Isle of Man · Historic · Fast sweepers · Loop
Isle of Man TT Mountain Course
Snaefell Mountain Course · A18
- Length
- 60.7 km38 miles
- High point
- 422 m1,385 ft
- Driving time
- 1 hour
- Season
- Year-round (closed for racing in late May–June and August)
- Toll
- Free
- Country
- Isle of Man
The TT course is 37.73 miles of ordinary public road around the north of the Isle of Man: out of Douglas, through Ballacraine, Kirk Michael and Ramsey, then over the shoulder of Snaefell on the A18 and back down to the Grandstand. Outside towns and villages, many of the island's roads have no national speed limit.
The drive
The first two-thirds runs through villages with 30 and 40 mph limits, past the landmarks you know from the onboard footage: Bray Hill, Ballaugh Bridge, Sulby Straight. From the Ramsey Hairpin the road climbs onto the mountain, and from there to Creg-ny-Baa it is open, sweeping and largely derestricted.
The mountain section is made one-way during the TT and Manx Grand Prix fortnights, outside of race sessions. At other times it is two-way, and much quieter.
In your Lotus
The mountain road rewards a car with good high-speed stability and accurate steering more than outright power. Derestricted does not mean unpoliced: dangerous driving is prosecuted, and the road has claimed plenty of confident visitors. The ferry from Heysham or Liverpool has no trouble with low cars, but tell the loading crew about your ground clearance.
Watch out for
- The mountain road is often closed in fog, ice or high wind.
- Roads close for practice and racing during TT (late May to June) and the Manx Grand Prix (August).
- Sheep, cyclists and the Snaefell Mountain Railway crossing at the Bungalow.
