I explored the beautiful place with creepy buildings, incredible wildlife and amazing views

Many of us will have been to Langness at some point, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll have been drawn straight to Fort Island.

The appeal of Derby Fort and its chapel makes it easy to neglect the other side of this fascinating peninsula.

But if you go there, try turning right towards the lighthouse and you will be rewarded. If you have time, it is of course perfectly possible to admire the entire area in one visit.

Last week I decided to focus on the right side of Langness. To extend the walk, I parked in the car park not far after coming in from Derbyhaven. But you can drive on to a parking lot fairly close to the lighthouse.

Once parked, I headed along the course which was initially surrounded by golf holes. But soon the views improve and you can look across the bay to Castletown, with King William’s College and Castle Rushen clearly visible.

After a short distance there is an eerie looking, dilapidated building, possibly a farm or connected to mining, and opposite is a memorial to the Manx ornithologist Henry Madoc.

During my walk I was accompanied by the haunting but beautiful call of the curlew, while I also saw oystercatchers and other wading birds foraging at low tide. There is a wealth of habitats here with salt marshes, grasslands, rock pools and seaweed-strewn coastline.

Then I arrived at the entrance to the Area of ​​Special Scientific Interest and a tower in the distance immediately caught my attention.

I walked along the woven paths to the tower. To my surprise you could get inside with a little climbing.

An even bigger surprise were the stone steps that spiraled up to the top, but they were very narrow, uneven, eroded and smooth looking. I’m not one to overdo health and safety, but I was quite shocked at the easy access to something quite dangerous.

I thought it was just foolishness, but later I learned that it was called the Herring Tower and actually played an important role as a landmark to warn ships of the dangerous rocks nearby.

Then I went to the lighthouse which looks pristine. Unfortunately you can’t go inside, but there is a path around the perimeter.

I walked to the rocks and was rewarded with a beautiful view of the many seals taking a breather there. There must have been dozens of them, but I made sure to keep my distance and not disturb them.

I then came across some fascinating circular structures that resembled Stone Age hot tubs, with six of them in a row. I later discovered that they were gun emplacements built during World War II.

There was also a curious stone structure, a building within a building. It turned out to be an explosives store with a double wall for protection.

I went as far as I could along the coast, but the country became very gorged and difficult to navigate.

I had two more great encounters with wild animals. There was a heron standing stately near the shore and on the way back I also saw one of the largest rabbits I have ever seen and no, it was not a hare! It reminded me of General Woundwort from Watership Down.

When I returned, I was intrigued by an arch to investigate, but it meant plowing through seaweed.

That was my last distraction before heading back to the car. What I thought would be a 40-minute walk turned into a fascinating two-hour adventure.