Millennium Way Long Distance Path

The 40km walk can be conveniently split into two, somewhat unequal, sections - North and South of Crosby with its convenient bus services on the Douglas Peel central valley road. The whole walk can be completed by a fit walker in a day; the section from Castletown to Crosby is the easiest and makes a pleasant afternoon walk. It is possible to break the northern section near Bungalow and catch the mountain railway back to Laxey.
This was the first long distance path on the Island - established to coincide with Millennium Year (1979). The path follows for most of its way the route of the Royal Way mentioned in the Chronicle of Man and the Isles.

Commencing from Ramsey the path starts about 1 mile along the Kirk Michael road with a stiff climb up Sky Hill (the site of the battle in 1079 when the Manx were defeated by Godred Croven). The section from here until near West Baldwin is mostly across open moorland with some wonderful views.
Just short of West Baldwin is the interesting, and apparently isolated, church of St Luke's.
Continuing from West Baldwin down to Crosby Keeill Vreeshey (St Bridgets Keeill) is passed. At Crosby the nearby pub can provide refreshments; a diversion up the main Douglas-Peel road will take you to St Trinian's (these days buggane free!).
Crossing the main road, the path follows a metalled road (fairly traffic free) passing on the left Crosby Methodist Chapel before climbing the hill up towards Marown Old Church (well worth visiting). The Royal Way lies about 1/4 mile to the east of the road.
The road continues to St Mark's built by Bishop Hildesley, nearby is the old church school and houses. A mile later the path joins the main Castletown-Foxdale Road - a most unpleasant stretch with the considerable traffic on this road.
After a mile the path diverges to follow the Silverburn past the Monks' Bridge and Rushen Abbey before continuing in parallel with the Douglas-Castletown railway before finishing at Castletown.

Reading

A somewhat irreverent look at walking the path is given by Christopher Somerville in The Other British Isles published by Grafton Books (ISBN 0-246-13317-1) 1990.
A folding, single sheet, guide and sketch map of the Millennium Way was issued by the IoM Highway and Transport Board in 1979 - copies may still be available