Pictures of Piel Castle

a Castle in the town of Barrow in Furness, in the county of Cumbria

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About Piel Castle

The last foreign invasion of England took place in 1486 when Irish and Flemish supporters of Lambert Simnel landed at Piel in a desperate bid to seize the crown from Henry VII. Lambert Simnel, who was impersonating the imprisoned Earl of Warwick, was captured and given a menial job working as a servant in the Royal household.

Barrow Harbour was important, the gap between the mainland and the southern end of the Isle of Walney, Piel Island, was ideally suited as a place to build a defensive fortress. A castle had been built there as early as the 12th-century after King Stephen had granted the island to the monks of Furness Abbey who were in need of a place of safety sufficiently strong enough to keep out border raiders. The monks also built a warehouse for the merchandise traded from the abbey, wine, wool and food. Parts of the ruined
warehouse can still be seen.

Early in the 14th-century, by the gracious permission of Edward III, Furness Abbey held a license to crenelate the tower. A new Motte and Bailey castle was built with a three storey keep. It is the romantic ruins of this later castle that we see today.

The island of Piel is a lonely, remote place with a haunted atmosphere which speaks of its turbulent, historic past. It has been a place for sanctuary for monks, Kings and smugglers! Such is the variance of history. William Wordsworth visited in 1805, after a stay of four weeks he wrote evocatively of the island - as 'a rugged pile' 'thy form sleeping on a glassy sea' these words perfectly depict this beautiful swirl of land, thrusting above a silver sea, spread by the ruins of a castle, lost in the long ago mists of time.

Today visitors can enjoy exploring the castle ruins, take a drink at the ancient Ship Inn and admire the few 18th-century cottages straggled around the island. Piel makes a memorable, evocative visit - one that is not to be missed.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Piel Castle.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Piel Castle

Furness Abbey	(4.9 miles, 7.8 km, direction N)	Pictures
The Laurel & Hardy Museum	(9.7 miles, 15.7 km, direction N)	Pictures
Hodbarrow Nature Reserve	(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
Fleetwood Museum	(11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Lancaster Castle	(14.9 miles, 23.9 km, direction E)	Pictures
Black Combe	(15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction N)	Pictures
Lancaster Cathedral	(15.5 miles, 25.0 km, direction E)	Pictures
Ashton Memorial	(16.0 miles, 25.7 km, direction E)	Pictures
Arnside Tower	(16.2 miles, 26.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Warton Old Rectory	(17.4 miles, 28.0 km, direction E)	Pictures

All attractions in Cumbria
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Piel Castle

Barrow in Furness, in the county of Cumbria (4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction NW)
Barrow-in-Furnace is defined by three things, the glorious red Sandstone ruins of Furnace Abbey, founded by King Steven in 1132, its beautiful sea and coastline where visitors thrill to the exciting sight of tall ships competing in the Tall Ship's Festival, and the magical views of Lakeland's distant towering peaks.
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Dalton-in-Furness, in the county of Cumbria (6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction N)
Dalton-in-Furness can be found at the meeting point of the roads leading from the mass of sands forming the Furness peninsula-one...
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Askam-in-Furness, in the county of Cumbria (8.7 miles, 14.1 km, direction N)
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Ulverston, a Historic Market Town in the county of Cumbria (9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction N)
Old town and port with cobbled streets and a pretty market square. It is surrounded by the Furness fells, Coniston Water, Lake...
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Borwick, in the county of Cumbria (10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction N)
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Millom, in the county of Cumbria (11.2 miles, 17.9 km, direction N)
The town of Millom developed close to the banks of the estuary of the River Duddon. It nestles in the shadow of the Black Combe,...
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Fleetwood, in the county of Lancashire (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction SE)
Fleetwood was once famous as a fishing port, but now it is more likely the visitor will see yachts and leisure boats lined up at the pretty quayside.
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Allithwaite, in the county of Cumbria (12.4 miles, 20.0 km, direction NE)
Allithwaite is a small village situated a couple of miles inland from the favoured resort of Grange-over-Sands. It is also within easy reach of Cartmel with its racecourse and old priory.
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Morecambe, in the county of Lancashire (12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction E)
Morecambe has always been one of the most popular and successful seaside resorts in England. It has one of the most spectacular...
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Silecroft, in the county of Cumbria (13.0 miles, 20.9 km, direction NW)
This little village is set along the glorious Whicham Beck against a back-drop of dramatic scenery encompassing fells and the Black Combe.
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All towns in Cumbria
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Nearby travel help

Roose Station	(3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction N)
Barrow-in-Furness Station	(4.5 miles, 7.2 km, direction NW)
M6 Junction 34	(16.3 miles, 26.2 km, direction E)
M6 Junction 33A	(16.6 miles, 26.7 km, direction E)
Blackpool Airport	(20.6 miles, 33.2 km, direction S)
Liverpool John Lennon Airport	(52.1 miles, 83.9 km, direction S)
Piel Castle to London	(217.8 miles, 350.5 km, direction SE)

Accommodation & Hotels near Piel Castle

Hotel Name
Roa Island Guest House	(0.8 miles, 1.2 km)
Brow Head Hotel	(4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction NW)
Ambrose Hotel	(4.5 miles, 7.3 km, direction NW)
Abbey House Hotel	(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction N)
The North Euston	(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction SE)
Bankfield House Hotel	(11.8 miles, 19.1 km, direction NW)
The Clarendon Hotel	(11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction E)
Glenthorn Private Hotel	(12.0 miles, 19.4 km, direction E)
Aynsome Manor Hotel	(13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction NE)
Graythwaite Manor Hotel	(13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction NE)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts