Travel off island has been severely restricted this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic meaning many of us have had a good old fashioned ’staycation’.

This has left most of us exploring the island in a lot more depth than we normally would and having to find things to keep ourselves entertained.

So we asked the public to tell us what their favourite activity or hidden gem is in the island.

Colin Dutton of Douglas has been scouring the rockpools in the south with his children.

He said: ’There’s plenty of places around the island that you can go and take the nets and some buckets to try and catch some of the small sea life with the kids.

’We’ve caught a few crabs and uncovered a few starfish as well hidden under some of the rocks.’

His top tip is to make sure to get to the rockpools as soon as the tide goes out otherwise the seagulls will get to the sealife first!

Rebecca Warrillier-Grant, 41 found her favourite hidden gem, Blue Point beach, by accident.

’It’s one I found by accident. It’s just nice, because there’s nobody there and it’s really pretty and kind of reminds me of New England in America, like I’m watching The Goonies.’

Her mother, Margaret Lawler of Castletown, told us that she likes driving up the Sloc and watching the birds and although she hasn’t been recently, she remembers ’dragging’ her children up there when they were younger.

Oscar Kenny, doesn’t think that Douglas’s nightlife has much to offer him but he has plenty of ideas on how to improve it, including building an overhead glass roof over Strand Street so shops and bars can stay open late.

He added: ’This whole island is beautiful.

’You’ve just got to open the window and look out. It’s just amazing’

Debbie Faragher, 49, of Peel told us she loves going down to the Sound and going to the cafe there and she also loves going to the waterfall at Glen Maye.

She told us: ’It just reminds me of the past. It’s just so Victorian really isn’t it?

’You go down there and you think it hasn’t changed for hundreds of years and it’s beautiful and peaceful.’

Mike and Joan Buss, both from Douglas, said that they are spoilt for choice when it comes to days out in the island.

Joan said: ’We’re great enthusiasts of the heritage railway, so we’ve been on those, from Ramsey down to Laxey on the open tram and then down to Port Erin [on the steam train].

’We’ve taken part in a few of the days that they’ve had down south.’