We were a large group of 3 generations of family from age 14 to 74 and Roa Island House was absolutely perfect for us. Early morning teas looking out over the sea were lovely and the huge selection of rooms inside meant everyone could find their own space. The hot tub and sauna were lovely too. It worked a treat for our holiday. A wonderful property all round
Roa Island House
- Sleeps up to 16
- Pets 1
- Hot Tub
- Bedrooms: 7
About Roa Island House
This is definitely a 'must-see' property that's completely different to other lodges on our site! A historic island getaway awaits guests at Roa Island House in Cumbria. This massive property sits on the southernmost tip of the Furness Peninsula with sea views from every angle. The house sleeps up to 16 guests in seven bedrooms (with six bathrooms) and has accessible ground-floor facilities too. The hot tub on the lawn lets you soak in style while ships sail by. A perfect booking for large groups and family holidays.
The location itself is truly special. Reached via a tarmac causeway, you're surrounded by water with Morecambe Bay stretching out before you. The wraparound conservatory seats 22 people with panoramic sea views in all directions. Kids will love the table football in the entrance hall and adults can enjoy the wood-fired sauna that fits six people. Dogs are welcome too.
Inside you'll find what can only be described as palatial rooms with high ceilings and fascinating original features. The huge kitchen has not one but two ovens and two fridges. Six bedrooms have TVs and most include en-suites. The unique observation tower on the second floor is a real highlight and offers 270-degree views!
If you can bring yourself to leave, there's lots to see and do nearby. Visit Piel Castle (accessible by ferry), Ulverston (8 miles), or shop in Barrow-in-Furness (5 miles). The Lake District's southern fells are within easy reach for hiking adventures.
This one-of-a-kind staycation combines tons of space with some stunning views and a really unique setting. Where else can you watch the sunset from your own tower before hitting the hot tub? Check your dates today.
At Sykes Cottages
Need to Know
- Imposing detached landmark property on unique island location
- Must-see group property for large gatherings
- Historic island getaway with character features
- Sleeps 16 in seven bedrooms with multiple en-suites
- Wraparound conservatory with seating for 22
- Panoramic sea views across Morecambe Bay
- Unique observation tower with 270-degree views
- Accessible facilities including ground floor bedroom
- Games area with table football
- Covered hot tub and wood-fired sauna
- Off-road parking for 8 cars
- Pet-friendly accommodation (2 dogs welcome)
- 8 miles from Ulverston, 5 miles from Barrow-in-Furness
- Reached via tarmac causeway
- Seven bedrooms: 1 ground floor family room with 3 single beds (two can be zip-linked to super king-size)
- 1 ground floor double bedroom
- 1 king-size double with en-suite bath, shower, basin, WC and small office
- 3 double bedrooms with en-suite shower, basin and WC
- 1 twin/double (zip/link) with additional single bed and en-suite bathroom
- Ground floor disabled-friendly shower room with walk-in shower
- Large sitting room (seats 14) with open fire and working piano
- Spacious dining room seats 16 people
- Kitchen with dining area (seats 8) and small conservatory area (seats 4)
- Large wrap-around conservatory with panoramic views (seats 22)
- Second floor observation tower with seating for 5
- Utility room with washing machine, tumble dryer and storage space
- Lawned grounds with roof-covered hot tub, furniture and BBQ
- Wood-fired sauna for up to 6 people
- WiFi throughout the property
- 7 TVs throughout the house (6 in bedrooms)
- 11pm curfew for hot tub use
- £450 Good housekeeping bond required
- No electric vehicle charging permitted
- Minimum 5-night stays over Christmas/New Year and Easter periods
Lodges Near Roa Island House
Roa Island House Reviews
19 reviews from guests who stayed at Roa Island House
What a fantastic holiday Plenty of room the house finished to a very high ... What a fantastic holiday Plenty of room the house finished to a very high standard Has everything you need and more Thank you so much Would recommend in a heartbeat Family loved it
Great location great house the family of all ages 3 80 enjoyed the weekend the decoration was very homely parking was sufficient 3 camping vans and 3 cars time of entry and leaving suitable we felt it wasn't necessary to go anywhere apart from shopping which was done in Barrow 15 minutes away in conclusion it was FANTASTIC.
The house was spacious with good facilities for cooking, relaxing, spa and games. The views of the sea were lovely and you could access the sea for swimming or kayaks. There was a shortage of many items that we would expect, e.g. dishwasher tablets, shower soaps, salt and pepper, tea bags, toilet roll, welcome gift. These have low cost but inconvenient when you dont have them. It also felt like there was more concern for people of the island rather than us as guests, e.g. noise curfew. Overall, good for the price, but could be presented better.
Booked Roa House for our family get together, 14 people and 2 dogs. Great parking in the property grounds for all the cars. Lots of space for everyone, dogs included, the garden was brilliant. There was lots of kitchen equipment, crockery and cutlery, we managed to cook breakfasts and a Sunday dinner for everyone!! The dining room was excellent, we were all seated together and it made a great social experience. The hot tub and sauna was enjoyed by all as were the games in the sun terrace, alongside spending time with the dogs in the garden space. Nice walk along the causeway and shared cycle track to Barrow. We took the ferry to Piel Island which was fab, although a little choppy on the day we went. All in all it was a lovely holiday in a great house.
Our group consisted of 17 people 10 adults, 7 children including a new born and 1 dog but Roa Island House accommodated us all comfortably. The listing is accurate in the main but perhaps under sells certain elements of the property including how well equipped the kitchen is coffee machines, slow cooker, additional electric hob etc.. The property was very warm throughout and despite its exposed location in the island, was not subject to any substantial impact leaks, drafts, noise from the wind or wet weather. The bedrooms and bathrooms were great, with only the ground floor rooms a double and a triple sharing a bathroom though a separate toilet is available. Some of the beds themselves were akin to a small double so may need to be considered during room allocation. We had asked for the ground floor triple to be configured differently the first floor triple ultimately configured in this way which was unexpected but not materially impacting to the stay. In terms of bathrooms, having two baths available was great for young children in the group. The additional amenities such as the hot tub and sauna were used throughout the week without issue and the conservatorygames room and garden provided lots of entertainment for the group whether participating or watching. Location wise we were very happy with the ability to roll on to the ferry for Pier Island, walk across the causeway to The Concle Inn or travel to nearby activities swimming, padel boarding, hiking, parks, museums etc.. We visited The Old Farmhouse Ulverston on one evening for a celebration meal who were very accommodating and the food was delicious. Some small caveats were 1 The property has fire doors throughout which are set to close by default with young children this resulted in possible pinch points or an inability to open doors on occasion. 2 The stairs are quite tight and steep which again for young children was a consideration but may also restrict access to those less mobile. 3 The property has some traditional wood flooring in parts, and bare feet and those with socks were susceptible to splinters so slipperscrocs would be recommended for indoor use in these areas. Overall we came away very happy from our stay and would consider returning in the future.
We all had a lovely stay at Roa Island House, it was better than we had expected.
I was unsure whether to rate this as 3 or 4 stars. We go away every year for our annual Christmas getaway, as a group of 8 adults and 5 children. This property offered pretty much everything we required. The 2 ovens and 2 dishwashers definitely made the cooking and washing up a breeze. So, why was I torn between the 3 and 4 stars!! I feel that the property is perhaps a little tired in areas, hence why I was swaying towards the 3 stars. However, when you consider the size of the property and the price, I think that 4 stars is a fair rating. The place is huge, the kids had plenty of fun playing hide and seek. Kitchen is well equipped thats usually an area that most places drop points, but that definitely wasnt the case here. Extra marks for this area. The hot tub, we felt, wasnt at its specified temperature. We are frequent users of hot tubs and this felt like sitting in a warm bath, and it didnt retain the temperature well at all. We didnt raise it as an issue at the time, as we only used it twice, but it might be worth the owners checking it. Bedrooms The rooms had mixed reviews from our party. Our particular room was rather cold, even with the heating on. We did however find a heater tucked away under the stairs to the top floor, and once we used that it was plenty warm enough. Other members of the group mentioned some loud noises through the windows due to the wind, but Im not exactly sure what could be done about that short of replacing the windows. Living room plenty big enough for all of the group to sit and watch a film. If I was to be critical, the sofas are looking a little tired and worn. Dining room another point gained here. Table is huge and was big enough to accommodate all of our group. Again, this is an area that usually falls short, but this met our requirements. Cleanliness absolutely no concerns. The place, from what I saw, was spotless. The gardens unfortunately due to the time of year, we didnt really venture into the gardens much, but the view was lovely. Id imagine on a nice summers day it would be pretty great. Additional comments We had a little wander around the island, which is smaller than I expected it to be not a negative. Theres a little cafe next door to the property. They do food and hot drinks.
Hi, we stayed at your property with our family and friends, and upon arrival, we were absolutely delighted by the size of the house. It was wellkept and clean. We had a fantastic weekend and will definitely be back. Any queries we had were addressed immediately. Thank you again to Sykes for providing accurate information! Susan
Arrived at the property to find it clean and welcoming. Plenty of information left for us regarding what the house had to offer, also lots of literature of places to visit and see. This property has as great space and is very well maintained, had everything we needed for a great weekend. All bedrooms very comfortable and good sizes Beddingtowels spotless. Just a slight negative house bulbs need to be brighter as quite dark in areas also check all lighting eg side lights working as several did not work. Any body thinking of renting this property I can highly recommend for an enjoyable vacation.
We absolutely loved Roa House. It was perfect for 3 generations of our family from 10y to 66y It was lived in enough that we all felt comfortable and relaxed but very well maintained. It had everything we needed and more. The full sized games tables were fab for everyone but especially the kids. The many bedrooms were great with clean and comfy beds. The kitchen was very well stocked with loads of crockery, cutlery etc. it also had 3 kettles and toasters! Kitchen table allowed us all to sit and eat together. We only used the formal dining room for our games nights when we played lots of boxed games. The living room had plenty of comfy couches for everyone. Lots of bathrooms meant no queues.The large accessible bathroom on the ground floor would be great for a wheelchair user. Our family have been going away together at the October school holiday for 6 years now and we all thought that this was the best house yet. Thank you to the owners for a lovely family holiday
Loads of room for large parties. There were 14 of us, we were all able to eat together and there was plenty of crockery, cutlery and kitchen equipment which meant we were short of nothing. We were able to all sit together in the evening in the large lounge and didnt feel cramped at all. Unfortunately the weather didnt let us take full advantage of the outside space but we did use the sauna and hot tub.
We celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary with our children and grandchildren. We loved the house and the facilities. Everyone was able to be kept entertained, regardless of the weather. It is an old house, with some intriguing remnants of its history and we would have loved a little bit of knowledge of that history of the house itself, not just Roa Island. Thank you for helping us have a fabulous celebration.
We spent 7 lovely days at this period property. Fantastic views and facilities for the family. and kids. The property would benefit from modernisation and improved cleansliness as was quite dusty with cobs webs. The rooms would benefit from having locks and door stops. The sinks are a bit small in the bathroom. The kitchen lighting could be better too. However, these are minor points as this did not detract from the overall experience as it served our purpose and we left with some fantastic memories of our time there.
A unique and spacious property with excellent facilites that are very well maintained. We loved our stay at Roa Island House and it was perfect for a big family gettogether. Everything was geared to catering for a large group of people from the cutlery to the kitchen equipment to the dining facilities. And of course the position of the house is second to none, directly by the sea and overlooking Morecambe Bay. Can't wait for our next visit!
Roa island house was a great place for our large family holiday. We all had a great time there making the most of the space, the games room was used often, the large dining room was great for our family get togethers. The view over the bay was spectacular.
We had a lovely week with family together to celebrate a special birthday. The property was an ideal base for visiting the Lake District and plenty big enough for our 8 adults and 4 young children. The children especially loved the air hockey game provided and going rockpooling under the bridge to the lifeboat station. However, a few things would have made the week better for us and possibly other guests without any great cost to the property owner. There is no washing line to hang wet washingwetsuitsswimsuits etc only a broken airer so we had washing hanging over outdoor tables if the weather ok or all over the place indoors when it was raining. With 12 people in the house there was a lot of stuff needing drying and we are all sufficiently eco conscious so not prepared to keep using the tumble drier. The lawn was cut but the cuttings were not collected which meant cuttings being walked indoors all the time and having to be cleaned up. A hose in the garden would have been useful for people to clean their feetwetsuitspaddleboards. As we needed towels for showers, hot tub and sauna we should either have been provided with more than one bath and hand towel per bed or guests should be advised to bring more towels with them. There were no oven gloves. Guests would not generally pack oven gloves when staying somewhere with kitchen facilities. No basic condiments salt, pepper, oil. There were no ice cube trays in freezer or an ice bucket. We had to go and buy them. Welcome book not uptodate. The instructions for the hot tub do not match the hot tub installed. Although waste is sorted by a firm it should not be beyond most guests abilities to separate food waste from general waste. Lack of plug sockets in some rooms. One of our prime reasons for choosing this property was because it is listed as suitable for a disabled person. We had such a person with us. However, the only nods to disabled were the downstairs bedroom and wet room plus the ramp out the front. All the downstairs internal doors were too heavy for a disabled person to open and in the case of the kitchen and breakfast room had a piece of fitted furniture in the way of entry. We had to go and buy doorstops to hold the main downstairs internal doors open so our disabled person could access rooms easily rather than having to rely on others to open them for him. Possibly this was against fire regs so we did shut the doors every night and before we went out for the day.
Great house for a family gathering. Roa island is an amazing base to explore the Lakes. Fabrizio was super helpful with any queries. Locals were super friendly especially Paul.
We had a lovely long weekend at Roa House for a family gathering. The house is amazing, quirky and provides lots of space for a big party to not feel on top of each other. It is not trendy or super renovated but its a great house for a large family gathering. My elderly parents found the facilities easy to access. My mum is in a wheelchair and she managed well being on the ground floor. The disabled bathroom was ideal. The sauna and hot tub were a great addition and enjoyed by all. As was the garden. The kitchen area was excellent having plenty facilities and space. We are all from North Cumbria so not as familiar with the south of the county and enjoyed Ulverston, the coastline and a very good meal at Abbey House in the Oskars restaurant. All in all a really enjoyable weekend in a great property.
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Top Days Out Near Roa Island House
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of Roa Island House, with real driving times.
Lakes Aquarium
Sat nav: LA12 8AS
Freshwater and sea life from the Lake District and around the world, on the southern shore of Windermere.
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Lakes Aquarium sits in the village of Lakeside on the southern shore of Windermere. It opened in 1997 and is now themed around the lakes of the world, with both freshwater and salt water animals. Displays cover the Lake District, Asia, Africa, the Americas, marine life and Morecambe Bay.
Tip: The Windermere Lake Cruises dock and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway are both here, so you can arrive by boat or steam train.
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
Sat nav: LA12 8AL
A steam train ride through the Leven Valley to the southern tip of Windermere.
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This family-run heritage railway is a former Furness Railway branch line, about 3 miles long. Steam engines haul traditional 1950s carriages through the countryside of the Leven Valley, from Haverthwaite via Newby Bridge to Lakeside, at the southern end of Windermere.
Tip: The railway runs as a seasonal steam operation, so check the timetable on the railway's website before you set off.
Holker Hall & Gardens
Sat nav: LA11 7PL
A Cavendish family home with Victorian rooms, formal and woodland gardens, and a courtyard café near Cartmel.
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Holker Hall is a privately owned country house near Cartmel, still the home of the Cavendish family. The Hall's west wing was rebuilt by the architects Paley and Austin after a major fire in 1871, and you can walk through its rooms, many of them furnished with paintings and furniture brought from Chatsworth. Wheelchair access to the Hall is limited to the ground floor.
Tip: Dogs are welcome everywhere except inside the Hall, on leads. Parking is free, and you can buy tickets at the kiosk on arrival.
Lakeland Motor Museum
Sat nav: LA12 8TA
Over 30,000 motoring exhibits and a Campbell Bluebird display, close to Lake Windermere.
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Lakeland Motor Museum in Backbarrow, Cumbria, traces the story of road transport through the twentieth century. Its collection of more than 30,000 exhibits takes in classic cars, motorbikes, cycles and a large amount of motoring memorabilia, including a Bentley once owned by Donald Campbell and a World War II Willys Jeep.
Tip: Combined tickets with Windermere Lake Cruises let you do a cruise and the museum within 5 days of each other.
Sizergh Castle
Sat nav: LA8 8AE
A medieval Strickland family home near Kendal with a large limestone rock garden and an estate to explore.
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Sizergh is a Grade I listed castle and stately home about 4 miles south of Kendal, in the Lake District National Park. The oldest part is a tower from the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Inside, you'll find oak-panelled rooms, including the Inlaid Chamber, plus Strickland family portraits and paintings linked to the Stuart court in exile.
Tip: Dogs are welcome on the wider estate, but only assistance dogs are allowed in the gardens, so plan your route accordingly.
Hill Top
Sat nav: LA22 0LF
Beatrix Potter's 17th-century farmhouse retreat, kept as she knew it, with a cottage garden and working farm.
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Hill Top is the 17th-century Lakeland farmhouse in Near Sawrey that Beatrix Potter bought in 1905 as her artistic retreat, and later left to the National Trust. Inside, it is shown as she would have known it.
Tip: Book your ticket in advance if arriving by car, as the small car park is for pre-booked visitors only. Afternoons after 2.30 tend to be quieter.
Piel Castle
Sat nav: LA13 0QN
A medieval fortress on a small island off Barrow-in-Furness, reached by boat.
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Piel Castle is a 14th-century fortress on Piel Island, off the Furness coast near Barrow-in-Furness. The Abbot of Furness Abbey had it built to guard against pirates and Scottish raiders, and the pretender Lambert Simnel landed here in 1487. It was built from stones gathered on the local beach, with red sandstone brought from the mainland for the doorways and windows.
Tip: The ferry is seasonal and weather dependent, so check with the ferry operator that it's running before you set off.
The Ruskin Museum
Sat nav: LA21 8DU
Coniston's story told in one museum, including Donald Campbell's Bluebird K7 and the world's largest Ruskin Lace collection.
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The Ruskin Museum sits in the heart of Coniston village and tells the story of the area, from Stone Age axe-makers to the speed record era of the 1950s and 60s. It was founded in 1901 as a memorial to John Ruskin, and his collection is still housed here.
Tip: The museum marks the start of the Coniston Coppermines Trail, so you can pair a visit with a walk.
Full guide to days out near Roa Island House »
Drive times are typical times by car with no traffic. Check opening times and book tickets on each attraction's own website before you go.
















