Coniston Water & Steam Yacht Gondola
Coniston Water
The third-largest lake in the Lake District. You can take a Victorian steam yacht built in 1859 across the water, and it was the setting that inspired Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons.
Coniston Water is about 8 km long, with the Old Man of Coniston rising on its west side. The steam yacht Gondola, built in 1859 and restored by the National Trust, has Victorian velvet cabins. It sails from Coniston Pier and can stop at Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin. The lake also has electric boats and kayak and paddleboard rentals. Donald Campbell set a water speed record here and died in 1967 while attempting another. The Ruskin Museum in town has exhibits on this. Coordinates are for Coniston Pier.
Opening hours
Boats approx. Apr–Oct, several daily sailings
Nearby sights
- Brantwood
- Tarn Hows
- Grizedale Forest
- The Old Man of Coniston
- Hawkshead
- Great Langdale
- Hill Top
- Grasmere & Dove Cottage