Lake Coniston - East Side Return Paddle Trail

1-3 hours

Duration

8 miles

Distance

Out and Back

Easy to Moderate

Difficulty

LA21 8AH

Start Postcode

LA21 8AH

End Postcode

A. Monk Coniston car park is at the north end of the lake, with ampleparking, toilets, and room for minibuses and trailers. A short walk willtake you down to the water.

B. Keep the wooded bank to your left and head off down the lake.

C. After about a mile, Brantwood House appears high on the left bank, an obvious white building, with a ferry landing and shingle bank to land on. The tea shop up at the house is great and there are plenty of landing spots.

D. In under half a mile is Machell Coppice, parking for 30 cars, with a 40m walk.

Fir Island follows, (SD 305939), a nice landing place, and shelter from the wind, usually joined to the mainland. This middle part of the lake is the quietest part.

E. Ahead, Peel Island, made famous by it featuring in ‘Swallows and Amazons’, obviously sticks out into the lake. The way
around the back of it is easy, but shallow in places. The island is a lovely place to stop for a break, with a sandy beach, rocky coves, pine trees, and grassy places to sit.

F. When finished, it is a matter of retracing your way, and the trip back will be different – you will obtain a better view of the mountains above the west side of the lake.

Discover More

Coniston Water is the third largest lake in the English Lake District, and one of the quietest and most unspoilt, being surrounded by high Lakeland fells. It has various unique attractions, being the lake where Sir Malcolm Campbell set his world water speed record in 1939, and with the Old Man Of Coniston towering above, you’re bound to see something special!

The route is circular and can be done in either direction depending on the wind. Be mindful this is an open stretch of water, and the wind can have a real bearing on time and ability to paddle. It is described here clockwise. Be very aware of all the commercial craft to-ing and fro-ing from jetties, with the lake steamers accessing the biggest jetty. Do not block up jetties as the large steamers come in.

The towering Old Man of Coniston is the highest fell in the Lake District at 802m tall, or is it? Recent uncertainty over the height of its neighbor Swirl How has put this in doubt. Which one looks tallest to you?

Coniston Water has been home to many water speed record attempts, with the fastest being 260 mph set by Donald Campbell in 1959. He unfortunately died here whilst trying to break another record in 1967.

The poet John Ruskin spent a lot of time in the village, even buying Brentwood House, and rejected the offer of being buried in Westminster Abbey in favor of the village.

Further information can be found on the following websites:

Licence Information

The waterways on this trail do not require you to have a licence to paddle on them. However, if you paddle regularly and want to explore more places to paddle, you could consider becoming a member of Paddle UK. You’ll get a whole range of benefits as an On The Water member, including an annual licence to paddle on 4,500km of Britain’s waterways, liability insurance, and great discounts on paddling related products. Join today at www.paddleuk.org.uk

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Safety Information

We want you to have fun and a safe paddle! Here are some helpful tips to ensure you paddle responsibly and stay safe on your journey. Please take a moment to review these important safety tips:

– Always wear a correctly sized buoyancy aid

– Carry a mobile phone – in a waterproof case

– Tell Someone Where You’re Going

– Check the weather and conditions

– Know your limits

Check out some useful blogs and e-learnings on how to keep safe

Environment

Wherever and however you paddle, our Paddlers’ Code helps to ensure we can all enjoy and share the water safely and protect our precious environment.

Don’t get sick doing what you love. We know water quality is a concern for many paddlers. Click here for some simple advice on water quality and how to protect yourself.

Get informed, stay safe and make good decisions by checking the National Storm Overflow Map

Paddlers can play a vital role in keeping our waters free of harmful non-native species. It is crucial you Check, Clean and Dry you boat and equipment to prevent the spread. Click here for more information on Invasive Non-Native Species.

For more environmental advice and guidance, see our Blue Space Blogs section on the Paddle UK website.