At Ramsey Hairpin on the famous TT course is the foot of Lherghy Frissel (In Manx, the direct translation is Slope of the Clan Fraser) and there are a few lovely walks around the area of Glen Elfin, Claughbane or you can go Milntown around foot of the Mountain, the outskirts of Crossags Campsite and Ramsey Golf Club.
We climbed up Glen Elfin which falls away much more steeply than the 2D photographs would suggest and the stream was not quite as spectacular as it can be, following the sunniest and driest but surely one of the coldest Aprils on record.
The ascent is fairly hard work and sadly, our 10 year old grandson Harry’s enthusiasm for all things motorised, does not extend to hill walking but I did my best to encourage him! However, even the news that he was following in the footsteps of Prince Albert failed to ignite his interest.
In September 1847, Queen Victoria and the Prince anchored the Royal Yacht in Ramsey Bay to shelter due to the sea conditions which had caused Her Majesty to suffer from sea sickness. Although the Queen was laid low and was unfit to welcome the excited local dignitaries, Albert commanded a barge to take him to shore and proceeded to climb up through Ballure Glen (unlike we slackers who started half way up.)
When he reached the top, the prince was delighted with the view of the town, all the Northern plains and Ramsey’s beautiful bay. On his return to sea level, he was greeted by nearly the whole of the population of the area who loudly cheered his royal personage.
A delegation including the High Bailiff and the Governor had rushed up from Douglas to present the Queen with a letter, hoping to be granted an audience but the boat they had arranged failed to make it out to the Royal fleet in time and it sailed before they could reach it, leaving them a little non-plussed but to this day, the town calls itself Royal Ramsey on the strength of this first, fleeting visit which wasn’t repeated until 55 years later when Edward VII docked at Queen’s Pier in 1902.
The Prince’s escapade was commemorated by the erection of the Albert Tower which still stands at the top of Lhergy Frissel today.
LOL. I forgot to take a photo of the tower but the thing that strikes me from this Imuseum.im picture is the lack of trees!
In contrast to the Governor whose trip from Douglas was wasted and marked by the hastily assembled band playing ‘Oh Dear What can the Matter Be?’ Harry’s mood greatly improved on our descent when his mum promised him an ice cream!
