Laxey is a picturesque village which tumbles steeply down the narrow valley of the Laxey River on the east coast of the Isle of Man midway between the island capital of Douglas and Ramsey. The village is most famous by being home to Lady Isabella, more commonly known as the Great Laxey Wheel, supposedly the largest Waterwheel ever built. It was constructed to pump water out of the mines deep in the valley, from which Lead, Copper, Silver and Iron ores were mined for over a century. The village is also the starting point for the Snaefell Mountain Railway, which climbs up to the summit of the island from a shared station with the Manx Electric Railway, a tramway from Douglas to Ramsey.
Old Laxey Hill, the B1
The A2 is the main road through the village, it too connecting Douglas with Ramsey. It maintains its height above sea level, curving deep inland to cross the river before heading back out to the coast once more. The B1 takes a more direct route through the village, plunging steeply down the valley sides on either side, with the B58 climbing up by the river to the A2 near its bridge. There are also three short, and largely unneccessary, B roads down at the harbour, while the B11 climbs up the hill to the north.
Another route, the C38 heads further up the valley from the A2, climbing past the Great Laxey Wheel to reach Agneash, from where a rough track leads up to the remains of the Snaefell Mine, hidden in a fold of the hills below Snaefell itself.
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