THERE used to be as many as 250 keeills, or holy places, to be found on the Isle of Man, which is all that is left of the much larger - and once Norwegian - diocese of Sodor (& Man) that once included the Shetlands, Hebrides, and the Western Isles. The keeills were small family chapels, wayside shrines, retreats, or hermitages. None of the structures is believed to be older than the eighth century, although there is evidence that some of the sites might go back another couple of centuries.

Fewer than half of the keeills survive, but it is still a goodly number for pilgrimage. The ninth annual Praying the Keeills Week will be taking place this year from 17-24 May. It is run by a group that cuts across the denominations, Dr Andrew Foxon, a member of the organising committee, says, and it attracts people who visit the island for the week, as well as the residents.

The week includes a variety of events across the island, including daytime and evening walks of various lengths, an evening coach-trip, refreshments, and a musical afternoon.

"For those with lots of energy, the week will end with an all-day walk in the Cornaa valley to the north-east of the island, which will take in some glorious countryside and scenery as well as some fascinating historical and sacred places," Dr Foxon says.