Bradda Hill

Rising steeply above the coastal village of Port Erin, this rugged Marilyn offers some of the most dramatic maritime scenery in the Irish Sea. The ascent follows winding paths through gorse and heather to the iconic Milner’s Tower, providing spectacular views across the bay towards the Calf of Man.

• •The name 'Bradda' likely derives from the Old Norse word 'brattr', meaning steep, a reference to the precipitous cliffs that drop vertically into the Irish Sea on the hill’s western flank.
• •The summit is home to Milner's Tower, built in 1871 to honour philanthropist William Milner; the Gothic revival structure is uniquely designed with a ground plan in the shape of a keyhole.
• •Below the summit paths lie the remains of the Bradda Head mines, where lead and copper were extracted from the cliff faces in challenging conditions from the 17th century until 1874.
• •On a clear day, the summit provides a strategic vantage point to see the Mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland and the peaks of Snowdonia in Wales across the water.
• •While the 233-metre height suggests a gentle stroll, the prevailing coastal winds and steep gradient from Surby can make a summit flask of tea feel like a hard-earned luxury.