Bus Route 14: Castletown to Douglas via Foxdale - Complete Guide
By Itamar Bareket·
Route 14 is the cross-country link between the south coast and Douglas, running through the island's interior rather than following the coast. While Routes 1 and 2 connect Douglas to the south via the airport road, Route 14 takes a completely different path - heading inland through Foxdale and Ballaughton. It is part of the blue inland corridor (along with Routes 4, 4b, and 4n) and runs 4 trips per day. Routes 14b and 14c (3 trips each) serve a shorter Douglas - Ballaughton - IOM Business Park route.
14
Castletown - Foxdale - Douglas
Castletown → Douglas Lord Street
4 trips per day
Route 14 trips
4 per day
Route 14b/14c
3 trips each (Business Park)
Blue corridor
Part of Routes 4/4b/4n/14/14b/14c
Key Connection
Foxdale (Route 4 to Peel)
Route Overview
Route 14 runs Castletown - Foxdale - Ballaughton - Peel Road - Douglas, heading north through the interior. The bus climbs into the central hills, serves Foxdale, and descends through Ballaughton into Douglas. With only 4 trips per day, planning ahead is essential - the Kivoon app will show you exact departure times and live bus positions.
Key Stops
Castletown is the old capital of the Isle of Man. The town is dominated by Castle Rushen, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe, which stands right in the town centre. The Nautical Museum and the Old House of Keys (the original Manx parliament building) are both worth visiting. Route 14 departs from the bus stops near the main square. From here you can also catch Routes 1, 2, and 12 heading south to Port Erin or north to Douglas via the coast.
After Castletown, the route turns inland, climbing north through open farmland and scattered settlements toward the central hills. This is the quietest stretch of the journey, with views across the island's rolling interior.
Foxdale is the midpoint of Route 14 and the key interchange along the way. Here you can connect to Route 4, which runs west to Peel. This means you can travel from Castletown to Peel by changing at Foxdale, without needing to go through Douglas at all. The connection is not timed, so check both timetables in the Kivoon app before relying on it. Foxdale was once a prosperous mining village. The Great Laxey Mine gets most of the attention, but Foxdale's lead and silver mines were commercially significant well into the late 1800s.
From Foxdale, the bus descends east through Ballaughton, where the route merges with the Route 4 corridor, and continues into Douglas along Peel Road and into the town centre. The bus terminates at Lord Street, where you can connect to any other route in the network.
Route 14 is the only bus service that directly links Castletown with Foxdale and the central interior. If you are staying in the south and want to reach Peel, the Castletown-Foxdale-Peel connection (Route 14 + Route 4) is significantly shorter than going into Douglas and back out again on Route 5. It is also a pleasant ride in its own right. The central part of the island sees far fewer tourists than the coast, and the views from the higher ground between Foxdale and the south give a different perspective on the landscape.
Variants: 14b and 14c
Routes 14b and 14c (3 trips each) run a shorter route: Douglas - Westmoreland Road - Ballaughton - IOM Business Park. Unlike Route 14, they do not continue to Foxdale or Castletown. They serve the business park as their terminus. Check the Kivoon app for exact departure times.
Connecting Routes
In Castletown: Routes 1, 2, and 12 run south to Port Erin and Port St Mary, and north to Douglas via the airport. Route 8 connects Castletown to Peel via the cross-island corridor. At Foxdale: Route 4 heads west to Peel. In Douglas: Lord Street connects to the entire Bus Vannin network.
Planning Tips
Route 14 runs only 4 trips per day, so plan around the timetable rather than turning up and hoping. The Kivoon app shows the full timetable and will notify you when your bus is approaching, so you can wait comfortably rather than standing at the stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Route 14 (Castletown - Foxdale - Douglas) runs 4 trips per day. Routes 14b and 14c (Douglas - Ballaughton - IOM Business Park) each run 3 trips. Because service is limited, check the Kivoon app for exact departure times before heading to the stop.
Yes. At Foxdale, you can transfer from Route 14 to Route 4, which runs west to Peel. This lets you travel from Castletown to Peel without going through Douglas. The connection is not timed, so check both timetables in the Kivoon app before relying on it.
Route 1 connects Castletown to Douglas via the coast road and the airport. Route 14 takes an inland path through Foxdale and Ballaughton. Route 1 has many more daily trips and is the main corridor, while Route 14 runs only 4 trips per day. Use the Kivoon app to compare departure times for both.