History on the Doorstep of Your Morecambe Holiday Home

Date: 09/04/25

At your Morecambe holiday home, there’s so much to see and do in and around Morecambe Bay that you’ll never be short of a fascinating day out just a short drive away.

The area is rich in history, and you can travel back thousands of years to the very earliest settlers. Discover ancient caves from Neolithic times, head into the Lakes for remarkable Roman ruins, or check out the many classic castles nearby. It’s all within easy reach of your Morecambe holiday home, helping you to make some history of your own with amazing memories.

Here are just a few of the local history highlights:

Ancient history

There are lots of ancient sites to explore near your Morecambe holiday home, including the stone circle at Birkrigg, dating back to 1700 BC, the Bronze Age enclosures on Warton Cragg and the caves at Dog Holes near Warton, where they have discovered remains ranging from Neolithic times to the Roman era. 

Roman ruins

It seems like the Romans loved Lancashire and the Lake District every bit as much as we do, and they left lots of fabulous forts in some of the strangest places. You’ll find the remains of a Roman bath house in the grounds of Lancaster Castle, and the easy to reach remains of Ambleside Roman fort at the tip of Lake Windermere.

Rather harder to reach is the remarkable Roman fort at Hardknot, at the top of one of the steepest roads in Britain. Hardknot Pass is a one-in-three hill, but it’s worth the climb for the extensive remains of a Roman fort at the top, which, like the Ambleside fort, is free to explore.

Chapels and churches

The area's churches and chapels can trace their origins right back to the 8th century when St Patrick’s Chapel in Heysham was founded. Classic rock fans will recognise the six rock cut tombs in the grounds from the ‘Best of Black Sabbath’ album cover. Cockersand Abbey near Cockerham can trace its origins back to 1180, while the magnificent Furness Abbey near Barrow dates back to 1123.

Furness Abbey has always been an impressive site, but a recently reconstructed stairway and viewing platform have made it even more magnificent. Look out for the popular medieval fair held at the abbey every summer.

Classic castles

Perhaps the most famous castle near your Morecambe holiday home is the majestic  Lancaster Castle, which dates back almost a thousand years and was the site of three Roman forts before that. Stunningly preserved to this day. Lancaster Castle has hosted everything from the Lancashire Witch Trials in 1612 to a modern-day prison, which only closed its doors in 2011.

Lancaster Castle is owned by the King, and when you visit, you’ll be following in the footsteps of a whole host of other royal visitors. Robert Bruce, James I, Charles II, Henry IV, George VI, and, of course, Elizabeth II have all visited the castle. 

For a more remote castle visit, the 14th century Piel Castle, on Piel Island, can only be reached by ferry, but it’s well worth the trip. The extensive ruins dominate the island, and it’s easy to see how the castle once stood firm defending Barrow against both the Scots and passing pirate raiders.

Make your own history

With your own Morecambe holiday home, or a spot on our seasonal touring site, you can add to your own family history at Morecambe Lodge. To see how affordable a second home from home could be, get in touch today and book a visit to our spectacular coastal caravan park.