Rampside Lighthouse

Rampside Lighthouse is a tall brick navigation tower on the shore at Rampside, on the southern edge of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, north-west England. Locals know it as "the Needle", and official records call it the Rampside Leading Light. It overlooks Morecambe Bay, close to where the road to Roa Island begins.

What is it and why was it built?

The tower dates from around 1875 and worked as a leading light: ships lined it up with a second beacon and followed that line to stay in the safe channel. It was number 4 of 13 such lights set out around Barrow as the port grew with the town's steel and shipbuilding trade. The others, including those on Foulney Island and at Carr Lane on Walney, have been demolished. Rampside is the only one still standing.

It was listed Grade II in 1991. The official list entry calls it "Number 4 Leading Light on Foreshore Near Rampside Hall".

What will you see?

The tower rises roughly 20 metres and is built of red and yellow brick, which gives it a banded look against the flat shoreline and the wide sands of the bay. You cannot go inside, so this is a stop for viewing and photography, best at sunrise or sunset.

Next door stands the Concle Inn, an early 19th-century pub that is also Grade II listed. The village railway station was originally called Concle and became Rampside in 1869, before closing in 1936 along with the line to Piel.

How do you get there, and what else is nearby?

Rampside lies a few miles south-east of central Barrow, reachable by car or local bus. From the lighthouse the road runs onto Roa Island across a causeway about a mile long. On the island you will find the lifeboat station, with views across to Piel Castle on its own small island.

When should you go?

Any time of year works. Early morning and evening give the softest light, and at high tide the water comes close to the shore. Bring a windproof layer, since the bay is often breezy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside the lighthouse? No. It is viewed from outside and is a Grade II listed structure.

How old is it? It was built around 1875, so it is over 140 years old.

What makes it special? It is the only survivor of 13 leading lights built around the port of Barrow.

What else is close by? The Concle Inn, the Roa Island causeway, the lifeboat station and views of Piel Castle.