Review by John Watterson:

None of us need reminding of how fortunate we are living in one of the most scenic areas of the British Isles.

But the view of the island we generally see least is from the air.

A 100-minute DVD has recently been filmed and compiled by Duke Aerial Productions.

It is all new footage using the latest drone technology, narrated by John Moss.

Described as the ’gem at the heart of the Irish Sea’, the island is indeed quite beautiful from any perspective, but particularly stunning from an altitude of several hundred feet.

The airborne camera soars above the half-moon crescent of Douglas Bay, homing-in on iconic buildings like the Castle Mona Hotel, the Villa-Gaiety complex and the House of Keys ’wedding cake’.

The Isle of Man from the Air includes many historical facts and statistics, including the ill-fated breakwater at Port Erin wrecked during its construction, the two sister lighthouses on the Calf of Man built in the late 1700s, and the tragic story of Brig Lily which foundered on Kitterland in December 1852 and was shortly later destroyed by a huge explosion, killing 29 local men who were working on the salvage.

There is interesting footage of the Point of Ayre, overhead shots of this year’s Cyclefest event leaving Milntown Estate, an insight into the lead and zinc mining at Laxey and truly wonderful images of our very own purple-headed mountain.

There are rarely-seen images of Killabrega Farm high above the Sulby valley, Groudle Glen and Manx Electric Railways, the Curraghs wetlands, Bride hills, coastal erosion at Kirk Michael, Peel Castle, the natural fortress at Cronk Sumark and the fortifications of nearby Kerroggarroo built during the Earl of Derby’s rule.

The Isle of Man from the Air is available from local DVD stockists or directly via Duke Productions - www.dukevideo.com

You can win a copy.

See a competition in the joint Isle of Man Examiner and Manx Independent, which is on sale now.