Today, Tuesday, was forecast to be dry and less windy than of late so after our (unsuccessful) viewing of a potential new home this morning we decided to take a walk up to the Albert Tower, which has a commanding view over the town.
This is the view of the tower from our kitchen window.
We walked the 3 minutes from our house up May Hill to the start of the Lhergy Frissel Glen footpaths.
Lhergy Frissell is named after the Frissell family, a branch of the Scottish clan of Frazer. It consists of 16 acres and is divided into two parts by the TT Course. A winding path leads you to the Albert Tower.
The path is quite steep and rough underfoot. Not ideal for anyone with balance problems like me but P took my hand to help me over the tricky bits. I stopped a couple of times for photos and to catch my breath.
At the top we admired the tower, which is 45 feet high and was built of granite and slate to commemorate the royal visit of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria on the 20th of September in 1847. Prince Albert was rowed ashore at Ballure then made his way up the glen. (He must have been pretty fit)
We also admired the variety of mast trees which seem to thrive up here.
With that view of the tower you just had to climb up. Quite a view. You need some of those nordic walking sticks, or a shepherds crook to keep you steady. I'm thinking of buying some for me though I'll probably get some funny looks. It really is only nordic walkers that use them here
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should give them a try. My balance is quite a problem when negotiating steep or uneven tracks.
DeleteI've seen quite a lot of walkers on the rougher steeper tracks with walking sticks or poles. It is important to have them the correct length. My favourite in-house occupational therapist tells me that if using two, Nordic style, then elbows should be at right angles when standing. A walking stick should be the length from wrist bone to floor when arms are straight at your sides.
ReplyDeleteI shall need to measure carefully then as I am only 5ft 3in.
DeleteThat looks like quite a hike! But the view up top is worth it, I guess! Glad you made it safely back!
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't too bad, only just over an hour there and back as we live at the foot of that hill. It was just very steep!
DeleteInteresting photographs especially as I have never been to the island. Sorry the house viewing was unsuccessful
ReplyDeleteWe still have another 11 months to find somewhere so hopefully the perfect place will turn up soon.
DeleteGallant of P to hold your hand. Great track and love all your photos. Are you pulling our legs with those mast trees? Not real trees? Who disguises a mast as a tree? You have however, cleared up something I had wondered about for years. I knew someone with the name Frissell in NZ only I thought is was spelled Frizzle (or possibly Frizzel) and wondered if someone had perpetrated a joke in their name.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have helped with clearing up the Frissell name issue!
DeleteYes, they have disguised those mobile phone masts as trees. Convincing aren't they??
How gentlemanly of Lord Peregrine to take your hand as you walked up to Albert Tower. Chivalry is not dead!
ReplyDeleteI think he just didn't want to have to do his own cooking and cleaning if I stumbled over the edge
DeleteI'd heard of mast trees, but never actually seen one. They look much better than the mini-Eiffel tower we have nearby.
ReplyDeleteThey have certainly tried to make them blend in. They are not so noticeable when you look up at the hill from below.
DeleteI'll second/third the use of a Nordic style walking stick--especially on uneven ground. I have two that are collapsible so you can set them at the proper height for you, but then reduce them for travel (mine will fit in a backpack). However, these kind of walking sticks, unlike canes for the disabled, are not allowed in aircraft cabins. They can only be transported in checked baggage.
ReplyDeleteAround my neck of the woods, they don't bother much trying to mask/hide mobile/cell towers. Just big and gaudy.
I don't plan on flying anywhere for quite some time now so the telescopic poles sound good to me.
DeleteLooks a great walk with splendid scenery. I can see why you like living on the IOM.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave. It's not perfect but good enough for me 🙂
DeleteThat looks like a walk that was well worth the effort. I used a stick as a teenager when negotiating the Lake District fells. I have used one ever since.
ReplyDeleteI think I should look at getting one now that my sense of balance is deteriorating.
DeleteI really enjoy going from blog to blog and seeing where you all live. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSame here. Blogging has allowed me to visit so many people!
DeleteGreat photos. I'm incapacitated at the moment so other people's walks have to suffice.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to tag along with me 🙂
DeleteYes, get some sticks they do help with balance, with climbs and with muddy terrain. The first time I ever used mine I was leading a walk. I got tangled up in them and fell over - all because I hadn't realised the plastic tips should be taken off to reveal the spike...only my pride was hurt!
ReplyDeletexxx