Coniston Water Swimming: BEST Swim Spots In 2023!

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Coniston Water is the third largest lake in the Lake District and is five miles (8km) long and half a mile (800m) wide. It also has a depth of 184 feet (56 m), and is surrounded by the woodlands of the Grizedale forest and the mountains of the Yewdale Fells. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes in the Lake District!

But can you swim in Coniston Water? Yes! In fact, it’s one of the best lakes in the national park for wild swimming due to its calm currents and shallow shores.

Coniston Water, although big enough to host larger boats, has mandatory speed restrictions. This means the giant river cruise boats and speedy motorboats that can be found on Lake Windermere are banned; also making it one of the safest and calmest bodies of water to swim in within the Lake District National Park.

So, where are the best spots for Coniston Water swimming?

This post outlines all of the best Coniston Water swimming locations; including those that are safe and easy to access. Whether you’re an avid swimmer, a beginner or just looking to have a picnic along the water, below are your best Coniston Water options.

Let’s get started and discuss the best Coniston Water swimming spots!

Still have a question about the best Coniston Water swimming spots? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

Other Lake District posts:

• Swimming in Lake Windermere: BEST Spots
• Lake District in December: Everything You Need To Know!
• Lake District in September: Why It’s the BEST Time to Visit
• Lake District for Couples: 31 Romantic Ideas

Best Coniston Water swimming spots

In summary, I recommend four different swimming spots on Coniston Water. They include:

• Monk Coniston: located on the north of the lake, perfect for groups, families and those wanting to swim in calm waters. This is the closest wild swimming spot to Coniston High Street.
• Brown Howe: a popular spot with families and those who need easy lakeshore access. Lovely shingled area for picnics.
• Peel Island: for those wanting a little more adventure on the east side of Coniston water.
• Machell Coppice: a quiet area with a car park and a secluded area for wild swimming and diving.

All of these locations can be entered into a Satnav for clear directions, but if you need more information, keep reading.

⚠️ All of the Coniston Water swimming areas are safe, clean and suitable for swimmers. But of course, any kind of wild swimming requires a certain kind of care and responsibility. Skip to ‘wild swimming tips‘ if it’s your first time swimming in the lakes of the UK.

1) Monk Coniston (North)

🚗 Car park: Monk Coniston Car Park

🗺️ Walking distance from Coniston high street: 20 minutes

🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes, shallow waters.

🚣🏼‍♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes.

🍴Facilities: none, apart from the toilets in the Monk Coniston car park. The closest food options are in the town of Coniston.

👍🏼 Good to know: There is easy access to this Coniston Water swimming spot from the Monk Coniston car park.

The shingles and gravel around the water make for a perfect spot to have a picnic and relax by the lake – although it can be quite uncomfortable, so I recommend bringing some camping chairs!

If it’s sunny, there are some great shaded areas under the surrounding trees and bushes. These are also handy shelters from unpredictable rain showers!

Monk Coniston is actually our favourite spot to wild swim in Coniston Water. It’s calm, with just a slight current, and is often relatively quiet (especially during off-peak months). We’ve swam here many times, and thoroughly enjoy its incredible Yewdale Fell views!

2) Brown Howe

🚗 Car park: Brown Howe car park

🗺️ Walking distance from Coniston high street: 90 minutes

🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes, and is popular with families. Shallow and easily accessible waters.

🚣🏼‍♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes.

🍴Facilities: Toilets in the Brown Howe car park. Picnic area, wheelchair, baby changing and buggy-friendly access to the lakeshore.

👍🏼 Good to know: This is the most popular Coniston Water swimming spot with families and big groups, so it can get busy during the summer and peak times.

Brown Howe is the perfect swimming spot for those wanting to dip their feet in and enjoy a tasty picnic on the lakeshore. Accessible for all, it’s a great Coniston Water swimming spot and one we often visit in the warmer months.

If you’re feeling peckish after your swim, head to the Undercrag Studio and Cafe for a delicious homemade cafe lunch!

3) Wild Cat/Peel Island

🚗 Car park: Limited roadside car parking (LA12 8DQ) OR hire a boat from Coniston Water.

🗺️ Walking distance from Coniston high street: 120 minutes

🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: The Low Peel Near shoreline is the best area for beginners. Peel Island is surrounded by deeper water so I wouldn’t recommend it for young or nervous swimmers.

🚣🏼‍♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes.

🍴Facilities: None

👍🏼 Good to know: Low Peel Near is about a mile north of High Nibthwaite, where there is roadside parking (which does get pretty full, so be sure to arrive early). Further parking can be found in the Dodgson Wood car park.

If you’re up for an adventure, Wild Cat Island (Peel Island) is a great area to explore. Only accessible via boat or a short swim from the eastern side of the lake, it’s a fun day out for those who want to climb on the jagged rocks and see the lake from a different perspective.

Swimming skills are a must due to the water becoming deeper around the island.

You can also launch a paddleboard or kayak from this area, or hire from the Coniston Boating Centre.

4) Machell Coppice

🚗 Car park: Machell Coppice car park

🗺️ Walking distance from Coniston high street: 90 minutes

🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes, but expect depths to reach 15-20m quickly.

🚣🏼‍♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes.

🍴Facilities: picnic benches and access to Grizedale Forest trails.

👍🏼 Good to know: Machell Coppice is a popular starting point for lake divers.

On the east side of the lake, there is a small car park next to Grizedale Forest called Machell Coppice. This is another great wild swimming spot, as it has shallow waters and enough shore to use camping chairs and leave your belongings.

There are no toilets or food facilities near this Coniston Water swimming spot, so make sure you stock up on snacks.

Machell Coppice is also the start of many Grizedale Forest trails, so you can combine some morning hiking with an afternoon dip!

Wild swimming in the Lake District tips

⚠️ Not every tarn, river, stream or lake in the Lake District is safe to swim in. Be sure to check before swimming.

💦 Always rinse yourself off after visiting the lakes, especially if you are going from one to another. The transferral of non-native and invasive weeds being left in some of the waters causes problems preserving the lakes. 

🩴 Always wear suitable footwear! There are lots of rocks underwater which can become slippery from the undergrowing plants and weeds. 

❗️Be sure to enter the water slowly as the water can be extremely cold.

😬 If you want to jump in, make sure you’ve acclimatised by swimming in the same body of water first. 

👯‍♂️ Avoid swimming alone.

🏞️ Do not swim in rivers with strong currents.

🤕 Be careful of infection with open wounds and cuts. Wrap wounds in bandages or plasters. 

🏊🏼‍♀️ If you’re planning on swimming for a long time, wear a wetsuit. This gives you extra protection from the cold (you don’t want to catch hyperthermia). 

🦟 If you’re swimming at dusk, remember mosquito repellant.

☀️ If you’re swimming during the day, remember sun cream.

Please check the Lake District Gov website for any updated changes before you swim.

What to pack for wild swimming in the Lake District

If you are wild swimming for the first time, or feel a little out of your depth (pun intended), here are some packing must-haves!

• Swimwear – For women, I highly recommend a full swimsuit rather than a bikini. The water is cold, and you’ll have to move around quite a bit to stay warm! Wearing a bikini is a little too impractical for the wild swimming world in the Lake District!

• A wetsuit – If you’re visiting the lakes in the winter months, a wetsuit is highly recommended. The tarns are cold throughout the year, and you’ll see locals and avid swimmers wearing wetsuits even in the summer months.

• A microfibre towel – I rave about these all over my blog, because they really are the best type of towel for avid travellers. They dry quickly, wrap up into a tiny ball and keep you dry and warm. A must-buy for any wild swimmers!

• A dry robe – Dry robes are one of the best investments you can make when wild swimming – not just in the Lake District, but on the beaches of Cornwall or the fairy pools of Scotland. Allowing you to change clothes anywhere, they not only give you privacy but keep you warm! I highly recommend purchasing a dry robe if you’re going to be wild swimming in the Lake District.

• Goggles – not a must-have, but a great one if you want to see anything below the murky water. You can get lucky and spot some interesting fish in some of the lakes!

• Waterproof phone case – I wouldn’t go near the water without mine (even on the lakeshores, everything gets wet). Be prepared and keep your tech safe! Plus, they’re great if you want to take photos in the water!

• Go-Pro: Again, not a must-have, but a great buy if you like taking underwater photos or videos. We bought our Go-Pro around five years ago, and it still works perfectly, so it’s definitely worth the investment!

Where to stay near Coniston Water

Looking for somewhere to stay near Coniston? Coniston is one of our favourite villages in the Lake District, as it’s well located near Lake Windemere, it’s near some of the best hikes and trails, and is full of pubs and restaurants.

Here are some of my recommendations when it comes to finding accommodation near the village of Coniston in the Lake District.

• The Apartments Coniston: a well-located apartment in the centre of Coniston. Perfect for couples! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Church View Apartment: Another well-located apartment in Coniston, but bigger in size. Perfect for groups or families. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Bluebird Lodge: If you’d prefer to be looked after during your stay in Coniston, the Bluebird is a beautiful lodge 15-minutes away from the centre of Coniston Located in the countryside, it’s perfect for those who want to be away from the high street. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Bank Ground Farm: If you want epic mountain and lake views, Bank Ground Farm is the place to stay. Set in a historic building, Bank Ground Farm is a sustainable guest house with a garden and bar. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

Getting around the Lake District

If you can, take a car to get around the Lake District. If you only have one day, you don’t want to spend hours waiting for public transport. Don’t have a car? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!

However, if you haven’t got access to a car, exploring the Lake District can still be done! The Lake District has amazing public transport (a lot better than some of the rest of the country), and you can whizz around on buses and boats. For more information about travelling around the Lake District without a car, you can check out my guide here.

➡ Need to hire a car in the Lake District? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! 🚗 LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!

Coniston Water swimming: FAQs

1) Is Coniston Water safe for swimming?

Yes, Coniston Water is safe for swimming. The best spots to wild swim at Coniston Water are Monk Coniston, Brown Howe, Machell Coppice and Peel Island.

2) Where is the best place to swim in Coniston?

If you’re looking to do some wild swimming, I recommend four different swimming spots on Coniston Water. They include Monk Coniston, Machell Coppice, Brown Howe and Peel Island.

3) Can you swim anywhere in Lake District?

No. Some of the lakes in the Lake District are not suitable for swimming for multiple reasons, such as scientific research, potential hazards and tarns that are out of reach. However, most of the lakes and accessible tarns in the Lake District are suitable for swimming; just be sure to check before you jump in!

4) Is it legal to swim in lakes in the UK?

Yes, you can legally swim in most lakes in the UK. For safety reasons, be sure to research the specific lake you want to swim in before entering the water for potential hazards and dangers.

Don’t forget travel insurance for Europe!

If you’re visiting Europe as a tourist, it is so important to have travel insurance.

As a full-time traveller and digital nomad, I recommend SafetyWing. From my own personal experience, I believe it is the best travel insurance on the market.

And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month!

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s frustrating to spend $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something does happen?

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Europe, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

If you’ve been putting off researching the best travel insurance companies, I get it, it takes a long time. But it’s my job to make your travels as easy and as successful as possible, so that’s why I’ve done all the hard work and research for you!

➡ Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Coniston Water Swimming: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about Coniston Water swimming in the Lake District. When you’re planning a trip to the Lake District, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇬🇧 Other Lake District posts you might like:

• Rydal Caves: Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting
• Castlerigg Stone Circle Walk: Routes, Tips & Guide!
• Wild Swimming in the Lake District: The Best Spots
• BEST Walks from Ambleside, Lake District