It’s the most striking landmark in the sunset city and Peel Castle will today bring in the new dawn as the island’s heritage sites begin to reopen.

Manx National Heritage announced the reopening of the castle this week and Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly told the House of Keys preparations to open Castle Rushen are under way.

Peel Castle, a predominantly open air site, lends itself well to providing a socially-distanced visit, making it the ideal site to open first.

Director of Manx National Heritage, Edmund Southworth, said: ’Our top priority in planning the re-opening of our visitor sites is the safety of our staff and visitors. We have followed government advice and learnt from the experiences of visitor and heritage organisations around the world.

’From this Friday [today], local residents will be able to enjoy the beauty and majesty of Peel Castle once more.

’Whilst we know it now as St Patrick’s Isle people have lived there for thousands of years and its special location means it has been used as a Christian monastery, a Viking King’s palace, a medieval castle and cathedral, and a coastal fort in both the Civil War and the Napoleonic War.

’It’s a place steeped in Manx history but it’s also a great place just to go for a walk, enjoy the fresh air and watch the local wildlife.’

A limit on visitor numbers, hand sanitisation points around the site, social distancing and hygiene reminder notices, enhanced cleaning regimes and PPE for staff are amongst the measures that will be taken at the site.

There will also be additional staff on site to manage this and to provide a reassuring presence for visitors.

Mr Skelly informed MHKs this week that work is under way to allow for the reopening of sites in the south of the island.

He was responding to Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew), who asked for an update on when the Manx National Heritage sites in his constituency would be reopening.

He said: ’I’m sure the honourable member will be pleased to know that Rushen Abbey and Castle Rushen are high on the list and MNH will keep the public updated as their much loved sites are reopened.’

Mr Moorhouse said that opening the sites would be beneficial both for the local economy and for parents looking to find new topics to teach their children during home schooling.

The Minister said: ’We should all enjoy our MNH sites and I should just remind everyone that even though those sites have been closed and remain closed, there are many ancient monuments and sites that should be visited.’

Peel Castle is open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm.