St Johns brings together a distinctive heritage site and a large park and arboretum. Tynwald Hill represents the history of gathering places; in Tynwald National Park and Arboretum, trees, a pond and broad vistas shape the landscape. When planning your trip, you can choose a clear focus: if you are interested in the history of public assemblies, head for the hill; if tree species, views and the park’s features matter more to you, explore the green space.
A park with expansive views and varied features
Tynwald National Park and Arboretum is in St Johns and covers more than 25 acres. A purpose-built shelter with a picnic area offers panoramic views west towards the sea and south across the church and village to tree-covered Slieau Whallian. The arboretum is home to ornamental and native tree species, as well as trees from the 17 Manx parishes. The grounds thus combine a landscaped collection of trees with a specific viewpoint.
A large pond, where visitors can feed the ducks, and a children’s playground add to the park. Those mainly interested in trees will find a different aspect from visitors spending time by the pond; the picnic area and playground offer their own places to stop, too.
Tynwald Hill and its assembly tradition
Tynwald Hill is about 12 feet high and is thought to consist of mounds of stones combined with earth from all 17 ancient parishes of the Isle of Man. As a registered Thing site, the hill is associated with early Viking assembly sites throughout northern Europe. This places it in a wider Nordic context; alongside its visible form, the assembly tradition is an important point of cultural and historical reference.
Its history also includes accounts with varying degrees of certainty: the hill is said to have been built in the 13th century; it is thought that Norse Vikings introduced the annual outdoor ceremony. The ceremony takes place each year on 5 July. If this date is important to your trip, check the dates for the specific year of travel. This keeps the recurring ceremony date clearly distinct from the cautiously worded historical interpretation.
Gardens and countryside nearby
Garey ny Cloie Gardens, in the vicinity of St Johns, offer another cultural and landscape perspective. For many decades, the gardens served as the headquarters of the forestry professionals on the Isle of Man. Parking is available opposite the main entrance; the grounds are open to pedestrians year-round. Check the current conditions before your visit, especially if access is important to your plans.
Nearby, woodland stretches along the eastern slope of Slieau Whallian, and the Foxdale River flows through Garey ny Cloie. The gardens bring their own forestry history to a visit, while the slope and river add other landscape features to the area. Alongside the park’s trees and the view from the shelter, you can also choose to explore a wooded slope and a river.
A possible stop along the way
The Heritage Trail follows the old steam railway line from Douglas to Peel. A stop for refreshments is suggested in St Johns. If you include the trail in your trip plans, you can consider this suggestion as a separate element alongside the town’s cultural and landscape features.
Discover more destinations: Andreas, Ballasalla, Onchan, Douglas, Port Erin, Laxey.
Return to the main travel overview: Isle Of Man.
