Round Rockway
Take a tour round Rockway! Click on any town in the map below, or from the list underneath, to be taken straight to the relevant entry. Alternatively, you can click to read about the smaller villages on the island, or check out the map gallery at the bottom of the page. Finally you can click to go back to the About Rockway page.
CL Towns
IRONFOX | JOHNSTOWN | MOONTREE | STOVEPIPE | TOND
Other Towns
Brightwilde | Cacot | Corpach | Fairshore | Goodlock | Indigo Hill | Kinpool | Kninghdon | | Mammoth Lakes | Morholt | Old Town | Polde | Shadowbeach | Stones Crossing | Tuxford | Unford | Yaxley
IRONFOX | JOHNSTOWN | MOONTREE | STOVEPIPE | TOND
Other Towns
Brightwilde | Cacot | Corpach | Fairshore | Goodlock | Indigo Hill | Kinpool | Kninghdon | | Mammoth Lakes | Morholt | Old Town | Polde | Shadowbeach | Stones Crossing | Tuxford | Unford | Yaxley
Around the Towns
Population: 20,494 (6th out of 77)
The 'First Town of the Small Isles' as the locals proclaim it, Brightwilde is the hub of Ruste in the far southwest of the Rockway archipelago. Aptly named, the town gets the best and worst of Rockean weather - sunny and bright ocean views for hundreds of miles when good, wild, unchecked ocean storms when not.
Set in a beautiful bay, Brightwilde is a town of rising importance for the islands, its manufacturing industry benefiting from the Ruste Isle's natural resources, and its relaxed atmosphere attracting more and more people to relocate. Though the unpredictable weather may put off some potential visitors, there is one major attraction - the town's foremost industry, beer. The town is home to a dozen or so breweries, and is famous Rockway-wide for the quality of its ales. None are more famous than the produce of the ubiquitous Brightwildean Brewhouse - its wares have rapidly become a favoured import across much of the British Empire.
Population: 6,421 (19th out of 77)
The small town of Cacot, across the harbour bay from Old Town, is a tranquil relief from the hustle and bustle of Rockway's largest city. Indeed, Cacot owes its very founding, almost two centuries ago, to a small group who wanted to escape the 'manic size' of the island's original settlement (population of Old Town at that time - about 5,000).
Cacot has now established itself as an important service centre for the busy Old Town port. Numerous suppliers are based in the town, rowing out to trade with and restock ships that are moored in the bay, and many tradesmen in the town offer repair services for those who have made the long journey across the ocean to the islands. Perhaps even more vitally, Cacot is home to the recently established national lifeboat service. Manned mainly by volunteers, the men of the town's lifeboat station stand ready to sail to the aid of any ship in distress in the waters around Rockway - their bravery relied upon and saluted by all those who rely upon the unpredictable seas to make their living.
Population: 7,002 (16th out of 77)
Population: 11,769 (9th out of 77)
Perched out on the north-east peninsula of Rockway Main, Fairshore is the island's traditional lookout post, the early warning system for incoming trouble. Indeed, the promontory was the site of the first lighthouse on the island, built the year before the town proper was founded in 1646.
Fairshore benefits from a spectacular setting, sat atop the great red cliffs that rise out of the ocean like a wall. The view of the town from out at sea is simply stunning, and it is said that one of the finest things to do on Rockway is to stroll to the clifftops just outside town before dawn so as to gaze out and watch the spectacular Atlantic sunrise. Getting a good, clear day to see that view, however, can be a challenge - Fairshore is widely regarded as having the worst weather on the islands, and spends many days shrouded in heavy fogs, drizzle and low-lying clouds.
Population: 5,140 (20th out of 77)
Population: 14,157 (7th out of 77)
Population: 48,755 (3rd out of 77)
The industrial heart of Rockway, Ironfox is a boom town of the industrial revolution. Situated as it is on the grand Koyuk River, and on the route of the main trail (and now railway line) between east and west Rockway, the town is perfectly placed for manufacturing and trading.
The original Ironfox village dates back to the 17th century, but it wasn't until the early 1800s that the settlement really took hold. Now, it is the third biggest town on the island, behind only Old Town and Johnstown, and second to none in importance when it comes to industry and the island's economy. As is to be expected, today the town itself is a smoky monument to technology - grand buildings mingle with smoke-belching factories across town. At its heart is the mighty Ironfox Bridge - a wrought iron goliath carrying the cross-Rockway Railway Line over the water, the symbolic link between old Rockway and new.
The Ironfox Light Blues are the town's baseball team, playing at the Koyuk River Park Grounds, a pleasant park down by the waterfront. When a game is on, the Grounds are always rowdy, normally full to the brim with factory workers making the most of their spare time, intent on relaxing, drinking, and cheering on the local team.
Population: 65,712 (2nd out of 77)
Founded in 1631, Johnstown was the first settlement built on Rockway's west coast. The Capital city of Rockway since 1678, Johnstown is the most important of all Rockean towns. It is the seat of government, and the island's endlessly-busy, diverse and metropolitan gateway to the world.
The main passenger port on the island, Johnstown's docks are a major focal point of town life. Steam ships bustle in and out of port, the works by the water's edge belch out smoke, and hundreds of people every day throng the dockside. From the Docks, runs Atlantic Avenue, down to the old Town Square and the junction with Main Street. Recently, the endless horse and cart traffic has been joined along the avenue by the main line of Johnstown's motorised tram system. The trams carry thousands of people each day to work, to the docks, to evenings out, and back home again. Branching off from Main Street, just before the railway station - the gateway to the islands - is the cobbled Topsfield, leading the way to Council Hall. The seat of Rockean government since the 17th century, Council Hall is a grand building that was remodelled substantially in the lead up to the granting of dominion status in 1878.
Sitting behind the Town Square, meanwhile, is Lime Park. First laid out some hundred years previous, when it was a tranquil oasis, it has become neglected and overgrown, and is regarded as a place to stay away from after dark. Around the coast from the docks at the top end of Main Street, in contrast, is the Promenade. First constructed in the 1850s, it has become the centre of entertainment in Johnstown. Parlour games, theatre and vaudeville are the dominant attractions, and the whole area is lined with street food kiosks that are a staple of any evening out in the town.
Two of the Clubs League's six teams are based in the capital city. The Empire Club - Rockway's oldest sports club - play their games at The Empire Grounds in a leafy suburb towards the south of the city. With their members - and supporters - drawn from among Johnstown's elite, the Club's games tend to have a refined, even entitled atmosphere to them. Meanwhile, playing at the Osborne Road Field not far from the centre of town, the Professionals are seen as the city's underdogs. Though lacking the wealth and history of the Empire Club, the Professionals are the team of the people, their loyal fans creating a vibrant atmosphere at every home contest.
Population: 12,283 (8th out of 77)
Population: 10,876 (10th out of 77)
Situated in the central Monda valley, Kninghdon has experienced dramatic growth over the past three decades, and finds itself as one of the most important towns on the island. It is a remarkable emergence for a settlement that, for the first 50 years of its existence was little more than a farmstead.
Knighdon's rise came from unexpected beginnings. In early 1855, a small group of Old Towners set off for Monda proclaiming that they would find their fortune on the small isle. Though a number of small hamlets had existed on the island for years, nothing had ever suggested to sensible Rockeans that the isle was a place to find a future. The 'Loons', as the group were derisively known, proved everyone wrong. Setting up on the edge of the Kninghdon outpost, they scouted around and soon found their fortune: coal. Within a decade the town had quadrupled in size, and coal from Kninghdon's mines was heating the islands and powering Rockway's industry. Today, that growth shows no signs of abating, as the coal fields continue to bring entrepreneurs, workers, and ever more wealth to the local area.
Population: 5,009 (22nd out of 77)
Population: 8,078 (12th out of 77)
A laid-back town on the Cape Skowl peninsula, Moontree has grown from humble origins as a little fishing village without losing any of its charm. Though hardly bustling, it is now the biggest town on Rockway Main's north coast, and a key port linking the main isle to Taton across the bay.
Nestled into a scenic cove, Moontree has a reputation as one of the most picturesque places on the islands, and the townsfolk revel in tradition. Even today, most of the town gathers by the dockside each evening as the fishing boats set out onto the ocean, and again early each morning to count them safely back to shore. As well as its fishing, the town is known around the islands chiefly for the local church, St Olaf's, an imposing edifice made entirely out of uncut local stone in the earliest days of settlement on Rockway. Though religion is not a big part of daily life for Rockeans, many make the journey to the town in order to touch the foot of the grand statue of the saint standing in the grounds - a ritual that is said to have brought good fortune to many locals over the years.
The Moontree Moons, the local Clubs League team, play at the North Park Fields in the middle of town. Though not always the most competitive, the team are well supported by locals, who think nothing of sitting or standing outside, braving the elements as the wind whips in off the sea, in order to cheer their team on.
Population: 7,230 (13th out of 77)
Population: 79,905 (1st out of 77)
The site of the original permanent settlement on Rockway, Old Town is still going strong, and remains the biggest town on the island. The British colonists arrived in 1603, and for the next 75 years island affairs were run from the fledgling town, until the Governor relocated to Johnstown across in the west.
The town itself didn't get a name for the first 20 years of its existence - it was simply referred to as 'the town'. It was only when residents started spreading out to new camps around the island that they found themselves needing a name for their former home - and 'the Old Town' soon stuck. The town boasts some of Rockways finest old architecture, including the cavernous Forshum Building – originally built as a storehouse for traders – which is widely regarded as the finest example of early Rockean architecture still standing. The old cobbled streets near the passenger quay, meanwhile, are lined with charming tea shops and curios that are a must see for all visitors to the island.
Not chiefly known as a tourist destination however, Old Town has always been the main cargo port on the island, sitting as it does on a huge natural harbour. Ever since its discovery it has provided a safe mooring place for ships making the perilous voyage across the north Atlantic and now is the conduit for the vast majority of Rockway's impots and exports. Just outside the town, the Royal Navy maintain their main island garrison, with part of the North Atlantic fleet keeping anchorage in the bay.
Population: 7,059 (14th out of 77)
Sat looking over the channel between Taton Main and Rockway Main, Polde is a charming little town with beautiful historic architecture and a unique character. Tracing its roots back to 1734, it was the first town settled on the northern isles and has established itself and those islands as a key part of the Rockean nation.
Initially a fishing village, Polde now serves as the hub for Taton - receiving passengers and cargo from the Main isle and shipping it on to the smaller villages around Taton Main, Mid and Far. Sheltered by the Main isle, Polde and the Northern Strait over which it looks are relatively protected from the savage Atlantic winds that pepper much of the rest of the islands. That lack of a prevailing wind, allows the town square - the centre of town life - to open out onto the main jetty, the bustling market place providing a welcome sight for passengers as the steam ferry chugs into port from across the water.
Population: 8,425 (11th out of 77)
The sparkling seaside town of Shadowbeach is Rockway's first true holiday destination. Sat on a stretch of beautiful golden sand - one of the few sandy beaches on the island - the town has found a niche catering to tourists, offering charming guesthouses, great entertainment and relaxation all year round.
The town came to prominence following a visit by the Chief Minister of the Rockway Counil in 1843. Upon arriving, he declared the town to be "a glorious place for a visit", and since that day thousands of Rockeans have visited the town to find out for themselves. Initially arriving largely by ferry - the ride to the town via the trails is a long and difficult one - tourists have arrived in even greater numbers since the opening of the southern branch railway connected Shadowbeach to the main line in 1877. The town is full of charm for visitors - penny arcades line the wooden boardwalk, charming carnivals fill the parks, and penny-farthings for hire and brightly coloured beach huts abound. Whatever the weather, the atmosphere is never short of joyous, making the town one of the most popular places to visit in all of Rockway.
Population: 6,673 (18th out of 77)
Population: 7,019 (15th out of 77)
Just a few miles along the coast from Johnstown, Stovepipe is far removed from the capital's metropolitan air. It is, much as it has always been, a self-contained little town, with a twice-weekly market, a variety of local businesses, a few farms and a quiet fishing wharf.
Not even the arrival of the new railway line has done much to change Stovepipe's 'olden days' character. Functional rather than pretty, few visitors make the stop in the town, preferring to travel onward towards the north west coast. And while a few modernities - access to the national newspapers being the main one - have arrived, not many locals have sought to change their way of life. Better connections have provided some opportunities though - not least for canny local businessmen looking to spread their influence and seek out sales across the rest of island. Chief among the wares that have found a wider audience are the famous Mulligan brand sporting goods - originally producing cricket bats and golf clubs, the company has now expanded to become the premier maker of baseball equipment on Rockway.
The Mulligan owner, G.J. Bartley also owns the local baseball team, the Stovepipe Mulligans. Playing at Mulligan's Grounds on the edge of town, they represent the smallest town in the fledgling Clubs League. The locals - while perhaps not Rockway's most passionate fans - enjoy the game, and welcome the chance to see the day's greatest baseball stars come to their little town.
Population: 26,106 (5th out of 77)
Another Rockean boomtown of the past few decades, if Ironfox is the heart of the industrial revolution on the islands, then Tond has been its muscle. The town experienced rapid growth through the 19th century, its workers powering the increasing industrialisation that has swept the islands.
The main Rockway Railway Line was started in Tond in 1859, heading west to Johnstown and east to Ironfox - and, eventually, Old Town beyond. It was laid by Tonders - hard, strong men who revelled in the manual labour. The Tond Rail Works have become the centre of transport on the islands - steam trains are built there, rails are smelted there, drivers are trained there. The railways of Rockway are 'Made in Tond', and there is a huge respect across the islands for Tond and its inhabitants. Many in the town have Welsh heritage and are hugely proud of their ancestral routes and their home - as they point out, while Tond might not be the best looking town on the island, it was built to last.
Growing out of the Rail Workers' union, the Tond Union Club are members of the new Clubs League. Playing in the Grand Cut Yards, next door to the Rail Works, the club enjoys huge support from workers throughout the town. The atmosphere at games is loud, the fans are tough, and wins are expected - Tond is a tough place for visiting teams to play.
Population: 6,817 (17th out of 77)
Population: 5,011 (21st out of 77)
District: The Plains
Population: 35,561 (4th out of 77)
The charming city of Yaxley sits in the far southeast of Rockway, on one of the Main Isle's many inlets. Respected across the island as a hard working town, always abuzz with activity, the country's fourth biggest town somehow still manages to retain a relaxed atmosphere that makes it endlessly welcoming to visitors.
With its town centre sprawling around the bay, Yaxley has two main waterside hubs. One is the fishing port - the busiest fishing port on Rockway, home to a large number of ocean-going vessels, the crews of which risk the waves to keep the islands fed. The great market place next to the docks is the place for the freshest fish in the country at 5 o'clock each morning - all the best catches are bought by the locals, before the rest is packed with ice, loaded onto trains and delivered around the island. Further round in the more sheltered section of the inlet, is another, smaller dock. There is to be found a fascinating selection of sailing craft, owned by some of Rockway's wealthiest - and most eccentric - residents. A whole sub-industry exists in the town, catering to this group of 'gentlemen explorers', furnishing them with supplies, food and even crew as they look to set out on their next adventure.
Population: 35,561 (4th out of 77)
The charming city of Yaxley sits in the far southeast of Rockway, on one of the Main Isle's many inlets. Respected across the island as a hard working town, always abuzz with activity, the country's fourth biggest town somehow still manages to retain a relaxed atmosphere that makes it endlessly welcoming to visitors.
With its town centre sprawling around the bay, Yaxley has two main waterside hubs. One is the fishing port - the busiest fishing port on Rockway, home to a large number of ocean-going vessels, the crews of which risk the waves to keep the islands fed. The great market place next to the docks is the place for the freshest fish in the country at 5 o'clock each morning - all the best catches are bought by the locals, before the rest is packed with ice, loaded onto trains and delivered around the island. Further round in the more sheltered section of the inlet, is another, smaller dock. There is to be found a fascinating selection of sailing craft, owned by some of Rockway's wealthiest - and most eccentric - residents. A whole sub-industry exists in the town, catering to this group of 'gentlemen explorers', furnishing them with supplies, food and even crew as they look to set out on their next adventure.
Villages
As well as the larger towns shown above, there are over 50 smaller towns and villages dotted about the islands of Rockway.
Capital District
- Ackton - pop. 3,295. Located directly across the river, north of Johnstown.
- Ford - pop. 879. Located on the railway line between Johnstown and Tond.
- Holypool - pop. 4,323. Located in the hills, southeast from Johnstown.
Cape Skowl
- Cheapsaw - pop. 587. Located on the coast, on the river north from Ironfox.
- Hazy Vale - pop. 748. Located on the river, southwest from Corpach.
- Lightrose - pop. 498. Located on the coast, due south from Moontree.
- Penman Down - pop. 2,548. Located on the far northwest tip of the penninsula.
- Redbrook - pop. 136. Located just east from Moontree.
- Warrior - pop. 260. Located on the railway line between Tond and Ironfox.
- Anvil - pop. 2,075. Located on the coast, two villages west from Shadowbeach
- Bargrave - pop. 885. Located on the railway line south from Tond
- Clifffield - pop. 3,238. Located on the coast, southwest from Johnstown.
- Glassby - pop. 851. Located on the coast, just northeast from Unford.
- Ponder - pop. 479. Located on the railway line southwest from Unford.
- Quellsbroke - pop. 329. Located by the lake, due east from Goodlock.
- Skye Point - pop. 3,262. Located on the railway line, just to the southeast of Kinpool.
- Three Rocks - pop. 430. Located on the river, the first village northeast from Kinpool.
- Watercastle - pop. 32. Located on the river, the second village northeast from Kinpool.
Monda
- Eriwick - pop. 152. Located in the hills east from Kninghdon.
- Friday Harbour - pop. 1,364. Located at the mouth of the river on the island's north coast.
- Gade - pop. 3,490. Located on the island's west coast.
- Goat Neck - pop. 723. Located on the river, due west from Tuxford.
- Icebeach - pop. 635. Located on the island's south coast.
Wester Rocs
- Fallhaven - pop. 1,395. Located by the inlet on Wester Main.
- Hewich Hamlet - pop. 585. Located on the south coast of Wester Main.
- Westerholt - pop. 36. Located on the larger of the three small isles.
East Rockway
- Banning - pop. 1,043. Located on the bay, just north from Old Town.
- Black Earth - pop. 838. Located on the east coast, due south from Morholt.
- Highmeadow - pop. 3,309. Located at the railway junction between Indigo Hill and Old Town.
- Hodgecommon - pop. 3,635. Located on the north coast, the first town west from Fairshore.
- Loddinglark - pop. 669. Located on the north coast, the second town west from Fairshore.
- McKendrick - pop. 2,018. Located on the north coast, just west of the river.
- Mile Dot - pop. 266. Located in the central plains, due west from Morholt.
- Mistmount - pop. 4,844. Located on the railway line by the river.
- Panda - pop. 475. Located on the coast, due north from Stones Crossing.
- Saltpath - pop. 442. Located on the coast, just south from Cacot.
- Smithedge - pop. 126. Located on the lake, due north from Indigo Hill.
- Speers - pop. 881. Located on the river, the middle of the three villages.
- Turnagain - pop. 911. Located on the coast, just northwest from Morholt.
- Whowoodstin - pop. 42. Located on the coast, just east of the river.
The Plains
- Dallyenster - pop. 3,590. Located just across the bay from Shadowbeach.
- Dorness - pop. 505. Located in the mountains, just northeast from Mammoth Lakes.
- Grimsam End - pop. 472. Located on the coast, just east from Yaxley.
- Limhead Sands - pop. 888. Located on the coast, the first village west from Shadowbeach.
- Severance - pop. 644. Located on the river, due east from Stones Crossing.
- Silvermaple - pop. 165. Located on the river, southwest from Stones Crossing.
- Vayford Croft - pop. 652. Located in the mid plains, northwest from Yaxley.
Taton
- Greenedge - pop. 284. Located on the north coast of Taton Main.
- Merriwick - pop. 921. Located on the northeast tip of Taton Main.
- Ocean Roar - pop. 1,610. Located on Taton Main, and the other end of the railway line from Polde.
- Starryfall - pop. 3,065. Located on the far isle.
Ruste Isle
- Backway Bridge - pop. 216. Located on the river in the hills.
- Hellier - pop. 3,160. Located on the coast, at the other end of the railway line from Brightwilde.
- Newland Crags - pop. 1,239. Located on the island's west coast.
- Point Hook - pop. 2,224. Located on the island's south coast.
Map Gallery
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Rockway
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