Hills and mountains of the Isle of Man facts for kids
The Isle of Man is an island known for its beautiful hills. While most of the land is hilly, only one peak, Snaefell, is tall enough to be called a true mountain. It stands over 2,000 feet high!
The Island's Landscape
The southern part of the island has a small flat area near Castletown and Ballasalla. But mostly, it's quite hilly. In the southwest, these hills get taller. You'll find notable peaks like South Barrule (483 meters) and Cronk ny Arrey Laa (437 meters). Cronk ny Arrey Laa drops almost straight down into the sea!
A long valley runs through the middle of the island. This valley separates the southern hills from the main central mountain range. This central range holds 11 of the island's 12 highest peaks. It's a wild area with open moorland and rough ground. Very few people live here. Only one main road crosses this area, apart from roads along the coast.
North of the central range, the land suddenly becomes a large, flat plain. This plain was formed by ancient glaciers. It has only small, rolling hills, the tallest being 96 meters. These are known as the Bride hills.
What are Marilyns?
A "Marilyn" is a special kind of hill or mountain. It must be at least 150 meters (about 492 feet) tall. Also, it needs to rise at least 150 meters above the land around it. The Isle of Man has five of these unique peaks:
| Peak | Height (meters) | Prominence (meters) | Key Col (meters) | Grid Reference | Parent Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snaefell | 621 | 621 | Sea | SC397881 | none, it's the highest peak on the Isle of Man |
| South Barrule | 483 | 436 | 47 | SC257759 | Snaefell |
| Bradda Hill | 230 | 193 | 37 | SC193711 | South Barrule |
| Slieau Freoaghane | 488 | 153 | 335 | SC340883 | Snaefell |
| Mull Hill | 169 | 151 | 18 | SC189676 | Bradda Hill |
High Peaks of the Island
The Isle of Man has 11 peaks that stand over 1,500 feet (457 meters) tall. Most of these are in the central mountain range. This range stretches between the central valley and the flat northern plain. Only South Barrule is found in the south.
Even though these peaks are not super high, they look very impressive. This is because they are so close to the sea. Many of these peaks are rugged. However, they are not usually steep enough for difficult technical climbing. You can find better climbing spots along the coast.
Some areas offer opportunities for scrambling. This is a mix of hiking and easy climbing. Good spots include the northern slopes of North Barrule, around the Sloc, and the southern slopes of Greeba Mountain. These places can be great for practicing if you want to climb bigger mountains later. Plus, they are much less crowded than popular hills in other parts of Britain. You can reach all of these peaks with a good hill walk.
| Hill | Height (feet) | Height (meters) | Grid Reference | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snaefell | 2,037 | 621 | 397881 | Central |
| North Barrule | 1,854 | 565 | 443909 | North East |
| Clagh Ouyr | 1,808 | 551 | 415890 | North East |
| Beinn-y-Phott | 1,785 | 544 | 381861 | Central |
| Slieau Freoaghane | 1,601 | 488 | 341883 | Michael Hills |
| Colden | 1,598 | 487 | 343843 | Central |
| South Barrule | 1,585 | 483 | 258759 | South West |
| Slieau Ruy | 1,572 | 479 | 329824 | Central |
| Sartfell | 1,490 | 454 | 335872 | Michael Hills |
| Carraghyn | 1,640 | 500 | 370850 | Central |
| Slieau Lhean | 1,539 | 469 | 426877 | East |
Other spots over 1,500 feet include Mullagh Ouyr (at grid reference 398861). There are also two unnamed points on the ridge between Clagh Ouyr and the North Barrule (at grid references 425900 and 432904).
Images for kids
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North Barrule
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Bradda Hill in the south
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The railway to the summit of Snaefell
