"Some call it a cul de sac........" Barrow in Furness by mistressmau

Well this is it. This is the place where I live, work and play sometimes.
Barrow-in-Furness is a moderate town as I mentioned in my homepage with the total population being 71980. The recently modernised town centre has become pedestrianised and a new shopping area created providing new jobs and, opportunities to attract out of town customers and tourists.

Barrow-in-Furness has lots to offer everyone and is an ideal location. Close to surrounding beaches. The best beaches are Ernse Bay, Roanhead, Bardsea and Aldingham, but if you follow any part of the coast line then you will always find a nice spot in the middle of no-where. I prefer Aldingham as it is nestled amongst trees and is fairly secluded. Ideal for thinking time! The beaches are clean and there are plenty of rock pools at these beaches for children to explore.

Furness Abbey is a short distance away from the town centre. Buses are frequent and taxis are plentiful and cheap. Furness Abbey dates back to 1123 and was the second largest Cistercian monastery in England. A lot of the gargoyles and other pieces are still in tact and there is also a museum area.

If you are wanting a gentle walk with plentiful panormaic views, then Birkrigg, just on the outskirts would be ideal. It is a gentle walk, with breathtaking views over Barrow-in-Furness, Morecambe Bay, Ulverston and the Lakeland Fells, andis home to a small stone circle, but you would need transport to get there.

Another place for peace, quiet and excellent views is Piel Island. A small boat ride away from Roa Island. There is a small boat that operates more frequently in the tourist season, which takes people from Roa Island to Piel Island. Its a nice little trip over to see the castle ruins and of course to have a few beers in the pub!! This is a unique little place as it has its own king, a ruined castle and a pub....oh and a few little cottages. There is a chair in the pub and it is said that if you sit on this chair, then you are obliged to buy all persons in the pub a drink. I know it goes something like that. So if you want to remain rich, then don't sit in it.

On the outskirts of Barrow there are lots of other places of interest such as,
Gleaston Water Mill
Dalton Zoo
Colony Candle Shop
Dalton Castle & George Romneys' Grave
Of course, there are lots of things for familys to do too. Hollywood Park, Barrow-in-Furness is a complex which is home to a cinema, Bowling Alley, Bingo, Gym, and fast food outlets. There is also a Lazerzone a little down the road and a leisure centre with swimming baths, climbing wall and roller skating.

Nightlife in Barrow-in-Furness offers variety. There are plenty of pubs, restaurants serving various cuisines and plenty of nightclubs for you to dance your socks off to until the early hours. There are some take-aways which operate after the clubs have closed.

• Pros:Good to access all areas and in the heart of the lakes
• Cons:Not much for alternative music tastes.
• In a nutshell:More than just a cul de sac