Niarbyl Fault
At low tide.
Zairon — CC BY 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY 4.0 · Richard Hoare — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Andy Stephenson — CC BY-SA 2.0
Niarbyl is a rocky point on the south-west coast of the Isle of Man, between Port Erin and Peel, about 9 km in a straight line north of Port Erin. Its name means «the tail» in the island's language, for the way it stretches out into the Irish Sea. It is known for a rare geological fault near the shore, the Niarbyl Fault, which marks the line where two ancient continents met after an old ocean called Iapetus closed hundreds of millions of years ago. At low tide visitors can stand on the rocks and see the boundary between the two different kinds of rock. Old thatched fishermen's cottages look over the bay, one of which appeared in the 1998 film «Waking Ned». The point looks out over the sea and the Calf of Man, the mountains of Ireland show on clear days, and above it are a café and visitor centre. The visit is free. The rocks on the shore are slippery, so wear suitable shoes; low tide is best for seeing the fault, and the coast path passes by.
At low tide.
Thatched roofs.
On clear days.
Dalby, Isle of Man
It marks where two ancient continents met.
Yes, and a visitor centre.