Isle of Man Mature Cheese

Advantages: Fantastic
Disadvantages: None

...They still do things right on the Isle of Man, apparently. Intensive farming? No. Chemically enhanced beer? No. In fact, they have some very stringent beer brewing purity laws on the Isle of Man that are even stricter than the German law, in my opinion. Artificially enhanced cheese production? No. Now, here we come to the nub of this review. Isle of Man mature cheddar cheese. We were lucky enough to find ourselves at the press launch day of the Isle of Man Marketing Partnership at the BBC Good Food Show. By the way, if you read this before the end of Saturday 27 November, DO try to get to the BBC Food Show. It really is a gourmet's day out! One of the many items on the well-designed and well-laid out stand was Isle of Man Mature Cheddar. How to describe Isle of Man Mature Cheddar? It is not as easy as it sounds. It has a good...

Martinscholes 25.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Isle of Man Mature Cheddar Cheese

Steam Packet Heysham - Isle of Man

Advantages: Good value if you travel overnight
Disadvantages: Expensive if you don't

...I live on the Isle of Man so if I want to get on and off the Island with my car the Steam Packet is my only choice. In general their service is pretty good and fairly punctual. Considering the prevailing weather and sea conditions in the Irish Sea they keep pretty close to the timetable most of the time. The Ben My Chree (which means "Girl of my Heart" in Manx)is a small ferry if you are used to cross Channel ferries. It runs from Douglas to Heysham near Lancaster. (There is also a service to Liverpool which runs by fast Sea Cat (catamaran) in the Summer and by another conventional ferry (The Lady of Man) in the winter. The Ben My Chree has a reasonable bar and cafe service but, apart from the 'quiet lounge' the seating is pretty uncomfortable and cafeteria style. Visitors are often surprised by the Manx 'old hands' who sleep...

HWIOM 08.07.2003 · Read review
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Review of Isle of Man Steam Packet

In search of the real Man

Advantages: Beautiful beaches, beautiful countryside, lovely people
Disadvantages: None at all.

...Warning: This is a rather long review, so please make sure you have a drink and snack to keep you sustained whilst reading! A Jewel in the Irish Sea Is known as Ellan Vannin Although throughout the mists of time The place was called Mannannin Mann is yet another name Bestowed on Mona's Isle And some will call it Mannin If you listen for a while. I find it all confusing So please tell me if you can, Why all these names are needed, Why not just the Isle of Man? Dennis W Turner ***** In the beginning ***** A few years ago in the cinema, I fell in love with the countryside on the film of Waking Ned (Devine). The story was set in Ireland, but on buying the DVD some time later, I discovered that the film was not made in Ireland, but on the Isle of Man. This set me on a quest to visit the Isle of Man...

orlando 20.10.2005 (07.05.2006) · Read review
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Review of Isle of Man (England)

We're from the Isle of Man...

Advantages: Nearby, cheap beer, impressive history, beautiful scenery and villages.
Disadvantages: Not for everyone. Entertain yourself, gets tired after a while.

...Basing your opinion of the Isle of Man upon what you've seen of it from the infamous Fast Show sketches would quite probably be the worst thing you could do. Not only are the sketches utterly unfunny and devoid of humour of any kind, they are an insult to the Manx people and have a basis built on sand. Manx sand, at that. I jest. The sketches featuring the middle-aged husband and wife from the Isle of Man, holidaying abroad (see: a very wet field in Yorkshire) and loving every moment of it, are at the very least a little wide of the mark. In general, the principle behind the sketches has some basis - the people of the island can come across as somewhat insular and self-reliant. But in many other ways, this small island is one of the hidden gems of the British Isles that many, in the sweeping popularity of package holidays to Spain...

ronniec 02.02.2001 (27.02.2001) · Read review
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Review of Isle of Man (England)

Isle of Man Steam Packet

Advantages: It runs every day
Disadvantages: it doesn't run if its too windy

...I live on the isle of man, we have a popular saying to folk who come over the water, "if you don't like it, there is a boat in the morning" this is true today as it has ever been. The steam packet is the only passenger service operating to and from the island. Douglas is the main port. Today there are six crossings, the main route is to Heyshem near Lancaster. Heyshem or Heysham, depending where your from from, is best described as a hovel, the steam packet own it so why not use it, It recently had a new landing stage put in and new marshalling area and carpark, the terminal and railway station are getting over hauled this winter., Heyshem village is just up the road if you get bored waiting to board. Alternatievely, you can bask in the shadow of Heyshem 1 & 2, nuclear power statiions, I went around them once and was assured they...

gmkneen 28.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Isle of Man Steam Packet

what better than the isle of man?!

Advantages: beautiful landscape and scenic walks
Disadvantages: not for people who enjoy their nightlife!

...Did you know that the Isle of Man has it's own Government and own Money? But don't worry you don't have to exchange your pennies because the Isle of Man accepts English, Scottish and Irish Sterling! Did you know that the T.T stands for Tourist Trophy?! huh?! Did you know that the Isle of Man only has 2 hospitals, 5 High Schools, original horse and trams from the victorian era, and that it is famous for the T.T Races?! well, if not, what are you playing at. Get those tickets booked and get yourself on the island! Many people have never actually been to the Isle of Man and most people don't know where it is! It is situated in the Irish sea between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Your probably thinking, 'well what makes the Isle of Man so different?' It is a self governing kingdom and has it's own parliament (Tynwald), laws...

cheekymonkey8 24.09.2003 (14.03.2004) · Read review
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Review of Isle of Man (England)

The Misty Isle

Advantages: Stunning landscape, nice towns to visit
Disadvantages: None

...The Isle of Skye is somewhere I have wanted to visit my whole life, but have never had the chance. The Scottish Isles for me have a sort of mystique about them, the isolation and the tradition they have, but Skye has always been the one I?ve wanted to go to. I think a lot of it has to do with my favourite band, Runrig, being from there ? their songs are often about the landscape they grew up in, and they even have a song called Skye. Finally, at the end of September this year, I went to the island with my parents. Having been staying on the mainland for several days in rubbish weather, the first remotely decent day we had we jumped in the car and shot across the bridge, as they knew how excited I was to go to the island, and we didn?t want to miss the best weather we were likely to have (best in this sense is mainly dry with showers...

eilidhcatriona 16.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Isle of Skye (Scotland)

JEWEL OF THE ISLE

Advantages: Gorgeous designer & unusual clothing
Disadvantages: No changing facilities for the disabled

...Famous for its mountainous and breathtaking scenery, The Isle of Skye ? situated off the West coast of Mainland Scotland - is the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides. Renowned for its natural beauty and therefore a magnate for climbers, artists and photographers, it is perhaps not the first place one would think of to visit for a glorious shopping experience. Seek and ye shall find. The island looks tiny on the map but you'll need your entire holiday and more to discover even a small proportion of some of the area's hidden gems. I'd like to share one such shiny jewel with you. Ragamuffin is situated on the pier in Armadale, Sleat (pronounced 'slate') on the south western peninsula of the island. The little shop (strangely like a sheik's tent, it is actually bigger inside than it appears outside) sits overlooking...

Louizalass 19.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ragamuffin, Isle of Skye

This is THE place for a visit

Advantages: Quiet, Relaxing, Beautiful
Disadvantages: Nothing but getting there

...Say the Isle of Man to most people and what will they remember? TT racing and the Manx cat right. Well did you know that The Queen is not the Queen on the Isle of Man? She is The Lord of Man. It is a crown dependency, and so much more. It has its own laws and currency, though they will accept U.K. coins and notes. Manx notes are NOT legal tender off the isle.But you will not need your passport to go there and see for yourself. There are many myths associated with this land. It was formed when the Irish Giant Finn McCool threw a clod of earth at a Scottish Giant... and missed so it is said. There are many tales of giants and Fairy?s to be found here. In fact there is a very rich mythological tapestry to be explored. First let?s look at the Physical Geography. The island lies on a roughly South West-North East alignment from...

Coloneljohn 29.12.2004 · Read review
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Review of Isle of Man (England)

Lynne's 'short' guide to the Isle of Wight

Advantages: A place for everyone - young and old!
Disadvantages: You won't want to go home.

...via Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington on car ferries, a catamaran, a hydrofoil and a hovercraft. You can also fly here if you have the cash; you will land in either Bembridge or Sandown airports (well, a tiny landing strip with a portakabin café!). Saying that you will have to get a second mortgage to pay the Ferry Company their £60 or so fee to get you there in the first place! Portsmouth to Ryde via catamaran ? foot passengers only Portsmouth to Fishbourne via car ferry Southampton to Cowes via Red Jet ? foot passengers only Southampton to East Cowes via car ferry Lymington to Yarmouth via car ferry Contact details and timetables can be found on the Isle of Wight website ? www.iwight.com. What?s on offer? ******************* Where do I start? Pubs? Attractions? Historic buildings? Think I will start with the pubs...

purplelynne 11.04.2004 (21.04.2004) · Read review
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Review of Isle of Wight (England)