Southern Lake District Gentle Guided Members’ Walking Break
Our new-look Members’ Breaks blend guided walks and activities with exclusive tasters from our latest HF holidays. Join us in the beautiful Southern Lake District for a weekend of scenic gentle walks, and an opportunity to learn some top tips to improve your smartphone photography skills. There’ll be a choice of daily gentle walks and what’s more, an HF Holidays team member will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback, making this the perfect opportunity to meet fellow members and help shape the future of our holidays.
What you’ll love
- Choice of at least two guided walks daily
- Minimum of one taster activity—this could showcase a new holiday not yet launched or an experience from one of the many holidays we offer
- Opportunity to book/advance register for the new holidays while on the break
- All transport to and from walks where necessary
- All attractions/visits/activities as scheduled (unless detailed)
- A representative from HF Holidays on hand at points throughout the break to answer questions and help with any bookings
What’s included
- High quality en-suite accommodation at our country house
- Full board from dinner upon arrival to breakfast on departure day
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Guided walks with experienced HF Holidays Leaders
- All transport to and from walks where necessary
Trip Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
Check-in at the hotel is available from 4pm. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.
Option 1 and 2 are both half day activities and groups will swap over. Option 3 is a full day walk.
Option 1 - Smartphone Photography
In summary: Join a photography expert for half the day and learn how to make the most of your smartphone’s camera. After covering a variety of photographic techniques, we’ll try our hand at capturing some images around the grounds of Monk Coniston.
Option 2 - Tarn Hows and Monk Coniston
Distance: 4 miles (7km)
Ascent: 800 feet (260m)
In summary: Explore the charming countryside surrounding Monk Coniston and visit the picturesque Tarn Hows, a famous beauty spot.
Highlight: Pause for a while on one of the plentiful benches that surround the tarn, rest and take in the stunning scenery.
Option 3 - Coppermines Valley and Coniston
Distance: 6 miles (9km)
Ascent: 900 feet (280m)
In summary: We walk from the house and skirt the village of Coniston to ascend into the impressive Coppermines Valley with its fascinating mining history. We then head down over the Miners Bridge, to Coniston village and on to the lakeshore, before walking the final short stretch back to the house. There will be time to explore Coniston village.
Highlight: The fascinating history of copper mining in the area is all around us on this walk.
Option 1 - Skelwith Bridge to Chapel Stile
Distance: 2.5 miles (4km)
Ascent: 260 feet (80m)
In summary: Our walk begins at Skelwith Bridge, following the Cumbria Way along the River Brathay. We pass the impressive Skelwith Force waterfall and continue through woodlands, enjoying views of Elterwater with the backdrop of the iconic Langdale Pikes. Arriving in Elterwater village, we follow the path through historic slate quarries to reach Chapel Stile, another picturesque village nestled in the Langdale Valley. There will be an early coach back to Monk Coniston on this walk.
Highlight: This gentle, scenic walk offers delightful views of the Langdale Valley throughout.
Option 2 - The Langdale Valley
Distance: 4.5 miles (7km)
Ascent: 320 feet (100m)
In summary: From Skelwith Bridge, the walk follows the Cumbria Way along the River Brathay and past the tranquil Elterwater lake. We then pass through the charming villages of Elterwater and Chapel Stile. Following Great Langdale Beck the valley opens up before us as we experience increasingly grand scenery on our way to New Dungeon Ghyll.
Highlight: The walk combines gentle rural paths with stunning Lakeland views, a rewarding journey through classic Lake District landscapes.
Option 3 - Little Langdale to New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 6 miles (9km)
Ascent: 580 feet (180m)
In summary: We descend into the beautiful valley of Little Langdale, where we visit striking Cathedral Cave, a dramatic former slate quarry and charming Slater’s Bridge, an iconic 17th-century packhorse crossing over the River Brathay. From here, we cross into Great Langdale, joining the Cumbria Way and follow the river upstream, enjoying views of the Langdale Pikes, until we reach the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel at the foot of the Pikes.
Highlight: The spectacular natural and manmade beauty of Little Langdale.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.
Monk Coniston
With a desirable address overlooking Coniston Water (the inspiration for Arthur Ransome’s 1930 novel, Swallows and Amazons), this characterful Grade II-listed house delights with lakeside and woodland walks from the doorstep, décor that stays true to the period feel, and plenty of Beatrix Potter references. While the children's author and illustrator did not live at the Monk Coniston estate (her beloved home was Hill Top, bought in 1905 with the royalties from The Tale of Peter Rabbit), she campaigned with the National Trust to save it from development. She then purchased the entire estate in 1930 and as the new owner she immediately sold half to the organisation, bequeathing them the other half in her will.
Rooms
Designed with your comfort in mind, Monk Coniston has 30 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior.
Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.
Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.
We love: The rooms with a garden or lake view. We also love Room 9 on the first floor for its original features and beautiful views across the gardens and fields that slope down to the shores of Coniston Water.
The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.
Room supplements
| Superior | Premium single | Premium double/twin | Choose your room |
| £25 pppn | £20 pppn | £20 pppn | £30 per room |
*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location
About your stay
A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).
Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.
Food & drink
Seasonal dining, tailored for you
Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.
Welcome Cream Tea
What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.
A hearty breakfast to start the day
Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.
Our famous picnic lunch
Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.
3-course evening meals
Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Monk Coniston
Getting to Monk Coniston
Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.
More InformationAddress
Monk Coniston
Coniston
Cumbria LA21 8AQ
Tel: +44 (0)1539 441566
By train
The West Coast mainline runs to the east of the Lake District, connecting Oxenholme (which is near Kendal), Penrith and Carlisle with London and Glasgow. A direct train runs from Manchester to Windermere. Local trains from Oxenholme call at Kendal, Staveley and Windermere.
The nearest station to Monk Coniston is Windermere. From Windermere you can take a taxi or bus to Monk Coniston (see below).
Check National Rail for journey times and routes.
By taxi
The journey from Windermere train station to Monk Coniston is 10 miles.
From Oxenholme, it’s double that at 23 miles.
For pricing, please contact Ace Taxi directly.
Ace Taxi
You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended company, Ace Taxi*. We recommend booking your taxi at least seven days in advance by contacting:
Tel: +44 (0)1539 445445
Email: acetaxiwindermere@gmail.com
A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Monk Coniston.
*Ace Taxi is not owned or managed by HF Holidays.
By bus
From Windermere station catch the 555 or 599 to Ambleside Kelsick Road. Change here onto the 505 to Monk Coniston. The stop is right outside our country house.
Check Stagecoach for bus times.
National Express also run coaches to Lancaster, Penrith and Carlisle where you can catch an onward bus connection into the Lake District.
By car
Car parking is available at Monk Coniston.
Leave the M6 motorway at junction 36. Follow the A590 to Greenodd Roundabout, take the second exit and follow the A5092 before turning right onto the A5084 signposted to Torver. At the T junction turn right onto the A593 and follow into Coniston village. Turn right onto the B5286 and follow for 1.5 miles. The entrance to Monk Coniston will be on your right.
By air
The nearest airport is Manchester International Airport.
There are direct trains every hour to Oxenholme with the journey time around 90 minutes. From here you can change to Windermere or get a taxi (we recommend pre-booking one).
National Rail have up-to-date information on times and routes.
Flying to London Heathrow airport is another option, but it’ll take you at least four hours to reach Oxenholme. Take the train to London Paddington station, then the London Underground to London Euston where you can connect to the main line train to Oxenholme. The journey from here is 2.5 hours.
The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.
Essentials
- Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)
- Mid-layer(s) to keep you warm. Fleeces make a good choice
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Rucksack with waterproof liner
- Flask for hot drinks
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Sunscreen
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- Several base layers (long-sleeve or short-sleeve)
- Cushioned walking socks to avoid blisters
- First aid kit, including plasters and insect repellent
- Sit mat
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
- Camera
- Walking poles
For Smartphone Photography (Option 1) - Day 2: Smartphone Photography & Coniston Surrounds we recommend the following additional kit list:
Essentials
- Smartphone
- Battery pack and charging cable
- Bag for your camera equipment
- Notebook and pencil (pencils work better in the rain!)
Optional extras
- A tripod or monopod if you feel more comfortable with one
Monk Coniston Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Members save £30 on all prices. Join today! Click here or call us to find out more.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Holiday prices
| Date (Start - End) | Itinerary | Double / Twin Room | Single Room | Notes / Offers | Trip Notes | Book | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||||||||
|
13 Feb - 16 Feb 2026 3 nights |
Itinerary Single from £479 Double from £449 pp |
from £449 pp |
from £479 |
Trip Notes
|
Enquire | |||
