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    Itinerary ideas
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    Getting there
    Car-free travel highlights  Car-free travel highlight
    New X31 Tarn Hows Tourer service, runs daily April - November 2009: Coniston/Hawkshead - Tarn Hows. View the timetable here
     
    Walking  By foot
    Coniston village to Tarn Hows is a 2 mile walk via a choice of good paths including the Cumbria Way. There are also routes from Hawkshead into this area.
     
    Cycling  By bike
    Cycle tracks can be found along the west shore of Coniston Water and from Coniston to Tarn Hows. For more information on cycling in the area please see our Things to do page.
     
    Bus  By bus
    New X31 Tarn Hows Tourer service, runs daily April - November 2009: Coniston/Hawkshead - Tarn Hows. View the timetable here

    Bus stops in Coniston, ½mile from Monk Coniston and on the B5285 at Hawkshead Hill, 1 mile from Tarn Hows. Ask the driver where to get off.

    The scenic Coniston Rambler (505) runs regularly throughout the year: Windermere railway station-Ambleside-Hawkshead-Coniston. For ideas of walks linking bus routes and other public transport in the area see the leaflet Give the Driver a Break 2009 leaflet.

    Ulverston, near railway station-Coniston (X12), runs Mon-Sat, connecting with Kendal-Ulverston-Barrow (X35).

    Cross Lakes Experience timetable, a boat-bus-boat link from Bowness on the east shore of Windermere, via Hill Top and Hawkshead, to Tarn Hows, Monk Coniston and Coniston Pier. Includes X31 service (see above).
     
    Train  By train
    Windermere railway station 12 miles and Ulverston railway station 15 miles.
     
    Ferry  By boat
    The National Trust's rebuilt historic Steam Yacht Gondola stops at Monk Coniston Jetty, Saturday and Sunday, Apr-Oct, weather permitting. Last sailing at 4pm.

    Cross Lakes Shuttle, a boat-bus-boat link from Bowness on the east shore of Windermere, via Hill Top and Hawkshead, to Monk Coniston, Tarn Hows and Coniston Pier.
     
    Road directions  By road
    Approach from Coniston in south and Ambleside in north on A593. Tarn Hows is 1 mile off B5285, Coniston to Hawkshead road, well-signed.
     
    Car parks  Car parks

    Tarn Hows
    OS: SD326995, pay & display (NT members free)

    Glen Mary - Yewdale
    OS: SD321998, pay & display (NT members free)

    Monk Coniston (not NT)
    OS: SD316978, pay & display

    Coniston village (not NT)
    OS: SD304975, pay & display
     
    Ordnance Survey map  Ordnance Survey maps
    Landranger 96 - Barrow & South Lakeland
    Landranger 90 - Penrith & Keswick
    Explorer OL7 - English Lakes South East
    Explorer OL6 - English Lakes South West
     

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    Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water, Cumbria.
    © Designworks / Bryan Jones
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    Related links

    Transport Direct - public transport information

    Sustrans - getting there by bike

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