Coniston Water to the the to Water Coniston from Flows Crake River The
Any mention of lakes and rivers in this leaflet does not give you a right to paddle. paddle. to right a you give not does leaflet this in rivers and lakes of mention Any and all who helped. Printed by Ferguson of Keswick. Copyright Canoe England 2010. England Canoe Copyright Keswick. of Ferguson by Printed helped. who all and
is yours, and the consequences arising from that decision are yours and yours alone. alone. yours and yours are decision that from arising consequences the and yours, is Authority Park National District Lake Agency, Environment the to thanks Sincere
canoe on a river or a lake then the risk assessment is yours, the decision to go canoeing canoeing go to decision the yours, is assessment risk the then lake a or river a on canoe Burgess. Alan Bassett, Ed Knapton, Mick Knowles, Peter Mc, Howard
misleading. Canoeing can be dangerous (just like road journeys) - if you choose to to choose you if - journeys) road like (just dangerous be can Canoeing misleading. Sheward, Rich Reichel, Leon Percival, Lynne Holmes, Stuart Teasdale, Norman
however rivers and natural features change and information may by out of date or or date of out by may information and change features natural and rivers however White, Rob of courtesy Photos Design. Reichel Leon and Publishing, Rivers
Information in this leaflet is intended for guidance only – it was written in good faith faith good in written was it – only guidance for intended is leaflet this in Information Timmins, Nigel by produced and designed Publication, England Canoe A
Disclaimer Acknowledgements – Acknowledgements
www.cumbriacanoeists.org.uk
situation. current the for website Canoeists
outside the fishing season - please refer to the Cumbria Cumbria the to refer please - season fishing the outside
historic voluntary agreement that asks people to paddle paddle to people asks that agreement voluntary historic
more serious than the grade indicates. Signs refer to a a to refer Signs indicates. grade the than serious more Water. Coniston on here
notes: lined banks make stopping and rescues difficult so it is is it so difficult rescues and stopping make banks lined based was which Ransome Arthur by book adventure
‘Swallows and Amazons’ is a well known children’s children’s known well a is Amazons’ and ‘Swallows • sea. This is a grade 3 (difficult) paddle with 7 weirs. Tree Tree weirs. 7 with paddle (difficult) 3 grade a is This sea.
Bay
flows from Coniston Water to the the to Water Coniston from flows Crake River The
evocative sight as it steams up and down the lake. the down and up steams it as sight evocative
Morecombe A5087
more information. more and colourful very a makes and months summer the
The restored steam yacht ‘Gondola’ tours the lake in in lake the tours ‘Gondola’ yacht steam restored The • See the ‘White Water Lake District’ guidebook for for guidebook District’ Lake Water ‘White the See
they have sufficient water - normally in winter months. months. winter in normally - water sufficient have they
canoes and sit on tops. tops. on sit and canoes
‘creek runs’ only paddled by expert kayakers when when kayakers expert by paddled only runs’ ‘creek
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launches and has these for hire, besides a fleet of of fleet a besides hire, for these has and launches
Ulverston
flow into Coniston Water. All of these are small steep steep small are these of All Water. Coniston into flow
The Lake District National Park encourage electric electric encourage Park National District Lake The
Beck orver T and Beck Church Beck, Yewdale
and the speed limit of 10 mph is strictly enforced. enforced. strictly is mph 10 of limit speed the and
0
Rivers discouraged are boats power noisy, large, year the
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& M6 &
– normally in early November, but for the rest of of rest the for but November, early in normally –
To Kendal
from this point. this from
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A Coniston Powerboat speed week is held each year year each held is week speed Powerboat Coniston A •
Coniston
narrows – there are great views looking back up the lake lake the up back looking views great are there – narrows 4
W
A5084 2
Windemere
ater
near Blawith Common at GR 289904 just north of the the of north just 289904 GR at Common Blawith near 2001. in lake
A507 A59
beautiful southern end of the lake - a great picnic site is is site picnic great a - lake the of end southern beautiful the from recovered were boat the of remains the 3
Island and then perhaps picnic at the quiet and more more and quiet the at picnic perhaps then and Island and body His 1967. in died and crashed but records
1 Coniston
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in the North and head south then you can visit Peel Peel visit can you then south head and North the in further four set Campbell Donald son His hour. per Windermere
you can build in a visit to one of the cafes. If you start start you If cafes. the of one to visit a in build can you miles 141 record a established Campbell Malcom Sir
end of the Lake then going north has the advantage that that advantage the has north going then Lake the of end 1939 in and record speed water world the breaking Ambleside
It is famous for its association with attempts at at attempts with association its for famous is It • If you start at one of the launching sites at the South South the at sites launching the of one at start you If
1
at Peel Island and other places of interest en route. en interest of places other and Island Peel at scenery. mountain unspoilt spectacular, by is it as
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trip is to paddle the whole length of the lake stopping off off stopping lake the of length whole the paddle to is trip surrounded beautiful, most the of one and District Lake
If you have a whole day then we suggest that the best best the that suggest we then day whole a have you If English the in lake largest third the is Water Coniston
How to get there get to How Suggested Canoe Trails Canoe Suggested Water Coniston About
Canoeing guide Coniston Water Lake User’s Guide Books and catchment rivers The Lake District National Park publishes free leaflets Whitewater Lake District, Stuart Miller, Rivers for most of the lakes including Coniston Water. These Publishing UK. £17.95. A detailed guidebook with are more informative on things like footpaths and excellent maps to all rivers in Cumbria and surrounding wildlife and complement this more specialist guide. counties, 360 pages. Phone Numbers An Atlas of the English Lakes, John Wilson Parker. In Emergency - Dial 999 and ask for Coastguard. Cicerone. £16.95. A delightful full colour book that has Coniston Boating Centre - Tel 015394 41366. detailed pictorial charts of all the main lakes in Cumbria. Environment Agency 0800 807060 (24 hour hotline) Websites Safety www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk without prejudice Really good website produced by Cumbria Tourism. www.coniston-net.com • On Coniston Water wind is the main hazard All about Coniston and what is on in the local area. - take note of its direction and strength. www.lake-district.gov.uk • Wear a buoyancy aid. National Park information. • Coniston Water is deep and cold even in www.canoe-england.org.uk summer- wear suitable warm clothing Canoe England have local volunteer river advisers for and waterproofs. all main rivers. • Less than 3 there should never be ? www.cumbriacanoeists.org.uk Website for Canoe England Cumbria region. Responsible Paddling Local paddling events, clubs, etc. Canoeing is encouraged as an ideal, clean, quiet, www.environment-agency.gov.uk healthy recreation that leaves no footprints and Useful links to river levels and gauges. has minimal impact on the environment and www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk wildlife. Please - This is a popular UK wide online “guidebook” resource 1. Do not light fires or camp on islands. for all aspects of paddlesports. A map and guide to Coniston Water 2. Follow the Country and Canoeist’s codes. www.songofthepaddle.co.uk one of England’s most beautiful areas A popular website for those who paddle canoes as - for canoes, kayaks and sit on tops. 3. Do not land or launch through reed beds or opposed to kayaks. wetland areas. www.bankgroundfarm.com 4. Don’t scrape down rivers especially during the Online web camera. Great view of the lake and good for main fish spawning months of November checking out how much it’s raining! to January.
A Canoe Trails Leaflet
Coniston Water A guide for canoes, kayaks and sit on tops
Pier Cottage Caravan Park Monk Coniston Bay Yewdale Beck Small site for touring caravans and camper vans Church Beck A shallow bay that is popular with learning groups. only. 100m walk to lake and easy launching for those staying here. Tel: 015394 41252 Monk Coniston Pay and display tarmac parking for about 35 cars. Toilets. Good access for minibus and Coniston Boating Centre Monk Coniston trailers. Easy launching with a 30m flat walk. Large pay and display car park.Toilets. Café. Easy B5285 Popular and recommended for beginners and launching from a slipway. Small launching charge. organised groups but can get full on busy Canoe and kayak hire. Tel 015394 41366. Waterhead summer days. www.lakedistrict.gov.uk Coniston Bank Ground Farm Tea Room Coniston Hall This old farm house does delicious home made lunches and teas open on summer weekends A 16th century house noteworthy for its and school holidays. Land to the right of the 3 massive chimneys. It is owned by the National boat houses, follow the hedge up and then bear Trust - part of it is now ruined, part is used as left for the tea room. a farmhouse, and another part is used by the www.bankground.com Tel: 01539 441264 sailing club. A nearby privy has a grade II listing. Brantwood Coniston Hall Campsite An interesting country house that overlooks Sailing the lake and was the home of John Ruskin. Very large campsite for tents and camper vans Club The house and grounds are administered by a only. Possible to drive to the lake shore and Coniston charitable trust and it is a popular place to visit. easy launching but only for those camping here. Hall A593 We recommend landing on the beach here and Tel: 015394 41223 walking up to eat at ‘Jumping Jenny’s’ which is the café in the old stable block next to the house. Park Coppice Caravan Club Site Coniston Hall Campsite Large site run by the Caravan Club. Touring Brantwood Machell Coppice caravans, camper vans and tents. 100m walk to Free gravel car parking for about 30 cars. lake and then easy launching for those staying Park Coppice Easy launching with a 40m walk. Caravan Park here. Tel: 015394 41555 Popular with windsurfers. www.caravanclub.co.uk Fir Island Machell A boggy island which is usually joined to the Coniston Hall to Sunny Bank Coppice shore unless the lake level is very high. This middle section of the lake feels the most It is home to a colony of cormorants. remote and wild with grand vistas of lake, forest Bailiff Wood and mountains! Hoarwaithe Farm Campsite Free gravel car park for about 16 cars. 30m rough track to the lake. Popular with sub Hoathwaite Farm Campsite Torver Jetty aqua divers. A basic campsite owned by the National Trust. (Bring your own toilet) Open to caravans, Dodgson Wood camper vans and tents. Easy launching for Torver Free gravel car park for about 8 cars. 30m flat those staying here. 015394 63862. Fir carry to the lake. www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Island Grizedale Dodgson Wood Campsite Forest Sunny Bank Basic campsite hired to groups only. 100m walk A westerly wind often funnels across the lake to the lake & easy launching for those staying here and the wind can be 3 times as strong as it here. Tel: 01229 885663. is at Brown Howe. www.discoverthelakes.co.uk Bailiff Parkamoor Wood Bass Crag Torver beck Free gravel car park for about 20 cars. 30m Common Roadside parking for about 20 cars carry to the lake and slightly awkward move overlooking the lake. However boats will A5084 through a wall. need to be lowered 6m down the cliff using a rope. Only recommended for those seeking Peel Island a physical challenge! Ice cream van is often This small island belongs to the National Trust Torver Beck here in the summer. Sunny Bank and is most famous for being the inspiration Jetty for Wild Cat Island in Arthur Ransome’s Brown Howe Dodgson Wood book ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (including the Pay and display gravel parking for about 30 secret harbour). Today it is a popular tourist cars. Toilets. Reasonable access for minibus Dodgson destination and picnic spot. Strictly no fires and trailers. Easy launching following a Wood or camping. Campsite 80m level walk. Popular with whitewater paddlers who are setting out for a trip Parkamoor Low Peel Neav down the river Crake Roadside parking for perhaps 5 cars alongside the lake. Bass Crag Blawith Common South End of Coniston Water Two small free parking spots for maybe 7 Peel Island This is much quieter than the rest of the lake cars each. Then a long 250m walk along and very beautiful. winding narrow paths to the lake. Torver Low Common Allan Tarn Nibthwaite Quay A small quiet tarn which is believed to be the This is a private quay which goes back to the ‘Octopus Lagoon’ in ‘Swallows and Amazons’. Low Peel 17th century. Copper Ore was transported Neav down Coniston Water from a quay at Coniston River Crake Hall to Nibthwaite Quay where it was loaded Please see canoeing notes on the reverse. into carts, taken to the coast, and then by ship Brown Howe to St Helens for smelting.
Coniston Water - what you need to know One of the most beautiful English lakes and deservedly popular for canoeing - Canoe access & launch point
Private shore - no landing Blawith • Just the right size to explore in a day - Common 9km long by 1km wide Special Points High Nibthwaite Public accessible shore • Easy launching and parking. Nibthwaite • Scheduled launch service Wildfowl area (please avoid) Quay • Surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery. – mainly in the North of • Relatively quiet. the lake Cycle path • Lots of public shoreline and beaches for - Keep well clear, especially Footpath landing and picnics. close to the landing stages • Danger of sudden gusts of Allan • Clean water. Tarn • Quality canoe hire and tuition available. wind off the mountains 0 Kms 1 • No permits needed. • Coniston Water is cold and A Canoe England Publication deep – over 50m! Approx scale • Speed limit of 10 m.p.h and only a few motor boats.
River Crake