Waterhead Coniston

View prices & book 9.4 130 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
1/91
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; just take note that firepits are not permitted.

Site type

Tent pitches 20
Open now
Opens 1 August
Please note
  • This site has no on-site shower facilities.

General

  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.

Occupancy

  • Group bookings of 3 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Group bookings of 6 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Single-sex bookings of 5 or more people (excluding couples) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.

Reception

  • There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Dogs

  • 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).

Admission

  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Sat, 01 Aug to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9.4

Overall rating from 130 Pitchup.com customers

  • 69%
    10
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    7
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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

98% would recommend this site to a friend

97% would stay here again

What customers say

A lekker pop-up campsite with a great lake spot for water sports and views. Close to Coniston village. Friendly owners, quiet, good value. Basic loos and water. Mud sometimes, but manager sorts it with mats. A "back to basics" gem.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 2026/08/11

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 13
Arrival date (latest first)

Great!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
selina a. 4 reviews

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Location, easy access to the water

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Honestly, there was nothing not to…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Louise R. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Honestly, there was nothing not to like I loved how near I was to the lake ( I’m an open water swimmer so I was in my element) and only 10 minutes from Coniston village itself. Having a tent box and not being able to drive away easily it was great for me .Amy was soo helpful . and being a solo traveller ( and two dogs ) I felt safe and comfortable.
I will definitely be back .

Disliked Nothing really, apart from I wish it was open longer, bur I do appreciate it’s a working field .

Recommend to friends Visit again

An gem campsite on Coniston Water

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Antony W. 6 reviews

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked We loved everything. As a mature and experienced couple, we read the important very large print about the limitations on the site but OMG, the site and especially the host gave more and more and with Coniston Lake just a few feet away, that surely blesses everyone who comes here. We forgot our small boat but whatever you have, the water and the site are very inviting. Just. Come prepare for quasi wild camping. Kids will really love it if they like rough and ready and especially water. Walking distance to Coniston village with several pubs and very small supermarkets.

Disliked Absolutely nothing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thankyou Antony! Was great having you hopefully you can visit again and bring your boat :)

Excellent location, set our tent up…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
nicole g. 2 reviews

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Excellent location, set our tent up and within ten steps we were on the edge of the lake
Right next door to a gorgeous pub with a lovely, big beer garden
10-15 minute walk to Coniston Launch with a cafe and access to lake cruises
15 minute walk into Coniston Village, lovely little village with a few pubs and shops
Site has porta loos which were really well maintained

Recommend to friends Visit again

Epic…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
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Customer service
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Child friendliness
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Wifi
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Mia R. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Epic

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet lake side spot, perfect for…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
William B. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Quiet lake side spot, perfect for a quick relaxed weekend with a short walks to the pub

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect location for a back to basics camp

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Chris A. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Great location by the water, right next door to the pub and lovely walks directly from the site. The field is flat with sunny areas, shade if needed and pebble beach for launching paddle boards, etc.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Hidden gem of a campsite. Amazing…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Thomas G. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Hidden gem of a campsite. Amazing location, 10 minutes from Coniston centre, right on the water. It’s a fantastic campsite, well maintained, good facilities in terms of portaloos, bins, drinking water, pub next door. It’s not a luxury campsite by any means, so don’t expect it. Know what you’re getting and you won’t be disappointed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

It is what it says on the tin. Perfect base camp.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
John T. 3 reviews

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked How quiet it was (and how close the pub was)

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Ideal location next to the lake…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Gavin W. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Ideal location next to the lake

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campground

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 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 No drinkable water point Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campground 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 +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

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?
    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 R524,80 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.