Calf of Man

2025-10-30T21:36:52Z

2001:14BB:C6:755:10C8:C28D:A3F5:7E62:

{{Short description|Island off the coast of the Isle of Man}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Calf of Man
| native_name = Yn Cholloo
| pushpin_map = Isle of Man
| native_name_lang= glv
| image_name = Calf of Man.jpg
| image_caption = The Calf of Man with [[Chicken Rock]]
|coordinates={{Coord|54|03|10|N|4|49|13|W|display=ti|region:IM_type:isle}}
| location = [[Isle of Man]]
| highest_mount = Bushell's House on Or Vooar <ref>[https://manxnationalheritage.im/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Calf-of-Man-Map.pdf] {{dead link|date=October 2021}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 128
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.enschrage.nl/lh/isleofman/calf_of_man.html | title=Calf of Man }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.themountainguide.co.uk/isle-of-man/calf-of-man.htm | title=Calf of Man | Isle of Man }}</ref>
| area_ha = 250
| population = 2 (March to November)
| density_km2 = 1.2
}}

'''Calf of Man''' ({{langx|gv|Yn Cholloo}} {{IPA|gv|ə ˈxɑːlu|}})<ref>{{Cite book|last=Broderick|first=George|title=A Handbook of Late Spoken Manx|publisher=Max Niemeyer|year=1984|isbn=|volume=2: Dictionary|location=Tübingen|pages=518}}</ref> is a {{convert|618|acre|km2|adj=mid|order=flip}} island, off the southwest coast of the [[Isle of Man]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manxnationalheritage.im/attractions/the-sound-and-calf-of-man/|title=Places to visit: Calf of Man|publisher=Manx National Heritage|access-date=25 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619030823/http://www.manxnationalheritage.im/attractions/the-sound-and-calf-of-man/|archive-date=19 June 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/isleofman/content/articles/2005/10/07/calf_of_man_feature.shtml|title=Calf of Man explored (archived)|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manxnationalheritage.im/explore-the-island/places-to-visit/coast-countryside/|title=Coast & countryside|publisher=Manx National Heritage|access-date=25 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518050537/http://www.manxnationalheritage.im/explore-the-island/places-to-visit/coast-countryside/|archive-date=18 May 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It is separated from the Isle of Man by a narrow stretch of water called the [[Calf Sound]].

Like the nearby rocky islets of [[Chicken Rock]] and [[Kitterland]], it is part of the historic parish of [[Rushen]] and the current parish district of [[Arbory and Rushen]]. It has only two seasonal inhabitants. The word 'calf' derives from the [[Old Norse]] word ''kalfr'', which means a small island lying near a larger one. One can reach the Calf of Man by boat from either [[Port Erin]] or [[Port St Mary]]. Cow Harbour and South Harbour are the main landing places. The highest part of the island is in the west where an unnamed peak reaches {{cvt|415|ft|m|order=flip}} above [[sea level]].

Until 1939, the island was under private ownership by the Keig family, but the island was purchased by Mr F. J. Dickens of [[Silverdale, Lancashire|Silverdale]], [[Lancashire]], who then donated it to the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] for it to become a bird sanctuary. In 1951, the Manx Museum & National Trust, which became known as [[Manx National Heritage]], was established. Manx National Heritage then rented the Calf from the National Trust for a nominal £1 per year, until 1986, when ownership was transferred. In 2006 Manx National Heritage employed the charity [[Manx Wildlife Trust]] as the Calf Warden Service Provider, but it retains ownership.

The island has been a [[bird observatory]] since 1959, and welcomes visits from volunteers and [[ornithologists]]. The observatory is able to accommodate up to eight visitors in basic self-catering accommodation, which can be booked through Manx National Heritage.

[[File:Calf of Man, Lower Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 725406.jpg|thumb|left|Calf of Man, Lower Lighthouse. One of two built by Robert Stevenson in 1818 to steer ships clear of Chicken Rock; now disused.]]
The Calf of Man and its offshore rocks have no fewer than four [[lighthouses]]: two lighthouses were built in 1818 under the [[Isle of Man and Calf of Man Lighthouses Act 1815]] ([[55 Geo. 3]]. c. lxvii) by [[Robert Stevenson (civil engineer)|Robert Stevenson]] to warn mariners of the hazards of the [[Chicken Rock]] off the south end of the Calf. These were replaced in 1875 by a lighthouse built on the Chicken Rock itself. In 1968, a third lighthouse was built on the Calf after a severe fire destroyed the Chicken Rock light. The Chicken Rock lighthouse was later rebuilt.<ref>Coakley, F. (2001) [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/maritime/lighthse/lh_calf.htm Calf of Man Lights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016172619/http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/maritime/lighthse/lh_calf.htm |date=16 October 2006 }} and [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/maritime/lighthse/lh_crock.htm Chicken Rock Light] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010050502/http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/maritime/lighthse/lh_crock.htm |date=10 October 2007 }}, both in: ''A Manx Notebook: An electronic compendium of matters past and present connected with the Isle of Man''. Retrieved 14 May 2007</ref> There are two minor, unfenced roads on the island, and two very short streams.

Between the Isle of Man and the Calf is the islet of [[Kitterland]], while the islets of The Burroo and The Stack lie close to the Calf's shore. The southern shore of the island encloses a small bay called The Puddle. Almost a mile southwest of the Calf is Chicken Rock, the most southerly part of the Isle of Man's territory.

Calf of Man is home to a breeding population of [[Manx shearwater]]s, a seabird which derives its name from its presence in Manx waters. The Calf of Man also has a large colony of [[grey seal|seals]] which live and breed on the rocky coastline.

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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Calf of Man}}
* [http://www.isleofman.com/places-to-visit/coast/islands/calf-of-man/ Information about the Calf of Man] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203101746/http://www.isleofman.com/places-to-visit/coast/islands/calf-of-man/ |date=3 December 2020 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160626150846/http://www.manxnationalheritage.im/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Calf-of-Man-Visitor-Information-2016.pdf Calf of Man Bird Observatory]

{{United Kingdom constituents and affiliations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Islands of the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Calves (islands)]]
[[Category:Lighthouses completed in 1818]]
[[Category:Lighthouses in the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Works of Robert Stevenson (civil engineer)]]
[[Category:Rushen (parish)]]

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Calf of Man