For bikers, the Isle of Man is as close as it gets to sacred ground. The TT is legendary – unique, spectacular, in your blood if you are that way inclined and anyone who is drawn to watch it, live it, breathe it most certainly is. Everyone is riding the tail of a tiger and we all know that is an endangered species.

But as aficionados know, the Island not only hosts the TT races, it also holds the Southern 100 on the Billown Circuit (a stone’s throw from us here at Upper Ballavarkish) which provides a very particular type of adrenaline buzz, and the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, an unmissable series of events for all bike lovers.

For bikers, this little jewel of an island set in the Irish Sea is just about as close to heaven as you can get. There is nowhere else on earth like it.

This year’s landmark events

• 26-29 May 2017: Blackford Pre-TT Classic Races on the 4.25 mile Billown Circuit
• 27 May – 9 June 2017: TT races and qualifying – elite road racing combined with all the fun of the festival (for more information contact iomtt.com)
• 10 June 2017: Radcliffe Butchers Post-TT road races on the 4.25 mile Billown Circuit
• 10-13 July 2017: Southern 100 Motorcycle Races when the stars of the TT return to the Island for this spectacular meet held over the 4.25 mile Billown Course (for more information contact southern100.com)
• 26–30 July 2017: Manx Heritage Transport Festival which showcases steam, electric and mountain railways as well as vintage cars, motorbikes and buses (more information from iombusandrail.info)
• 19 August – 3 September 2017: Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling which brings together five of the biggest events in the motorcycle calendar: the Manx Grand Prix, Classic TT, Manx Classic Trial, Manx 2 Day Trial, and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (more information from iomfom.com)