Why Arthur Ransome Made Coniston Magical for Kids of All Ages

Coniston is an idyllic place, it is more secluded, and moves at a slower pace to other parts of the bust Lake District but has all the beauty, charm and amenities you would expect from a world class destination. This part of Lakeland is made a little bit more special, as it was the inspiration for the children’s adventure series Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome.

Adventures in Coniston

Having adventures is what the Lake District is all about and Coniston in particular is a great place for a family holiday to let you little ones enjoy being surrounded by nature and offer them activities which they may not have tried before including sailing. Indeed, the best way to see the places that inspired the imagined locations in the books is by boat. Have a sailing adventure all of your own or join the Coniston Launch for a 90-minute Swallows and Amazons themed cruise across the lake.

Can you find the inspiration for Wild Cat Island or Octopus Lagoon or Kanchenjunga? Well try Peel Island, The River Crake, and The Old Man of Coniston to get you started!

While the area has always sparkled, Arthur Ransome has really added some magic you can really tap into and get your entire family young and old involved in a great family adventure.

Family Holidays in Coniston

Taking inspiration from Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons books is a great way to theme a family adventure holiday in Coniston. From having pirate parties to learning to sail on the lake, Coniston is a great place for a family holiday especially when there are so many great Coniston Holiday Cottages available from The Coppermines.

Swallows and Amazons Coniston

The best way to really absorb you and your family into the Swallows and Amazons theme is to actually stay in Coniston and The Coppermines have a range of cottages and accommodation options perfect for families and budgets of any size. You can also join a bus tour of all the Swallows and Amazons locations and themes and even watch the movies in the evenings after enjoying your own family ‘Swallows and Amazons’ adventures.

Places to Visit to find out more

Arthur Ransome is celebrated across the Lake District and his love of the outdoors and adventure can be seen through his books and laid across the Lakeland landscape. There are also a few other places you might want to visit if you want to capture some more ‘Swallows and Amazons’ magic:

• The Windermere Jetty – Not only is this a fantastic place to visit in its own right but it also has a great Swallows and Amazons Exhibit that all the family will love to explore. It also houses the Esperance, one of the boats on which Captain Flints houseboat was based.
• The Museum of Lakeland Life – This museum based in Kendal has a range of items and exhibits that explore Arthur Ransome’s life and works, most of it donated or loaned by The Arthur Ransome Society.
• The Ruskin Museum – This museum has Mavis, the inspiration for the Amazon sailing dinghy in the books.

Being inspired by Arthur Ransome is a great theme to base your family holiday on if you are looking for a little bit of adventure and a great outdoor experience. Staying in Coniston can only enhance and support that experience to find the perfect Lake District Holiday Cottage to host your Swallows and Amazons adventure visit the Coppermines Holiday Cottages today.