Activities
During your stay at Sunny Bank Mill there is plenty to keep you occupied. For those who want to get active or just out and about, here are some of the great local activities that await you.
Walking
The Lake District National Park has walks for every ability from ambles around lakes to high ridge walks, with plenty of scrambling or climbing for those with more experience. From the house you can walk northwards up the lake from Sunny Bank Jetty, or head southwest to experience the secluded isolation of Beacon Tarn. For more intrepid walkers the Old Man of Coniston offers a perfect full day walk.
Mountain Biking
The Lake District was made for cycling, with challenging off road mountain biking routes to gentle country lanes. Enjoy the man-made off-road trails at Grizedale (on the other side of the lake), or try a classic cross-country route. There are plenty of family-friendly cycling routes too and you can even enjoy tours by electric bike.
Fun on the Lake
With its shallow shoreline and sheltered private jetty, Sunny Bank Mill is an ideal location for novice or experienced kayakers. The views from the centre of Coniston Water will take your breath away and it only takes 15 minutes to reach the other side of the lake. A canoe trip to explore Wild Cat island and its secret harbour is a popular family adventure.
Tourism
The elegant Victorian Steam Yacht Gondola sails between March and November. Renovated by the National Trust, its passengers can travel in opulently upholstered saloons – a superb way to appreciate the magnificent scenery. The traditional timber craft Coniston Launch provides regular sailings throughout the year to jetties around Coniston Water, including Sunny Bank Jetty – just 10 minutes walk from the house.
Sailing & Windsurfing
Coniston Water is a great place to sail or windsurf in all conditions. Sunny Bank Mill is located to the south in the quietest part of the lake so you can enjoy tacking and jibing with the shoreline and stunning fells always in view.
It's great for open-water swimming too - just half a mile across to the other side if you're up for it (get a friend to row alongside just in case!)
Bird Watching & Fishing
With its adjacent beck, woodland and lake, Sunny Bank Mill attracts a range of birdlife including dippers, nuthatches, herons, buzzards and owls. The lake offers fishing for trout, char, pike and perch and there is a realistic expectation of a catch with specimens of 20lb plus recorded. If you're lucky you may even see the otters in the beck - there have been several sightings quite recently.