Recently I took a week off work for my summer holidays. I went to the Isle of Man with my parents for 4 days on the second weekend in August; and a few days after returning home I went on another holiday, this time by myself to Newquay, a popular seaside town on the north coast of Cornwall, in southwest England. This time away from work and the busyness of my regular routine gave me the opportunity to press the pause button, relax, reset and repeat!
I certainly did this during my trip to the Isle of Man. This was my fourth visit to this beautiful island in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, known for its rugged coastline, medieval castles and rural mountainous landscape.I had planned this holiday six months ago, and as I wanted to surprise my parents I booked a modern self-catering apartment in the rural village of Glen Vine, a quiet countryside retreat which was perfect for a truly relaxing getaway.
We had the opportunity of attending the Royal Manx Agricultural Show on the Saturday which was a celebration of Manx life and tradition, and a great day out with a huge range of craft and trade exhibitors. We also visited the seaside town of Peel, where St Patrick’s Isle is located. St Patrick’s association with the Isle of Man is thought to date back to 444 and it’s estimated that a monastery existed there from at least the eighth century AD.
Port Erin is a beautiful seaside village in the south-west of the Isle of Man, renowned for its golden-white sandy beach and excellent bathing waters, situated in a sheltered bay while the village’s promenade runs high above the seafront.These were picturesque places to relax and unwind with no stress, having a picnic lunch in the pleasant weather by the sea where the peace is.
There was also an opportunity to visit Ramsey and Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, for Vigil Mass for Sunday at St Mary of the Isle, [Co-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Liverpool] and a Walking tour with a certified local guide, visiting iconic landmarks, hearing personal stories and exploring hidden corners along the way. Rest is a necessity when you are away so there were plenty of gentle strolls, coffee stops and relaxing meals during the stay.
I always find the Isle of Man so refreshing to visit. Only 30 minutes flight time from Dublin it really is literally on our doorstep. I purchased a few small souvenirs while I was there, and was particular struck by one of them an A6 framed mini-sketch of the island with the slogan ‘Gem of God’s Earth‘. Having visited the island for my summer holiday since 2023 I echo these sentiments – I have had so many peaceful moments there that I long to return again and again.
My visit to Newquay in Cornwall for the second part of my holiday coincided with the warm weather spell where daytime temperatures reached an average of around 23°C to 24°C. The atmosphere was buzzing in this lively seaside town when I arrived. I gathered with the crowds to watch the partial solar eclipse, which was one of the best places to view the eclipse, a magnitude of 0.9554 was visible when the 95.20% of Sun’s surface was covered by the Moon.
For the remainder of my stay in Newquay I took some relaxation time to retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and simply check in with myself, and chill out. I went on scenic walks along the coast, sunbathed on Fistral beach, Newquay’s iconic beach, and took time to relax in some of the many cafés, bars and restaurants dotted a long the high street. I brought my journal with me and some reading material and I was able to attend Mass on two of the days.
When I think of holidays I sometimes I think of the term ‘holy days‘ because holy days of obligation in the Catholic Church are meant to be days when we attend Mass, and rest from work and recreation. Personally I have found that my holidays have helped me to slow down and rest from work and activity, and restore the spiritual equilibrium which is very much part of my holistic wellbeing. I like to journey towards the still point – suaimhneas – inner peace.
