[From Johnson's Guide, 1850]

VIATICUM.

A very delightful tour of the Island may be accomplished in three or four days, which will give ample space for visiting every place or scene of interest. Excellent saddle horses and gigs may be procured in Douglas, the charges for which are subjoined.

FIRST DAY. - The tourist is recommended to proceed on the first day to Peel, which he may do before breakfast. At the Castle hotel he will find accommodations of the best description. There is another good hotel, called Taubman's nearer the pier, on which account many parties prefer it. There is a small ferry between the pier and the Castle, the charges for which are all fixed by order of the High Bailiff of Peel ; a useful protection against the clamorous importunity of the boatmen. After visiting the Castle, and hearing the legends of old Summers, the tourist may proceed to the fall of Glenmoij, about three miles from Peel, which he should on no account omit to visit, and go on to Castletown in the evening. The George is the principal hotel here, but very good accommodations are to be had at the Commercial Inn, kept by Mr. E. Gick.

SECOND DAY. - In the account of Castletown (page 110) and Malew, (page 143), the visitor will find noticed the principal objects of interest in this neighbourhood. His morning excursion will be to the Chasms, (page 167) and he may probably choose to cross the sound to the Calf. The little villages of Port Erin and Port le Mary may be included in the round. (vide Par. Rushen, page 166). In the evening he may visit the College, and passing through the pretty village of Ballasalla, return to Douglas.

THIRD Day. - The tourist may proceed to Ramsey by the East road, and pause an hour at Laxey, to visit the Glen, and the ancient sepulchres in the neighbourhood. The Cloven Stones (vide page 141) he will pass about two miles before he reaches the Village ; the recently opened Cest-vaen (page 140) is half a mile beyond it on the hill. Two miles further he will pass the Dhoon Mines, and five or six miles more bring him to Ramsey. Here are two first-rate hotels. Heelis's is a very old and well-establisbed house, the wines and accommodations being celebrated among travellers. The Mitre hotel, kept by Mr. T. Brett, affords excellent accommodations. The tourist may take a pleasant excursion in the evening to the Point of Ayre, seven miles from Ramsey (vide page 108), and return for the night to his hotel,

FOURTH DAY. - Proceeding along the Peel road, the visitor may make a short detour to Glen-Aldyn, a favourite resort for pic-niks, and returning to the high road will pass the Lezayre hills and Ginger Hall Inn on the left, and the Great Curragh of Andreas on the right, (ride Par. Andreas, page 97, and Lezayre page 134.) At Kirk Michael, nine miles from Ramsey, he will find refreshments at the Mitre Hotel. A walk will take him back to Bishop's Court, (page 154) and on his return, another half hour should be spared for Glen-Willin. Resuming his horse or vehicle, he will proceed on the southern road, till he arrives at the Rhennass Waterfall Inn, where he will obtain directions, or a guide if necessary, to the Waterfall. This is a very pretty spot, on the property of J. A. Marsden, Esq., and will well repay the visitor for an hour's walking. A few miles further is St. John's, where he will fall into the Douglas road, by which he proceeded to Peel on the first day.

Should it be desirable to limit the tour to three days, the excursion to the Point of Ayre might be omitted, and the visitor may return to Douglas by Kirk Michael on the evening of the third day. This, however, is a long journey, and besides converting pleasure into toil, leaves no time for detours, which are frequently the most interesting part of a tour.

The following table of distances will perhaps form a useful addition to this brief Viaticum.

TABLE OF DISTANCES.