Hawkshead to Coniston Walk

4.4 miles (7.1 km)

This walk takes you from Hawkshead to Coniston Water via Tarn Hows. Starting in the centre of Hawskead the route first heads up to Hawkshead Hill and Tarn Hows.... Here you turn south west for a woodland section through the Hill End Plantation. The descent continues past Monk Coniston before finishing at Water Head Pier at the lake.
Walk Report October 19th 2026 By Helen Parker:
Starting in Hawkshead, I enjoyed a little time taking in the village’s old stone cottages and narrow streets before heading out into the surrounding countryside. The walk soon leaves the bustle of the village behind, climbing towards Hawkshead Hill through the green Lakeland landscape. There are some lovely views as the ground opens up, and the uphill start gives you a good sense of being away from the busier lakeside paths.
The highlight for me was reaching Tarn Hows. The water is framed by wooded slopes and backed by the higher fells, making it one of those places where I kept stopping to look at the view from slightly different angles. Tarn Hows was created in the nineteenth century by damming a beck and combining smaller tarns, and the carefully shaped landscape has a wonderfully natural feel today. I was pleased to spot small birds flitting between the trees along the water’s edge, while the reflections and little wooded islands made a lovely scene for photographs.
It is worth allowing a little extra time here rather than simply passing through. There are benches around the tarn, and the path offers plenty of opportunities to pause and enjoy the scenery. If you fancy a refreshment break, Joey’s Café at the Tarn Hows car park serves coffee, cakes and other light options, with a food and ice-cream van also sometimes available. I could easily understand why visitors linger here, especially on a fine day when the views across towards the Coniston fells are at their best.
Leaving Tarn Hows behind, the walk turns south-west through the woodland of Hill End Plantation. I liked the change of atmosphere beneath the trees, with the shade and quieter woodland paths providing a contrast to the open views around the tarn. There is a peaceful feel to this part of the walk, and I found myself listening out for birdsong as the path continued downhill. The ground can be muddy after rain, so footwear with a decent grip is useful, particularly on the descending sections.
The route continues past Monk Coniston, an estate with an interesting connection to the landscape around Tarn Hows. The nineteenth-century landowner James Garth Marshall helped shape the scenery here, and the grounds include an impressive collection of trees, including some unusual conifers. It is a lovely area to appreciate the mix of woodland, historic estate grounds and Lakeland countryside. Although Monk Coniston itself is more a place to enjoy the setting than to plan a café stop, the nearby village of Coniston has options for a drink or something to eat if you have time after reaching the lake.
The walk finishes at Water Head Pier on Coniston Water, where the views stretch along the lake towards the surrounding fells. After the woodland and sheltered waterside scenery earlier in the walk, arriving at the open lakeshore feels like a fitting end. I enjoyed taking a final look across the water and watching the changing light on the hills. The pier is also associated with trips on the historic Steam Yacht Gondola during its operating season, adding another layer of interest to this beautiful stretch of the lake.