The Cottage
Situated in the North west of the Island close to the hamlet of Sandygate, Ballacrye Beg is a comfortable and individual cottage adjoining the traditional Manx farmhouse of Ballacrye. The cottage is in a lovely country setting and as well as the large gardens, guests can also enjoy the wild flower meadow, with daffodils in the spring, orchids and many species of meadow flowers throughout the summer and a wonderful view of Snaefell and the hills.
The cottage has a small vestibule and hall, leading to a living room and separate kitchen area, bathroom, and bedroom. The comfortable sitting room has a light wood floor and Manx stone fireplace with a wood-burning stove. There is a table and chairs for dining.
The kitchen is fully equipped and has pine units and a breakfast bar. A food starter-pack is provided for arriving guests, with tea, coffee, biscuits, milk, bread, butter, cheese, etc. Guests are also invited to use any canned food in the kitchen cupboards.
The bedroom sleeps two, with two 3-foot zip and link beds. All bedding, sheets and towels are included in the rental. The bedroom furniture is light wood Edwardian. The bathroom has a bath, shower and shower screen
Facilities
Free Wi-Fi
Smart TV
Oven and ceramic hob
Fridge with small freezer compartment
Microwave
Washer-dryer
Foodstarter-pack
Bedding, sheets and towels
Bath with shower and shower screen
Oil-fired central heating
Telephone
Guests are welcome to use the front garden of the main farmhouse, where garden furniture is available, and to walk around the wild flower meadow, or take chairs from the garden and enjoy the wonderful views of Snaefell and the hills. Ballacrye meadow was designated a site of Special Scientific interest in 2005, although ecological surveys had been undertaken in the 1990s. The meadow is considered to be the best example of a whorled caraway habitat type on the Island. In June there is a profusion of orchids, followed in late June by the delicate whorled caraway flowers. The meadow attracts many moths and butterflies.
Places nearby
The road into the Ballaugh Curragh is 2 miles from the cottage. Inside the Curragh there is parking at the Close Sartfield reserve. As well as the traditional wetland habitat, including the orchid meadows, wallabies can often be spotted in the early evening. The Wild Life Park borders the Curragh and is about 3 miles from Ballacrye. Turn left at Sandygate crossroads and then right at Sulby crossroads. Ballaugh Cronk beach is one of the beautiful and distinctive beaches of the north-west coast of the Island. Other beaches worth visiting towards the north are Ballagarraghyn and the Lhen.
Jurby Church Heritage Site reflects the history of the Island as well as of the parish of Jurby. There is a collection of Manx Crosses inside the church and a Viking burial mound in the churchyard. The church is dedicated to St. Patrick who, tradition has it, brought Christianity to the Island. There is the War Memorial and a large number of Commonwealth War Graves. There are books, pictures and bookmarks on sale on the history of Jurby and during the summer months there are exhibitions.
Jurby Airfield and the roads surrounding it have many reminders of RAF Station Jurby which was built in 1938 and was used for training until it closed in 1963. A number of pill boxes were built to protect the airfield, several of which are still extant and the pill box on Ballavarran road is considered the best example of its kind in Britain. There are also a number of air raid shelters and other wartime structures. There is the Isle of Man Transport Museum which is open weekends and has free admission. Other hangars and buildings house various industries. The Isle of Man Motor Museum has a large collection of cars and motor bikes.