Cregneash

The ancient village of Cregneash nestles in the lush hills at the southern end of the Island, close by the Calf of Mann.

As an etymological aside, "Calf" comes from the old Norse word "Kalfr" which means, wonderfully specifically, "a small island lying near a larger one". But I digress. Back to Cregneash: It's been a crofting village for nobody-knows-how-long and was opened as a "living museum" in 1938. It was home to Ned Maddrell, the last native speaker of Gaelg (Manx Gaelic).

You can't really talk about Cregneash without using the word "quaint", and quaint it undoubtedly is. Thatched cottages are dotted around winding lanes, demonstrations of traditional farming and crafts like weaving and spinning are carried out and Manx cats roam the village. The fields are full of loaghtan sheep and life pretty much carries on as it has for hundreds of years. The Cregneash Café serves teas, light meals and - most importantly - homemade cakes.

The Calf Sound is a little further south and is an essential destination to add to your southerly sojourn. The views across Kitterland to The Calf are stunning, and you'll often see seals basking in the sun, as is a seal's wont. There's an excellent café there, too. You probably won't be too surprised to learn we're fans of their cakes.

Photo by By Joseph Mischyshyn, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14418261

Access

Cregneash is an old crofting village. Consequently, there is limited wheelchair access. There is plentiful parking in a large car park across the road and there are public toilets in the village.

 

Contact Details

Location

Google Maps Directions

Opening Hours

Admission