| Raad ny Foillan | |
|---|---|
 Raad ny Foillan sign | |
| Length | 102 mi (164 km) |
| Location | Isle of Man |
| Designation | National Trail |
| Trailheads | Circular: Douglas |
| Use | Hiking |
Raad ny Foillan (Manx for 'The Way of the Gull') is a coastal long-distance footpath in the Isle of Man. Because it is a closed loop around the coast, it can be walked in either a clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction.
Route and history
The Raad ny Foillan starts and finishes at the Millennium Bridge over Douglas Harbour. The path, which is 102 miles (164 km) in length, forms a complete loop around the Manx coast, waymarked with signs showing a gull on a blue background.
The walk was created to mark the Island's "Heritage Year" celebrations in 1986 and generally follows the coast, passing through terrain varying from shingle beaches at the Ayres to over 1,400-foot-high (430 m) hills and cliffs.
The route comprises the following sections:
- Douglas to Castletown, including the Langness peninsula 19.75 miles (31.78 km)
- Castletown to Port St Mary, 6 miles (9.7 km)
- Port St Mary to Port Erin, 7 miles (11 km)
- Port Erin to Peel, 15 miles (24 km) (this section can be shortened by leaving out Bradda Head and the Niarbyl)
- Peel to Kirk Michael, 7.5 miles (12 km)
- Kirk Michael to Jurby, 7 miles (11 km)
- Jurby to Point of Ayre, 8.5 miles (14 km)
- Point of Ayre to Ramsey, 7.5 miles (12.1 km)
- Ramsey to Maughold, 5 miles (8 km)
- Maughold to Laxey, 8 miles (13 km)
- Laxey to Douglas, 10 miles (16 km)
The Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Raad ny Foillan is 21 hours, 21 minutes and 25 seconds, set by Orran Smith(self-supported) in October 2020.
Flora and fauna
The coastal sections may provide sightings of seabirds such as kittiwakes, Manx shearwaters, puffins, guillemots and sea gulls together with grey seals, and at points inland the rare Manx Loaghtan sheep on areas protected by Manx National Heritage.
See also
- The Millennium Way - a 28 miles (45 km) walk between Castletown and Ramsey.
- The Bayr ny Skeddan (English: Herring Road) - a 14 miles (23 km) walk between Castletown and Peel based on the route once used by Manx fishermen.
- The IOM Heritage Trail - a 10.5 miles (16.9 km) walk along disused Isle of Man Railway lines from Douglas to Peel.
- England Coast Path
- Wales Coast Path
- Scottish Coastal Way
References
- "Walking and Wildlife on the Isle of Man - Raad Ny Foillan (Road of the Gulls) - Isle of Man Government -". 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- "Raad Ny Foillan (United Kingdom) | Fastest Known Time". fastestknowntime.com.
- Smith, Rory (15 June 2002). "Leg Man". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2017.