Snaefell is the highest mountain and the only summit higher than 2,000 feet (610 m) on the Isle of Man, at 620 metres (2,034 ft) above sea level. The summit is crowned by a train station, cafe, and several communications masts.  (source Wikipedia)

Laxey to Bungalow

Tuesday 1 May 2012 - 3.5 Miles

ID01052012#23

This was walked with my father, so first I walked to his B&B near us in Douglas, then caught the Bus Vannin to Laxey (as you do).  Anyhow, at Laxey we then followed the Mines Road by the side of the Laxey Wheel (visited on another day) and followed this steeply ascending metalled track to Agneash, where the way then becomes a rough track, following the right hand side of the valley inland towards Snaefell, with the river Laxey River between us and the Mountain Railway on the left side of the valley.   Passing through Laggan Agneash (nothing except old mining ruins) and with the only sound being bleating lambs (ahh) and the distant sound of traffic on the road at Bungalow, we soon reached the main abandoned mining complex, where we then had to scramble on the steep slope up to the A18 Bungalow Road, and had to try to bear towards where the mountain railway crosses at the base of Snaefell proper, as being part of the TT circuit it is not much fun walking along the road here.  It was hard going with many streams and boggy bits to cross and then it started to pour with rain, so by the time we reached the road, even though it was not a long walk we were fluxed.  Fortunately my mate stain rolled up with the Focus from Douglas and rescued us to then finish the climb the next day

Laxey.  Mountain Railway crossing.  We followed the Mines Road, passing by the Laxey Wheel just in the distance

Looking back to the Laxey Wheel and Laxey Village from near Agneash

Entering the tiny village of Agneash

Looking towards Snaefell in middle

A quick photo op with the Dad, gorse muscling in on the action

A moment of contemplation, as the way becomes a rough track

not much left of this gaff

Gate - Fail

Old mine dwelling with Snaefell behind

More old Mine remains

View back towards Laxey and the coast, our track on left, mountain railway higher, on right

Looks simples, but it was a slog up to the road at Bungalow

A rescue hut on the road near Bunglalow.  Fortunately the Focus rolled up and we were whisked (soggily) back into Douglas

Bungalow to Snaefell (Summit)

Wednesday 2 May 2012 - 0.75 Miles

ID02052012#24   

The first part of todays wild adventure was buying a supermultipass for the Railways, and a nice trip was had on the Manx Electric from Douglas to Laxey, the changing onto the Mountain Railway, where the Dad n me jumped ship at Bungalow and my mate stain carried on up to the Summit and waited at the restaurant, busily eating a cream tea when our carcassed finally arrived.  From Bungalow it is not a big deal to reach the summit, except that frequently it gets foggy, and if not for my GPS it would have been a bit hit and miss arriving directly at the combined station / restaurant complex.  Anyway, just a rough track soon gets you up top and a short walk along a concrete path brings you to the trig point and summit - however on this occasion we could hardly see back to the station, let alone another country, as you should ideally be able to see Scotland, Wales, Ireland etc... anyway, job done

At Bungalow, after bailing out of the train, a straight shot to the summit

A view back to Bungalow.  Just watched the TT for the first time on ITV4 and they come through here in a blur

Crivens, where's the summit?

Ahh..the station and restaurant (at the end of the mountain) we had some great scoff while waiting to go back down

We prised the stain away from her cream tea and she joined us for the very underwhelming view at the trig point

Just to check, my sat nav confirmed our position...job done