Coniston Village – Banishead Quarry Waterfall loop from Coniston

Running trails & routes

Coniston Village – Banishead Quarry Waterfall loop from Coniston

Hard

5.0

(1)

195

runners

Coniston Village – Banishead Quarry Waterfall loop from Coniston

01:52

15.3km

380m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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1.08 km

The Fat Flour Bakery

Highlight • Restaurant

Amazing bread, delicious pies, ace sandwiches. All homemade.
Fill your boots :)

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1.11 km

Coniston is located at the northern end of the third largest lake in the Lake District: Coniston Water. Steam yacht cruises are offered on this lake.
Coniston is said to be derived from the Old Norse words Konigs Tun or king's settlement. That king is said to have been Thorstein, a Viking who gave his name to Thurstinii Watra, the old name of Coniston Water.
(Wikipedia)

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2.83 km

Coniston Coppermines Historic Site

Highlight • Viewpoint

Around 1590, the Company of Mines Royal began extracting copper from the Coniston copper veins. The first work was carried out entirely by hand. With brute force, the rock face was broken and tunnels were excavated very slowly.
Only enough rock was removed to allow one person to pass through the tunnel, and these access tunnels are called 'coffin levels' because of their characteristic coffin shape. Excavating a 17th-century tunnel like Cobbler's Level could still take three years. The Elizabethan Company of Mines Royal was led by German experts from the Tyrol and Bavaria. Their mines penetrated more than 55 metres into the earth. Work continued after the English Civil War, but perhaps not to a great extent.
At the end of the 17th century, gunpowder was introduced, which changed everything. Work went much faster and mines could go much deeper than before, up to more than 90 metres below the surface. The charges were placed in a hole drilled into the rock using 'jumpers', iron rods made on site. You can still see hand-drilled shot holes. Gunpowder was replaced by dynamite in 1877 and jumpers by compressed air drills in 1883.
(Lake district national park)

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8.07 km

Banishead Quarry Waterfall

Highlight • Structure

Banishead Quarry is a rarely publicised beauty spot in the Lake District that is hidden away on the eastern flanks of the Old Man of Coniston. It is a super beautiful location and even has its own waterfall and an 80 foot (24 m) at that. It is a very popular wild swimming spot in the summer months.

The waterfall was apparently born out of mischief when three local boys had a flash of inspiration to play ‘Let's divert the river with rocks’ back in the 1950’s. Their efforts obviously worked!

If you do stop here, be aware of the dangers of wild swimming and jumping from high ledges at an unknown location.

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11.7 km

Harrison Coppice

Forest

12.5 km

Coniston Water

Highlight • Viewpoint

Coniston Water is a lake in the Lake District. It is the third largest lake by volume, after Windermere and Ullswater, and the fifth largest by surface area. The lake is 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) long, 730 metres (2,400 ft) wide and 56.1 metres (180 ft) deep. The lake drains into the River Crake, which flows into Morecambe Bay via the estuary of the River Leven.
(Wikipedia)

Translated by Google •

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12.8 km

Coniston Shore Bridleway

Highlight • Trail

Bridleway along Coniston shore. Some gates, great for kids.

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13.8 km

Coniston Hall

Highlight • Historical Site

Coniston Hall is a former house on the west bank of Coniston Water in the Lake District. The house dates from the late 16th century, or possibly earlier. It is built in ruins with a slate roof. Part of it is now in ruins, part is used as a farm, and part is used as a campsite. The hall is owned by the National Trust, but is not open to the public.
(Wikipedia)

Translated by Google •

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13.9 km

View of the Old Man of Coniston

Highlight • Summit

Well maintained flat gravel trails.

Remember to look up and take in the fells surrounding Coniston, including one of the higher fells – The Old Man of Coniston.

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