Silverdale Glen - Glion yn Awin Argid

Silverdale Glen (Glion yn Awin Argid) near Ballasalla (Manx: Manx Balley Sallagh) and starts only 500 yds away from Rushen Abbey. It has a children's playground with swings, slide, water-driven roundabout, boating lake, picnic area, cafe, toilets and car park. Access is by car, bus or steam train and it is also popular with coach trips.

The water wheel, which drives the roundabout, came from the Foxdale mines. When the mines closed, the small washing floor wheel was transported to the pleasure ground and re-erected to provide the power to drive the gilded wooden horses on the roundabout.

The wheel on the side of the old mill has been restored and used to produce electricity. 

Our Visit

We visited on a warm July day. We had walked from the town of Peel (Manx: Phurt ny h-Inshey) on a path known as Bayr ny Skeddan (English: Road of the Herring). It takes you some 14 miles to Castletown (Manx: Balley Chashtal). The walk takes you along the coast then over the hills with spectacular views on the way. Towards the end the path takes you through Silverdale Glen which gives you the opportunity to stop for some well earned refreshment at the glen's cafe. When exiting the glen you pass by The Crossag Bridge (Monks Bridge) built in the mid fourteenth century and used to service nearby Rushen Abbey founded in 1134.