Roa Island was bought by John Abel Smith, a London banker, in 1840. Until 1847 it was a true island, accessible on foot at low tide over the sands or by boat when the tide was in. In 1846 Smith built a causeway to the island and a deep-water pier from where boats sailed to Fleetwood. Along the causeway he constructed a railway line which opened at first for goods traffic and, later, for passengers. This linked with the Furness Railway at Furness Abbey. The railway continued in use until July 1936. Today there is no trace of the line and a road links Roa to Rampside.

The shore around Roa is surrounded by beaches of muddy sand, scattered shingle, small pebbles and large boulders. Ten Trinity House pilots lived in the row of terraced houses overlooking a green and across the channel to Piel.

There has been a lifeboat station at Roa for more than 100 years. Between Roa and Piel Island runs Walney Channel, which flows to the port of Barrow. Piel is famous for its castle, built in the 13th century by the monks of Furness Abbey as a fortified warehouse for their grain and wool. In 1487, Lambert Simnel, a merchant's son, landed at Piel. He claimed that he was the rightful King of England. With an army of German and Irish mecenaries, he set off across Furness to march on London. He was defeated by King Henry VII at the battle of Stoke.

Foulney Island, almost two miles long but only a few yards wide for most of its length, leads off from the causeway and at this point there is a parking area. In the Walney Channel lies small Sheep Island. Here are the scant remains of an isolation hospital where sailors, sick with yellow fever, were taken off their ship before it proceeded to Barrow.

The Roa Causeway is ideal for wheelchair users. It is long and level, with lots of interest and views. Walking toddlers and buggy occupants will also enjoy the level pavement and the sea breezes.

Park in the car park, grid ref 234656, on the left side, 150yds along the causeway. The parking area stands at the start of the Foulney spit of land.

1 Turn left out of the parking area and continue along the good pavement. If the tide is in you soon have water on either side. At low tide the sea departs and vast areas of muddy sand stretch away into the Walney Channel. On either side of the causeway the muddy sand is colonised by spartina and other seashore plants, and a variety of wild flowers flourishes in the grassy verges. As you continue ahead, enjoy the picturesque view of the houses, boats and a towered house, now a guest house. The latter was built for H.W. Schneider, the Furness industrialist, as a holiday residence, the Villa Marina. Walk on along the paved road, past the Bosun's Locker and Bistro' to reach the edge of the island. Here a raised walkway leads to the lifeboat station stretching into the channel. To the right lies Trinity Terrace. Below, a long wooden jetty runs down the beach where you can take the ferry to Piel when it is available (generally Easter to September - check at the bistro).

2 Return back along the left pavement and, behind the houses, look left to see a dramatic red sandstone archway and the remains of a much larger building, known as the Watch Tower. It was built in 1847 and was a lookout post for Customs and Excise. It is now a grade two listed building. Wheelchair users will have to decide if their pushers can manage the short rough track to view the old building. Then continue on along the pavement to pass the toilet block, where a radar key is needed for the disabled toilet. Carry on along the long causeway to its end. Ahead stands the Concle Inn, believed to have been built on a gravel pit filled with saline water used for recuperative swimming. Then return along the opposite pavement to the car park.

Information...

Distance:1.5 miles.

Terrain: Good, level pavements.

Map: OS Explorer OL 6.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.