Silverdale Glen walk - Walks Around Britain

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Walks from Season Three - Silverdale Glen
A walk from the Isle of Man Steam Railway station of Ballasalla, past the ruins of a medieval abbey and through one of the most green and secluded glens on the island.

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Welcome to Walks Around Britain
Walk Info
Distance
2 miles (3.2km)
Minimum time
1½ hours
Total ascent
ft (m)
Level of difficulty
Easy
Paths
Public footpaths and road walking
3 gates
Map
Start/finish
Grid SC 28161 69892
Dogs?
Keep on leads
Parking      
Ballasalla Railway Station
Public Transport
Isle of Man Steam Railway to Ballasalla - 4C Bus from the end to Ballasalla or Douglas
Toilets/Refreshments
At the Silverdale Glen Tearooms en route
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Route Directions

  • The walk starts at Ballasalla Railway Station.  Leave the station and turn right along the A5 Station Road.  At the pelican crossing, cross over the road and turn right.

  • At the mini roundabout, continue to walk straight on – which is now called Main Road, as the A5 turns to the right.

  • At the next mini roundabout, follow the road around to the left – this is now Mill Road.

  • If you want to discover the church of St Mary the Virgin, the Abbey Church, then carefully cross over the road here using the crossing points.  The foundation stone was laid in 1895, and the church is usually open and is lovely inside.

  • Once you’ve finished at the church, turn right to continue to follow Mill Road away from the second mini roundabout.  You may wish to cross back over to the other side of the road, as there isn’t a pavement on the church side further along Mill Road.

  • Just after Mill Road goes over the river Silver Burn by a bridge, there’s a road off to the right with a sign for the entrance to Rushen Abbey.  If you’ve crossed over the road for the pavement, cross back and turn right down this road.

  • Rushen Abbey is well worth a look around.  It was founded in 1134, and is now a ruin, after the dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.  The abbey is now a heritage centre, part of “The Story of Mann”, a collection of attractions based around the heritage, culture and history of the island, owned by Manx National Heritage.

  • After looking around the abbey, turn left, and walk along the access road to the car park at the back of the abbey.  Walk up to the road - which crosses Silver Burn on the right via a ford - and cross the road to walk straight ahead down the road marked with a “No Through Road” sign.

  • Continue along this access road, and you’ll get your first proper look at Silver Burn on your right.

  • This access road is part of the Millennium Way – the 28 mile long distance walking route between Castletown and Ramsey.

  • Soon, you’ll reach an old arched bridge over the river.  This is Monk’s Bridge, and it’s one of the few surviving pack-horse bridges in the British Isles.  Don’t cross over it though, and continue straight ahead, with the river on your right.

  • The access road becomes a footpath just before it enters a canopy of woodland.  Follow the obvious path through the wood, but don’t be afraid to venture down to the riverside for a lovely explosion of colour as the light dances on the water.

  • The path eventually rises up to a road – Silverdale Road.  Turn right here, and then a left into the car park for the Silverdale Glen Tearooms.

  • Walk past the parked cars, and keep to the left side of the boating lake, and then bear right slightly at the metal gate.

  • Keep walking past the Millennium marker, to enter another woodland area.  The path here snakes around before emerging onto the A3.

  • To return to Ballasalla, simply catch the 4C bus from the Silverdale Glen entrance – or cross the road for the bus to Douglas.


Relevant Links


Information about the island, accommodation and events from the offical website of Visit Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man on the Walks Around Britain podcast
Our visit to the Isle of Man to film this walk is featured on the Walks Around Britain podcast.

Isle of Man Steam Railway
Information about the historic Steam Railway running from Douglas to Port Erin.


Silverdale Glen
Information about the history of Silverdale Glen from the Isle of Man Government website.
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