Roa Island House | Roa Island | The Lake District And Cumbria

Customer rating

4.6★

16 Guests
7 Bedrooms
6 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
Show on map

Features

Hot tub
Off road parking
Ground floor bedroom
Sauna
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Seaside
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

126 Customer Review(s)

Lynda
June 2026

“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 don’t 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.

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 don’t 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.

- Lynda, June 2026

Thank you for your feedback. In fact, your feedback gives us the opportunity to clarify a few points. Firstly, we do think we offer outstanding value for money. Per person the cost was £225 for a week in a very large house in a unique position, with 5 rooms ensuite, sauna, hot tub, barbecue area and large playing field. It is no big secret that our margin is fairly limited especially as we invest a lot in the upkeep and improvement of the property. We did provide various items that this guest would have expected but then we ended up having had feedback from guests who did not like the brands we provided or had different expectations. So everybody has different expectations. Also, items may be small, but the logistics with the cleaning company are never straightforward. So that is why we decided not to have welcome packs, etc. Our focus is really the property itself and making sure that it meets or even exceeds the majority of expectations our guests have. And the overall feedback on Roa Island House seems to indicate that we are doing ok. Property Owner
Sue May 2026

“Lovely holiday -accommodation overall very good and as described.”

Only few small issues- Lawn grass needed cutting One room bed not made up even though bedding there Emailed as advised and sent a reminder asking for beds downstairs to be zipped together but weren’t Some beds uncomfortable But overall -plenty of equipment and lovely place to stay with large family of varying ages xx

- Sue, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We have already been in touch with the cleaning company to understand what went wrong with the beds. We change the mattresses quite regularly, but it is true that from time to time the mattresses are seen as too hard and sometimes as too soft. We try to hit the middle ground with the mattresses but obviously you don't always hit the spot. This said, we always ask Sykes to underline the incredible value for money Roa Island House represents but for whatever reason Sykes is even reluctant to include a feedback category on this point. Quite frustrating for any property owner. Property Owner
Gail May 2026

“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.

- Gail, May 2026

We are delighted that you had a great holiday at Roa Island House. And we know the ferryman, Paul, very well. He is a very nice man. And Piel Island with its intriguing history and pub is definitely worth a visit...and Paul's seal tours are also something to check out as on the far side of Whalney Island there is a large seal colony. Hopefully we can welcome you back one of these days. Property Owner
Jonathan March 2026

“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 conservatory/games 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 slippers/crocs 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.

- Jonathan, March 2026

Thank you for your constructive feedback which we take on board. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do about the fire doors (we had many discussions with the local fire department on this issue) and the stairs are an oddity as the original owner, one of the Barrow industrialists, completely forgot about the stairs when he planned the house back in the 1860s. Most of the floors in the corridor and bedrooms are modern and lino based but the floor in the living room is original wooden floor. But overall it seems the guest had a very good time...and that is the important thing and pleases us. Property Owner
Christine December 2025

“We all had a lovely stay at Roa Island House, it was better than we had expected.”

- Christine, December 2025

We appreciate your positive feedback especially as we seemed to have exceeded your expectations...all the better really! Roa Island is as we have always like to point out is a very special property in a very special location. It has a lot of history and was originally the weekend retreat of one of the Barrow in Furness industrialists back in the 1870s. Property Owner
Stuart November 2025

“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 (that’s usually an area that most places drop points, but that definitely wasn’t the case here). Extra marks for this area. The hot tub, we felt, wasn’t at its specified temperature. We are frequent users of hot tubs and this felt like sitting in a warm bath, and it didn’t retain the temperature well at all. We didn’t 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 I’m 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 didn’t really venture into the gardens much, but the view was lovely. I’d 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). There’s a little cafe next door to the property. They do food and hot drinks.

- Stuart, November 2025

Thank you for your very detailed feedback. We take it on board. One thing we would like to highlight however is the outstanding value Roa Island House represents. The value for money would be hard to match for a group like that staying in comparable accommodation in a similarly breathtaking location. It is a little bit frustrating for us that this is not really highlighted by Sykes. We are actually not persuing any particular star rating as we are not a B&B or Hotel. But we do the best we can with the available funds and we appreciate that most of our guests appreciate this effort. But admittedly we are not offering luxury accommodation as this would mean that only a limited number of people would have the pleasure to stay in this unique property. Property Owner
S November 2025

“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 well-kept 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

- S, November 2025

Your positive feedback is very much appreciated. And we will be delighted to welcome you back. And we hope that you are going to have another happy experience at Roa Island House in the future. One good thing about Roa Island House: it has its special charm no matter what the season... Property Owner
Hayley November 2025

“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 Bedding/towels 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.

- Hayley, November 2025

Thank you for this positive feedback. We are happy that you had a good time. We will look into the lighting situation as we were not aware of that...this said there are plenty of floor lamps as we had people asking for extra light to read books. Anyway, we will try to rectify this. Property Owner
Morag October 2025

“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

- Morag, October 2025

We could not be happier when like in this case guest expectations and requirements come together with what Roa Island House has to offer and is all about. We are of course aware that this is not always the case as everybody is different but we believe that Roa Island offers outstanding value and even more so when it hits the mark. So thank you for this great feedback. Property Owner
Steven October 2025

“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 didn’t feel cramped at all. Unfortunately the weather didn’t let us take full advantage of the outside space but we did use the sauna and hot tub.

- Steven, October 2025

We very much appreciate your positive feedback...Unfortunately there is not much we can do about the weather but even sitting in the large surround conservatory and watching the sea and the birds can be a very nice experience - something we enjoyed ourselves on some occasions. Property Owner
Mike September 2025

“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.

- Mike, September 2025

We are happy that you had a great stay at Roa Island House. It is true that Roa Island House has an interesting history as it was built in the mid 19th century as a holiday retreat for the Barrow industrialist H.W.Schneider.Known as Villa Marina, it later served as a Marine Fisheries Laboratory up to June 1928. The house was commandeered by the military during the Second World War. Property Owner
Alomghir August 2025

“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.

- Alomghir, August 2025

Thank you for your feedback. And it seems overall you had a good time which is great to hear. With regard to your comments and observations maybe we can give some feedback. We are of course subject to very strict fire regulations so having locks and doorstops is a no go. Roa Island House is around 170 years old so you simply cannot compare it to a modern building. But it is fair to say that we invested substantial amounts of money into the property and we constantly try to improv the facilities but maintaining and improving such a large house on what is in many ways an island and heavily exposed to the elements is a very costly affair. And that is the reason that we are not running Roa Island House not so much on maximising profitabilty - which in all fairness is not very good - but more as a service to the public. Property Owner
Peter August 2025

“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 get-together. 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!

- Peter, August 2025

Thank you for this very encouraging feedback. And it is rewarding to hear that our guests had a vey good time. And this is what we are always aiming for! Property Owner
Jackie July 2025

“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.

- Jackie, July 2025

Thank you for your uplifting feedback. One aspect of Roa Island House - apart from its unique location and versatility - is the incredible value it represents when you break it down to the cost for the individual. For a large group of up to 16 you would struggle to find similar value for money anywhere else. And that is a good thing as in the difficult times we are living in affordability is a very important factor. And our priority is to do as much as we can for large families to be able to enjoy a holiday in a unique location. Property Owner
Shirley July 2025

“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 rock-pooling 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 washing/wetsuits/swimsuits 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 feet/wetsuits/paddleboards. 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 up-to-date. 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.

- Shirley, July 2025

Thank you for your feedback although you raise quite a number of issues and concerns. This said we could have addressed quite a number of problems there and then if the guest had let us know. We run a very responsive maintenance service as noticed by previous guests. So for example we have airers and oven gloves in storage as airers seems to break down fairly regularly and oven gloves seems to disappear. As a matter of fact we do rely on our cleaning service to let us know about any broken or disappeared items. So this clearly has not happened on this occasion and we are very sorry about this, and we will take that up with the cleaning company. The story is a bit more complex with regard to the disability facilities. Mostly the feedback has been positive from wheelchair users as we do have a ramp, downstairs bedroom and a wet room. Of course, Roa House is an old building with a lot of history and on the pictures published on the Sykes website you can see that the doors are of significant size. The doors are of course a substantial challenge with the fire risk assessors and they insist on the door closers and strictly no doorstops - as alluded to by the guest. So in summary not a top performance from our side but as mentioned we would have remedied many of the problems at very short notice if the guest would have let us know. Property Owner
Gillian July 2025

“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.

- Gillian, July 2025

thank you for this nice feedback...obviously Roa Island House is a large property and exposed to the elements given its unique location so you cannot anticipate all potential problems but when they do occur we try to be as responsive as we can. And Fabrizio is. a star in this respect. We also try to have a very good relationship with all of our neighbours so that our guests get integrated into the community to the degree possible. Obviously Bosum's Locker is a great little place to eat and Paul's ferry and boat tour operations are very popular... Property Owner
Ruth June 2025

“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.

- Ruth, June 2025

Well, it is always very satisfying to get this kind of feedback, and the way this guest looked at the property is exactly the way we look at it...we are not super trendy but we are offering a wonderful location and a property with a Lot of history, a lot of space, and a family feel with all the comforts you expect at a very competitive price when you break it down to the individual. Property Owner
Michelle April 2025

“Lovely place ,very big and loads of room .”

Garden and the view out to sea is amazing . Facilities great everything you need we had a memorable holiday with the family .

- Michelle, April 2025

We can't ask for more - thank you for this very encouraging feedback...we appreciate that. And as always we are constantly trying to improve things and we are currently running a redecoration programme whenever the property is empty as want to make sure that all of our future guests have a similar experience. Property Owner
Martin April 2025

“Huge house in a fantastic location with breathtaking views.”

House was very clean and well equipped, ample off street parking and large private garden with beautiful views over Morecambe Bay. Quick response and fix when we had a problem with the heating- would recommend for large family gatherings.

- Martin, April 2025

Thank you for this positive feedback. It is true, the location of Roa Island House is quite unique, and sometimes even we take a minute to enjoy the views when we do the gardening and general maintenance. And now the ferry is operating again and it is worth taking a trip over to Piel Castle...it's quite an experience. Property Owner
Kim March 2025

“I rented Roa Island House to host a women's wellness retreat weekend.”

It was perfect. It's a HUGE house with plenty of space and comfortable furniture to relax in. The breakfast room that links to the kitchen and utility room is a fantastic space with it's own fridge and dishwasher which enabled us to keep the kitchen as our Chef's domain and allow the breakfast room for guests to access freely when getting hot or cold drinks. There's loads of storage space in the utility room too which was very helpful. The living spaces are large, comfortable and well lit, and the conservatory is a real sun trap. The bedrooms are all a good size and the beds are really comfortable - between them and the peace of the island, everybody slept really soundly. The tower room is a real treat to watch the sunset from, and there is access from the front door to three ways down to the beach (one east facing, one south and one west) in less than a minute if you like to watch the sun rise and set. We also really enjoyed the garden, sauna and hot tub, and the large selection of benches were well used across the weekend! My negatives are all very minor. It's not as pristine as some houses in terms of decor, but it is a very old building! Most of the house was spotless, but unfortunately my first impression when I walked in was that the hallway floor was a bit gritty (there may have been a workman in after the cleaners though?), but there was a "guests cleaning cupboard" with a mop and a broom, so I was able to sort this out before my guests arrived. Also, the vast majority of the glassware is plastic, which I completely understand from a breakages and safety point of view, particularly if being used outside or around the hot tub, but it would have been nice to have glass options as well for drinks being consumed in the house. Finally, and also a symptom of an older building, there are not many plug sockets in the bedrooms, and the ones there are are not always in very convenient places. An extension tower has been put in the main living room, but if you need to use your phone as an alarm, it's worth charging it up before bed rather than overnight! Overall, the house provided an excellent home for us all for the weekend and I was very happy with my choice of venue. I would return here without hesitation, it's a really lovely spot.

- Kim, March 2025

thank you for your positive feedback. And yes, you hit the nail on the top....the age of the house and its position virtually in the sea make maintenance and upkeep a constant challenge but we do our best...and obviously with all the costs we are facing - electricity and gas bills are crazy - it is not a high margin business...but we are not running Roa Island for the money but rather because we lover the house and the happiness it brings to our guests....so to have this kind of feedback makes it worthwhile. Property Owner
Debbie February 2025

“We had an amazing weekend in this beautiful home , discovered eclectic treasures all around the house and loved the view from the windows and gardens.”

We would recommend visiting this beautiful place to stay for a few days and enjoy the view and the relaxing atmosphere.

- Debbie, February 2025

Very happy to hear that you had a great time at Roa Island House...the location and the house itself are quite unique, and there is a lot of history connected with Roa Island as well as Piel Island....so please come back and explore a bit more... Property Owner
Craig November 2024

“The Jacuzzi jets was not working, Petty it may seem, however, noting the cost of the establishment, this should have been working which in turn would have made our stay a lot more comfortable.”

- Craig, November 2024

thank you for your feedback. However, we are a bit at a loss in terms of what happened to the Hot Tub as it worked perfectly both before and after these guests arrived...the only thing that may have happened is that the guests put the hot tub into sleep mode by mistake. Also we do have a number that the guests can call if there is a problem, and if the guests had called us we would have dealt with any problem. Property Owner
Andrew November 2024

“It was brilliant for us as a large family in all there were 18 of us, we all had ...”

It was brilliant for us as a large family in all there were 18 of us, we all had a great time and fully relaxed during our time there

- Andrew, November 2024

Thank you very much for this joyful feedback. Roa Island House actually featured to some degree on Simon Reeve's mini series on the Lake District when he was sailing out to have a look at the windfarms. Property Owner
Kenneth November 2024

“Great house for a large group.”

Really enjoyed our stay, could do with providing more wood for the sauna. Also hot tub needs checking every couple of days when a large group is staying. Overall a fantastic property, would highly recommend.

- Kenneth, November 2024

Thank for your very positive feedback. We do our best, and during this outgoing year we have done many things to further improver the property. With regards to the firewood issue: we do provide sufficient firewood for the first evening, as mentioned on the website. We also have bromine tablets in the hot tub which will normally last for more than a week (when rules for the use of the hot tub are observed such as having a shower beforehand) and of course the filter is jet washed every time together with a change of water if the hot tub has been used by the previous guests. Property Owner
Ian May 2024

“Brilliant cottage in a wonderful location.”

Had a brilliant weekend. Thank you

- Ian, May 2024

And this is brilliant feedback. Thank you - makes our day! We almost completed the refurbishment of the tower room and a few days ago installed a heat pump for the hot tub, as always, everything is work in progress... Property Owner
Gregor May 2024

“This was the perfect holiday house and such an awesome base to explore from.”

Would highly recommend fora unique family experience with all you could hope for at your fingertips. The garden was perfect for the kids and the kitchen/patio set up was perfect for our wee puppy! Amazing stay all round!

- Gregor, May 2024

Just saw this very positive feedback and what a great start to the day? So thank you. As we said many time before, Roa Island House is always work in progress given its unique position and exposure to the elements, but it is very pleasing to see that our efforts are rewarded with positive experiences by our guests. Property Owner
Maria April 2024

“Myself and my family enjoyed every minute of this Beautiful house , my grandchildren and our dog had so much freedom, they loved playing hide and seek the houes had almost everything we needed it was missing a clothes maiding as we didnt want to dry everything in the dryer .”

I have been disappointed in customer care from Sykes holiday lets I have emailed them and WhatsApp them in the end I had to telephone The Office to let them know my Daughter -in - law had left her coat hanging up on the down stairs bedroom door with her house keys in also my Grandson had lost his phone we all spent the monday morning looking for it, he hadnt left the house during our stay.when I rang sykes on Monday I Told the young lad on the phone it might be under the puffy in the livingroom or under the couches he said he would get on to the cleaners and get back to me he didnt ring me back, I gave him till today Wednesday talked with another young man who said he would ring the owner of the house and would ring me back even if he couldnt get in touch with the owner he would let me know again no phone call from sykes we really need to know about my Daughter in laws coat and if the phone had been found

- Maria, April 2024

Thank you for this uplifting feedback on the property itself. In fact, we have been in the process of making things even better by updating the tower room, redesigning the entrance hall, redesigning the sea front, etc And as always there is more work to be done...so we hope all our future guests will enjoy Roa Island House even more! Property Owner
Nik April 2024

“We had such a lovely time in Roa Island, everything about the house helped our big group make the best of our time together.”

Plenty of room for everyone to hang out and be entertained, particularly on the days when the weather kept us indoors!

- Nik, April 2024

We are delighted over this very positive feedback...and very happy to hear that Roa Island House has helped you to make some good memories...that really is its purpose! Property Owner
Sally March 2024

“This house definitely has the wow factor.”

Its so vast and the views out to Piel island are amazing. Our family all had a lovely time and there was something for everyone . On a practical note the house would benefit from some interior work(particularly in some of the upstairs bedrooms). Coat hooks would be useful on the back of the bathroom and bedroom doors and coat hooks or a coat stand in the hallway or utility. There is nowhere to hang wet coats. More clothes hangers would also have been good. We couldn't find any coasters either. Agree with previous comments that the kitchen lighting is quite dim when trying to prepare meals. Loved the views and the sauna was fabulous. It was clean in all the right places although would benefit from some high ceiling dusting as there were some large dusty cobwebs. Also a couple of smaller side tables would have been useful in the living room closer to the sofas. Overall this is a pretty special house with a great atmosphere. Quieter than being in the heart of the lake district national park and less touristy. Sandscale Haws nature reserve has a lovely beach and great views towards the mountains and only half an hours drive. We made some great memories as a family. A pool table as well would have made it even better(commented my 85 year old Dad! !). A guest hoover with a longer lead would also be helpful. Thanks for a great stay. We will be talking about this holiday and this house for many years to come.

- Sally, March 2024

Thank you for your detailed feedback. And we are of course looking into some of your suggestions. But as anybody knows that for a house close to the sea - or in the case of Roa Island House essentially in the sea - the jobs are endless...over the last few months we spent a significant amount of money on updating the sea defences and replacing the windows in the tower room, as well as restyling the entrance hall. And managing constantly changing fire regulations is a challenge in itself. But rest assured that we are doing our very best to give our guests a safe and happy holiday experience, and it is of course pleasing to see that many of our guests are having a very good stay at Roa Island House. Just a little update: small side tables in living room have been added, as well as coasters and a clothes stand in the reception area. Property Owner
Rachel February 2024

“Roa Island House had everything you could need for a lovely weekend.”

The house is so big, it felt like the kids had a separate holiday to us. The house is full of character and everything you would expect from an older building. My only slight on it, and this is just personal preference, the lighting- in particular in the kitchen is really dark. It took me a while to get used to it. Apart from that a wonderful time was had by all 7 adults and 6 children. Highly recommend.

- Rachel, February 2024

thank you very much for this positive feedback...we actually have a floor lamp in the kitchen but it is being moved around and sometimes it is difficult to keep track of it...anyway, we will check on that. Apart from that we are in the process of making some further improvements...around the house and in the tower room...so watch this space! Property Owner
Leanne December 2023

“The property was great just as described and pictures show the property exactly as it is.”

Beds were great and very comfortable. As we were there in winter the central heating was excellent and very warm. We had a problem with the hot tub and it had be turned to Eco mode, but we communicated with owner and they got back and resolved issue immediately. The weather was not great for us lots of rain, but the kids just loved playing in hot tub or hide and seek in the fabulous big house. My only slight complaint is the fact there was no little welcome tea/milk /sugar hamper. Would have been nice just to have a brew as are shopping was not getting delivered for another hour. And also there was no condiments such as salt or pepper even. I have stayed in a lot of properties/ cottages and there is normally a few essentials such as salt and pepper. On the up side there was lots of cleaning essentials such as dish washer tablets and bin bags dish cloths etc. a fabulous property and would definitely recommend for a large family we stayed for New year but I would imagine it would be great for summer to enjoy the garden more

- Leanne, December 2023

well, not sure what happened there as I had a actually purchased spices, tea, sugar and even a bottle of bubbly and this seems not to have found its way into the property. I will investigate that. Otherwise it is of course very nice to receive that positive feedback. There are of course some plans to make some improvements this year...and of course with a very large property located essentially in the sea it is a constant battle with the elements...but we will give our best! Property Owner
Nicola November 2023

“Super place.”

We compiled a list of issues on the first night, and the owner sent a lovely chap over to address all of them the following morning. All the rooms were lovely, and the wraparound conservatory and outdoor space deserve an extra mention. There were nine of us, and we all had our own little special place to retreat to. Oh, and the tower room is particularly special. Highly recommended.

- Nicola, November 2023

Thank you for this very positive feedback. It is true that in a large and historic house - Roa Island House used to be the weekend retreat of Mr Schneider who was instrumental in making Barrow-in-Furness an industrial power house - things can go wrong but we strive to rectify any issue as quickly as we can and ideally preempt them... Property Owner
Charlotte June 2023

“This was our second time staying at Roa Island House and was as enjoyable as the first.”

We stayed as a family, and the house was perfect for us. The ground floor bedrooms and adapted bathroom were perfect for my son who is in a wheelchair. Our family ranged from 4 to 62 and there was something for everyone. They had everything covered that you would need. The views are amazing. Having nearly all of the rooms ensuite was perfect. Will definitely be back and would certainly recommend. Charlotte

- Charlotte, June 2023

Thank you for this very positive and encouraging feedback. And of course we hope to welcome you back for a third time! Property Owner
Angela May 2023

“We had an excellent stay and the house was perfect for our family re-union.”

The latch on the bedroom door of No6 Didn’t work and the handle on the bathroom door of No 6 was awkward. Maybe labels on the downstairs room would help those older members of the group to be less confused! The Conservatory was lovely and the lounge was great for our group. We enjoyed a boat trip to Piel Island too. Thank you.

- Angela, May 2023

Thank you for your very positive feedback. We will have a look into your suggestions. Given the age of Roa Island House - some 160 years - we always try to find the right balance between modernity, comfort and historic features...never quite straightforward. But new floorpans have just been made for the house and hopefully they will help future guests to navigate the property. Property Owner
David March 2023

“Incredible, well-equipped property situated in a very unique place with fantastic views.”

Couldn't recommend it any higher. Perfectly located for a group weekend away doing activities within the western Lake District.

- David, March 2023
Lesley February 2023

“Lovely location .”

Beautiful house , furniture and fittings. Everything we needed for a wonderful family holiday

- Lesley, February 2023
Elaine February 2023

“We visited in early Feb - 15 of us, to celebrate my mother-in-law's 80th birthday.”

WOW!!!!!!!! what a place? Great facilities! The overflow kitchen area with 2 toasters, a second dishwasher, second microwave and second sink is a great asset. The games area with table football, table tennis and air hockey was a hit, especially with the guys! There aren't any shops close by, but we took loads of food with us, lots of fridge and freezer space. We ate out one night, at the Fisherman's arms, about 10 minute drive away, on the road to Ulverston, we would definitely recommend this place. Wouldn't hesitate to return or recommend to friends.

- Elaine, February 2023

It is always great to get a "wow" as it means that we have exceeded expectations...especially given - and that is simply what it is -that Roa Island House is a historic building and the original weekend retreat of one of the industrialists that developed Barrow-in- Furness as a major shipbuilding location, where there days the nuclear submarines of the British Navy are built. So this week we have replaced many of the old radiators, but there is always more work to do. But we believe it is true that even as a *work in constant progress" Roa Island House is truly a special place to stay and great value for money. Property Owner
Christopher January 2023

“Wow!! Couldn’t believe how big the house was”

!! You will definitely not be disappointed if you book this place. Beautiful location with views out of nearly every window. Worth every penny…

- Christopher, January 2023

Thank you for your very positive feedback. Roa Island House is a very large house, is more than a 160 years old, and located in a unique place but where it is also exposed to the elements - so maintenance and upkeep is a constant challenge. So we always appreciate positive feedback as I makes our efforts worthwhile. And we agree that Roa Island offers incredible value for money given that it can sleep 16 people in comfort. Property Owner
Neil November 2022

“A fantastic venue, we really enjoyed it, would definitely recommend it”

- Neil, November 2022

Thank you for your feedback. We are doing our best to make Roa Island House a great place to stay and keep it up to date - we recently changed all the mattresses, duvets and pillows - but it is a 160 old house located on a former island, and so in many ways a constant challenge...so it is always encouraging to get positive feedback. And given that the house sleeps 16 people it is actually also outstanding value for money. Property Owner
Samsheer September 2022

“Pool table would be a good addition Couple of board games also would have been excellent”

- Samsheer, September 2022

Thank you for your feedback. Overall it seems you were very happy given your score. Unfortunately there is no space for a pool table, but we will of course get some board games. Property Owner
Celia September 2022

“Clean, spacious house with stunning sea views.”

Set up well for large family groups. Kitchen fully equipped though no basics eg. pepper, sugar. Bathrooms all excellent with plenty of hot water. Overall thought this one of the best holiday homes we've stayed in but bring everything you need e.g. hairdryer. Ferry to Piel Island round corner and lovely local cafe next door. Don't miss Walney Island, Furness Abbey or superb Base Restaurant in Ulverston (lunch daily or tasting menu Thurs/Fri/Sat). Roa Island is a hidden gem and this house is a bargain.

- Celia, September 2022
Beth July 2022

“We had a wonderful week at the beautiful Roa House.”

From the moment we walked into the large entrance hall we knew we'd found somewhere special to stay. The house is big, with tall ceilings and impressive rooms, as well as the lovely garden with gorgeous views over the water. We stayed during a heatwave and were very pleased that the inside of the house remained cool despite this. The hot tub, games tables, comfy lounge and long dining tables were all fab, and it was only due to the heatwave that we didn't have a go at starting the sauna up! Our only tiny niggle was that the kitchen could do with a few improvements - the lighting was rather dim on an evening, and we couldn't find a grill pan or measuring jug to use despite the otherwise impressive array of kitchen utensils on offer. A draining board next to the sink to aid in washing up pots and pans would also be an asset - cooking for 13 does create a fair bit of washing up and we were very grateful for the two dishwashers! It's also worth noting that there was a little confusion with the beds - the info received beforehand stated that if we wanted the zip lock twin beds made up as doubles, we should email two weeks beforehand. Since we wanted them as individual beds, we didn't message - but although this worked fine for the triple room downstairs, we found the upstairs room had been made up as a double alongside the small half bed. We were able to separate the double and use the spare bedding from the triple room downstairs and the small bed to fix it, since we only had two people staying in each room, but it was a bit of a hassle. Usually with a Sykes stay the host texts before arrival so we have a contact for things like this, but oddly we hadn't received anything other than the standard Sykes emails for this holiday so couldn't ask about it. These were really only tiny niggles in an otherwise idyllic holiday though, hence my five star review rating. Thank you for a fabulous stay!

- Beth, July 2022
Elizabeth July 2022

“Had an amazing week in this perfect house.”

It was an amazing place to stay for a large family. Had everything that we needed including sauce pans big enough to cook pasta for 16 in!!! Would recommend to anyone. We had a party member in a wheel chair and he could get in and out all the rooms without help. My only recommendation would be to have ramps, removable if necessary, to get the wheel chair into the garden. We could cope without but some people may find in tricky. A brilliant house in a fantastic location. Thank you.

- Elizabeth, July 2022
Phil June 2022

“We loved the property and thoroughly enjoyed our stay!”

Ticked all the boxes for what was a memorable vacation with a large family group. The support we received during our stay from Matt the caretaker was excellent! Part of the appeal was the large size of the property so perhaps this is the reason but it was noticeable that there were areas of the property that hadn't been cleaned in a while (under beds and sofas), and when walking around inside bare foot, the kids feet were black. There was also an accumulation of bird poo all over the front door floor entrance which wasn't ideal. I'm nit picking but some WD40 on the door hinges would also be swell. There was also no can opener in what was otherwise a very well stocked kitchen! None of this detracted from the stay however as we would recommend it and would love to come back again!

- Phil, June 2022

Thank you for this overall very positive feedback. There is actually a can opener on the counter top but it is electric so maybe the guest overlooked it. Like many service operators our cleaning company is struggling with recruiting good and well motivated staff but they assured me that they are on the case. So we will try our very best to maintain our high standards and make sure that our future guests have a similar positive experience as this guest without the cleanliness problems. Property Owner
John May 2022

“We had a wonderful time with our large family of three generations.”

The kids loved the large garden, games room and hot tub. The views are stunning. The sailing club within a short walk from the house with friendly staff and locals and superb real ale was a bonus. The trip to Piel Island was exciting and we found some fantastic walks suitable for all ages and fitness levels. There were plenty of quiet places to enjoy in the house, particularly the observatory for the amazing views and a peaceful drink after the young ones were in bed. Parking area was fine for our needs although we had one issue with someone using it when we were out at a busy time. A few little things might improve the house. A larger sign in the house parking area stating it is for private use might be good.Hooks on the backs of bedroom doors for dressing gowns would be nice. The caretaker, Matt, was extremely helpful with advice on the occasions we consulted him. But overall we had a great week in a quirky but wonderful house in a unique location.

- John, May 2022

We are very happy that you had a good time. Private parking sign is on order and we will be looking into having hooks on the inside of the doors...and we very much agree with your description of Roa Island House...quirky but wonderful... Property Owner
Adebola May 2022

“Hygienic issues like lack of mattress and pillow protection”

- Adebola, May 2022

We are very sorry to hear that...and obviously this should not happen. So I have taken this up with our cleaning provider and get his feedback how and why this happened. And clearly ensure that this will not happen again. Property Owner
James May 2022

“Our holiday was booked for a selibration for my wife and I 80th birthday and ...”

Our holiday was booked for a selibration for my wife and I 80th birthday and have all our family with us but the problems we had ruined the holiday

- James, May 2022

Admittedly, there was a drainage issue and we did everything to address the problem in a timely and constructive fashion, and all was resolved as quickly as humanly possible...and I met this guest and his family, and was told by other family members that they had a fabulous time and that they appreciated our efforts. However, the communication of this guest with our cleaning provider was of such an aggressive and below the belt nature that it brought our contractor close to tears, and my experience of this guest - and not his family members - has been of a similar nature where truth seems to be of little importance and everything becomes about emotion and anger and entitlement...so not somebody we would like to ever see back in our property. But all of our future guests should be assured that we do everything we can to make their stay a pleasant experience as it has been for many guests in the past. Property Owner
Diane April 2022

“We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in a fascinating old house and a very interesting landscape.”

We found that cleaning wasnt 100% and one of our party has asthma and had to deep clean the bedroom on day 1 as it was very dusty. The beds didnt have mattress protectors which we felt was unhygienic and the sheets kept on sliding off the mattress. My husband and I slept in the double room downstairs and the mattress was awful and needs replacing. The hot tub smelt foisty as did anyone who went in it. The kitchen and bathrooms were good and looked fairly new and the gaming facilities and conservatory were really good. Sorry to sound moany but I think it's best you know.

- Diane, April 2022

We are very sorry to hear that the house wasn't perfect and I have already taken certain aspects of the feedback up with our cleaning provider as naturally there should be mattress protectors and there should be no dust. And I will of course replace the mattress. I personally make sure that all is good with the hot tub which means we change the water, ensure the correct chemical balance and powerwash the filter...however, we use bromine instead of chlorine and it does smell a little bit different to chlorine and also colours the water somewhat green. But of course all is safe. All of this said we take this feedback very seriously and will address all the issues so that our future guests have a very happy stay at Roa Island House. Property Owner
Elaine March 2022

“We had the most fabulous time 2 birthdays within the family and we loved the ...”

We had the most fabulous time 2 birthdays within the family and we loved the house loads of space and there was loads of kitchen utensils so well equipped loved every minute

- Elaine, March 2022
Sally March 2022

“Fantastic stay in a stunning house.”

Few issues with electrics first night however handy man there within an hour of reporting and all fixed. Kitchen renovation makes all the difference (stayed here 2015 & 2016) and the addition of the sauna house is fab. Great place to go with friends or family as there's so much room, you can get lost in this house!! Will definitely be back again.

- Sally, March 2022

Many thanks for this positive feedback...we do try to improve the property and make it better and better...and more comfortable and nicer for our guests...so it is always interesting to hear from people who stayed there before and can see the difference...so hopefully when you come back it will be better again! Property Owner
Denise March 2022

“We really enjoyed our stay, the house was exactly what was listed, we will book Roa island house again through Sykes.”

I have just booked our next year March tip though Sykes too.

- Denise, March 2022
Peter February 2022

“Fantastic location and a great house with an interesting history, some of which is documented in a folder in the entrance hall.”

We visited in the week of the three named February storms and encountered problems with the fit of three windows but have been assured by the owner that these have now been resolved. The house, nevertheless, has an excellent and effective heating system and, despite its size, it felt very warm and cosy. The youngsters really enjoyed the hot tub outside in its own enclosure although we did not make use of the wood-fired free-standing sauna in the garden. The house is well-furnished with quality furniture and the kitchen and breakfast room are well-equipped while even in February it was very pleasant to sit on the enclosed verandah which also has table tennis, air hockey, table football and quoits to entertain visitors. DVD and books are also available to borrow and, for the musical visitor, there is a piano. Despite storms, we were able to enjoy good, sunny weather as well to explore the Barrow area and, with appropriate clothing, enjoyed kite-flying, exploring and other beach activities on Walney Island, the Coast Road and Roanhead ('Sandscale Haws'). The Dock Museum (Wed to Sun) and its playground were popular, the children enjoyed looking at 'Anson', an Astute-class submarine in Devonshire Dock from the High Level Bridge and we visited the Lifeboat Station adjacent to the house, by arrangement. (The RNLI volunteers do such good work and appreciate donations from visitors.) One daughter called at the Barrow AFC shop with her two young boys and a great fuss was made of them by a kind employee when they asked if it was possible to look at the pitch. We didn't have chance to visit the North Walney and South Walney Nature Reserves on this occasion but can recommend them from previous knowledge of the area. On the island, the adjacent Bosun's Locker Cafe (Thurs to Mon) is excellent in both quality and value - book an afternoon tea for a treat, go for breakfast/lunch or order a tray pie to cook/heat in the house while at the other end of the island (400m) the Roa Island Boating Club offers access for drinks (including beers brewed on site and local real ales) from Thursday to Sunday and great value home-cooked food from Friday to Sunday. (The Sunday lunch is excellent!) A great house and area for family reunions and friendship groups!

- Peter, February 2022
Beverley December 2021

“Everything you could have wished for at this lovely property.”

Clean, comfortable, an ideal location for our new year get together. Everything you needed was in the house. The hot tub, sauna, along with the games available kept everyone entertained. Lovely views from the tower and with a local pub within walking distance and the town a short drive away. Highly recommended

- Beverley, December 2021

We recently added an air hockey table to the games available so it is nice to hear that our guests at Roa Island enjoyed the facilities which are located in the conservatory...and we can only recommend the local put at Rampside, called the Clark's - good food and at a decent price...what's not to like! Property Owner
Jenna December 2021

“The house was fantastic.”

Extremely well equipped and we found that everything we could think of was provided. We managed to make a Christmas dinner for 11 people with no issues at all. The size of the house is great and the rooms are all such a good size. Our own gripe was the cleanliness. After being asked to check in later than usual due to more thorough cleaning for covid, we did expect a spotless house. We mopped the wet room on the very first morning and the water that was gathered in the mop bucket was brown, skirting boards were thick with dust in some areas and glasses had lipstick marks on. The fridge did not look like it had been cleaned between stays either. This was such a shame as the house was so great and we would love to return, the owners have clearly thought of everything and it is obvious that they care that their guests enjoy the stay but cleaners are letting the owners down.

- Jenna, December 2021

Thank you for this honest feedback. In fact we have had a discussion with the cleaning company and they acknowledge that they let themselves down on this occasion. As a matter of fact the owner of the cleaning company is now taking care of the cleaning of Roa Island House himself. We therefore believe that this was a one off incident…but we are on the case! Property Owner
Adedamola December 2021

“Lovely property.”

We will definitely be back

- Adedamola, December 2021
Katherine November 2021

“Absolutely brilliant weekend with the family at this amazing house.”

The owners provided much more than we expected.

- Katherine, November 2021

I am very happy that you had a great time at Roa Island. Admittedly it is a large house and not very easy to look after being right next to the sea...but we will always do our best to make this property shine and provide a wonderful home from home in a special location! Property Owner
Chantelle November 2021

“Me and my husband got married in lock down just the 2 of us so we booked this for us to celebrate with our friends and family.”

It was amazing accomadation fully equipped with everything we could ask for and more.only downside is that maybe the cleaning could be a lot better.The hot tub lights and outside lights wasn't working but we found the trip switch had gone off so that was soon resolved.There wasb12 adults and 2 children in our party and this was the perfect accomadation.beautiful location also.Great pub down the road that accomadated all of us called the Clarkes Hotel however driving is recommended to there.Windermere was about 40 minutes away by ferry with lovely views on the way.

- Chantelle, November 2021

We are of course very happy that you have had a good time at Roa Island House. It really is a special property in a special location. We have been aware that our cleaning contractor has let us and our guests down on a number of occasions so we have decided to change contractor in close discussion with Sykes as we felt there was no way forward. So we are determined that cleaning standards will be where they should be, and our new contractor is fully in line with it. But as the owners we are now keeping a much closer eye on this. Property Owner
Chris September 2021

“The house is huge but the kitchen and living room isn't big enough when everyone ...”

The house is huge but the kitchen and living room isn't big enough when everyone is up and about also the lights in the conservatory didn't work only the table lamps and there isn't enough outdoor lighting to the rear of the property

- Chris, September 2021

We have taken note of this feedback. Although this is the first time we have had this specific feedback both with regards to the available space - usually we are told that the house is massive with plenty of space . We are looking into the lighting issue we do have outside flood lights and plenty of lights in the conservatory. Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your comments Property Owner
Mary August 2021

“We had a wonderful, fun, and relaxing holiday.”

We enjoyed the facilities and amazing views. But one of the room's shower and sink was leaking so unable to use it. Qlsono vacuum cleaner or sweep to use for cleaning. Aside from that everything was perfect

- Mary, August 2021

Thank you for your feedback. We have since then rectified the issue over cleaning equipment and are in the process of replacing the macerator in the bathroom concerned...there can be issues with macerators if nappies and female hygiene products are flushed down the toilet...and although suitable warning signs are in place but it can still happen. All this said, we of course apologise for the inconvenience. Property Owner
Lisa June 2021

“We will definitely be back”

- Lisa, June 2021
Julie May 2021

“We had a wonderful holiday, the house is lovely and the location is fantastic.”

However the cleanliness left a lot to be desired. The floors in the house were filthy and the doors and skirting boards were thick with dust, cobwebs and dust was hanging from the radiators. We found a pair of jogging bottoms stuffed behind one of the chairs in the entrance way. At the present time this standard is especially not acceptable. There was no television in the large bedroom downstairs and the television in the other downstairs bedroom could not be used as the aerial socket was broken. The shower in the walk in shower room was blocked so that the water ran all over the bathroom. We are fairly tolerant and did not let these things spoil our holiday but I fear you might get a lot of complaints from others. It is a shame as the house is a lovely house and if cleaned up we would definitely come back.

- Julie, May 2021

As the owner of Roa Island House I am of course very focused on client feedback. As such I have been in touch with the cleaning and maintenance company. Although the head of the cleaning company was somewhat puzzled by this client feedback as she had personally checked the property she has nevertheless assured me that they will double their efforts so that future clients can be sure that they stay in a safe environment. Property Owner
Sergiu December 2020

“Thank you so much for your assistance!”

I’ve had the best time of the 2020 and enjoyed full of holiday! Hope to get back again soon and enjoy of great places and new environment! Kind Regards Sergiu

- Sergiu, December 2020
Alice September 2020

“Had everything we needed.”

- Alice, September 2020
Ruth September 2020

“The house was ready to occupy as we arrived, a member of staff called in and checked that everything was fine for us.”

The grandchildren loved the space available to them to run around. We liked the conservatory area which was lovely to sit in in the sunshine. The kitchen was particularly well equipped for all our needs. We had a very enjoyable family weekend.

- Ruth, September 2020
Omar August 2020

“I marked down the cleanliness as the house did have bits of litter here and there in some of the rooms, also the floors on the entire ground floor were not very clean, it barely looked like they had been hoovered but really needed a scrub/mopping.”

everything else was really good, we struggled as a family of 10 without a clothes airer for the week as we did wash clothes so had to just be inventive with places to dry them.

- Omar, August 2020
Victoria July 2020

“We had a lovely family break here.”

Loved the view and extra luxuries such as the hot tub and sauna. Also really useful that most bedrooms have their own bathrooms, and kitchen is well equipped and clean.

- Victoria, July 2020
Dianne February 2020

“We another amazing weekend at Roa Island.”

We love the house and it’s position. New kitchen fitted which is a lot more functional. Plenty of kitchen equipment and crockery. Definitely recommend a visit.

- Dianne, February 2020
Nicola November 2019

“Brilliant made some Amazing memories Definitely going back”

- Nicola, November 2019
Elizabeth October 2019

“This is a beautiful house with beautiful views of Morecambe Bay ,it is the best equipped house I have ever rented and I have rented a few both in this country and abroad.”

There were also quite a few unexpected items provided. All the appliances were top of the range as were the bathrooms and showers, the beds were very comfortable.The house is ideal for parties of family and friends, there were 15 of us and we were never on top of each other at any point.The hot tub and sauna were a huge success and the table tennis table was enjoyed by the younger members of our party. We hired this house for our Golden Wedding anniversary and had a very special week here.The locals were very friendly and the boat club and bosuns locker were extremely helpful in accommodating our large party for meals.The food in both these places was excellent. There was virtually no criticism of this house and the only comment the family made was that the addition of a pool table would have been the icing on the cake .

- Elizabeth, October 2019
Jodie September 2019

“We were a family of 16 staying at the roa island house.”

We had the most amazing time and the views were beautiful! Couldn’t have asked for a better weekend away, and the good weather was a bonus. The only problem was there were no cleaning products to wipe down tables, floors etc. So if you are looking to stay here don’t forget these items if your clean freaks like me and my family haha.

- Jodie, September 2019
Alan August 2019

“It would have been helpful if the floor plans (as provided at Roa Island House) had been included on the website as this would have assisted sorting out accommodation among our multi-family group.”

As the owner clearly has them it is a pity they were not visible on the Sykes Cottages website at the time of booking. Overall, very spacious house which is let down by a number of issues, such as the size of kitchen - which could get very crowded. The cleaning being done between lettings is clearly very limited as dust and lost belongings (e.g. sock, perfume bottle), from previous holidaymakers, were found under beds, sofas, etc. All a bit ironic when you keep reading notices about how you will be charged extra if things like the hot tub are not left in a pristine condition. Not surprised therefore when we had an extra guest one evening in the kitchen in the form of a live mouse. We showed the mouse the door but guess he had his own access route back in somewhere. Had to report a blocked drain just outside the front door which had clearly not been maintained, and caused the effluent from the laundry room blocked drain in the car park and not great when you have small children in the group. Mobile reception was patchy on certain networks. The third party maintainer seemed to have to be instructed to clear the drain and it appeared that it was up to renters to spot these issues. House related, the mechanism which controlled the cover for the hot tub was broken. Instructions for various unfamiliar appliances were scattered through drawers and cupboards, which we found eventually, but that was all really unhelpfully disorganised. The lack of recycling bins was a very very odd feature, which we agree with the comments of previous occupants needs addressing. So, interesting location, very quiet, lovely views and garden for the children to play in and great to unwind and relax but the cleaning and pest control both need attention. Some aspects of the house are now looking very tired and need addressing at Roa Island House.

- Alan, August 2019

Thank you for your comments. As the owner of Roa Island House I wish to apologise for the experience Mr Shaw and his family had. However, after investigating Mr Shawâ€™s comments it appears that there was a string of unfortunate circumstances, but of course also some outright shortcomings. The inadequate cleaning has been taken up with the maintenance and cleaning company, and measures have been implemented to avoid such an experience from reocurring, as has the issue over the blocked drain, where informaton was not passed on in a timely fashion within the maintenance company. We do have a contract with a pest control company who had actually just rebated the traps one week before Mr Shawâ€™s arrival, so the incident with the mouse was unfortunate, and we had never had such an incident before and havenâ€™t had since. The hot tub cover has since then been replaced, and is now in fine working order. More recent client feedback has shown that our measures are bearing fruit. It is very clearly my prerogative to give our clients a very good experience, and as the owner this will continue to be my focus. Property Owner
Anne August 2019

“An excellent venue for us - an extended familly with small children.”

Plenty of space to explore and a very peaceful and interesting location overlooking the bay, Piel Island and the lifeboat station. Scenery constaantly changing with the tides. A safe garden for the children to play in. Information in the house could do with updating eg information on hot tub gives instructions for using a red button that has not worked for ages and prices quoted for ferry years out of date. Also instructions for opening the door could be amended to key in number then turn keypad handle anti clockwise. We did not understand the instructions given and spent about half an hour trying to get in. Also some information about recycling would be welcome. Kitchen very well equipped but there was a shortage of spoons.

- Anne, August 2019
Andrew July 2019

“Whilst the description of the property was accurate, I felt it gilded the lily and the whole property was in good need of a thorough clean, fresh paint and general smarten up.”

A drawer full of a former occupant's shoes was present in one of the bedrooms, further underlining my point about the whole property needing to be really well serviced between lettings. None of the previous hirer's comments had been acted upon and it felt as though the owners took little interest in the property and were content to merely take the fee and leave it all in the hands of the agency. Not nearly good enough for the price and very poor value for money. Disappointing.

- Andrew, July 2019

As the owner of the property I am embarrassed by these comments. We employ a third party to service the property and the issues have been addressed with them directly to ensure these are immediately rectified. I deeply care about this property and am investing substantially to maintain the quality of the property. Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback as this is invaluable to ensure standards remain high. Property Owner
Fiona June 2019

“Fantastic location ,comfortable rooms and lovely hot tub Would have liked to have soap/shower gel in the bathrooms and better pans for our large party.”

Generally very pleased with our stay and appreciated the owners flexibility regarding our requirements.

- Fiona, June 2019
Theresa April 2019

“This is a fabulous place if you want a tranquil quiet place to stay.”

Sitting out the back watching the sun glistening on the sea is just beautiful. The locals are fantastic, we had a great tour around the RNLI which was on our doorstep (literally) and a great meal at the local boat club which we were able to use as we were staying at Roa House. We had an issue with the mini bus we hired and another local and his dad came to our rescue even without being asked just nice lovely people. The house was lovely seven decent sized bedrooms five with en-suite just what five couples needed and one of our party was especially please with a downstairs bedroom with a wet room as they had mobility issues so a godsend for them. Beautiful dining room if you want a formal night or a large kitchen area if you want a nice cosy get together. We would all definitely recommend this house as a base for a stay lots of space and if the weather is kind then you wouldn’t need to venture out. Didn’t use the steam lodge although it looked great but did have a session in the hot tub which again was fabulous especially sitting watching the scenery very therapeutic.

- Theresa, April 2019
Paula March 2019

“We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend stay at Roa Island; the place was beautiful and perfect for a family get together.”

It was spotlessly clean with nice white bedding and towels and fulfilled all our needs. The views were incredible and we can’t wait to return.

- Paula, March 2019
Nicola March 2019

“Having had an issue at the start, the support was fantastic from both Sykes and the property owner.”

We had an amazing time in a beautifil house. Great location and I will definitely be booking through Sykes again.... Roa House is highly recommended too!

- Nicola, March 2019
Dianne January 2019

“We booked the house at Roa Island as a surprise weekend for our Mum for her 80th birthday, what an amazing weekend it turned out to be.”

The house exceeded our expectations, the photos don’t do justice to the space available. A well maintained house with fully equipped kitchen, plenty of room, beautiful views, everything you need for a relaxing weekend with a hot tub and sauna. Sykes Cottages we’re great to deal with and very helpful. We would highly recommend staying here and look forward to visiting again

- Dianne, January 2019
Bob December 2018

“If being over critical of which I am , probably needs a couple of smaller pans , ...”

If being over critical of which I am , probably needs a couple of smaller pans , but that is all , everything else was superb

- Bob, December 2018
Joanne November 2018

“We had a lovely relaxing weekend with loads of fantastic memories made .”

Thank you to the owners for providing a fabulous place for our ladies to be all together. Only down side the information folder was missing

- Joanne, November 2018
Alan October 2018

“When we arrived the single beds had been made up as doubles, but after one phone call, Sykes sent someone out to rectify the problem.”

Great service!!! The house is great for adults and children alike.

- Alan, October 2018
Helen October 2018

“The whole family loved it.”

Plenty of space for the children to run about

- Helen, October 2018
Tony September 2018

“We visited Roa Island House as a family group, we picked the location to explore the Lakes and the area in general, the house was fantastic and with large downstairs rooms and lovely conservatory where we could all sit together in the sun and out of the wind.”

It was the perfect place to get together and enjoy a break away.

- Tony, September 2018
Pam September 2018

“Great location .”

The Concle pub and the cafe great food .

- Pam, September 2018
Colin August 2018

“Great family get together.”

To celebrate my 70th Birthday.

- Colin, August 2018
Quentin July 2018

“We had a great week celebrating a 70th birthday, with all the children and grandchildren.”

A terrific house with plenty of room for different activities, large garden, wonderful views and convenient for walks and nearby shopping in Barrow or Ulverston. We've now left a cheese-grater so the kitchen is fully stocked!

- Quentin, July 2018
Penny June 2018

“Roa Island house is fabulous.”

We thoroughly enjoyed it, no criticisms but a couple of things at the house that could be considered: An outside line for drying clothes. The mirrors in the bedroom/bathroom at the far end of the corridor (room 7 I think) are too high up so us shorter people can't make use of them so we were having to go into others bedrooms to use them. A cheese grater would be useful. We also thought we had access to a table tennis table which was locked in the garage but when we asked the managing company they wouldn't get it out for us.

- Penny, June 2018
Stuart June 2018

“First of all we would like to say that we had a most wonderful holiday at Roa Island House and everyone had a memorable experience.”

If you would like us to make any comments or suggestions we would say: 1) Slight disappointment that we had to wait outside until almost 4pm before we could access the house. 2) Being honest it looked like the main carpets hadn't been hovered. 3) On the one hand the lawn hadn't been cut (which meant that it looked a bit weedy) but on the other we experienced the company of many rabbits who had a most enjoyable feed. 4) Towels were not the best and an upgrade might be better enjoyed by future guests. Not sure if you are allowed to advertise / inform via the web site but we would mention that: a) The Bosun's Locker Cafe, effectively attached to Roa Island House provides an excellent range of food and drinks albeit limited hours of opening. b) The Roa Island Boat House (200 yards away) provides cheap and cheerful food and with a lovely atmosphere. Sadly also subject to limited opening hours. c) The short boat trip over to Piel Island; a walk around the Castle and a beer at the pub is a most relaxing experience.

- Stuart, June 2018
Gylian April 2018

“We had a wonderful stay at Roa Island House.”

I think the house could benefit from a little "TLC" in areas, a lick of paint here and there but this did not detract from our enjoyment. Its a shame that the kitchen area is relatively small compared to other rooms in the house, it got a little congested with more that 2 people in it at a time. We were extremely lucky that we had lovely weather and were able to enjoy the garden and its outdoor facilities to the max. There were a couple of window blinds that need some attention, broken and stained vertical blinds in the lounge and especially in bedroom 7 on the ground floor as they do not close properly and the curtains are see through. Also the fire alarm went off on the first night - no apparent reason for this happening and the noise was deafening. There were no clear instructions of how to turn it off/re-set and when we phoned the number on the box for assistance they said that they would get someone to call us back with instructions on how to turn it off - they finally called back after ONE HOUR!!!! By that time, by some fluke of luck we had already managed to reset it, but obviously as we were not sure how we had done it we were nervous in case it happened again. When they did finally call back my friend said that we had fixed it and when the caller asked how, my friend jokingly said "Oh we axed it off the wall" and the caller said "oh thats great then" - was he not listening to us or had this happened before? not really an acceptable service, especially as we had my young grandchildren with us who were notably frightened by the noise. Clear instructions in the house manual are essential. However, even with the above we all said that we would definitely go back, house felt very homely and relaxing!!!. Yours sincerely Gylian Darnley

- Gylian, April 2018
Katie April 2018

“Road Island house was beautiful.”

It was perfect for 12 us celebrating a year of 30ths. I would say the kitchen needs a bit of tlc and we moved the sofa and found a lot of food/stuff there which had not been cleaned previously. Something which wasn’t on the listing was the table tennis we found in the garage and that is probably where we were if we weren’t in the hot tub!! We are already looking at dates for a Roa reunion.

- Katie, April 2018
Valerie March 2018

“We had a wonderful family holiday in lovely Roa Island House which had everything necessary for a group of 13 people with ages ranging from 20months to 73years.”

- Valerie, March 2018
Deborah March 2018

“We were a group of 16 ladies enjoying a relaxing weekend away.”

The house was brilliant, very spacious and comfortable with a well stocked kitchen. The hot tub and sauna were great and used by all. There are a couple of things that would have improved our stay - the heating was not on when we arrived so the house was cold and there was no wood for the fire or if there was we didn’t find it. It would have helpful if there was some information in the book about how to get the sauna heated. Also we couldn’t get the music system working, so again some instructions would have helped for all appliances. Apart from the above we had a fabulous weekend and some of the group are considering a return with family and friends. D Walker

- Deborah, March 2018
Allison February 2018

“Room 2 toilet cistern ran 24/7 & radiator cold.”

Downstairs shower room didn't appear to drain away veey well. General house decor needs a refresh. There were dirty tissues and other rubbish under one of the setters. Most disappointing of all, on arrival the hot tub was only luke warm. We were also unable to use it after Sunday morning as the water was cool, a dirty grey colour and smelled unpleasant. We were all sad about that and wondered why it was daily maintained. That apart it was a great location and ideal for our size group. If these issues are attended to we'd be happy to use the house again. Regards. Allison Hardy and 13 others.

- Allison, February 2018
Kimberley January 2018

“Fabulous house with everything we needed.”

Plenty of space and great facilities for all ages. Loved our stay here

- Kimberley, January 2018
Salma October 2017

“We rented this house for a family get together- it was perfect, spacious, clean and very well equipped.”

Everyone had an amazing time!

- Salma, October 2017
Nichola March 2017

“What a truly magnificent house.”

Spacious, beyond our expectations!! Amazing views, right on the beach, hot tub and sauna!! This property blew us away. What a great family holiday home!! Highly recommended!!

- Nichola, March 2017
Louise November 2016

“This is the second time we have stayed at Roa Island House.”

It had everything we required for our wkend away. Both times were for a 40th and both times have been amazing and the accommodation exceeded our expectations each time

- Louise, November 2016
Susan September 2016

“Amazing location.”

Description does not do it justice - you have to go and find out for yourself !!

- Susan, September 2016
Robert August 2016

“Very enjoyable holiday for all ages.”

- Robert, August 2016
Natalie March 2016

“A beautiful setting in a lovely part of the country.”

The house was excellent, plenty of space so no one getting on top of each other.

- Natalie, March 2016
Sara November 2015

“Roa Island House is a beautiful place to stay and enjoy time with a large family group of friends, it is large enough not to get under each others feet.”

It was extremely well equipped in all aspects and there was plenty to keep all ages occupied even in terrible weather. The kitchen was especially good, you can easily cater for a large group with fantastic ovens and two large fridges, amazing.

- Sara, November 2015
Susan October 2015

“Fantastic holiday for 14 people aged from 6 - 70, nobody wanted to come home.”

The children could have stayed for much longer. It was my husband's 70th birthday present he will never forget it.

- Susan, October 2015
Mr Bushell October 2015

“It is hard to find somewhere that sleeps that many people but this house was excellent.”

If you needed to you could get away from the crowd, also the place itself is in a great setting.

- Mr Bushell, October 2015
Jackie May 2015

“Roa Island House was perfect for our family holiday as it contained everything that we needed and was situated in an ideal area.”

We had a great time.

- Jackie, May 2015
Sally May 2015

“Great views from the rear of the property.”

This is a fantastic house, the bedrooms are of a good size and bathrooms of a very high standard. All round a lovely property.

- Sally, May 2015
William April 2015

“Clean, very spacious accommodation with outstanding bathrooms and great views.”

It was very well equipped with day to day implements. The kitchen, although compact had sufficient space for all our food and we liked the assurance of washing facilities - washer, drier etc - even though we didn't use them. The viewing tower was a fantastic asset too and there was plenty of space and opportunity to find a quiet corner, even though we had 16 people (4 children) in the group. Modern TVs in every room, a large lawn and good parking made the stay very successful. Overall - superb!

- William, April 2015
Sally March 2015

“"What an amazing house and location.”

Would highly recommend the cottage to all and we have already looked at booking again for next year. The facilities are great and the hot tub just finishes it off! Thanks for a wonderful weekend."

- Sally, March 2015
Alan February 2015

“The spaciousness of the house was appreciated - as was the hot tub!”

Nice warm house with lots of room - Recommended!

- Alan, February 2015
James December 2014

“Property is very spacious!”

Great for large groups. The hot tub is also very good and so was the log fire! Excellent property in general really!

- James, December 2014
Shelley November 2014

“We had a fantastic weekend with friends in the house, it was exactly what we were looking for.”

We would love to go back again!

- Shelley, November 2014
Paula October 2014

“Chance to holiday with the whole family in a very spacious accommodation.”

The hot tub was a nice feature. There was a well sized dining area and the kitchen contains all cooking facilities required, including pots & pans/crockery/cutlery etc. There were 2 large integral fridges and dishwasher.

- Paula, October 2014
Bev September 2014

“The pictures on the internet do not do this holiday cottage justice.”

It had everything you could possibly need; you name it, it had it! The bathrooms are all fantastic and so clean. The beds were comfy and the linen and towels were all crisp and fresh. We absolutely enjoyed our weekend and would definitely go back. All in all - we loved it!

- Bev, September 2014
Melanie August 2014

“The house was fantastic, perfect for a large group with so many rooms we could spread around.”

The views were beautiful and all the local people were so helpful and friendly.

- Melanie, August 2014
John July 2014

“The House was large enough for 14 people to find their own space.”

The sun lounge was a great place to sit. the hot tub was well used, and the garden big enough for a kick about. Overall we all enjoyed the holiday.

- John, July 2014
Catherine April 2014

“The setting of the house was perfect and the location was great.”

We were celebrating my husband's 40th and it really was the perfect place for what we wanted. A huge dining room for family meals, pool table for evening entertainment and a great garden for relaxing and enjoying the weather. Easy to access other tourist attractions in the lakes too. A truly fantastic week. Highly recommend this property.

- Catherine, April 2014
Jean April 2014

“The space was fantastic.”

The six children in the group had a great time and their parents were able to relax. The garden and conservatory being safe place for them to play. We older members of the group enjoyed the views and the area around.

- Jean, April 2014
Kathryn December 2013

“Perfect size property for a large number of adults.”

- Kathryn, December 2013
Nicola June 2013

“Staying at the house feels like you are completely secluded, the large walled garden has beautiful views and unless you go outside the gate you can believe you are in your own bubble!”

It was truly magical, we loved the layout of the house and the hot tub! It was an amazing weekend.

- Nicola, June 2013
Laura January 2013

“Great holiday, the property was amazing.”

We'll be coming back again!

- Laura, January 2013
Edward September 2012

“We very much enjoyed the opportunity to rest and relax with our family and friends.”

The size was perfect, surrounding quiet and location ideal.

- Edward, September 2012
Mr Dunlavy June 2012

“A quiet location, very spacious and the ferry to Piel Island was a great experience.”

The hot tub was excellent with views of the sea.

- Mr Dunlavy, June 2012
Lauren June 2012

“Our stay here was brilliant,the house was huge and perfect for us.”

The views were nice and the location was great if you want a real get away from everything. The house was spotless and the house keeper was very welcoming and dealt with anything we wanted. All in all a brilliant property, highly recommended.

- Lauren, June 2012
Tabitha February 2012

“The house and the island are absolutely stunning.”

It was a real luxury break for a very reasonable price.

- Tabitha, February 2012
Philip February 2012

“Huge property with plenty of room for 8 adults and 6 children - even space to escape on your own for a quiet read if necessary.”

Within easy driving distance of many interesting places/attractions. The observatory with its own telescope together with the pool table and hot tub, was an added bonus. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, most voting this property joint top, when compared with the other 4 properties we have used in the past.

- Philip, February 2012
Olga November 2011

“Great house perfectly suited for the needs of a large group.”

Rehearsing our performance or playing word games in the living room with the open fire was especially pleasant. The sea views from the observation room were nice in the morning and at dusk.

- Olga, November 2011
Moira October 2011

“The space in the property for 16 was perfect and I'm sure if the weather had been kinder we would have spent a lot of time in the garden.”

- Moira, October 2011

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Summary

Seven bedrooms (6 with TVs): 1 x ground floor family room with 3 single beds, two single beds can be zip linked to make a super king size bed on request, 1 x ground floor double, 1 x king-size double with en-suite bath, shower over, basin, WC and small office with feature window, 3 x double with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x twin (zip/link, can be double on request) with additional single bed and en-suite bath with shower over, basin and WC
Ground floor shower room with walk-in shower (disabled friendly), basin and WC
Ground floor basin and WC
Kitchen and spacious dining area (seats 8) with small conservatory area (seats 4), utility and store
Large dining room (seats 16)
Large sitting room (seats 14) with open fire
Second floor observation tower (seats 5)
Large, wrap-around conservatory with panoramic views (seats 22)
Large entrance hall with table football.
Gas central heating with open fire in sitting room and wood burner in bedroom
Electric double oven, gas hob, additional electric oven, microwave, 2 x fridges, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, 7 x TVs, 1 with Freeview/DVD, radio/CD, WiFi, books/games/DVDs
Fuel, power and starter packs for open fire and wood burner inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Travel cot and highchairs available
Lawned grounds with roof covered hot tub, furniture and BBQ
Wood fired sauna that can sit 6 people
Off road parking for 8 cars
This property accepts 3 well behaved dogs
Sorry no smoking
Shop 4 miles, pub 1 mile
Note: Hot tub unavailable from 3pm on Thursdays for weekly cleaning/maintenance
Note: No stag/ hen parties or similar at this property
Note: Roa Island is reached via a tarmac causeway
From 27/1/2022 some of the utility needs of the property are met by a provider who sources their energies from renewable sources and is carbon neutral, this process will be completed by around the middle of 2022
All waste is already collected, then checked and separated by our waste disposal provider and the highest degree of recycling is thus assured
Charging of electric vehicles (including bikes) is not permitted at this property, if electric charging is detected a charge of £100 will be deducted from the Good housekeeping bond
This property has a £450 Good housekeeping bond
Please note: There is an 11 pm curfew at this property after which time all guests must stop using the hot tub and strictly observe the hours of rest and not cause any form of disturbance to neighbours, Guests found to be in breach of these rules will be asked to leave the property with no refund given
You will be asked to confirm the number of guests staying at the property when you book, When there is evidence of a potential over-occupancy and it is subsequently verified by the owner, this will result in all occupants being asked to leave the property, as this impacts the owner’s insurance as well as being a breach of the rental agreement
Guests are kindly reminded - in line with the rental agreement - that at the end of the holiday the property must be left in the same or similar state of order and cleanliness in which it was found
Failure to leave the property in a reasonable state may results in the additional cleaning charge being invoked (minimum charge £150). Bookings over the Christmas and New Year period must be a minimum of 5 nights and the owner cannot accommodate check in on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, NYE or NYD. Bookings over the Easter period must be a minimum of 5 nights and the owner cannot accommodate check in on the four days of the Easter weekend, including Good Friday, with the exception of Easter 2027 where we can accept a check in on the 26th of March for 3 nights. Please note, 7-night bookings and weekend short breaks may only check in on Fridays, short breaks are also welcome mid-week
Please note: Early check-ins are not available due to our cleaning team’s schedule, we appreciate your understanding
There is an artificial, decorated Christmas tree set up in the property to help make your stay feel festive, aside from this, no additional Christmas decorations are included

The property

An imposing detached landmark property in a unique location!

This large residence is located on Roa Island, on the southernmost tip of the Furness Peninsula, 8 miles from the traditional Lakeland market town of Ulverston and 5 miles from Barrow-in-Furness with its extensive shopping facilities.

Overlooking the sea with a south-facing aspect, this Roa Island cottage has been lovingly decorated and furnished, oozing charm and character, with stone floors, high ceilings and palatial rooms.

Very much a home-from-home, this Roa Island cottage offers original wooden floors, inglenook fireplaces and many other original features in keeping with the style of this gorgeous house.

The sitting room is very spacious, with large windows, an open fire and a working piano.

The huge dining room of this Roa Island cottage adjoins a fabulous conservatory which extends onto three sides of the building, whilst the spacious kitchen/diner is well-equipped, ideal for cooking for large groups.

One of Roa Island House’s unique features is its amazing observation tower which provides 270-degree views of Morecambe Bay, Piel Island with its mysterious Piel Castle, the beautiful coastline and the many ships sailing past.

Outside, a large lawned area with a roof covered hot tub provides that something extra, and the chance to take in the splendour of this fabulous location whilst totally relaxing.

Just across the causeway is a delightful old pub, and summer ferries are available to explore Piel Island and Piel Castle, take a fishing trip, or enjoy trips to the seal colonies.

The amenities of Ulverston, the shopping facilities of Barrow-in-Furness, the beaches of the Furness Coast and the outdoor activities of Coniston and Grizedale Forest are all just a short drive away.

An excellent Roa Island cottage base, for friends and family alike.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £450.

View on map

About the location

ROA ISLAND

Ulverston 6 miles; Barrow-in-Furness 6 miles.

Roa Island is located on the Lake District's magnificent coastline, over half a mile south of the village of Rampside on the southernmost point of the Furness Peninsula. With an area of about 30 acres the island is the sixteenth most populated Island in Great Britain with just over one hundred inhabitants. Until 1847 Roa Island was a true island, being accessible only by boat or on foot across the sands at low tide. John Abel Smith, a London banker, bought Roa in 1840. He built a causeway to the mainland, completed in 1846, and an 810 foot (247 m) deep-water pier known as Piel Pier where steamers sailed to Fleetwood. The pier connected with the Furness Railway line to Kirkby via Furness Abbey, making use of the causeway. Other interesting buildings include Trinity Terrace, a row of terraced houses built to provide accommodation for the ten Trinity House pilots; and The Watch Tower, a Customs and Excise House built in 1847. Roa Island is home to a lifeboat station of the RNLI, serving Morecambe Bay and the Irish Sea. Just a short boat trip across the inlet is Piel Island, a small fifty acre island with its own castle, made famous by Martin Clune's (of men behaving badly and Doc Martin) The Island programme. Gifted to the people of Barrow-in-Furness by the Duke of Buccleuch in the early 20th century, the island is kept in order by the selection of the "King" of Piel, who is the landlord of the island's public house, the Ship Inn. Located in an outstanding area the village is close to the spectacular Furness Abbey, and the ancient market town of Ulverston is just 5 miles away, and still has an authentic feel and community spirit. The town boasts a street market every Thursday and Saturday and many festivals throughout the year, including an amazing lantern procession in November and a superb Dickensian weekend in early December. It is also the birthplace of Stan Laurel and home to the only Laurel and Hardy museum in the world! With all the attractions of the Lake District National Park and the sandy beaches and good birdwatching of the Furness coast close by, this quiet and peaceful area has plenty to offer.

Bookings over the Christmas and New Year period must be a minimum of 5 nights and the owner cannot accommodate check in on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, NYE or NYD

Bookings over the Easter period must be a minimum of 5 nights and the owner cannot accommodate check in on the four days of the Easter weekend, including Good Friday

Note: Strictly no stag or hen parties

Charging of electric vehicles (including bikes) is not permitted at this property, if electric charging is detected a charge of £100 will be deducted from the bond

Please note: there is an 11 pm curfew at this property after which time all guests must stop using the hot tub and strictly observe the hours of rest and not cause any form of disturbance to neighbours. Guests found to be in breach of these rules will be asked to leave the property with no refund given

Please note, 7-night bookings and weekend short breaks may only check in on Fridays, short breaks are also welcome mid-week

Please note: Early check-ins are not available due to our cleaning team’s schedule, we appreciate your understanding.

There is an artificial, decorated Christmas tree set up in the property to help make your stay feel festive, aside from this, no additional Christmas decorations are included

Please note: No stairgate available.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Your selection:

Features

Reviews & Ratings

“The house was spacious with good facilities for cooking, relaxing, spa and games.”

“Lovely holiday -accommodation overall very good and as described.”

“Booked Roa House for our family get together, 14 people and 2 dogs.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Hi, we stayed at your property with our family and friends, and upon arrival, we were absolutely delighted by the size of the house.”

“Arrived at the property to find it clean and welcoming.”

“We absolutely loved Roa House.”

“Loads of room for large parties.”

“We celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary with our children and grandchildren.”

“We spent 7 lovely days at this period property.”

“A unique and spacious property with excellent facilites that are very well maintained.”

“Roa island house was a great place for our large family holiday.”

“We had a lovely week with family together to celebrate a special birthday.”

“Great house for a family gathering.”

“We had a lovely long weekend at Roa House for a family gathering.”

“Lovely place ,very big and loads of room .”

“Huge house in a fantastic location with breathtaking views.”

“I rented Roa Island House to host a women's wellness retreat weekend.”

“We had an amazing weekend in this beautiful home , discovered eclectic treasures all around the house and loved the view from the windows and gardens.”

“The Jacuzzi jets was not working, Petty it may seem, however, noting the cost of the establishment, this should have been working which in turn would have made our stay a lot more comfortable.”

“It was brilliant for us as a large family in all there were 18 of us, we all had ...”

“Great house for a large group.”

“Brilliant cottage in a wonderful location.”

“This was the perfect holiday house and such an awesome base to explore from.”

“Myself and my family enjoyed every minute of this Beautiful house , my grandchildren and our dog had so much freedom, they loved playing hide and seek the houes had almost everything we needed it was missing a clothes maiding as we didnt want to dry everything in the dryer .”

“We had such a lovely time in Roa Island, everything about the house helped our big group make the best of our time together.”

“This house definitely has the wow factor.”

“Roa Island House had everything you could need for a lovely weekend.”

“The property was great just as described and pictures show the property exactly as it is.”

“Super place.”

“This was our second time staying at Roa Island House and was as enjoyable as the first.”

“We had an excellent stay and the house was perfect for our family re-union.”

“Incredible, well-equipped property situated in a very unique place with fantastic views.”

“Lovely location .”

“We visited in early Feb - 15 of us, to celebrate my mother-in-law's 80th birthday.”

“Wow!! Couldn’t believe how big the house was”

“A fantastic venue, we really enjoyed it, would definitely recommend it”

“Pool table would be a good addition Couple of board games also would have been excellent”

“Clean, spacious house with stunning sea views.”

“We had a wonderful week at the beautiful Roa House.”

“Had an amazing week in this perfect house.”

“We loved the property and thoroughly enjoyed our stay!”

“We had a wonderful time with our large family of three generations.”

“Hygienic issues like lack of mattress and pillow protection”

“Our holiday was booked for a selibration for my wife and I 80th birthday and ...”

“We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in a fascinating old house and a very interesting landscape.”

“We had the most fabulous time 2 birthdays within the family and we loved the ...”

“Fantastic stay in a stunning house.”

“We really enjoyed our stay, the house was exactly what was listed, we will book Roa island house again through Sykes.”

“Fantastic location and a great house with an interesting history, some of which is documented in a folder in the entrance hall.”

“Everything you could have wished for at this lovely property.”

“The house was fantastic.”

“Lovely property.”

“Absolutely brilliant weekend with the family at this amazing house.”

“Me and my husband got married in lock down just the 2 of us so we booked this for us to celebrate with our friends and family.”

“The house is huge but the kitchen and living room isn't big enough when everyone ...”

“We had a wonderful, fun, and relaxing holiday.”

“We will definitely be back”

“We had a wonderful holiday, the house is lovely and the location is fantastic.”

“Thank you so much for your assistance!”

“Had everything we needed.”

“The house was ready to occupy as we arrived, a member of staff called in and checked that everything was fine for us.”

“I marked down the cleanliness as the house did have bits of litter here and there in some of the rooms, also the floors on the entire ground floor were not very clean, it barely looked like they had been hoovered but really needed a scrub/mopping.”

“We had a lovely family break here.”

“We another amazing weekend at Roa Island.”

“Brilliant made some Amazing memories Definitely going back”

“This is a beautiful house with beautiful views of Morecambe Bay ,it is the best equipped house I have ever rented and I have rented a few both in this country and abroad.”

“We were a family of 16 staying at the roa island house.”

“It would have been helpful if the floor plans (as provided at Roa Island House) had been included on the website as this would have assisted sorting out accommodation among our multi-family group.”

“An excellent venue for us - an extended familly with small children.”

“Whilst the description of the property was accurate, I felt it gilded the lily and the whole property was in good need of a thorough clean, fresh paint and general smarten up.”

“Fantastic location ,comfortable rooms and lovely hot tub Would have liked to have soap/shower gel in the bathrooms and better pans for our large party.”

“This is a fabulous place if you want a tranquil quiet place to stay.”

“We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend stay at Roa Island; the place was beautiful and perfect for a family get together.”

“Having had an issue at the start, the support was fantastic from both Sykes and the property owner.”