When completed, the water surface was 6.3 acres, and having a maximum depth of 40 feet, the contents of stored water was approximately 32 million gallons. The flow into the reservoir can be by-passed around the eastern flank by means of a concrete bywash channel should it be necessary to lower the level or even empty the reservoir.

The Kerrowdhoo Reservoir was to follow some years later as the need for further water supplies continued. In the meantime Douglas town Commissioners had purchased the water undertaking in 1890 for £144,000. This new reservoir was located on the down side of the Clypse and was designed by William Fox of London, a former assistant of the eminent dam engineer, G. H. Hill of Manchester. The contractor was Messrs R.H & H Hodgson of Workington with work starting on site about August 1891 and the reservoir being filled by the end of February 1893. This is the larger of the two reservoirs having a surface area of 11.6 acres and a content of 50 million gallons although the maximum depth is the same at 40 feet. The draw off of water is different in Kerrowdhoo through the use of a cast iron tower, access to which is via a steel lattice footbridge which was renewed in 1950.

Both reservoirs continue to play a vital part in the supply of water to the eastern part of the Island and are now administered by the Isle of Man Water Authority which was born out of the amalgamation of the Douglas Corporation Water Department and the Isle of Man Water Board in 1972.

Nature Trails

There are three marked nature trails; The Reservoir Trail, The Groudle River Trial and the Upland Trail. Each have interesting flora and fauna and there are ruined remains of former farms. When the Clypse Reservoir was constructed, the whole of the Clypse-e-Creer farm was purchased and not just the amount of land required to locate the reservoir as was the case many years later with the Kerrowdhoo.

As time went on there was concern for the purity of the water as there was no filtration plant between the reservoir and the consumer. Additional farms were therefore purchased and the farm buildings demolished either in whole or part. This was to prevent the occupation of the fields by animals and any consequential pollution from the effluent produced. There were five farms of which there is now little left to pinpoint their location. The five farms were Clypse-e-Creer, Ennemona, Injaigyn, Little Conrhenny and Honey Hill.

The Reservoir Trail

The reservoirs are rich in wildlife with a diversity of invertebrates, bird and plants. Follow the trail along the west side of Clypse and you will see typical wetland plants at the water's edge such as water mint, spike rush and willow. The grassy areas near the path abound with attractive meadow flowers in summer; yellow rattle, red clover and knapweed are abundant with lousewort, spearwort and cuckoo flower in areas of damp ground. Heath spotted orchid flourishes in the marshy grassland and flowers in June.

There is a wild area with willow, gorse and bramble at the north end of the Clypse. Cross the bridge and walk along the east side of Clypse where in addition to those plants mentioned there is some burnet rose which has pretty creamy white flowers in June/July. At the end of the path you reach the sloping bank of the dam wall which has a rich meadow flora; Yorkshire fog and sweet vernal grass are abundant along with red clover, pignut, yellow rattle, both heath spotted and common spotted orchid, meadow vetchling and eyebright.

Walk through the area planted with trees to Kerrowdhoo. Go through the gate and you will notice a wild area with birch, oak, alder and ash growing naturally near the water's edge before the bridge. Nearby there is marshy grassland with soft rush, marsh thistle, valerian, orchids, angelica and cuckoo flower. Cross the bridge and you will see a number of alder trees. Alder grows well near water. Oak, rowan and elm grow near the path beyond the bridge and wild vegetation with ferns, mosses, liverworts and wildflowers such as lesser celandine, primrose, bluebells and foxglove has colonized the damp shady bank.

Walk along the east side of Kerrowdhoo where there is a hawthorn hedge above the track. The berries and flowers of hawthorn are excellent for wildlife. Some scrub with willows, gorse, bil-berry, bramble, heather, birch and mountain ash has colonized the edges of the reservoir. The plant species by the path include ribwort plantain, pignut, common sorrel, tormentil, common dog violet, bedstraw, wood sage and rosemary willowherb.

Walk along the dam wall at the south end, yellow rattle, orchids, catsear and knapweed are amongst the meadow flora on the bank. On the other side of the reservoir, near the bridge, water horsetail and water mint grow in the water. In the grassy areas nearby there are orchids, cuckoo flower, rushes, silverweed and sorrel.

Return along the west side of Kerrowdhoo where the vegetation is similar to that on the opposite bank.

The Groudle River Trail

Walk north alongside Clypse and follow the path towards the river. There is an area of willows, which have naturally colonized the banks of the river. In spring the silky yellow-grey catkins on male trees appear before the leaves and give this species its nickname "pussy willow". Later, green harder catkins grow on the female trees. European gorse and hawthorn grow on either side of the path leading to the bridge. Ash trees dominate the area by river. Look for ivy and honeysuckle, which attract wildlife. The scent of honeysuckle flowers is the strongest at night attracting pollinating moths. Ivy flowers from September onwards and provides nectar for late-flying butterflies and other insects when little else is in flower. Mosses, ferns and liverworts flourish on the damp banks beside the river.

Many spring flowers grow on the banks taking advantage of the light before the canopy closes in the summer. First in flower is the lesser celandine; from February onwards primroses, greater stichwort, bluebells and wild garlic come into flower. The bluebells found here are native and have narrow leaves. Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage thrives along the river; these small plants carpet the banks with a pale green colour speckled with gold. Follow the path by the edge of the marshy field. Aspen trees have colonized an area on the left of the path; the leaves are borne on small flattened stalks which flutter in the slightest breeze. Rushes including soft rush and sharp-flowered rush thrive in the damp conditions along with sedges, marsh thistle and many wildflowers. The pith of soft rush was used widely in the past to make rushlights and was often the only source of light in small houses.

From the steps you can see across the roadway to an area of broadleaved woodland; there was once a dwelling on this site and you will notice a number of garden species. Montbretia, Spanish bluebells and dotted loosestrife grow near the stile and there is an area of masterwort on the opposite side of the track; masterwort is a rare relic of old herbal use.

Within the woodland you will find fuchsia and daffodils; there is a distinct line of planted beech trees on the far side of the woodland. Over the years the woodland has developed attractive semi-natural characteristics with ash and wych elm, cherry and sycamore. Many other native plants grow in a wild fashion on the ground such as brambles, ivy, nettles, primroses, foxgloves, opposite-leaved golden saxifrage, red campion, sorrel, pignut and cat sear. Broad-leaved woodland is excellent for wildlife supporting wildflowers; ferns, mosses and fungi while many invertebrates live in the ground and rotting vegetation, providing food for small birds and mammals.

Ennemona farm was once in this area but all that remains of this farm is the name, which has continued through the plantation created on the site. The farm was purchased by Douglas Corporation from J.N Oates in 1921 and now nothing is left to tell where the buildings once stood apart from an entrance off the Ennemona Road. The name Ennemona translates from the Manx as "Turfy marsh" but much of the land has become plantation. A walk in this location at any time of the year other than summer confirms the watery appropriateness of its name.

Once you have looked at this area of woodland, follow the roadway north and turn right across the steps and walk up the side of Ennemona plantation. (You can take a shortcut by continuing along the roadway and rejoin the nature trail by the river).

Where the footpath meets the roadway there are one or two walls which are the remains of Little Conrhenny Farm. Although the spelling has changed over the years the translation from the Manx is "ferny ravine" but it relates to a much larger area and the ravine traveling from the Begoade Road towards Groudle.

Turn left and walk along the roadway until you reach Injaigyn Plantation which takes its name from Injaigyn Farm which is situated between the fork of two tributaries to the Groudle River, its Manx name translates to 'a corner'. Only a gateway now exists but Onchan District Commissioners have placed a bench opposite the former farm and have it named it The Injaigyn Seat.

The Upper Groudle River

From here you can take the new footpath which goes down towards the Groudle River. Curlew breed in the marsh fields nearby. Rushes such as sharp flowered rush and soft rush, with sedges and willows thrive in the damp ground near the river. You will see horsetails in places; horsetails are ancient plants, which are known to have grown in swaps over 300 million years ago. Ferns are also ancient plants which grow in the area. Hard fern has distinctive herring bone patterned fronds while scaly male fern, lady fern, broad buckler fern and bracken have the familiar large leafy fronds. Rosebay willow herb, foxgloves, wood sage, sorred, pignut and bugle are some of the plants you will see in the summer along the path.

In wetter areas look for cuckoo flower, heath spotted orchid greater, birdsfoot trefoil and angelica. There are also moorland plants such as heathers, gorse and bilberry. Eventually you reach the Honey Hill Road; turn right and walk along until you see the steps on the left.

The Farm Track

Go over the steps by the gate; this track leads to Clypse-e-Creer Car Park. The track has a traditional Manx sod hedge on either side. Soil and stone were used to make the hedges which make good windbreaks but are not very efficient at keeping livestock in fields.

In the past farmers put hobbles, known as lankets, on animals' legs to prevent them climbing in the hedges. Trenches were often cut alongside to improve the hedges as a barrier. From the late eighteenth century European gorse was planted along with hawthorn to give the hedges additional height and there is plenty of evidence of such planting along this track. You will also notice heathers, bilberry, western gorse and rowan which are upland species.

Modern agricultural methods have reduced the wildlife value of the countryside; many species have been squeezed out but remain along hedges on the margins of farmland. In spring look for lesser celandine, primrose, greater stitchwort, violet, pignut and wood sorrel. Later wood sage, foxglove, tormentil, silverweed, willow herb, sheep's-bit and common sorrel are just some of the plants which come into flower. Ferns and mosses also thrive along the hedge banks.

The rich flora provide food for many invertebrates which in turn support other animals such as small birds, hedgehogs, pygmy shrews and the common lizard. In the past Clypse-e-Creer Farm was located at the entrance to the reservoir complex in what is currently the car park. The name identifies this Clypse Farm as belonging to the family named Creer. This was once a small farm of which only one building now remains in the corner of the site. For many years it was used to store hay for the tram horses who graze in the fields close to the reservoirs. It became redundant when a new steel-framed barn was erected. The farmhouse was of typical Manx appearance and appears in the photograph above.

The Upland Trail River & Woodland

(See the Groudle River Trail)

Heather Moorland

Continue up the track past Injaigyn plantation until you reach the Vreg-ny-Baa Baack Road. You will see heather moorland above the road and along the tracks there is also plenty of evidence of the heath which once dominated the whole area. Residents and visitors treasure the sight of the purple clad hills in late summer.

Extensive tracts of heather moorland only remain in parts of Western Europe, and the heath on the Isle of Man is therefore of particular importance being an internationally rare habitat with diverse wildlife. Heather has been used for fuel, fodder and building materials in the past. The most common types of heather seen are ling and bell heather; bell heather flowers first, it has pinky-purple flowers and the leaves are in whorls around the stem, while ling has mauve flowers and tiny overlapping leaves.

Western gorse is native to the Island and flowers at the same time as the heathers making splashes of yellow and purple. European gorse is non-native and grows into bigger bushes which flower from the beginning of the year to mid-summer. Along the tracks you will see the occasional rowan, which is one of the few trees to survive in the uplands; clusters of white flowers appear in May and the orange berries which follow are irresistible to birds.

When you reach the main road turn left and walk a little way turning left down Honey Hill Road. You soon reach the ruined buildings at Honey Hill with two distinctive monkey-puzzle trees. There are also mature ash and sycamore trees on the site.

Of all the farms Honey Hill has the greatest presence of buildings left today. The farmhouse was demolished but the range of agricultural buildings which has not long been rebuilt by the Alder family are intact except for the roofs and floors. Honey Hill is a name that conjures up thoughts of pleasant carefree Victorian summer days. It is not a traditional name and the origins of its choice have been lost in time.

Continue down the track until you reach the steps on the right and join the Farm Track.

Birdlife

The open water of the reservoirs are excellent for wildfowl.

The mallard breeds along the banks by the waterside; their numbers are boosted by ducks visiting the Island in autumn and winter when teal can also be present. Tufted duck, widgeon and pochard are also regular winter visitors and goldeneye is seen most years. Goosander and smew have occasionally been recorded especially during hard winters. Mallard, widgeon and teal are dabbling ducks; they sieve seed and insect life from water and occasionally "upend" in shallow water to nibble food from the bottom; widgeon also graze by the water's edge.

The other ducks mentioned are diving ducks swimming underwater in search of food such as molluscs, small fish, insects and plants. Moorhen, which feeds on water plants, is a common resident as is their close relative the coot which is seen in winter. The great crested grebe occasionally visits in winter.

The large and distinctive Canada goose sometimes feeds by the reservoirs; this species was introduced to Britain from Canada in the 17th century and is now well established. Gulls are a common sight including herring gull and black-headed gull. Many small bird species such as whitethroat, tree-creeper, sparrow, tit, warbler, wagtail and thrushes live among the hedges, scrub and heath. Curlew and lapwing are found in the marshy fields near the Groudle River in the upland areas.

Other birds in the uplands include the skylark, meadow pipit and wheatear. The hen harrier hunts on moorland and along field margins; the female is brown with a barred tail while the male is grey with black wing tips. The Isle of Man has about 10% of the British hen harrier population.

Fishing Activities

Clypse & Kerrowdhoo reservoirs are part of a group of seven waters, which are available for fresh water fishing.

They are managed by the Island's freshwater fisheries department. All of them, with one exception, are public water supply reservoirs and they vary in both size and character.

Clypse and Kerrowdhoo are more productive than some of the other waters, such as Sulby Reservoir, because they have more abundant and diverse selection of fauna and flora, which reflects on the quality of fishing during the open season.

The fisheries department stocks the waters once a week for a twenty week season starting on 10th March and continuing through to 31st October each year. During these periods, certain sections of the reservoirs are closed to allow fish to acclimatize to their new surroundings. The fish stocked are predominantly rainbow trout and they vary in sizes from 1.25 lbs up to 10 lbs, the record currently being week in excess of ten pounds.

Over 30,000 fish are stocked during the holiday season. Clypse & Kerrowdhoo are retained as "fly fishing only waters"; this only allows the purist anglers to fish. There are regulations for fishing, among them the size of fly and strength of leader that may be used.

Licenses can be obtained at post offices, Onchan District Commissioners and tackle shops. During the season, a variety of techniques have to be employed by the anglers to imitate the conditions and the fauna that the fish are feeding on.

Early in the season, when the water temperature is fairly low, hatches of buzzer fly predominate, making fishing difficult at times with fish feeding exclusively on their preferred morsel. Later on in the spring a variety of insects can be seen including alder fly, stonefly, flying ants, daddy longlegs and mayfly. The fish can be caught by using imitative patterns relating to the fish's feeding habits. These flies can be fished in either the adult or a nymphal stage. The variety of flies which hatch gives an indication of the quality of the water and the surrounding habitat.

Other fish species commonly found in the reservoirs are sticklebacks and freshwater minnows which are seen in thousands, in weeds around the margins, during the summer months. Occasionally trout hunt the shoals of minnows in the shallows, characterized by the sudden bow waves close to the surface; sometimes smaller fish can be seen beaching themselves in an effort to avoid feeding trout. Anglers fish for these with very lurid imitations and when one of these bigger fish is hooked the sport can be fast and furious.

Both reservoirs have areas where the fish prefer to collect. The top narrow section of Kerrowdhoo reservoir is known as the "neck" and the shallow southern section near the embankment is known as the "flats"; each can be productive in fishing terms depending on the time of year and the time of day. Vegetation on the margins of the reservoirs provides attractive shade and overhanging cover for insect and fish alike.

On a still calm summer's evening when the flies are hatching and Clypse and Kerrowdhoo waters are tranquil, trout can be seen rising to the surface. As dusk nears, the last few minutes of the rise are normally the most furious and anglers will often be found arriving for the last few hours of sport.

How to get there

Take the Laxey/Ramsey bus to the Begoade Road stop, then proceed up that road (B20) to the Ennemona Road which takes you into the footpath system. Alternatively, take a Birch Hill Extension Route Bus to Abbeyfields then proceed along the Mountain Road (A18) turn right into the Ballacottier Road and continue up to the Clypse Moar Road to enter the trails at Clypse-e-Creer car park. Please note that the distance from the bus stops to the reservoirs exceeds a mile in each case. For details of bus timetables, please telephone 01624 662525 (Isle of Man Transport)

There are various routed depending upon the point at which you intend to join the walks. All the trails can be accessed via the Mountain Road (A18) as far as the base of the Hillberry Straight then take the Ballacottier Road and Clypse Moar Road to the Clypse-e-Creer car park. The Uplands Trail can be reached by continuing up the Mountain Road then turning into the Creg-ny-Baa Back Road to use either HoneyHill Road or Coarnrhennee Road footpaths. Please park carefully on the Creg-ny-Baa Back Road. The Groudle River Trail can be accessed from the Clypse-e-Creer car park or alternatively drive along the Onchan to Laxey Road (A2) turning into the Begoade Road (B20) at the top of Whitebridge Hill. Continue on the Begoade Road to the Conrhenny Picnic area and car park. You can then walk into the trail via the Little Conrhenny Road.

Acknowledgements

Most of the photographs featured in this section have been taken by the Isle of Man Photographic Society as their contribution towards the Clypse & Conrhenny walks project.

A committee consisting of representatives from the Department of Agriculture; Fisheries and Forestry; Department of Transport; Isle of Man Water Authority; Manx Nature Conservation Trust and Onchan District Commissioners met on a regular basis the committee created a long term plan for the area which to date has resulted in two public footpaths being established complete with the necessary bridges, boardwalks, fencing, tree planting, road signage, public seating, bird hides, interpretation boards, shelters and trail markers.

In addition, Scottish Provident International provided the services of over 150 of their staff on a team building exercise which finalised the work in time for the official opening in September 1998.

Please follow the Country Code when using the Clypse and Conrhenny Walks.