A number of island farms and rural retreats offering self-catering accommodation for visitors have been experiencing a surge in bookings.

Derek and Jane Cain have five shepherds’ huts on their farm, Glendown, in Port St Mary.

The huts, built by Derek’s brother, David ’Spud’ Cain, can each sleep a family of four, two adults and two children.

A modern purpose-built block nearby houses showers, toilets, kitchen and a sitting area for visitors’ use.

They also have facilities for campervans and up to 15 tents including pre-erected tents: a bell tent and an air tent (a tent that uses inflatable beams).

Jane says: ’Our first full year with the huts, in 2019, there wasn’t very much local business apart from when there was something on in Port Erin.

’But then in 2020 we started to get locals coming, for the shepherds’ huts mainly, and this year they’ve all brought campervans and we’ve had quite a lot of tents too.’

Derek reckons that the lockdowns may even have been a long-term asset to the business as many locals discoevred the joys of taking a rural break in the island.

The family is already kept busy with the farming side of the business. They have 80 milking cows, Swedish Reds crossed with Holstein Friesians and 250 sheep, all looked after by Derek and son Will.

Jane is in charge of the cleaning and laundry for the shower and kitchen block and the shepherds’ huts and daughter, Nicola, who is a teacher, also helps out when she can.

The Cains also have a holiday cottage on the farm, which is now run by Island Escapes, who find the bookings and do all the cleaning and laundry.

Looking at their website, many of their rural properties appear to be booked up solidly right through the summer.

John Keggin of Island Escapes says: ’Things are busy. We’re about 50/50 with staycations and off-island visitors, but demand from off island is very strong and we now don’t have many options left for visitors.

’I think there is a lot of pent up demand, together with the British staycation market being so strong.

’One thing of particular note is the volume of bookings we are seeing for next year from off island, even at this early stage. That is very encouraging.’

The Anderson family at Knockaloe Beg Farm have a five-bedroom bed and breakfast accommodation unit, three self catering cottages and two glamping pods. There are also five hot tubs for guests’ use.

Fiona says: ’The glamping pods are the most popular thing with island guests - anything with a hot tub goes really quickly.’

After dealing with staycation visitors during the lockdown, Fiona reports that UK bookings and now on the increase.

She adds that the island’s border rules stating that visitors must be vaccinated have been a mixed blessing.

She says: ’One lady told me: "That’s why we’re coming to the Isle of Man because you will only allow people in who are vaccinated" but a couple of families with children around 20 who have not yet been vaccinated have had to cancel their bookings.

’Lots of our old faithful guests from across are coming back though.’