Great Walking and Cycling Made Easy
2 miles of walking - up to 1 and a half hours plus 20 minutes boat ride
A nice little stroll along the shores of Coniston Water to Torver Pier.
Timings: Remember to check ferry times before you depart! Take a look at Cross Lakes Experience 2008 leaflet for prices and timetables (opens Document Library).
Make a day of it: Pick up the Cross Lakes Shuttle at Bowness or Hawkshead to Coniston, enjoy your walk and get the boat back to Coniston.
Refreshments: available at Coniston Pier and Brantwood.
Large version of map: take a look at the Great Walking and Cycling made easy leaflet (opens Document Library)
Route description:
Arrive at Coniston Boating Centre through use of the Cross-Lakes Shuttle network. Leave the car park and cross the road following the footpath back towards the village that runs alongside the river. Cross the river using the footbridge and go past a few small retail units and along the entrance way out to the road.
To your left you’ll see a double kissing gate leading into the field. Go through here and follow the footpath along the back of the hedge and on up to an old stone track.
Following the track will take you through more fields, over a small bridge and on towards the distinctive chimneys of the medieval Coniston Old Hall. Go through the farmyard at the hall and follow the track through the barrier and onto the campsite.
On the main campsite field you need to take the second turning on your left which will lead you down through the trees towards the lakeshore. Here you’ll find a gate that takes you out of the main campsite field and down to the lake. Take some time to enjoy watching the water activity of people canoeing and sailing before carrying on along the footpath to Hoathwaite campsite.
Keep to the lakeshore footpath around a small plantation and through the grounds of an outdoor education centre.
Exit the outdoor centre grounds and follow the path through some old woodlands, still keeping alongside the lake.
After a short time you’ll get to Torver Jetty where if you’ve timed it right a ferry should be along shortly to return you to your start point.
