Barrow and Dalton

9:59am Tuesday 17th April 2007

The shipbuilding town of Barrow, perched at the southern tip of the Furness peninsula, is slowly muscling its way on to the itineraries of visitors to the Lake District.

It is the maritime gateway to the county and rapidly grew from a small, quiet, farming village into one of the world's biggest iron and steel centres in just four decades in the nineteenth century.

It has many Victorian links and boasts some fantastic gothic architecture, such as the sandstone town hall.

The town also has a proud heritage of industrial innovation, in particular the town's rich shipbuilding history, which is well documented in the modern and impressive Dock Museum.

Visitors can leave the hustle and bustle of the busy town centre streets, packed with shops to rival any of Cumbria's other industrial towns, and take a trip to the many beautiful surrounding beaches, in particular those on Walney Island.

Meanwhile the town's religious heritage can be explored a little more inland at Furness Abbey, one of the wealthiest Cistercian Abbeys.

A short distance away is the market town of Dalton-in-Furness, which has a small 14th century castle that once served as the seat of justice for the district, complete with dungeon and courthouse.

It is open on Saturday afternoons and includes an exhibition about the work of renowned portrait artist George Romney, who was born in the town and is buried at nearby St Mary's Parish Church.

On the outskirts of Dalton is the fantastic South Lakes Wild Animal Park - the only zoo in Britain where visitors can see both Amur and Sumatran tigers.

Main Attractions...

For a great day out take the boat to Piel Island, a tranquil 20-acre island off the south end of Walney Island. Enjoy an audience with the King of Piel' - the title given to the landlord of The Ship Inn - who is known to bestow the title of Knight of Piel' to visitors on the premise they buy a round of drinks. With title in hand, walk around the 14th century castle, an atmospheric ruin that was once the last bastion of defence from marauding Scots. Also look out for the occasional seal out to sea. To catch a ferry from Roa island call Allan Cleasby on 01229 835809.

Visit Dalton's South Lakes Wild Animal Park where visitors can roam freely among the park's non-threatening residents. Kangaroos, wallabies, lemurs, tigers and lions and exotic parrots are on show at the attraction, which won the Best Large Visitor Attraction for 2005 in the Cumbria Tourist Board's Awards for Excellence.

If it's wet A variety of interactive and well-presented displays make the Dock Museum a fascinating place to learn about the town's rich shipbuilding heritage. Built over the original Victorian Graving dock, it charts the whirlwind history of Barrow's transformation from a farming backwater into an international industrial powerhouse boasting the world's largest ironworks that fed the ship building industry. Free admission. Open Easter to October: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm. November to Easter: Wed-Fri 10.30am-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4.30pm. www.dockmuseum.org.uk.

Walks...

Take a stroll among the sand dunes of the South Walney Nature Reserve and see an excellent range of rare and common coastal flowers. Soak in stunning sea views and spot countless species of birds along three nature trials and in six bird watching hides that are suitable for disabled visitors.

Enjoy more stunning sandy beaches and breath taking views at Roanhead, three miles north of Barrow. Strong currents make it unsuitable for swimming but the beach is popular with everyone from walkers to kite flyers. A series of free walk leaflets are available from the Tourist Information Centre and The Dock Museum.

Events ...

Barrow Festival of the Sea - June.

Barrow Carnival - June.

Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival - July.

International Power and Glory, Famous Tall Ships come to Barrow as part of its Festival of the Sea - June.

Dalton Pops (summer music and barbecue) - July.

For more information...

Barrow Tourist Information Centre on 01229-894784, www.barrowbc.gov.uk.

Editor's Choice