Roose - Waterways & Woodlands - 8 miler

This is a fantastic ride starting and finishing in the busy residential outskirts of Barrow in Furness, once a great world shipbuilding centre and now home to the construction of the UK's Trident submarines. The ride soon enters an area of derelict shipyard buildings and then along the historic Cavendish Dock. Once home to the building of Britain's Airships, this dock is now one of the largest freshwater sites in the north west and an important Site of Special Scientific Interest.  

There are distant views of the modern docks and shipping and the huge Ship Hall where the submarines are built; the largest facility of it's type in Europe. Turning away from this industrial scene we enter a more rural part of the ride with distant views of Roa Island which we will eventually reach to turn and retrace our route. Once an actual island, Roa is now joined to the mainland by a causeway built in 1846 to enable the Furness Railway to reach a deep water pier for steamers to Fleetwood. This was demolished in 1891 but there is still much of interest here. 

The Watchtower and Customs House built in 1849 are still standing and are a fascinating part of this unusual community. From the end of the road at the Lifeboat Station, Piel Island can be seen across the channel. An ancient ruined castle stands testimony to the monks of nearby Furness Abbey who sought to control trade here. Below the castle is a public house who's landlord takes on the traditional title of The King of Piel. 

Why not stop at The Bosun's Locker in Roa Island where you can get some food and drink to prepare for the return journey to Roose.