Isle of Man ferry - Liverpool or Heysham

[ChapmanFarm]

I've just booked the Isle of Man for Easter.

I now need to book the ferry. We'll be foot passengers as getting the train from Scotland but will probably visit family in Manchester first.

Can't decide if I'm better going from Heysham or Liverpool. The Heysham time outbound looks a bit better and I've read it's a newer vessel but Liverpool is quicker.

Would anyone who makes the journey regularly recommended one over the other?

Any other visiting tips also welcome. Keen to explore as much as possible.

The train from Manchester to Lancaster is unreliable. You would the either change to Morecambe or get a bus and at some point need a taxi to the port.

Thanks. Yes not the best route on public transport although I'd probably be able to get a lift as have family not too far away if that makes any difference.

I'm thinking Liverpool but just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything.

Unless you want a day to visit Lancaster (lots of lovely stuff to see) then I would do Liverpool. Is a return cheaper or can you split? Just thinking it would shorten the home journey on the train from Heysham. Well possibly!

I have considered one of each. But I think I might split the journey as can stay over and by the time you add in the Morecambe leg, it doesn't save a huge amount of time even though it's further north.

Liverpool arrives late and is a bit of a waste of a day but equally not sure I want hours waiting to get into accommodation.

I always put myself off with the logistics so I've just booked it to force myself to sort it out!

Both are fine, the heysham boat is bigger and better in bad weather, you hardly notice a heavy sea, but prone to cancellations if the weather is in the wrong direction to get it into port. It’s really too big for the route. But lovely boat. Foot passenger from heysham isn’t great unless you’ve got a lift. They do put on coaches if there are delays. The royal in heysham is a nice stop if you have a lift arranged.

The Liverpool boat is usually the fast craft, the mannanan, horrible in rough seas but great and fast on a lovely day.

six of one and half a dozen of the other really, they are very good at letting you change tickets, timings and boats, up until the last minute really, especially if the weather is bad.

I do the crossing regularly and from either boat you’ll often see dolphins. I’d mostly do Liverpool as a foot passenger.

Let me know if you want to know anything else about the Isle of Man. It’s a beautiful place.

Thanks so much @bumphousebump . That's really helpful.

Good to know about changing tickets as well. I like to just get things booked so I can plan around it but then you sometimes tie yourself to the wrong thing!

Any suggestions for things to do once there always welcome. I was looking at the travel tickets as have a train mad child who would also be keen on a tram.