Ramsey and the north of the Island has so much to offer, whether you like your holidays active or leisurely.

Although Ramsey’s history can be traced back to the Vikings (its old Manx name ‘Rhumsaa’ derives from the Norse name for the town, Raven’s Isle), more recently its harbour and shipyard were hives of activity. From your holiday home you can see the Queen’s Pier, which at 2241 feet is longer than our mountain, Snaefell, is high. The Albert Tower, which was built to commemorate the Prince’s unscheduled visit to Ramsey in 1847, can be visited on foot to enjoy the panoramic views across the north of the Island.

If that short walk has you wanting more then there’s the Millennium Way, which runs the length of the Island from Sky Hill, just west of Ramsey, or the ‘Raad ny Foillan’ (Way of the Gull) around the coastline, and there are also beautiful walks in the hills and glens surrounding the town.

Recent investment and a series of regeneration projects has given Ramsey a new swimming pool, a ten-pin bowling alley and a rejuvenated main street of small shops and bustling cafes. There are several restaurants, and many of the pubs offer local and artisan beers alongside food and live music.

Ramsey people are proud to say that the town has the highest recorded hours of sunshine in the Island, and there are plenty of outdoor activities and facilities for visitors. The picturesque Mooragh Park has attractive gardens, a boating lake and two cafes as well as a children’s play area, tennis courts, crown green bowling and crazy golf.

Next to what is known as ‘the Mooragh’ is a BMX track and skate park, and elsewhere in town you can enjoy a round or two of golf at one of our Island’s top courses, Ramsey Golf Club. If you – or your children - like holiday activity to be a little more ‘active’, the Venture Centre, just one mile from Ballure Holiday Homes, offers archery, raft building, canoeing, kayaking, river walking and even abseiling. Or you could try Karting at Jurby, horse riding at one of the local stables or visit the Island’s Wildlife Park in Ballaugh. You could even combine that with a walk in the Curraghs, and be in with a chance of spotting one of the Island’s wild wallabies.

Back in Ramsey you could try a town walk or a ghost walk, or a visit to the gardens at Milntown and have lunch or tea in the conservatory of the haunted house. On the northern edge of town is the Grove Museum, the preserved Victorian home of the Gibb family which is now a Manx National Heritage site.

If you’d like your history a little older, Maughold Church houses the best collection of Norse Crosses in the Island and nearby is Cashtal yn Ard, where you’ll find ancient monuments dating back to around 2000 BC.

From Ballure Holiday Homes you can hop onto the electric railway at the local stop half a mile away, head to Laxey to see the Lady Isabella, the largest working water wheel in the world, change lines for the mountain railway for a ride up to the summit of Snaefell or carry on into Douglas, and from there the steam train down to the south of the Island or a ride on a horsetram along the promenade.