Union Mills

Union Mills sits in the parish of Braddan, tucked into the valley of the River Dhoo about three miles inland from Douglas along the A1. It takes its name from the old cotton and wool mills that once stood beside the road, producing 'Union' cloth, and the village grew up around them and the little Norse-named ford that gave the settlement its earlier name of Mullin Doway, 'the mill on the black ford'. Today the mills themselves have mostly gone, but the village retains a settled, leafy character, with the river running close beside the main road and wooded glens climbing the slopes on either side.

What makes Union Mills unusual is that its everyday high street doubles as one of the most demanding sections of the Snaefell Mountain Course. Twice a year, for TT and the Manx Grand Prix, the quick left-right flick through the village becomes one of the most photographed stretches of the 37.73-mile lap, watched by crowds who gather on garden walls and pub forecourts. For the rest of the year it reverts to a peaceful stop on the road between Douglas and Peel, popular with walkers following the river and cyclists heading out along the old railway trackbed.

Top things to do in Union Mills

Union Mills is a small village, but its position on the TT course, beside the River Dhoo and within easy reach of Douglas gives visitors plenty to fill a stay.

• Watch the racing at Union Mills — during TT and the Manx Grand Prix, the village becomes one of the best-loved viewing points on the Mountain Course, with a fast, technical left-right sequence that separates the confident from the cautious.
• River Dhoo fishing and footpaths — the river running through the village holds brown trout, sea trout and salmon, and a public footpath along the old Heritage Trail follows the water for well over a mile down towards Braddan Bridge.
• Union Mills railway station site — the former Isle of Man Railway station here opened in 1873 on the Douglas to Peel line; although passenger services on that branch ended in the 1960s, the trackbed is now part of a popular walking and cycling route.
• The Railway Inn — the village pub, with a garden that becomes a prime TT vantage point in race season and a proper local the rest of the year.
• Quarterbridge — a short walk or drive towards Douglas, this road junction marks the start of the TT course proper and is a good spot to see racers pick up speed heading out of town.
• National Sports Centre, Douglas — the island's main stadium and leisure complex is only a couple of miles away, useful for a swim or a look at Manx sporting life.
• Manx Heritage Trail to Peel — a glen beside the village gives onto this waymarked walking route, which follows the old railway line all the way from Douglas to Peel on the west coast.
• Douglas town and promenade — the island's capital, with its Victorian seafront, horse tramway and Manx Museum, is a short drive or bus ride away.

Getting to Union Mills

The Isle of Man is reached by sea or air. Isle of Man Ferries sail from Heysham, Liverpool and, seasonally, from Belfast and Dublin, docking at the Sea Terminal in Douglas. Isle of Man Airport at Ronaldsway has regular flights from airports across the UK and Ireland, including Liverpool, Manchester, London and Dublin. From either the ferry terminal or the airport, Union Mills is a short onward journey of around fifteen to twenty minutes by road. The village sits directly on the A1, the main route between Douglas and Peel, so it is easy to reach by car, taxi or the regular Bus Vannin service that runs along the same road. There is no working railway station in the village today, though the Isle of Man Steam Railway's heritage line to Port Erin still runs from Douglas, and the old Peel line trackbed through Union Mills survives as a footpath and cycleway.

Best time to visit Union Mills

Late May and early June bring the Isle of Man TT, when Union Mills is at its busiest and most atmospheric, with racing noise echoing up the valley and the village pubs and gardens packed with spectators. The Manx Grand Prix in late August offers a similar but quieter experience. Outside race periods, summer is the obvious time for walking the river paths and heritage trail in good weather, while spring and autumn suit anyone after a calmer, greener visit, with the glens either side of the village at their best. Winters are mild by UK standards but wet and windy, and many smaller attractions and campsites close for the season.

Where to stay in Union Mills

Union Mills has a small but genuine choice of places to stay, from campsites and glamping to self-catering cottages, with Douglas's wider range of hotels and guesthouses only a few minutes away by car. Staying in the village itself puts you right on the TT course and beside the River Dhoo, with Peel and the west coast easily reached along the A1, and Douglas's shops, restaurants and ferry terminal close at hand for the rest of an island break.

Food and drink in Union Mills

The Railway Inn is the village's own pub, a traditional Manx local with a garden that comes into its own during TT week. There is also a village shop and petrol station for essentials. For a wider choice of restaurants, cafes and bars, Douglas is only a few minutes away by car or bus, with everything from harbourside seafood to casual promenade cafes, while the market town of Peel at the other end of the A1 is known for its kipper houses and fresh seafood, including the long-established Moore's Traditional Curers.