Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Peel (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Peel Castle, Peel Cathedral, and Leece Museum. Also, be sure to include House of Manannan in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Peel (Glenfaba).
Table of Contents
Peel Castle
11th-century seaside fortress ruins. Peel Castle is a castle in Peel on the Isle of Man, originally constructed by Vikings. The castle stands on St Patrick's Isle which is connected to the town by a causeway. It is now owned by Manx National Heritage and is open to visitors during the summer.
The castle was built in the 11th century by the Vikings, under the rule of King Magnus Barefoot. While there were older stone Celtic monastic buildings on the island, the first Viking fortifications were built of wood. The prominent round tower was originally part of the Celtic monastery, but had battlements added at a later date. In the early 14th century, the majority of the walls and towers were built primarily from local red sandstone, which is found abundantly in the area. After the rule of the Vikings, the castle continued to be used by the Church due to the cathedral built there – the see of the diocese of Sodor and Man – but was eventually abandoned in the 18th century.
The castle remained fortified, and new defensive positions were added as late as 1860. The buildings within the castle are now mostly ruined, but the outer walls remain intact. Excavations in 1982-87 revealed an extensive graveyard as well as the remains of Magnus Barefoot's original wooden fort. The most spectacular finds were the 10th century grave of "The Pagan Lady" which included a fine example of a Viking necklace and a cache of silver coins dating from about 1030. The Castle's most famous "resident" is the so-called Moddey Dhoo or "Black Dog" ghost.
Peel Castle features today on the reverse side of the £10 notes issued by the Isle of Man Government.
Peel Castle may occasionally be confused with Piel Castle, located on Piel Island, to the east across the Irish Sea. This particularly occurs in reference to the William Wordsworth poem describing Piel, spelling its name as 'Peele': especially as Wordsworth is documented as having visited Peel Castle, and wrote several times about the Isle of Man.
Peel Castle has been proposed as a possible location of the Arthurian Avalon.[1]
Peel Cathedral
Cathedral in Peel, Isle of Man. The Cathedral Church of Saint German or Peel Cathedral, rebranded as Cathedral Isle of Man, is located in Peel, Isle of Man. The cathedral is also one of the parish churches in the parish of the West Coast, which includes the town of Peel. Built in 1879–84, it was made the cathedral by Act of Tynwald in 1980.
It is the cathedral church of the Church of England Diocese of Sodor and Man.[2]
Address: Atholl St, IM5 1 Peel
Leece Museum
Museum in Peel, Isle of Man. The Leece Museum is a museum in Peel, Isle of Man established in 1984. It is dedicated to the local history of Peel.[3]
Address: E Quay, IM5 1AR Peel
House of Manannan
Museum in Peel, Isle of Man. The House of Manannan is a museum in Peel in the Isle of Man. It is named after the "great mythological sea god" Manannan and covers the island's Celtic, Viking, and Maritime history.[4]
Address: Mill Rd, IM5 1TA Peel
Peel Marina
Peel Marina is a marina at Peel Harbour in the town of Peel, Isle of Man. It was constructed in 2009 as an expansion of Peel Harbour. Since construction, the site has had continuous issues with silt buildup and toxic materials contamination.[5]
Tynwald Hill
Museum
Address: Coill y Ree, Peel