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Coniston Water in the Lake District
Welcome to the EDGE Guide to Coniston Water in Cumbria.
Length: 5.6mls/9km.
Nearest towns:
Ulverston S on the A590 via the A5092 and A5084,
8mls/13km
Ambleside N on the A593, 8mls/ 13km.
Millom SW via the A593, A595 & A5093, 18mls/30km.
Further but a wonderful drive.
Location map
Many thousands of children all around the world will know about the exciting though fictional goings on on this marvellous stretch of water.
Arthur Ransome author of the famous Swallows and Amazons books, used the lake as the setting for his characters.
More recently Donald Campbell set a new world water speed record on the Lake in 1955, only to lose his life in an attempt to regain the title 11 years later on the lake in his boat Bluebird.
While here a trip on the lake is recommended either on the elegant steam yacht 'Gondola' built in 1859 and owned by the National Trust. There are other ferries running more frequently on the lake.
Boats can be hired so you can enjoy the lake at your own pace.
At the north west corner of the lake is the village of Coniston with much to interest the visitor and good places to take refreshment. Not much further down the road is the village of Torver providing a charming alternative.
Between the Coniston and Windermere lakes is the village of Hawkshead, one of the most picturesque villages in Britain. Hawkshead looks as if it came off the pages of a fairy tale.
With views over Coniston Water from above the eastern shore is Brantwood, once the home of the poet, philosopher and painter John Ruskin.
Brantwood is open to the public and definitely worth a visit.
You could leave your car in Coniston village and take the ferry which has a landing below the house - much more enjoyable than taking the car.
The house also enjoys one of the best views of the Old Man of Coniston, the daunting fell forming the western horizon.
Walks:
The area around the lake is criss-crossed by many public footpaths: on the
east side is Grisdale Forest with many forest walks with such features as
sculpture dotted about for which it has become well known and admired.
In the heart of the Lake District and not far from Lake Windermere to its east.
