Coniston Launch
Coniston Launch - lake cruises and group charters on Coniston Water in the Lake District
Photo: Our new boat Campbell on Coniston Water
Coniston Launch offers a variety of ways that you can enjoy a beautiful boat cruise on Coniston Water in the Lake District.
regular scheduled cruises
regular services covering two different circular routes on Coniston Water - see the timetable and fares
stay on the boat for the full cruise or stop off at any of the jetties to catch a later boat back
combine a boat cruise with a walk around the shore of Coniston Water - see lakeshore walks and fell walks
special cruises
Swallows and Amazons
Campbells on Coniston
groups and charters
book one of our launches for a private party or wedding
timetable and fares for regular Coniston Launch services
Use an around the lake ticket to either relax and enjoy a round trip on the boat, or hop on and off the boat throughout the day at our jetties and catch a later sailing back using the same ticket.
Northern Service (Red Route): 45 minute cruise
Experience Coniston Water and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area. See Bluebird's base, pass Holly Howe and find out the names of the fells.
Map: Northern Cruise, Coniston
larger map
2012 TIMETABLE
Sat 10 Mar to Sun 4 Nov 2012
Runs 7 days a week 4 May-16 Sep: Fri, Sat, Sun only
Coniston - dep 10.45 11.45 12.45 1.40 2.40 3.40 4.40
Waterhead 10.50 11.50 12.50 1.45 2.45 3.45 4.45
Bank Ground (not stopping here at the moment) 10.51 11.51 12.51 1.46 2.46 3.46 4.46
Torver 11.05 12.05 1.05 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
Brantwood 11.20 12.20 1.20 2.15 3.15 4.15 5.15
Coniston - arr 11.30 12.30 1.30 2.25 3.25 4.25 5.25
2012/13 WINTER (see notes below)
Winter sailings (5 Nov 2012 to 8 Mar 2013) - heated cabins.
Saturdays and Sundays only from 5 Nov to 18 Nov 2012.
No sailings between 19 Nov and 26 Dec 2012.
Open every day from 27 Dec to 2 Jan 2013.
Weekends only from 5 Jan to 8 Feb 2013.
Open every day from 9 Feb 2013 onwards.
Coniston - dep 10.30 11.30 12.30 1.30 2.30
Waterhead Hotel 10.35 11.35 12.35 1.35 2.35
Brantwood 10.45 11.45 12.45 1.45 2.45
Torver 10.55 11.55 12.55 1.55 2.55
Coniston - arr 11.10 12.10 1.10 2.10 3.10
Red Route fares Adult Child (5-15)
(under 5's Free) Family (2ad, 3ch)
Northern cruise (around the lake or hop on & off throughout the day) £9.50 £4.95 £23.50
Single fares also available to various points around the lake - please pay on boat
Northern cruise plus Brantwood entry (house) £15.30 £6.20 £35.65
Southern Lake Discovery Cruise (Green Route): 105 minutes
Enjoy the natural history and tranquil southern extremity of Coniston Water. Discover "Wild Cat Island" of Swallows & Amazons fame.
The Southern service (Green Route) runs on Mondays and Thursdays only.
Map: Southern Cruise, Coniston
2012 TIMETABLE (Mon 7 May to Thurs 13 Sep 2012)
Coniston - dep 4.40
Waterhead 4.45
Bank Ground (not stopping here at the moment) 4.46
Torver 5.00
Water Park 5.25
Lake Bank 5.35
Sunny Bank 5.55
Brantwood 6.15
Coniston - arr 6.25
Green Route fares Adult Child (5-15)
(under 5's Free) Family (2ad, 3ch)
Southern Cruise £14.50 £7.25 £29.50
Single fares also available to various points around the lake - please pay on boat
special cruises on Coniston
Photo: a cruise on Coniston Water in the Lake District
In addition, to our scheduled services, we organise these special cruises on Coniston Water:
Swallows and Amazons cruise
Campbells on Coniston cruise
These special cruises are generally very popular, so we recommend that you book in advance
lake cruises for groups on Coniston
Photo: Coniston Launch
Groups and parties have a variety of ways of enjoying a cruise on Coniston Water:
groups on our scheduled services
groups on a short "Brantwood Direct" cruise
see also the pages in the menu to the left
groups on our scheduled services
During the sailing day we offer great value for pre-booked groups on our scheduled sailings.
Prices for groups on our scheduled sailings are:
Northern Cruise (50 mins): £8.50 per person
Southern Cruise (105 mins): £12.50 per person
You can combine either of these cruises with a visit to Brantwood, the special discount house entry price being just £5.80 per person if bought with the launch tickets.
Brantwood Direct
The best and most convenient way to visit Brantwood the one-time home of John Ruskin. We can carry groups and the crossing takes just 10 minutes.
We can take you from Coniston to Brantwood at the following time:
10.00 am
and return you from Brantwood to Coniston at:
13.20
14.15
15.15
16:15
17.15 (4th May - 16th Sep on Fri, Sat, Sun)
The return journey may not be on a private boat.
Whilst most of our groups travel from Coniston Boatlandings, an increasing number like to take morning coffee, a buffet lunch, or afternoon tea at the Waterhead Hotel, and we can collect you from the hotel five minutes later than the above times.
The price for the Brantwood Direct is £10.40 per person. This includes adult admission to Brantwood House (£5.80 - full price £6.35). There is a minimum of 15 people, so the minimum charge is £156.
general group information
We carry most of our daytime charters from Coniston Boatlandings where there is coach parking and toilet facilities. We can however pick you up from the Waterhead Hotel jetty (parking for one coach) provided you are taking some refreshment at the hotel. We normally provide a brief 'introduction to Brantwood' commentary as part of the Brantwood Direct (time is limited).
At Coniston Boatlandings (see map of lake) there is free coach parking, a cafe, and toilet facilities, whilst the Waterhead Hotel (North end of the lake) has good coach parking for groups that are using the hotel for coffee, lunch or tea (tel: 015394 41244).
The enclosed saloons on our launches hold about 35 people.
Groups should allow plenty of time to get to Coniston, especially if travelling by coach in mid-season. We advise arriving at least 15 mins before sailing time so that we can board you before we board other passengers.
Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.
activities around Coniston Water
This section of our web site describes a few of the activities available around Coniston Water - starting with a description of each jetty served by our launches.
jetties around the lake
Coniston boatlandings
From Coniston Village turn down Lake Road (just next to the Petrol Station) - you will find us just beyond the Bluebird Cafe. There are public toilets and a payphone. There is some free parking, but the main (grassed) car park is a Pay and Display. There is normally sufficient room except on the busiest of days in the school holidays. If you do have trouble parking then there is 'overspill parking' at John Ruskin secondary school in Lake Road (please make a donation to school funds!).
Things to do:
'Lakeshore' walk - South to Torver or Sunny Bank
'Fell" walk - Plenty of choice, coppermines, Old man, etc
eat at Bluebird Cafe (good swift service)
hire a rowing or sailing boat at the Coniston Boating Centre
hire Canadian Canoes or have other 'adventure' days with Summitreks
visit the Ruskin Museum in Coniston - get discounted admission with your launch ticket
visit shops, pubs, bank (cash machine in petrol station!) in Coniston village
Waterhead Hotel
This jetty is in the grounds of the Waterhead Hotel, being at the end of their garden. It is an easy flat walk to the hotel (200yds). There is car parking available at the hotel which is open for coffee, tea and light refreshments. Many of our groups book here for lunch or afternoon tea, and if you are thinking of staying in the area why not call them on 015394 41244. Just north of the jetty are two boathouses. It was from the stone quay upon which they are built that copper ore from the fells was shipped onto rowing barges and transported to the south of the lake at Nibthwaite.
Things to do:
'Lakeshore' walk - To Coniston or Coniston Boatlandings
bus interchange with Stagecoach 505 service and the Cross Lakes Shuttle
Brantwood
Providing direct access to Brantwood Garden, this jetty provides the ideal introduction to the property. It is on two levels to facilitate access as the water depth varies according to the rainfall. Immediately shoreward from the jetty is the delightful 'harbour' constructed by John Ruskin for his rowing boat the 'Jumping Jenny'. This boat is now on display in the carriage house at Brantwood
Things to do:
visit Brantwood House
visit Brantwood garden
visit the Craft Gallery
eat at the Jumping Jenny restaurant
'Lakeshore' walk - North along country lane
'Fell" walk - East into Grizedale
Water Park
Water Park jetty is just north of the 'Narrows' on the east shore of the lake. We developed it for the 2007 season and to a large extent it replaces Park a Mor jetty - where we no longer call. Water Park itself is a large house just south of the jetty and is owned by the Eric Wright Trust (to whom we are very grateful for granting us permission to use their land). Please do not stray from the informal path down to the jetty from the minor road.
Things to do:
'Lakeshore' walk - northwards to Brantwood
'Fell' walk - to Grizedale, Brantwood or High Cross via Nibthwaite (3/4 mile South) or Swinside (1/2 mile North) via High Park a Mor and Lawson Park
see Wildcat Island - about 1 mile to the North - but be wary of swimming out there
Lake Bank
Lake Bank is at the very foot of the lake on the western side. It was bought in early 1999 by the Rawdon-Smith Trust (who own the bed of the lake) and they lease us the right to provide a service from this point. It is the oldest site for a public jetty on the lake and has been in use since 1860 when one-day tours were brought here by Steam Packet, rail and trap from Liverpool. This is a really delightful part of the lake, little visited and totally unspoiled.
Things to do:
'Lakeshore' walk - around the foot of the Lake on country lanes
'Fell' walk - Beacon Crag via Water Yeat
'Fell' walk - to Grizedale via Nibthwaite
picnic - by lakeshore
Sunny Bank
This is a floating jetty. Those passengers that remember having to negotiate the 'plank' to access the pontoons will no doubt be disappointed to learn that there is now a proper fixed ramp - sorry to spoil your fun! Just up the path from the jetty there is an old Wesleyan chapel - and we have had several wedding parties hire our boats for a post-service sail (mind you the bride is advised to wear - white ... wellies)!
Things to do:
'Lakeshore' walk - northwards to Torver
'Fell' walk - to Beacon Crag
picnic - by lakeshore - a really lovely quiet spot to rest and enjoy the world
Torver
This is a floating jetty, held to the lake bed by anchor-weights. It means that it is easy to access the launches whatever the water height. There is no road access and it is intended either for walkers, or for those staying in the nearby camping and caravan sites. This jetty adjoins private land and we are grateful to the Hext estate for granting us an annual licence for its use. The adjoining woodland is a delight to walk in - and only goes to show how valuable it is that we should keep conifers in the Lake District as well as broad leaved trees. You can either walk back to Coniston Boatlandings or, if you want a really delightful lakeshore walk, you can head south and pick up a launch at Sunny Bank landing.
Things to do:
'Lakeshore' walk - northwards to Coniston
'Lakeshore' walk - south to Sunny Bank
'Fell' walk - to Old man via Torver (pubs!)
picnic - by lakeshore - a great place
Coniston Launch - about us
Photo: Coniston Launch
Coniston Ferry Service Ltd is the formal name of the Company that runs Coniston Launch. The directors are Douglas and Gillian Hodgson.
background
Coniston Launch was founded by Gordon and Margaret Hall in 1992 with one boat (M.L. Ruskin) mainly to run a service between Coniston and Brantwood, but also calling at Monk Coniston. It was soon recognized that there was a need to cater for walkers and, after a couple of false starts, a jetty was established at Torver.
Because of the need to manage coach parties it was thought possible to sustain a second boat. On a trial basis M.L. Iris was chartered from Keswick Launch for most of the 1994 season. This proved successful so a second boat was purchased (M.L. Ransome) that winter and Iris was returned to Keswick.
In 1995 the Special Interest Cruises were further developed and cruises now encompassed the southern end of the lake. Tremendous efforts were made to obtain landowners' consent and planning permission for jetties at various points around the south of the lake but it was not until 1999 that it became possible to run to Lake Bank, Park a Mor and Sunny Bank.
environmentally friendly
For the 2005 season the boats were converted to solar-electric power. Both our launches use electric motors instead of diesel, with solar panels helping to charge the batteries - enabling the boats to be environmentally friendly and quieter. For more information about the solar-electric system used on our launches, please see EnviroBoat Developments.
In 2005 we stopped calling at Monk Coniston jetty, and developed Waterhead as an excellent substitute. Then in 2006 we left Park a Mor and developed Water Park.
In February 2008 the founders Gordon and Margaret left the business and it was taken on by Douglas and Gillian Hodgson.
Coniston Launch - contact us
Photo: Coniston Launch
postal addresses
Office address:
Coniston Ferry Services Ltd
29 Manor Park
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 4AB
U.K.
Boatyard address:
Coniston Ferry Services Ltd
Pier Cottage
Coniston
Cumbria
LA21 8AJ
U.K.
phone
You can contact us most days and evenings (answerphone when not available) on:
017687 75753
international: 0044 17687 75753
If you really cannot wait to talk to us (!) then our mobiles are:
0797 108 0370
0797 671 5667
email
info@conferry.co.uk
VHF radio
Channel 15
