Ward & Lock's descriptive and pictorial guide to the Isle of Man ...

Injchrcck— Spooijt Vane, cC-c. 79Injebreckis soon reached. The distance from Douglas is about eightmiles, and we are well rewarded by the beautiful views to beobtained in tliis secluded spot, the sceneiy of which, for quietand secluded loveliness, is hardly to be eqiialled anywherein Moua. It is here that the river Glass rises.A mountain road leads to Kirk Michael and the northernvalleys of the island, and from this road the mountains ofCan-aghan and Bein-y-Phot may be ascended. Those who feelindisposed to undergo the fatigiie of ascending these heightsmay confine their ramble to the top of the j)ass betweenthose of Greeba and CaiTaghan. This involves a walk ofscarcely a mile, and the trouble is amply repaid by themagnificent view, which on clear days includes the northernand western sea and a portion of the distant shores ofScotland.But to-day we have no time for mountain climbing, muchas we long to scale one or more of those by which we aresuiTounded. So, registering a vow to retm-n to this spotsome fine day, and then gratify our iucliiiatiou, we walk forabout a mile and a half from this to the top of the hill, whichis so steep that a loaded car seldom, if ever, attempts theascent. (Jn our way up we pass through one or two mountaingates. "When we reach the summit, we keep on tothe left until we come to the junction of another road on theleft, which leads us to Eirk Michael, where, having put upour horse, to rest and feed till the evening, and ordered agood meal to be ready on our return, we sally forth to findthe waterfall ofSpooyt Vane,one of the principal objects of our excursion to-day, thewalk to which is enjoyable and not too long.Leaving the inn, we tm-n to the left, and proceed for ashort distance until we haA^e two roads before us. We takethe one to the right, and soon drop down into Glen Wyllan("miller's dale"), through which a tolerable stream passes.We go straight on for about half a mile, and then take theroad to our right, until we arrive at a stone bridge close tothe sea, underneath which runs the Spooyt Vane stream.After leaving the bridge we follow the stream tmtil we cometo the waterfall, or Spooyt Vane (" white spout "), fromwhich the river derives its name. The fall is by far thehighest in the island, but it is almost entu-ely neglected bythe tourist, who rarely tturns aside to see it, on his journey