The islands in the Lake District just waiting to be discovered – Manchester Evening News

You certainly don't need your passport to enjoy the thrill of an island hopping adventure as there's a flight-free option right on your doorstep.

There's a whole host of islands dotted across the Lake District and Cumbria, some occupied, some claimed by nature, but all entirely beautiful.

Take a day exploring the tiny beauty spots by boat on Windermere, or unearth the historical wonders of the islands on Derwent Water.

Whether you want to hire a vessel for your adventure or want to take a cruise across the water, whether you've got a day or a week, it's well worth taking the time to explore these amazing islands.

Take a look at the scenic islands you can visit in the Lake District and Cumbria.

Note: Always stay safe when on the water and when travelling to and from islands. Do not stay overnight, and do not light any fires. Do not disturb any nesting birds and be sure to take any litter and belongings with you. Accessing islands by foot can be dangerous and many of the routes have quicksand. Always consult a local guide before heading out and always travel with someone who knows the sands.

There are four islands in the waters of Derwent Water to explore. Canoes can be hired from one of the marinas on the shoreline, and you can have your own adventure out on the sparkling waters.

A no-land island, Lord's Island has a wealth of resident wildlife that call it home. Found in a quiet part of the lake, there's a no-paddle zone between the main shoreline and the island. However passing boats are allowed on the far side. It's not always been uninhabited - once being home to the earls of Derwentwater until the Jacobite rebellion in the 18th century. There was a house on this island - complete with drawbridge - dating from around 1460 but only the foundations remain today.

The largest of the four, St Herbert's covers almost five acres and is found right in the centre of the lake. Named after the saint who introduced Christianity to the Lake District in AD685, St Herbert used the island as a hermitage retreat away from the rest of the world and became a place of pilgrimage following his death. The island was also the inspiration for the fictional Owl Island in the Beatrix Potter story The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. St Herbert's is accessible for boat users to land.

The small islet of Rampsholme is named after the swathes of wild garlic that grows on the island - and derives from the Old Norse terminology 'Hrafns holmr' - or 'wild garlic island'.

Once owned by the monks of Fountains Abbey, the private Derwent Isle is the only one on the lake that still has a house on it. The impressive building is shrouded by woodland and is open to the public just five times a year as organised by the National Trust. The island and its house were hated by the author William Wordsworth, who considered Derwent Island as a "blot on the landscape". As a private residence, the island is not accessible to the public and should only be viewed from afar.

There are three islands over on Coniston Water - two permanent and one that is only an island at high tide. The area around the lake has some of the regions most varied landscape and amazing views, so beautiful it became the inspiration for Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons.

Channel your inner Swallows and Amazons with a visit to Peel Island. It's widely considered to be the inspiration for the the fictional Wild Cat Island in the stories - and the filming location for the film adaptation. It's also thought to be the site of a medieval fort. Formerly known as Montague Island or the Gridiron, it's now owned by the National Trust and is a popular spot for tourists. The island is accessible by boat, and there are several cruises - including a steam yacht gondola tour - operating on the lake that incorporate a trip.

The two smaller islands are less frequented than their famous counterpart. Fir Island is actually joined to the shore and only becomes an island at high water. It's also home to a colony of large waterbirds known as cormorants.

Over at Windermere, you can truly spend a day island-hopping, with the lake being home to 18 isles.One is private, the rest are owned by the National Park Authority, the National Trust and the Royal Windermere Yacht Club. Some have jetties, others do not and most are accessible to the public. You can hire a boat from Bowness and row or sail yourself around the central islands or take a cruise boat for a Round the Lake tour.

At 1km in length, Belle Isle is the largest of the islands on Winderemere - and the only one ever to be inhabited. It has a rich history - once home to a villa built by a Roman governor and a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War. The house on the island, Island House, which is unusually round in structure, was built in 1774 - described by Wordsworth as "looking like a tea canister in a shop window".

Belle Isle is privately owned so do not attempt to land on it. Just admire from afar.

The other islands are considerably smaller and uninhabited - but many have their own unique history and heritage. Lady Holme was named after a chapel that once existed on the island. While Crow Holme was once a place of residence for kennels, which housed the hounds of local huntsmen, the Windermere Harriers. The Lilies were named for the wild flowers that used to grow on the island, which had droves of Victorian visitors rowing to the shores to pick the flowers.

All are known as 'Holme', after the Old Norse word for island, rather than the modern English terminology.

This island lies half a mile off the southern tip of the Furness Peninsula and is home to a castle and a pub - The Ship Inn. It's a protected historic site and a site of special scientific interest. Human activity on Piel dates as far back as 3000 years, but the current motte and bailey fortress was built in the early 14th century as a fortified warehouse to repel pirates and raiders. The island's pub dates back to the 18th century and serves as a watering hole for local fishermen and visitors to the island. It also holds a local tradition known as the 'Knighthood of Piel', where each new landlord is sat in an ancient chair wearing a helmet and holding a sword while alcohol is poured over their head.

Today, the island is accessible via a ferryboat from Roa Island pier during summer weekends. Piel can also be reached fromWalney Islandbut is only passable with care at low tide. If venturing by foot, always go with someone who knows the sands and check the tide times before travelling.

At 11 miles in length and and just a mile in width, Walney Island has a population of over 10,000 but is also a habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including 250 types of bird and some incredibly rare plants and flowers. In fact, it's the only place on the planet where you'll find the Walney Geranium . The island is home to Europe's biggest gullery and the only grey seal colony in Cumbria. It's considered one of the windiest lowland sites in Britain and has become an important location for kitesurfing and windsurfing. The fictional island of Sodor in the Thomas the Tank Engine series is thought to be based on Walney Island.

Sheep Island is an uninhabited grassy island of around 15 acres. Between 1892 and 1922 it housed a small isolation hospital within a wooden building, but there has been nothing built on the island since. The island is accessible on foot at low tide from either Walney or Piel Island. But be careful if you're heading over there, as the island is completely uninhabited and there's no shelter either. If venturing by foot, always go with someone who knows the sands and check the tide times before travelling.

Roa Island has a population of about one hundred and is home to a yacht club, a cafe, and a hotel - which has over the years been used as a fisheries investigation laboratory and as army premises duringthe second World War. 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. It's also the base for an RNLI lifeboat station.

The island is accessible by a causeway, and offers expansive views across the water and to neighbouring Piel Island.

This grassy little island is connected to the mainland via a shingle and rock causeway which was built in Victorian times as a tidal protection measure. It's a low-lying island, no more than three metres above sea level, meaning much of the island can be underwater during the highest of tides. Despite this, Foulney does act as a bird sanctuary and is considered a Site Of Specific Scientific Interest thanks to the variety of birdlife that can be found on the island. During the summer months the island is wardened and visitors are discouraged from walking in the nesting areas.

A gem on the waters of Morcambe Bay, the haunting Chapel Island is alimestoneoutcrop that lies in theLeven estuary. It gets its name from the chapel that used to stand on the island, which eventually disappeared and was replaced by a folly - built to look like a ruined chapel. Today it's completely uninhabited but does serve as a sanctuary for birds The island also has several sandy beaches, but the majority of the land is completely overgrown with brambles.

The island can be accessed on foot at low tide. However, Morecambe Bay is notorious forquicksands. Those wanting to visit Chapel Island need to seek local advice before travelling.

Original post:

The islands in the Lake District just waiting to be discovered - Manchester Evening News