lake cruises for groups on Coniston
Groups and parties have a variety of ways of enjoying a cruise on Coniston Water:
- groups (up to 25 people) on our scheduled services
- groups on a short "Brantwood Direct" cruise (25 to 50 people)
- groups on a "Forty Minute Special" cruise (up to 35 people)
- see also the pages in the menu to the left
groups on our scheduled services
During the sailing day we offer great value for pre-booked groups of up to 25 people on our scheduled sailings.
Prices for groups on our scheduled sailings are:
- Northern Cruise (50 mins): £6.90 per person
- Middle Cruise (80 mins): £8.50 per person
- Southern Cruise (105 mins): £9.90 per person
You can combine either of these cruises with a visit to Brantwood, the special discount house entry price being just £5.40 per person if bought with the launch tickets.
Brantwood Direct
The best and most convenient way to visit Brantwood the one-time home of John Ruskin. We can carry groups of up to 50 people. The crossing takes just 10 minutes.
We can take you from Coniston to Brantwood at the following times:
10.00
12:15 (not Weds)
12:45 (not Tues or Weds)
and return you from Brantwood to Coniston at:
12:15
14:15 (Not Tues or Weds)
14.25 (Tues only)
16:15
The return journey may not be on a private boat. We can also offer a 30 minute return cruise at 16.30 on most days.
Whilst most of our groups travel from Coniston Boatlandings an increasing number like to take morning coffee, a buffet lunch, or afternoon tea at the Waterhead Hotel, and we can collect you from the hotel five minutes later than the above times.
The price for the Brantwood Direct is £8.90 per person. This includes adult admission to Brantwood House (£5.40 - full price £5.95). There is a minimum of 15 people, so the minimum charge is £133.50.
Forty Minute Special
You can charter a private launch for a 40 minute cruise from Coniston Boatlandings (or 30 minutes from the Waterhead Hotel) at 12.20 pm on any day. This is an ideal opportunity for a celebration - or just a quiet sailing with your friends. We recommend a maximum of 35 people - but you may just want to charter the boat for the two of you!
Our "Forty Minute Special" prices are:
- 1 to 12 people: £100.00
- 13 to 20 people: £130.00
- over 20 people: an extra £5.00 per person
- children under three years old travel free
general group information
Coniston Launch is able to offer private charter for pre-booked groups at specific times during the 'scheduled sailing day'. We fit such sailings in between our scheduled trips and because of this we would ask you to arrive early so as to be on the jetty as the boat comes in. This is especially important if you have a large number of people in your group as it can take some time to embark everybody.
We carry most of our daytime charters from Coniston Boatlandings where there is coach parking and toilet facilities. We can however pick you up from the Waterhead Hotel jetty (parking for one coach) provided you are taking some refreshment at the hotel. We normally provide a brief 'introduction to Brantwood' commentary as part of the Brantwood Direct (time is limited), and we can provide such commentary as you want on the 'Forty Minute Special'.
At Coniston Boatlandings (see map of lake) there is free coach parking, a cafe, and toilet facilities, whilst the Waterhead Hotel (North end of the lake) has good coach parking for groups that are using the hotel for coffee, lunch or tea (tel: 015394 41244).
The enclosed saloons on our launches hold about 30 people, and the forward deck on the larger of our boats has a covered awning that keeps off the worst of the weather!
Groups should allow plenty of time to get to Coniston, especially if travelling by coach in mid-season. We advise arriving at least 15 mins before sailing time so that we can board you before we board other passengers.
Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.