Market Drayton to Coniston Water
I am travelling to Lake Coniston CC site from Wiltshire. We intend to stop for a couple of days near Market Drayton (The Wharf on the Shropshire Canal). I'm thinking that from there to Lake Coniston site is around about 3hours (give or take, according to traffic etc). I'm not too familiar with the roads in this area so could someone confirm my timings and also somewhere to stop for a short break. I've looked on google earth at the services and they don't look too inviting. I would be grateful for any suggestions. Thanks.
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I reckon it's about 145 mls so will take in the region of 4 hrs with a short comfort break. The route is straight forward only on the M6.Turn off at Jnct 36 onto A590 to Greenodd, then the A5092 followed by the A5084. This last section is narrow and twisty in places, and the dry stone walls are unforgiving so take care. These are also the directions given by the club.
There are a couple of decent laybys once you come off the motorway.
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Should have read once, not "only".0
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It’s a good 4 hours from Market Drayton to Conistion when towing if you factor in a short break. There are a number of sizeable lay-bys on the A590. As others have said, the roads are quite narrow in places after Greenodd but that’s Cumbria. Take your time and you’ll find the locals on the roads are considerate and polite.
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FF, no doubt someone will come along and say that they've done it in under 3hrs and that the roads are as straight as as a dye, so I suggest that you have a look on Google Maps, or such like, and judge for yourself.
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Follow the CC directions. Follow the A590 to the roundabout and turn right onto the A5084 and then the A 5092. The sat nav will try and persuade you to take a short cut off the A590 cut but keep going on to the roundabout and turn right
coniston is a fab site. Just done half term there so enjoy.i have previously been on the RHS of e site (will,be obvious) but the time went on the LHS and loved it
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I live 10 miles from Mkt Drayton and have towed my van up to the Lakes more times than I care to remember. The advice above is correct and I would only add to take care once you've turned off at Greenodd - as the road rises out of the village, it also narrows and has a couple of bends which can catch out the unwary (as mentioned, there are stone walls) Other than that, the final approaches through Torver, just before the site, are narrow in places but nothing too alarming. Overall it's a beautiful road once you get off the M6.
Staying somewhere close to MD for an overnight is a good idea
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My opinion for what it's worth is that the site is dark and dismall unless you are happy to be under the canopy which is fine. The approach road is horrendous, the logging trucks rule the road and in my experience the local drivers do not take kindly to being held up. Only been once but never again and we left at some unearthly early hour to try to make it safely home. As I said this is my opinion but others will no doubt disagree.
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We stayed for a few nights and can only agree re pitches. We had very reasonable weather for October but no sun to sit out in, in fact didn't put chairs out at all 😲. Most disappointing. Just looked at the photos, don't remember it being that open! We had hardstanding - compact forest floor best describes it. Acorns and twigs drop 24 hours a day - no respect 😉😂. It's a very good off road walk into Coniston itself but quite a way I recall 20-30 minutes?? Not hard surface all the way and defo not for pushing prams etc all the way if I recall properly. Did get the bus back once as OH had problem walking one day. Not many buses either!
Edit we were surprised at the length of the site, we pitched near the top, lots of cul de sacs, took a while to walk to bottom of the site, through the gate and down to the lake. We thought it was actually bordering the lake, probably our mistake 😉
Description says short 400 yards to boat launch, I presume that's from the gate at the bottom ???
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We used to use this site a lot many years ago but decided to give it a break.
Last time we visited, they'd dumped tons of slate all over the place and, where I'd always enjoyed parking sideways on to enjoy day long sunshine, I couldn't do that anymore. Typically, it was damp everywhere and did feel dismal.
I find the route between Blawith and the site quite frightening when towing, with one point in particular being just too narrow for vehicles to pass; stone walls adding to the difficulties.
I'm giving it another go next month, hoping for brighter and dryer weather but had also considered leaving home at the crack of dawn to reduce the risk of meeting oncoming traffc enroute.
Maybe I'm just a wus.
Bakers - yes - the distance refers to access from the bottom gate.
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Last time we visited, they'd dumped tons of slate all over the place and, where I'd always enjoyed parking sideways on
Thanks jillwithajay that's what it was trod in a lot too. We could only park sideways on! Site plan and compass to get door into sun, didn't work though 😔
I wasn't keen on being a passenger in the motorhome in several places. Much breathing in to make myself thinner and taller - didn't help at all with the motorhome width and can't say it made me feel any better. If you towed along there and reckon you could be a wus don't know what that makes me 😂😂
Edit. Yes guessed distance measure from bottom boundary.
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Well, the last three posts have cheered me up no end. Too late to change our plans now. We will be there next week as part of a three week trip to the Lakes and Peakes booked ages ago. Ah well we will have to suck it and see. Never been to that part of the world.
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Hi I added my comments to give my own honest and genuine opinion. If I were you and had never been to the lakes before I would either amend the booking and try Troutbeck Head which is a bit remote but a nicer site OR better still try the CCC sites at Bowness which are in a great location IMHO. If you have to cancel Coniston and get a black Mark it's better than spending time in a dungeon 😆
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Sadly, several of the CC sites in the Lake District have far too much tree cover, Borrowdale (Low Manesty), Coniston, Kendal are all off our list and even Meathop Fell can be problematical.
The Club, if it's allowed to do so needs to undertake a massive program of prunning, lopping & felling....!
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Sorry that wasn't my intention. But like Wedgy above, I'd give it lots of consideration. No money changed hands nothing written in stone so you can look and see and check out other sites in the area, CL, CS and commercial, there's still time 😉. Only other place we have stayed in Cumbria is C&CC site at Ravenglass - 8 years plus ago. It's a beautiful part of our wonderful country.
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listen I have been there many times, and it's good site, just take some time to look at the site plan, pitches in the 50s and 60 are more open.
Also you can walk into the charming village through the old railway, and it isn't as overrun with day trippers as other towns and villages are in the lakes, good range of pubs and shops. On the shore of the Lake there are boat trips and a great cafe. If you are into walking then the Old Man is steep in the later stages but easy - as in putting one foot in front of the other, Wainwright said something seeing as many painted toenails and handbags as rucksacks along with ernest boy scouts. And it's impossible to get lost, just follow the 'ribbon of stones'.
Further afield is lake Windermere, my preference is park at the steam train and take the train and boat up the lake to Bowness and Ambleside, or drive. The lakes is my favourite part of the world, we always use Troutbeck head but that is closed till mid August. The Langdale valley is worth going to on foot or car.
You're going at a good time, long days and it should't be a crowded as later in July and August. Bit too far north maybe but Honister Slate mine is fantastic as is Keswick and Ullswater.
We're going there late August and September.
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I would agree with several of the previous posts, we found it a very shady site and the roads on the approach are not great.
Not a problem for me, I am used to towing on narrow twisty roads, but when you meet a large MH whose driver is scared of pulling well in, and does not know how to fold in his mirrors, you are very likely to suffer damage to your van.
We will not be visiting the site again!
We prefer to stop at Meathop and explore solo.
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Don't worry there are plenty of us who have enjoyed Coniston, there are a variety of pitching areas. There is one very shaded area top right. The wardens advised us to try the top left area from reception and we were happy with our choice, quiet and pleasant, nice walk to local pub and the lake is via a downwards walk through the site. It's a big site, hope you enjoy your stay. Try a trip out via Hawkshead to NT Hill Top Farm and on to the Windermere ferry.
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Flyingfox, don't be put off - just go and enjoy. Even if you can only get a 'shady' pitch, you may well need it according to the weather forecast!
Coniston is a wonderful area and if you really want to see what a difficult road is like and you fancy a day out, take the Hardknott Pass and make your way over to Wast Water - you'll never forget it -but you definitely can't take your caravan!! (You can take the A595 back to Coniston) England's steepest road, deepest lake, highest peak all in one day - and I could tell you about a fabulous bakery in Gosforth once you've got your breath back!
"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will"
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"Gosforth", jonray! Jumped a few counties there haven't you?
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Know the one you mean, jr. I just didn't manage to get the smiley to work.
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Flyingfox if you do go please post on here and let people know your opinions. Some of the comments here along the lines of "just do it" I believe are very misleading and even dangerous, do yourself a favour and drive down the access road on google earth and see what you think. I am an experienced caravaner but this is the scariest approved route I have ever used. Another thing I failed to mention is that the site is split into two main sections which I believe are quite often shut of as was the case when we were there I.e. Only allowed on the RH side of the site. If you look on the late availability listings they will show dozens of free pitches due to this. Of course you can go and think it's all great and prove myself and those with the same opinions wrong 😅 By the way I've done the road to wast water in a 2 seater sports carand it's fantastic but it's horses for courses as they say.
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Some of the comments here along the lines of "just do it" I believe are very misleading and even dangerous,
I'm sure if that were true, the Club would have posted something on the lines of "Don't come here, its too dangerous" instead of what is actually written in the directions:
Whenever possible approach from the South (Newby Bridge) on the A590. Follow signposts for the A590, Barrow. In 5 miles at Greenodd turn right onto the A5092 (signposted Workington). Within 2 miles fork right onto A5084. In about 6 miles in Torver turn right onto the A593. The site is on the right within 1.25 miles (100 yards past the brown and white tourism sign). Please note that the final approach from North or South is narrow in places. Arrivals after 20:00 please remain on reception area beyond office.
"Narrow in places" does not, in my book, mean dangerous - it means be vigilant and take care.
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+1. I have done a lot of towing and while the approach to Coniston is 'narrow' it is not dangerous, there is still room for an outfit , all you have to do is take it slow.
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The only problem is they don't tell it to the logging trucks and the locals. Our journey on the last stretch was heart stopping and fraught with "danger" hence my previous remarks. Good look to anyone going that way but you won't see me there ever again, especially when there are better sites and locations to be had IMHO.
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