Gansey to Niarbyl
The walk from Gansey on the south coast to Niarbyl in the south west measures a coastal distance of approximately 17 miles and passes through the coastal towns of Port St Mary and Port Erin.
| Waypoints | |
|---|---|
| Gansey Point | WP1: SC 215 681 |
| Perwick Bay | WP2: SC 207 671 |
| Chasms | WP3: SC 192 664 |
| Spanish Head | WP4: SC 182 659 |
| The Sound | WP5: SC 173 667 |
| Port Erin Harbour | WP6: SC 189 690 |
| Bradda Head | WP7: SC 185 698 |
| Fleshwick Bay | WP8: SC 201 713 |
| Cronk Ny Arrey Laa | WP9: SC 224 747 |
| Niarbyl Visitor Centre | WP10: SC 213 777 |
Waypoint markers
The waypoints supplied above are for information only and should not be used for navigation purposes without consulting the relevant maps.
Maps
The maps supplied (see downloadable documents) are intended as a visual guide only and not as a navigational aid. OS 25,000 Isle of Man official guide maps are also supplied as a downloadable file.
Marine wildlife
Sea birds
Important breeding densities of fulmar, shag, peregrine, kittiwake, gulls, guillemot, razorbill, chough and raven are found along the cliffs and rocky coast around the Chasms, Calf of Man, Bradda Head and Fleshwick and guillemots and razorbills form rafts on the sea. Gannets are frequently seen diving offshore for food between March and October.
Seals
Seals gather in large groups on rocks around the Calf and Kitterland to rest, breed and give birth. They are more sensitive to disturbance between September and November during their breeding season, especially when they have young.
Basking sharks
Every summer, from May until September the Isle of Man is a hotspot for basking sharks. Keep a look out for basking sharks all around the Island. You may see their huge dorsal fin but they often swim just below the surface too. If one is visible, others may be close by.
Porpoises, dolphins and whales
Porpoises can be seen all year round and are more sensitive to disturbance in the summer months when they have young. Risso’s dolphins are sighted along the east coast in spring and the south coast in autumn, often in groups. Bottlenose dolphins are less common but groups of 200 individuals have been seen.
Minke whales are sighted along the east coast in autumn and along the west coast in summer. They grow up to 10 metres in length and occasionally jump clear of the water so keep your distance. Other species of whales and dolphins are also seen around the coast.
Safe bathing and no wake zones/harbour areas
Port Erin
No Wake/Harbour Area: The No Wake Zone is bounded by the line of the old breakwater to the Green Buoy, and a line from that buoy to the Yellow Buoy off the Raglan Pier to the end of the Harbour Slipway.
Safe Bathing Area: The Safe Bathing Area is shoreward of a line joining the Harbour Slip, the Yellow Buoy and the dome on Collinson House.
