Waterhead Coniston

View prices & book 9.4 79 reviews
Visitor image of the view at dusk
Visitor image of the view at dusk
Visitor image of early morning
Big open field
Green grass and blue skies
Great views of the fells
Lake shore
Trees on the shoreline
Gateway to the field
1/70
Visitor image of early morning
Big open field
Green grass and blue skies

  • Quiet, back to basics pop-up site on the shoreline of Coniston Water
  • Tarn Hows and lake cruises within walking distance
  • A 10-minute walk from Coniston village; two minutes to local pub
Waterhead Coniston is a pop-up site in a properly prime position, right on the shoreline of Coniston Water and a 10-minute walk from the centre of Coniston village (for pubs, cafés, takeaways and shops). Rather than being your standard campsite, this quiet little Cumbria site has been set up in a farmer’s field in a small, eco-friendly farm with animals. It has just basic facilities in the form of fresh water and portable toilets. There's also private access to the lake. The views from here are unsurprisingly splendid, looking over the water and up to the fells – and it’s easy to get out to see a bit more of the Lake District surroundings without using the car, as you can head straight out on walks up to Tarn Hows and local fells or get going on bike rides or hikes by the lake. The refurbed Coniston Inn is a couple of minutes’ stagger away upon your return, although you’re welcome to bring a barbecue along instead if you like. For more leisurely ways to see the area, take a ride on the Steam Yacht Gondola across Coniston Water or set out for wanders around Brantwood and Hill Top; if you’d prefer to keep the activity going there are plenty of fells and lakes to hike around, and a Go Ape adventure park is 20 minutes’ drive away.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 3
Tent pitches 20
Open now
Opens 25 July
Please note
  • This site has no on-site shower facilities.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 3 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.
  • There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 25 Jul to

Reviews

9.4

Overall rating from 79 Pitchup.com customers

  • 69%
    10
  • 8%
    9
  • 20%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 0%
    6
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    5
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    3
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    2
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 6
Lake and/or mountainPeaceful

99% would recommend this site to a friend

97% would stay here again

What customers say

This is a well-located, back-to-basics campsite directly on the shores of Coniston Water. Visitors praise the stunning lake views, easy lake access for watersports, and proximity to Coniston village amenities. The friendly and helpful owner is frequently mentioned. While facilities are basic, portaloos are generally reported as clean, though some note they can become smelly. The site is often described as quiet and peaceful, offering great value for money, with many guests expressing a desire to return. Potential issues include the impact of wet weather on the ground conditions.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 8
Arrival date (latest first)

Will not be staying again

Overall

1 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 4
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 3
Customer service
 2
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 3
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Location near the lake

Disliked The other users of area and manageress of location was rude and un thoughtfull

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Sorry you feel this way. As you have posted anonymously hard for me to comment. But possibly a reason why other campers and myself were not happy and “unthoughtful”

Quiet, chilled out camping.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Lauri S.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked A simple site with great access straight into the lake. Quieter and smaller than others around seen around the lake. Can’t fault this place at all and would definitely return.

Disliked Nothing, even the portaloos were OK!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site, perfect for paddle boarders, great star gazing spot!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Kayley S.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Location is perfect for your paddle boards and a short distance to the village.

Amy is lovely and is always seen on site cleaning the portaloos.

Ice cream van came everyday, certainly a bonus!

We had a great stay!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely setting on the lake shore. Short walk into town…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Paul H.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Lovely setting on the lake shore. Short walk into town

Disliked Some portaloos were better than others

Recommend to friends Visit again

Right next to the lake, the pub and quick walk to the…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 10
Vicki m.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Right next to the lake, the pub and quick walk to the village. Campsite was clean and quiet. It was the ideal place reallly. Shame it’s not open for longer as we wanted to come back next month.

Disliked Portaloo’s a little smelly. Needed hand soap.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Stunning setting. Lots of space and friendly helpful owner. Loved the ice…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Angela W.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Stunning setting. Lots of space and friendly helpful owner. Loved the ice cream can visit

Disliked Loo’s did get a bit smelly

Recommend to friends Visit again

Recommended, great basic site

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Gill D.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Great location, easy to find and so peaceful. Direct access to the water which was perfect for swimming. Toilets and skip were due emptying but well out of the way and the toilets were clean. Would certainly return

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely location beside the lake a few m in utes from a…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Karen M.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Lovely location beside the lake a few m in utes from a great pub. Peaceful watching the waves lap and listening to the birds. We will be back!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant site lakeside portaloos on site lovely lady owner thanks

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Scott C.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Stunning scenery pitch is lakeside so a nice dip on a warm day is a must also a lovely quiet family site either kids or no kids. Local pub well priced and food was great will definately be going here again first time back since childhood

Disliked Cant fault 1 bit first time camping ever and loved every part of our experience

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent campsite, great location.…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Alice W.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Excellent campsite, great location.

Disliked Could just do with the toilets being cleaned a little more regularly.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campsite

Dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports Wild swimming

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campsite Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby

Location

Waterhead Coniston

Coniston

Cumbria

England

LA21 8AJ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.36851°N
3.06119°W

Route directions

Please follow the dirt track and stop next to the bamboo gate before phoning the site.

Nearest transport

Coach
5.8 mi Kelsick Road opposite Library
6.1 mi Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
6.2 mi Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
Rail
6.4 mi Windermere Rail Station
9.8 mi Staveley Rail Station
9.8 mi Foxfield Rail Station
Ferry
0.1 mi Waterhead Hotel (Coniston) Ferry Landing
0.4 mi Monk Coniston Ferry Landing
0.4 mi Coniston Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Attractions and activities nearby include: - Steam Yacht Gondola cruises: 10 minutes’ walk - Tarn Hows: 45 minutes’ walk/10 minutes’ drive - Brantwood (former home of artist John Ruskin): 10 minutes’ drive - Hill Top (Beatrix Potter’s former home): 10 minutes - Go Ape Grizedale: 20 minutes - Windermere (west shore): 20 minutes - Claife Heights: 25 minutes - Lakeland Motor Museum: half an hour.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Haverigg 15.4 mi Sea PoorN/AN/AN/A
Silecroft 15.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seascale 17.3 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Walney West Shore 19.1 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A
Walney Sandy Gap 20.1 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Beatrix Potter Gallery 2.5 mi

Hill Top 3.8 mi

Brockhole - Lake District Visitor Centre 5.3 mi

Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness 5.6 mi

The World of Beatrix Potter 5.7 mi

National Trust

Gondola' 0.4 mi

Coniston and Tarn Hows 0.6 mi

Beatrix Potter Gallery 2.5 mi

Hill Top 3.8 mi

Grasmere and Great Langdale 5 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Coniston and the Yewdale Fells 0.5 mi

Coniston - Little Arrow - Coniston Lakeshore 0.5 mi

Coniston - Holme Fell 0.5 mi

Coniston - Levers Water - Coniston 0.5 mi

Coniston - Tarn Hows - Coniston 0.6 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in The Lake District and Cumbria?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Waterhead Coniston have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Waterhead Coniston dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Waterhead Coniston? Attractions and activities nearby include: - Steam Yacht Gondola cruises: 10 minutes’ walk - Tarn Hows: 45 minutes’ walk/10 minutes’ drive - Brantwood (former home of artist John Ruskin): 10 minutes’ drive … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Waterhead Coniston?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  9:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  1 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Waterhead Coniston? From £22 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.