Roa Island

Large Tidal inlet.

Submitted by:
justal
Updated:
27th Apr 2004

Roa Island
by: gazxtreme

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The tidal inlet formed by the Isle of Walney and accessed from Roa Island is an ideal windsurfing location. It is fairly well protected by the low-lying islands of Piel Island, Foulney Island and the Isle of Walney and therfore provides relatively safe flat water conditions ideally suited to intermediates. You can windsurf here at any state of the tide and in any wind direction. At low water in a SW-W wind there are perfect flat water speed sailing conditions along the sand bank at the far side of the channel There are a variety of conditions depending on where you sail and the state of the tide. As the tide fills in, the enclosed bays around the inlet provide for beginners a couple of hours either side of high tide. At other times, the tidal currents can be quite strong so it is not recommended for beginners at any time other than around high tide. Parking is available along the road and there is a local cafe. Other facilities can be found in nearby Barrow-in-Furness.

This beach should also be perfect for kitesurfing, but I have no specific information on that. Please Submit a Comment if you know about the kiting conditions here.

To find Roa Island, from the M6 take the A590 towards barrow, when you get to Ulverston, take the coast road (A5087), follow this to the end and turn left at the roundabout into rampside. Follow this road to Roa island.

Surf Conditions at Roa Island are Unknown

Buggying Conditions at Roa Island are Unknown

Windsurfing Conditions at Roa Island can be Excellent

Kitesurfing Conditions at Roa Island are Unknown

Windsurfing at Roa Island

Kitesurfing at Roa Island

NW	N	NE

W		E

SW	S	SE

NW	N	NE

W		E

SW	S	SE

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Posted By: gazxtreme
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Member#: 1568
Location:
Registered: 01-11-2005
Last Visit: 05-11-2007

KITESURFING AT ROA

There are 2 possibilities for kitesurfing at Roa, there is firstly the bay which is fairly safe but could be nasty if inexperienced as there is the road on one side and the rock causeway leading to Foulney, also there is only a small launching and landing area, oh and a wreck of a boat close to shore, it sounds and looks dodgey at first but get out into the middle of the bay and even when it's blowing hard it's quite flat except on Southerley winds when you get a big chop. The bay can only really be used for about 1 hour either side of high tide maybe longer on higher tides, you dont want to be there when the tide rushes out and leaves you with a 100m walk over slimy mud whilst carrying a board and flying a kite. There are usually other kiters there if the winds are Easterly and offshore at Walney. if not Windsurfers are usually there and most of them are friendly especially when you've amused them with some awesome wipeouts. Roa is usable on most wind directions except N and NE, these directions have to travel over land to reach the bay and can be turbulent.
On the channelside of Roa there is much more room and this is usable on all tide states but low tide involves a walk across muddy sand, it can be well worth it though as there is a lagoon type thing appears at a low tide that allows safe surfing without chance of drifting across to Walney, a mussle bed would stop you, "ouch" but better than an 8 mile walk right round to get back to your car on Roa. on high tide the sand is quite level so it can be about 50m befor you start to be out of your depth, one thing to watch for is rocks appearing as the tide is going out. This side is good on all winds but N and NE but if on Easterleys if all goes wrong you are heading for Walney. One thing to be careful of on this side is the boats, it's quite busy and some big buggers come up here. If the local Instructor is there he will usually have a small inflatable boat and outboard for rescue, talk to him and he may just pick you up if in trouble.