 It is, along with the Furness Peninsula, (from which it is separated by the River Leven) one of the two areas of that formed "Lancashire North of the Sands",  and the better known 'Furness' is often used to describe both peninsulae together.To its north, the peninsula's borders are usually given as the banks of Windermere and the border with the historic county of Westmorland between the Lake and the head of the Winster.Historically, the area was controlled by the monks of Cartmel Priory.