About Islandeering
Hi and welcome to Islandeering Islandeering is for people who want adventure in Britain’s wild blue spaces – our rivers, coast, lakes, canals and islands. You will find amazing walks, paddles and swims in the UK’s most special places, those recognised for outstanding natural beauty, incredible geology or special and abundant wildlife.
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About Piel Island
Key Facts
- Location: Cumbria, near Barrow-in-Furness
- Size: 20ha
- High point: 8m
- Terrain: grass paths; beach
- Map: OS Explorer OL6
- Parking: near Piel Island Slipway GR 233 638
With an entertaining inn, a beach, lake, great wildlife, medieval castle ruins and a short boat trip or walk from the mainland, Piel Island is a near perfect island to visit.
The views are extraordinary and stretch from Barrow-in-Furness to the Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District and along the vast stretch of the Fylde coastline to the Blackpool Tower. Piel Island has a long and interesting history and was once of considerable importance in the local area both because of its links to Furness Abbey and as a major deep water harbour. Its fourteenth-century motte-and-bailey castle was likely to have been used as a fortified warehouse built by monks under the Abbot of Furness to keep cargoes safe from pirates and other raiders. It didn’t just keep the pirates out though, it also kept the King’s customs men at a distance and it was widely known at the time that, under the ownership of the Furness Abbey, it was active in the smuggling business.
Today the romantic ruins are cared for by English Heritage. The island, which has a high point of ten metres, is a haven for wildlife with many different species of seabird to be found and a pond in the centre of the island attracts many bird species.
Highlights of Piel Island
- Views of Lakeland Fells
- Atmospheric Ship Inn
- Camp on an island fit for a King
- Poke around in castle ruins
How to get to Piel Island
By car enter the postcode LA13 0QN on your Sat Nav which will take you to Roa Island where you can catch the ferry. There is a free car park situated by Roa Island Boat Club. By rail the closest train station at Roose (4 miles from Roa Island) on the Barrow-in-Furness to Lancaster line.A small ferry departs from Roa Island (April to September); T: 07798 794 550.
The Ship Inn
The Ship Inn offers camping, self-catering accommodation, food and beer. There is a selection of real ales; a basic food menu; and a whole load of fun in this traditional island pub. Try and visit during one of the knighting ceremonies – check the facebook page for the latest details.
Piel Castle
Piel Island has a long and interesting history and is of considerable importance in the local area both because of its links to Furness Abbey and as a major deep water harbour. There is evidence of human occupation spanning at least the last 3000 years and was probably visited by the Celts and later by the Romans during their conquest of Britain. Piel Island is the site of the last invasion of Britain
The current motte and bailey “castle” with its defence ditches was built in the early part of the 14th century and likely intended to be used as a fortified warehouse built by monks under the Abbot of Furness to keep cargoes safe from pirates and other raiders. It didn’t just keep the pirates out though, it also kept the King’s customs men at a distance and it was widely known time that, under the ownership of the Furness Abbey, was active in the smuggling business. Today the ruins are cared for by English Heritage.
The fun tradition of crowning the landlord of the Ship Inn is thought to be a nod to when Colonel Martin Swartz and his German mercenaries landed on the island in 1487 as part of an attempt by Lambert Simnel to seize the English Crown. Simnel claimed that he was the Earl of Warwick and therefore was the rightful King of England – he ended up a prisoner of Henry VII. To commemorate this pretender to the throne each new landlord of the Ship is sat on a wooden throne, wearing ceremonial helmets and a sword, and a large quantity of beer is poured over him as he is proclaimed king. The island also has a Queen, a Princess and a number of knights (and ‘knightesses’) – and the ‘knighting’ ceremony at the Ship Inn is a real hoot.
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