Waterhead Coniston

View prices & book 9.3 100 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
1/80
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
  • Lake cruises 10 minutes’ walk; National Trust – Tarn Hows 45 minutes
  • A 10-minute walk from Coniston village; two minutes to the local pub
Waterhead Coniston is a pop-up site in a properly prime position: right on the north-western shoreline of Coniston Water, and a 10-minute walk from the centre of Coniston village, which is handy for pubs, cafés, takeaways and shops. This quiet little Cumbria site has been set up in a field in a small, eco-friendly farm with animals. Facilities are basic: there are portable toilets, but no drinking water, for example, so the advice is to come prepared. On the plus side, guests here have private access to the lake. In addition, the views are unsurprisingly splendid, looking over the water and up to the fells. It’s also easy to see a bit more of the Lake District without using the car, since you can head straight out on walks up to National Trust – Tarn Hows (45 minutes’ walk) and local fells, or get going on bike rides or hikes by the lake. For more leisurely ways to see the area, take a ride across Coniston Water on the Steam Yacht Gondola (15 minutes’ walk) or set out for wanders around Brantwood (five minutes’ drive) and National Trust - Hill Top (15 minutes). There are plenty of fells and lakes to hike around, and a Go Ape adventure park is 20 minutes’ drive away. The local pub (which serves food from 7:30am until 9pm) is a couple of minutes’ stagger away upon your return, although you’re welcome to bring a barbecue along instead if you prefer.

Site type

Tent sites 20
Opens May 8
Please note
  • This park has no on-site shower facilities.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 3 or more units (e.g. tent, caravan, RV or accommodation hire) traveling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette 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 building on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, May 8 to

Open from Sat, Aug 1 to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9.3

Overall rating from 100 Pitchup.com customers

  • 66%
    10
  • 13%
    9
  • 17%
    8
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    7
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    5
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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

98% would stay here again

What customers say

A favoured pop-up site with a gorgeous lake setting, great for water sports and hikes. Guests love the peaceful vibe, roomy spots, and easy access to Coniston. Basic portaloos and water are clean enough for simple camping, though hand sanitizer/water clarity sometimes an issue. Owner Amy is a star. Despite small facility snags, many want to come back.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 10
Arrival date (latest first)

Will come again next year

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Kevin N.

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Bargain Price
Great location just a few minutes walk from conniston village.
Lake access
Quiet

Disliked None

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet lakeside site with flat pitches in a cracking location.

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Quiet field, lakeside views and access, exactly as described.
Variety of vans, cars, and tents, and a nice atmosphere.
Portaloos were as good as portaloos get, and an easy walk into Coniston.

Disliked Nothing. Simple and cheap facilities, exactly as described.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent location and great value for money

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Lovely spot, excellent location and very welcoming - liked the ease of being able to choose where to pitch and park.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Views of lake Choice of where…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 9
Alexander R.

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Views of lake
Choice of where to pitch

Disliked Distance to potaloo's

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great location, beautiful views would recommend

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 5
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Neil H.

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Quite location
Access to the lake
Peaceful

Disliked More lighting needed around but get that it’s just a pop up

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic location on the shore of…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Fantastic location on the shore of Coniston with ready access to the lake, ideal for paddle boarding. Coniston copper mines and the surrounding Fells are easily reached too. Coniston village is a short walk away for access to some great pubs and restaurants. A great site if you are after a short active break in the Lakes

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent

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
 1
Christina A.

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Great lots of space . Great for a couple of nights stay

Recommend to friends Visit again

fFantastic location, great value, quiet.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Lesley F.

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Fantastic location, right next to the lake, perfect for swim or sup and easy to leave the car at camp and walk . Easy access to plenty of scenic walks / hikes.( Which is what I wanted) Spacious pitches on level ground,

Disliked Portaloos a bit smelly but clean they were emptied day I left so think this depends when your stay falls.. They were clean though with paper.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely little site close to town and easy access for lake

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
Scott C.

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Loved the site basic facility’s such a portaloos but that’s what we enjoy and is never a issue for us and a. lovely view of the lake and easy access

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really lovely site, perfect location by…

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
 1
Emma P.

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked Really lovely site, perfect location by the lake. Owners really friendly and welcoming. Will definitely book again :)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports Wild swimming

Amenities on park

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

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

Themes

Hikers’ paradise Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) No drinkable water point Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transportation nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campground Small (11-25 sites)

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 +0100 (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
9.3 km Kelsick Road opposite Library
9.9 km Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
10 km Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
Rail
10.3 km Windermere Rail Station
15.8 km Staveley Rail Station
15.8 km Foxfield Rail Station
Ferry
0.1 km Waterhead Hotel (Coniston) Ferry Landing
0.6 km Monk Coniston Ferry Landing
0.6 km 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

Brantwood (10 minutes’ drive, or you can catch a ferry and disembark at Brantwood Landing, on Coniston Water’s eastern shore) was the former home of John Ruskin. In addition to a museum exploring the life and legacy of this Victorian artist and writer, there are splendid gardens, including the so-called Zig-Zaggy, inspired by Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’. Another famed author, Beatrix Potter, also settled in the Lake District. Her small cottage, Hill Top (10 minutes), sits between Windermere and Esthwaite Water, its pretty interior filled with period furniture, original sketches and scattered felted creatures from Potter’s stories. Keen gardeners might not want to miss the colourful floral collections at Holehird Gardens (half an hour), which range from hydrangeas to Himalayan poppies and painted daisies, plus lush ferns. Afterwards, drive five minutes to Orrest Head Viewpoint for spectacular vistas of Windermere.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Haverigg 24.8 km Sea PoorN/AN/AN/A
Silecroft 25.1 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seascale 27.9 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Walney West Shore 30.8 km Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A
Walney Sandy Gap 32.4 km Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Beatrix Potter Gallery 4 km

Hill Top 6.1 km

Brockhole - Lake District Visitor Centre 8.5 km

Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness 9 km

The World of Beatrix Potter 9.1 km

National Trust

Gondola' 0.7 km

Coniston and Tarn Hows 0.9 km

Beatrix Potter Gallery 4 km

Hill Top 6.1 km

Grasmere and Great Langdale 8.1 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Coniston and the Yewdale Fells 0.8 km

Coniston - Little Arrow - Coniston Lakeshore 0.8 km

Coniston - Holme Fell 0.8 km

Coniston - Levers Water - Coniston 0.9 km

Coniston - Tarn Hows - Coniston 0.9 km

Local events

  • Kendal Calling (Thursday, July 30, 2026 – Thursday, July 30, 2026)

    Penrith, England 34.4 km

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.

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? Brantwood (10 minutes’ drive, or you can catch a ferry and disembark at Brantwood Landing, on Coniston Water’s eastern shore) was the former home of John Ruskin. In addition to a museum … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Waterhead Coniston?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    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 $44.55 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.