Why Go? Windermere might be bigger, Wastwater may be wilder, but Coniston Water maintains a rare air of serenity even on the busiest days. Stretching for 5 miles beneath the Old Man of Coniston, the lake is still famous for the speed at-tempts made here by Malcolm and Donald Campbell, but today it’s altogether more tranquil – the only boats you’ll see skimming across its surface are a couple of solar-powered launches and an antique steam yacht.

Cloaked with woodland and criss-crossed by winding lanes, this is a famously picturesque corner of the Lake Dis-trict. It’s also well known for its literary connections: John Ruskin lived here, William Wordsworth went to school here and Arthur Ransome was inspired to write Swallows and Amazons while staying here. But as always, it’s Beatrix Pot-ter who looms largest: she adored the countryside around Coniston and Hawkshead and wrote some of her most famous tales at the idyllic little cottage of Hill Top in Near Sawrey. When to Go This is a popular part of the Lake District, so it can get crowded in summer and the Easter holidays. If you’re vis-iting beauty spots such as Hill Top, Hawkshead and Tarn Hows, you’ll enjoy them more by visiting outside these times. September and October are great times of year, as the forests around Tarn Hows and Claife Heights are set ablaze with autumnal colours. Key festivals to look out for include Coniston’s Water Festival in July and the Coniston Walking Festival in September.

Coniston, Hawkshead & Around

Coniston .......................... 84Hawkshead .....................90Grizedale Forest .............. 94Hill Top & Near Sawrey ... 95Graythwaite Hall Gardens........................... 97Wray Castle ..................... 97

Best Places to Eat & Drink

» Drunken Duck (p93)

» Church House Inn (p88)

» Black Bull Inn (p88)

» Jumping Jenny (p84)

» Tower Bank Arms (p96)

Best Places to Stay

» Yewfield (p93)

» Summer Hill Country House (p87)

» Bank Ground Farm (p87)

» Yew Tree Farm (p87)

» Graythwaite Hall (p96)

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

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�1 Explore the bike trails and outdoor artwork of Grizedale Forest (p94)

�2 Take a trip across Coniston Water on the restored steam yacht Gondola (p86)

�3 Visit John Ruskin’s lakeside sanctuary at Brantwood (p84)

�4 Follow the beautiful lakeshore trail through Claife Heights to Wray Castle (p97)

�5 Brave the throngs at Beatrix Potter’s cottage at Hill Top (p95)

�6 Pack a picnic and head for the shores of Tarn Hows (p95)

�7 Admire the sights from the summit of the Old Man (p89)

Coniston & Hawkshead Highlights

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd