Isle of Man Tourist Information & Attractions

Isle of Man Events, Exhibitions & Shows for 2011

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Isle of Man Holidays / Isle of Man Tourist Information / Onchan

Onchan

The name Onchan was derived from Kirk Coonachan, a church named after a Celtic Saint in the village. Once a tiny village, Onchan has grown into the second largest populated area on the Island with a population of over 9,000. It is often thought to be part of Douglas due to its close proximity and therefore thousands live here who work in and around the Douglas area. Three Manx national glens: Groudle Glen, Molly Quirk's Glen and Bibaloe Walk are located within the boundaries of Onchan. All provide pleasant and delightful leafy walks, with the largest, Groudle Glen, developed in the 1890's and featuring hundreds of trees; it extends all the way to the coast. Described as one of the most spectacular glens on the Isle of Man, The Groudle Glen Railway is also based here, run by local railway enthusiasts, and well worth a visit.

The Onchan Wetlands, a Manx Wildlife Trust reserve is another delightful attraction, set within one acre grounds and only a couple of minutes walk from the shopping centre. Featuring nearly one hundred species of plants ranging from wetland to woodland varieties, it includes: marsh marigold, yellow flag, reed canary grass, hemlock water-dropwort, woody nightshade and cuckoo flower. Onchan's most famous attraction is the Onchan Pleasure Park, built in 1951 and the first stadium with a banked cycle track.