steam yacht gondola

• Discover & learn

Monk Coniston and Tarn Hows walk

Walk from the head of Coniston Water to Tarn Hows via this picturesque circular route created by 19th-century industrialist J. G. Marshall to wow guests at his country estate. Pass through farmland and woodland, as well as the Walled Garden and tree collection of Monk Coniston Hall. Look out for an abundance of wildlife along the way while enjoying some of the Lake District's best views.

• Trail route
• Terrain and elevation
• Getting there

Total steps: 6

Start point.

Monk Coniston car park, grid ref: SD316978

Leaving Monk Coniston car park, take the path into the field opposite. Walk up the field to the black gates at the entrance to Monk Coniston grounds.

Entering the grounds walk up through the woods and into the Walled Garden which is currently being renovated. Look out for the small stone Gazebo which has information panels inside.

Leaving Monk Coniston grounds, take care crossing the road, as you enter the woodland. You'll soon cross a narrow bridge. As you walk through the woods many forestry tracks and paths adjoin but ignore these and stick to the main path, following signposts towards Tarn Hows car park.

Look out for...

Woodland wildlife.

Pass through a mixture of broadleaf and coniferous woodland. Look out for the huge redwoods and other exotic conifers on the way. You can also find wood sorrel, one of the many woodland wild flowers you may see on this walk. It's found in old, undisturbed woodland.

Arriving at Tarn Hows you can walk around the Tarn on a circular loop where there's a good path with seats. The 19th-century landowner, James Garth Marshall, created the Tarn and planted the many trees that shape this landscape.

Return to the main Tarn Hows car park and follow the one-way exit road towards Coniston. Take the first footpath on your right to Tarn Hows Cottage. Before you reach the cottage, take the first footpath on the left, this winds down the hill through fields to Boon Crag Farm. Enjoy the views out over Coniston Water as you go.

Native breeds

Look out for Herdwick sheep (lambs have dark brown bodies and white faces, becoming greyer in colour as they get older), roe deer and hares. Red squirrel are in danger of local extinction but make their home here, as do otter. Common lizards and adders live on the heathland, while adders spend more time basking in the sun than most snakes, so you may see one, especially in early spring when they emerge from hibernation. They have a distinctive dark zig-zag pattern on their backs.

When you reach the farm track at the bottom of the hill, turn left and continue past the farm and sawmill. At the road, turn right to join an off-road footpath which leads you back to Coniston Water. When you get to the lake, cross the road and walk left back to the car park.

Steam Yacht Gondola

First launched in 1859 to carry visitors across the lake, the gondola was re-built around thirty years ago to bring back to life the Victorian tourist experience. It's a unique craft, a mix between a Venetian gondola and the latest in 19th-century steam technology.

Woodland tracks, a small section of road and farmland which may have livestock present. Can be muddy after wet weather. Several short sections are steep.

Coniston, Cumbria

Catch the National Trust’s Steam Yacht Gondola from the pier in Coniston village to Monk Coniston Jetty (April to October).

Coniston Rambler (505) runs from Windermere, Ambleside and Hawkshead. X12 runs from Ulverston Monday to Saturday, connecting with X35 from Kendal and Barrow.

A593 from Ambleside. Pier is at end of Lake Road, turn immediately left after petrol station if travelling south from centre of Coniston village. Car parks at Monk Coniston, Coniston village and Tarn Hows.

Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads, as there may be livestock on the trail.

Car parks at Monk Coniston and Tarn Hows.

Option to do circuit of Tarn Hows lake, which is very accessible and has high-grade paths. It can be reached from a car park near point 4 on the map.

Accessible toilet

There are accessible toilets at the back of the main car park at Tarn Hows.

Accessible route and/or map

The route around Tarn Hows is accessible. For more details please see our Access Statement.

Powered mobility vehicle

Tramper mobility scooters are available to hire at Tarn Hows.

More near here

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Get in touch

near Coniston, Cumbria

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We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

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