Castletown Walk

Monday 4th August

As if all the walking and playing at Peel over the weekend wasn't enough, I had invited Beavers, Cubs and families to come out on a walk around Castletown.

The sun was still shining at 6.30pm as about a dozen of us departed Poulsom Park beside the Silverburn River heading upstream on a leisurely stroll.

Unlike the Glen walks that I organise, this was to be a dry, clean walk, much to the disappointment of a couple of regular attendees.

As the river reached the end of the park, we turned up an overgrown pathway that led towards King William's College, crossing a bridge over the railway and then the road. We all climbed onto the wall at the end of the airport runway in the hope that we would catch a plane taking off. I like this spot as I explained to the children that as most UK airports have big security fences around them and bigger clear zones, this was probably as close as they could ever be to an aeroplane in flight unless they were inside it. One light aircraft was circling above doing touch and goes, but it passed over us quite high up. When the passenger planes take of they use much more of the runway and are therefore a lot closer to the ground (and heads) as they clear the wall that we were on.

We continued up King Bill's driveway and after the young ones completed a handful of Triple Jumps on the school's playing field, out across the grass to Hango Hill where we read the inscription on the plaque and I used my limited knowledge on the subject to explain who Illiam Dhoone was, trying to bear in mind that I was explaining to a group whose average age was 7.

As we followed the coastline towards Castletown Harbour we met a family who were Rock Pooling and their son was eager to show off the crabs and other creatures he had caught.

The harbour is home to a private residence that used to be a lifeboat station based quite logically infront of a slipway, and beyond that is the Old Grammar School which was a small chapel before that. A plaque shows a diagram that explains why a wall butts into the middle of a former archway. As the door was locked due to the time of day each child was lifted in turn to look at the classroom layout through one of the windows.

A quick trip over the harbour footbridge enabled a parent to point out where Peggy was discovered bricked in, a model of which we had seen in a window 5 minutes before.

Then it was time for a "What is it" at the multifaceted sundial in the Market Place and an attempt to work out which bits of Castle Rushen were older or newer based on stonework and window openings. The one handed clock stumped a few young faces when I asked them to tell me what time it was, until I explained that the minutes could be worked out using the dots between the hour markers.

The path out of the Market Place led round to the inside of the inner harbour and a few hundred steps more had us regreeting the railway line south of the station that we walked beside until we crossed the river and the riverside path back to Poulsom Park.

It was now approaching 9.00pm so the children who had been encouraged to run ahead to the park had at tops 5 minutes to play before lots of smiling waves goodbye and the sun was allowed to set on another informative evening of fresh air and exercise.

Family Camp: part 5

Sunday 3rd August
Peel Carnival and Farewells

The tent zips opened and bleary eyes squinted at the early morning sunshine as we all emerged to tuck into our cereals then help each other to pack away the camping gear.

Once fed, the children played around the campsite amongst themselves and with a couple of other camping children who had taken interest in our group.

Once everything was packed away we organised the vehicles into a mini convoy and drove through the traffic that was arriving for Peel Carnival. A shortage of parking spaces meant splitting up and meeting back up on Fenella Beach. The sun was baking the sand, sea and rocks as we climbed the stairs to walk around Peel Castle. The tide was in and the beautiful clear water glistened as it gently rocked to and fro.

After a brief stop off at the Harbour Kiosk for more burgers and ice creams we continued on our way to the closed footbridge as a couple of yachts entered the inner harbour. On the other side of the watery gap music was wafting through the air as the Carnival floats rounded the corner where we had eaten our supper the night before.

Peel Promenade was packed solid with people out enjoying the atmosphere, various stalls selling bits and pieces lined the pavement interspersed with a couple of music stages.

Worryingly, the most interesting attraction once the parade had passed (apart from rolled up trouser leg paddling) was a Punch and Judy show and a group of teenagers jumping and diving into the sea from the Promenade wall.

The children concentrated at the 'on stage' stick and sausage action while we adults sat a bit further back then upon Punch's final bow it was time to come together one last time for our goodbyes.

This was my first attempt at organising a full weekend. It was appreciated and enjoyed by 19 of us camping and 2 more who couldn't sleep over but had turned up for the Wet Walk. A couple of other families had other commitments that prevented them attending, and having heard a summary of the weekend are eager to join in next time.

Peel Campsite is not an all singing all dancing venue, but it is excellent at what it does, providing a clean friendly location with good basic facilities and it acts as a good base from which to vanture out into nature. We worked around the weather and from 5pm Friday to 3pm Sunday there was not one grumble from one child about being away from the TV or games console.

That made it all worthwhile.

Family Camp: part 4

Saturday 2nd August (evening)

The plan for Friday evening was to walk from the camp site to Peel Headland then down to the promenade and beach, but was curtailed by the weather so we completed this on Saturday evening.

The rain was now a distant memory as we crossed the Peel to Michael coast road and onto the grassy headland.



View Larger Map


Having checked the headland on google maps, my OS map I was aware of the play area and BMX track, however it was only when prewalking the route a week befor the camping date that I became aware of how neglected and underused the BMX track is. It stands out in the aerial photo that was captured in 2006, but from ground level now it is barely visible as it has been left untended and the grass and weeds are growing tight to and through the riding surface.

Given that I organised the Family Camp to enable outdoor activities and positive socialising amongst peers without reward, it irks me that those who do receive reward for providing activities either fail in their duty to provide, place token facilities as far from populated areas as possible and/or neglect the facility once provided. It annoys me when I feel I do more for free than they do for taxpayers money. Laxey has a BMX track too tucked away and in 4 visits I've never seen a child on a bike near the place, it too looks overgrown and neglected.

Anyway, we walked past the gravelly bumps that used to be a track and I pointed out the half water filled square of early 20th centuary concrete (top centre on above map) that used to be an open air, sea water swimming pool, explaining what it was, how it was replenished and poining out the ammount of effort in construction to provide not only the pool but the walkway and stairs leading down to it.

Then we raced back across the grass to the multitude of winding paths that lead down to Peel Promenade past the better know former open air swimming pool, now a grassed over area. There are a number of Skateboard ramps on the adjoining hardstanding and it was good to see that these were being used by a number of youths, although I recently read that planning consent is being sought to build over this area.

We had a steady stroll along the prom and terminated our travels on the corner near the harbour footbridge. After a 25 minute wait in the queue of the Fish and Chip shop on the quayside we all sat down to eat and chat followed by marshmallows heated over a camping stove. Not quite the camp fire on the beach that we would have prefered, but given the lack of dry kindling available it was still a welcome alternative, especially for those little ones who were eagerly overdosing their sweet intakes.

After the moring swim, the afternoon Wet Walk and this evenings stroll it had been decided earlier for a car to travel ahead to give a lift back to those with the shortest legs, the rest of us made good haste back to the campsite as the clouds once again rolled in though thankfully we were cooled during our walk back by a light drizzle rather than proper rain droplets.

Hot drinks were prepared back at the site while the younger ones readied themselves for a well earned sleep brought another day to a close.

Family Camp: part 3

Saturday 2nd August (afternoon)
Glen Maye 'Wet Walk'.

Glen Maye is one of those walks that you can easily do in about 25 minutes each way, unless that is I am at the head.

The walk from car park to beach is pretty straight forward: down the steps, onto the lower walkway to take in the view of the Waterfall and then round the corner and past the Water Wheel Casing before following a relatively uninspiring path to the point where the stream meets the beach.

Video of Glen Maye

Because of the recent rain the normal trickle of the stream was running quite well. The point of this 'Wet Walk' was to be a baby version of Gorge Walking but without the need to rock climb up waterfalls. We missed out the climbs so that it was more of a stroll in the stream. Depths walked through were to the point where the water level just about rose to waist height with the occasional clamber up low laying rocks with the water trying to push us back.

Whilst my son and I have experience of this and slightly more ambitions walks as per this video of Ballaglass filmed 2 years ago...

Ballaglass Glen
...it is crucial that a 'can do' attitude is developed slowly and safely. Rather than risk scaring a child so that they are not concentrating on where they are and what they are doing, they are able to be comfortable and confident in themselves. One of the quickest ways to expose a child to danger, even in a relatively safe environment is for their mind to be distracted then find themselves in an unnecessary panic.

The fastest running water was after the last bridge where the stream emerged from the glen and ran down the beach. Here it was relatively narrow and mostly ankle to calf depth with a couple of spots where the water reached the knee. This section was perfect as a 'test' walk as it was easy to step into and more importantly, out of.

I sat the children down and ensured I had their full attention while I briefed them that I wanted to use this section to see if they could be trusted to take part further upstream.

I led and talked them up this short stretch in pairs deliberately aiming for the small but strongest currents. There was little depth and no danger, but they found that they had to push their legs against the flow to find a firm footing before their next step whether or not they could see their feet in the froth of cascading water. "Low body, use your hands, don't step onto the rock, lift your foot right over, lean forward..."

As each pair finished this little challenge they stepped out of the water and sat with a couple of parents while I returned for the next two. Once all were sat together again and I checked all were happy, we re-entered to water for another 10 yards to pass through a waist deep section under the footbridge. Then with me offering my knee as a step and adult hands reaching from above to steady them, they climbed the side of the stream back onto the path. No grumbles from me, the parents or the children, only smiles.

Although the current and depth of the stream are negligable at the lower end of the stream the sides prohibit easy access between the path and the water so we needed to walk back upstream to the picnic area beside the Waterwheel Casing. Most of the 'Wet Walk' upstream took place from this point. Where necessary the children returned to the path for brief periods as there are a couple of spots where swimming against the flow is required and I had no intention of testing their bouyancy, thigh height water on the smallest child was the reference used.

We were a good two and a half hours in the glen in total. The walk was completed at the rate of the slowest so that we remained as a group throughout, making sure that we completed the 'challenge' in complete safety whilst resulting in a high happiness and confidence boosting manner. Even the climbs from water to path were selected to involve teamwork that helped to boost self-confidence.

Then was was a quick dry down and change into dry clothes for the drive back to camp and a well earned drink and bite to eat.

Family Camp: part 2

Saturday 2nd August (morning)

The day started off dewy, and overcast, but the rain was holding off as we organised the children on the nearby picnic bench for breakfast.

The first activity involved 2 teams in a selection of simple races for about an hour. Cones were set up for each team as lane markers to Sack Race, dribble footballs, run, run with beanbags on heads, run with bean bags on heads while climbing through hoops, race in pairs through the hoops while holding the ends of skipping ropes, etc.

As it was still alternating between overcast, drizzle and breaking sun we headed over to the Swimming Pool to take us up to lunchtime.

In the pool I helped one of the children to improve their breathing between swimming strokes and taught 3 how to dive from the poolside.

After the swim it was back across to cook and eat lunch before a drive to Glen Maye for a 'Wet Walk'.

Family Camp: part 1

Friday 1st August

It rained for most of the week leading up to the camping date, but the forecaster promised it would clear up by Friday lunchtime and it did! at least until 6.00pm when the heavens opened again.

19 of us (8 adults, 11 children) braved the weekend's weather in Peel and all were glad they did.

I had 2 tents with me, a 2 person dome tent that my son was going to sleep in and a 6 person tent that I was going to use for me and the equipment and games. Because of Friday's rain my sleeping gear went into the smaller tent and the sleeping compartments for the larger tent were left packed away so that it could be used as a dedicated food and equipment tent.

Friday's plan was to set up camp then walk down to Peel beach for a BBQ on the sand but the weather ruled that out so we stayed on site for the evening.

It was a bit smokey with 3 disposable BBQs on the go, thankfully one parent had had the foresight to precook a mountain of sausages and burgers so they were quickly warmed up, wrapped in buns and dolloped with ketchup. Chicken drumsticks, sausage rolls, fruit and odd nibbles completed the lineup of foods. 2 kettles were kept on the go for coffees and teas and the children respected the space as they momentarily ceased their games in the drizzle to be passed their plates of food.

We all mucked in to help set up the awning on a caravan and pitch the last tent for those who arrived with the later rain and chose to eat first. The children more or less entertained themselves with a number of games whilst this was going on and it was soon dark enough to call it a night, even though the children appeared happy to play football and swingball by torchlight.

Groudle/Molly Quirk's Glens

On Monday 28th July a group of us donned our scruffs to walk from Groudle Glen car park through to the far end of Molly Quirk's Glen and back. This is a walk that can be covered in about an hour.

As per most of our Glen walks the group were advised to bring a full change of clothes and this advice paid off.

After more than 2 hours of scrambling up and sliding down the glen sides, climbing over rocks, crossing through the river and under bridges, wading through boggy sections, climbing over and crawling under fallen and felled trees, and crawling in the stream on all fours, the dirt on everyones clothes was only matched by the grins on all of our faces.

I always appreciate that the parents who come on this type of walk are happy to let me loose with their children and the mud, as the Persil adverts quite clearly state, "Dirt is good". I fully acknowledge that not all parents are as 'earthly' as I am, so I am happy to give their offspring a good dose of rolling around that usually results in happy children going home for a hot bath or shower and a sound nights sleep.

Beavers: RNLI Visit

Monday 21st July

The last official Beaver meeting of this term took place at Douglas Lifeboat Station.

The group of approximately 40 children and adults was split into 2 groups, the first were given a guided tour of the outside and inside of the Tyne Class Lifeboat while the other group watched a couple of brief videos followed by a chance to ask questions. Halfway through the evening the groups swaped places.

Many thanks to Richard and the onhand crew for their time, the visit was appreciated by Beavers and parents alike.

Summer Break

Officially, 5th Douglas is on Summer Break at the moment which is ironic really seeing as this time of year is the best for being out and about.

I've cleaned up the old news items to clean the slate and will now make sure this page stays up to date.