Two commemorative plaques have been unveiled to mark the 40th anniversary of the Millennium Way walking route.

The right of way was developed in 1979 to celebrate 1,000 years of Tynwald.

It 28.5-mile route is between Sky Hill, Ramsey, and Castletown harbour.

The plaques, made by the Isle of Man Sawmill, have been installed at both the start and end of the Millennium Way.

Laurence Skelly MHK, Minister for Enterprise, said: ’The Isle of Man is a truly unique place to live, work and visit.

’We are incredibly lucky to have some of the finest walking routes in the British Isles, which offer breath-taking views of our beautiful landscapes as well as providing the perfect environment to switch off while getting active.

’Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Millennium Way allows us to reflect upon our unique heritage and culture which led to us being awarded this prestige accolade.’

He added what he called the island’s ’walking product’ was part of his department’s strategy for enticing more tourists.

’The commitment to develop the Millennium Way and other key routes such as the Raad ny Foillan is a vital part of this and we welcome the opportunity to work with the Department of Infrastructure to fulfil this development,’ he said.

Ray Harmer MHK, Minister for Infrastructure, said: ’We have been working closely with Visit Isle of Man [the agency that promotes tourism] to enhance the overall walking experience and ensure this matches expectations for both visitors and residents alike.

’Considerable work has been carried out by highways services teams to replace all the waymarker signage and improve the boardwalks and paths along the Millennium Way.

’The 40th anniversary is a fitting time to celebrate this iconic route and remind islanders, particularly, of its important cultural significance. We often overlook features which are on our own doorstep and I’d encourage more to get out and enjoy the Millennium Way as well as the many routes which make up our footpath network.’

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Visit Isle of Man, has updated its Millennium Way Geotrail Passport, an initiative using Global Positioning System (GPS) to guide walkers along the route in search of 46 specific locations.

For more information on the Millennium Way trail and to download the Millennium Way Passport, visit: www.visitisleofman.com/walking