Ooyre Valley

The Ooyre Valley is a valley to the north of Sodor, stretching from Harwick to the west on the coast to Peel Godred in the east in the heart of Sodor.

History
Ooyre Valley was most likely formed by shifting glacial patterns during the last Ice Age. These shifting glaciers formed a narrow gorge that we now call Ooyre Valley. The glaciers also formed high peaks, such as Clagh Ooyre, and numerous caves that dot the landscape across the valley.

Harwick was established on the west side of the valley, on the coast of Faarkey-Y-Sudragh, as a small fishing village. It was Harwick in which King Godred chose to embark his troops when he conquered Man. Many invading armies during the times of the Kingdom and the Regency (1099-1404) saw Harwick and the Ooyre Valley as a convenient 'backdoor' way of getting to Peel Godred. However, the valley was of a rugged landscape, with large boulders and the high peaks of Cregwir and Clagh Ooyre providing convenient lookout points for the locals against the invading armies. One of the last invasions by the Roundheads, trying to use the Valley to their advantage, was swiftly ended after a flood was let loose from Loey Machan, the narrow gorge providing an excellent funnel point to help wash away the invading Roundheads and sweeping them all the way back to the sea.

Harwick, in its isolated area, was chosen by smugglers as an easy way to smuggle goods into Sodor. Smugglers, alternating as fishermen, would smuggle goods into Harwick and hide them in the numerous caves that dotted the valley, providing a cheap, easy and effective way of hiding contraband from the authorities. This became prevalent in the 18th century and lasted up until the early 19th century which was locally known as 'The Trade'.

However, by the 1850s, the Ooyre Valley had been plunged into a state of great poverty which resulted in the final suppression of 'The Trade'. The population was mainly employed in either agriculture of light industries and many were finding it hard to make a profit. However, the proposal of a railway from Harwick to deep into the Ooyre Valley would hope to alleviate the poverty and bring 'good and honest' work to the people of the Ooyre Valley. As a result, the Cronk and Harwick Railway was formed, with twelve miles of track stretching from Harwick to Cregwir and also a branch line to the quarries of Ballaswein. A fine stone pier, built with locally quarried stone, was built at Harwick to accommodate larger ships and it was thought that the railway would bring a new age of prosperity to the people of the Ooyre Valley. However, this wasn't to be. The railway hardly ran at a profit and never modernised, it used horses for the entirety of its existence. Whilst some quarries existed into the 1950s, the railway was worn down by the 1940s and the rails were ripped up in 1943 to product metal for the war effort.

After the railway closed, the valley fell into relative obscurity. The workforce is still predominantly labour-based, focusing mainly on agriculture and heavy industries such as quarries and factories. The valley is extremely popular with tourists and the small population of the valley rapidly rises during the tourist season, with tourists drawn to the scenic walks and views which are often unmatched across Sodor. The main centres of population are still Harwick and Peel Godred and the valley is still sparsely populated. The sparse population has been the reason why no railway has been built into the Ooyre Valley from the North Western Railway. The last proposal was in the 1940s, which was to extend the Little Western from Arlesburgh to Harwick, but the proposal was declined as it was found that Sodor Roadways provided adequate services to the main centres of populations across the Valley.

Populated Areas

 * Harwick


 * Droghan-y-Claghan


 * Cregwir


 * Ballaswein


 * Bridge of Rocks


 * Peel Godred

Geographical Areas

 * Clagh Ooyre
 * Hawin Ooyre
 * Loey Machan
 * Dubbyn Moar