A Man for all seasons

‘If you believe the legend, the island wasn’t placed, but thrown – by the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill’

Ask any of your well travelled caravan-owning friends where they have been with their van in the British Isles, and one place you’re unlikely to hear mentioned is the Isle of Man. And with good reason.

There’s a long-standing myth that caravans are banned from the island. But that’s not true – they are just restricted, as on the fellow island of Jersey. Nevertheless, the need to obtain a permit – and to apply for it in writing – before your caravan is allowed onto the ferry can be a touch too much planning for those who prefer the more-spontaneous ‘just-pack-up-and-go’ approach that owning a caravan allows. But that would be to overlook one of the best places for a holiday in the British Isles.

So, first of all, where exactly is the Isle of Man? Well, it’s the island in the middle of the Irish Sea, and seemingly has been placed strategically between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Of course, if you believe the legend, the island wasn’t so much placed, but thrown – by the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill – as part of his feud with a red-haired Scottish giant.

I’ve been to the Isle of Man several times before on my