Calf of Man is a small island, almost one square mile (2.6 km²) in area, off the southwest coast of the Isle of Man. It is separated from the Isle of Man by a narrow stretch of water called the Calf Sound. It has two seasonal inhabitants. The word 'calf' derives from the Old Norse word kalfr which means a small island lying near a larger one. Calf of Man is home to a breeding population of Manx Shearwaters, a seabird which derives its name from its presence in Manx waters. Calf of Man (Manx: yn Cholloo) is a small island, almost 1 square mile (2.6 km2) in area, off the southwest coast of the Isle of Man. It is separated from the Isle of Man by a narrow stretch of water called the Calf Sound. It has two seasonal inhabitants. The word 'calf' derives from the Old Norse word kalfr which means a small island lying near a larger one. Until 1939 the island was under private ownership by the Keig family, but in that year the island was donated to the National Trust to become a bird sanctuary. In 1951 the Manx National Trust was established, which became Manx National Heritage. The Calf was transferred to the Manx body in 1986. The island has been a bird observatory since 1962 and welcomes visits from volunteers and ornithologists. The observatory is able to accommodate up to eight visitors in basic self-catering accommodation which can be booked through Manx National Heritage. The Calf of Man currently boasts the world's highest density of lighthouses: two lighthouses were built in 1818 by Robert Stevenson to warn mariners of the hazards of the Chicken Rocks off the south end of the Calf. These were replaced in 1875 by a lighthouse built on the Chicken Rocks themselves. In 1968, a third lighthouse was built on the Calf after a severe fire destroyed the Chicken Rocks light. The Chicken Rocks lighthouse was later rebuilt. In 2006 Manx National Heritage employed the charity Manx Wildlife Trust as the Calf Warden Service Provider. Ownership remains with MNH. Between the Isle of Man and the Calf is the islet of Kitterland, while the islets of Yn Burroo and The Stack lie close to the Calf's shore. Almost a mile southwest of the Calf is Chicken Rock, the most southerly part of the Isle of Man's territory. Calf of Man is home to a breeding population of Manx Shearwaters, a seabird which derives its name from its presence in Manx waters.
It is possible to reach the Calf of Man by boat from both Port Erin and Port St Mary. Look for the information panels at the harbours. These seasonal trips depend upon visitor numbers, weather and tide. If you are taking your own boat, Cow Harbour and South Harbour are the main landing places. There are wardens present on the Calf for most of the year and they will be pleased to help you during your visit. There are areas with restricted access at different times of the year because of breeding birds. Please consult local notices or the wardens for guidance. You may need extra warm and weather-proof clothing, food and drink. Visitors are welcome on the Calf but you are asked to observe the simple rules for the protection of its wildlife. Large parties should always consult the wardens about any particularly sensitive areas. Please note that there are no toilet facilities for day visitors. Remember that the Calf is remote and if there is an emergency, help on the island is limited, although wardens can communicate. Despite being so close, the inhabitants of the Calf can be cut off for long periods by bad weather. Visitors who find that there are difficulties leaving the Calf or in trying to re-enter the harbours of Port St Mary or Port Erin occasionally have their stay extended until conditions improve. By most standards the Isle of Man is regarded as pretty small. By most standards - but by the standard of its sibling the Calf of Man - it’s positively massive. This islet off the southern-most tip of the island is just one-and-a-half miles long by around a mile wide and at its highest point rises some 421 feet above sea level. It’s separated from the island by a narrow but treacherous strip of water known as the Calf sound. Many ships have foundered here over the years, most famously the brig "Lily" in 1852. The vessel had lost some of her sails in terrific winds and ran aground near Kitterland - a patch of rock between the island and the Calf.
Over hundreds of years of its habitation it has enjoyed a variety of owners and tenants dating back centuries. Records of it appear in Elizabethan times and there’s evidence that in the 17th Century an associate of Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon hid on the Calf for three years in order to avoid being sent to the Tower of London for allegedly taking bribes. Agriculture in earnest began in the 18th Century and to this day you can still see the ribbed traces of the old style "lazy bed" cultivation. Sheep have been grazed there for hundreds of years and the rare Manx Loaghtan breed is still present. This attractive brown-fleeced breed is recognisable by its horns on both ewe and ram and the Calf may have been their last bastion had foot and mouth spread to the Isle of Man during the outbreak a few years ago. However cows, which amazingly were once swum across from the Sound to the aptly named Cow Harbour, haven't been present for some time. The Calf passed to the British Crown in 1828. It was permanently inhabited up until the first half of the last century when it was handed to the National Trust. It’s now owned by the Manx National Trust and comes under the care of Manx National Heritage. Its history has left it with a motley collection of interesting buildings. The bird wardens who live full time on the Calf during the summer months live in an old farmhouse dating back to 1878. They now enjoys splendid isolation as the lighthouse keepers, who also used to be resident, left several years ago following the automation of the existing light. Whilst there may be no keepers, there's no shortage of lighthouses. Two splendid old towers date from 1818, whilst the squat modern design and it's now disused accommodation, was constructed in 1968. Not surprisingly perhaps, there is also no shortage of birds. Whilst bizarrely the Calf has had its own postage stamps, one thing it has never had, is a pub. Perhaps this is what drove a warden in recent times to try and make wood sage wine during his tenure. The resultant drink was, from all accounts, suitable for "laying down" and it's added rather ruefully "never picking up again".
It is possible to reach the Calf of Man by boat from both Port Erin and Port St Mary. Look for the information panels at the harbours. These seasonal trips depend upon visitor numbers, weather and tide. If you are taking your own boat, Cow Harbour and South Harbour are the main landing places. There are wardens present on the Calf for most of the year and they will be pleased to help you during your visit. There are areas with restricted access at different times of the year because of breeding birds. Please consult local notices or the wardens for guidance. You may need extra warm and weather-proof clothing, food and drink. Visitors are welcome on the Calf but you are asked to observe the simple rules for the protection of its wildlife. Large parties should always consult the wardens about any particularly sensitive areas. Please note that there are no toilet facilities for day visitors. Remember that the Calf is remote and if there is an emergency, help on the island is limited, although wardens can communicate. Despite being so close, the inhabitants of the Calf can be cut off for long periods by bad weather. Visitors who find that there are difficulties leaving the Calf or in trying to re-enter the harbours of Port St Mary or Port Erin occasionally have their stay extended until conditions improve. By most standards the Isle of Man is regarded as pretty small. By most standards - but by the standard of its sibling the Calf of Man - it’s positively massive. This islet off the southern-most tip of the island is just one-and-a-half miles long by around a mile wide and at its highest point rises some 421 feet above sea level. It’s separated from the island by a narrow but treacherous strip of water known as the Calf sound. Many ships have foundered here over the years, most famously the brig "Lily" in 1852. The vessel had lost some of her sails in terrific winds and ran aground near Kitterland - a patch of rock between the island and the Calf.
Over hundreds of years of its habitation it has enjoyed a variety of owners and tenants dating back centuries. Records of it appear in Elizabethan times and there’s evidence that in the 17th Century an associate of Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon hid on the Calf for three years in order to avoid being sent to the Tower of London for allegedly taking bribes. Agriculture in earnest began in the 18th Century and to this day you can still see the ribbed traces of the old style "lazy bed" cultivation. Sheep have been grazed there for hundreds of years and the rare Manx Loaghtan breed is still present. This attractive brown-fleeced breed is recognisable by its horns on both ewe and ram and the Calf may have been their last bastion had foot and mouth spread to the Isle of Man during the outbreak a few years ago. However cows, which amazingly were once swum across from the Sound to the aptly named Cow Harbour, haven't been present for some time. The Calf passed to the British Crown in 1828. It was permanently inhabited up until the first half of the last century when it was handed to the National Trust. It’s now owned by the Manx National Trust and comes under the care of Manx National Heritage. Its history has left it with a motley collection of interesting buildings. The bird wardens who live full time on the Calf during the summer months live in an old farmhouse dating back to 1878. They now enjoys splendid isolation as the lighthouse keepers, who also used to be resident, left several years ago following the automation of the existing light. Whilst there may be no keepers, there's no shortage of lighthouses. Two splendid old towers date from 1818, whilst the squat modern design and it's now disused accommodation, was constructed in 1968. Not surprisingly perhaps, there is also no shortage of birds. Whilst bizarrely the Calf has had its own postage stamps, one thing it has never had, is a pub. Perhaps this is what drove a warden in recent times to try and make wood sage wine during his tenure. The resultant drink was, from all accounts, suitable for "laying down" and it's added rather ruefully "never picking up again".
