Coniston Launch
Coniston Ferry Service Ltd
Coniston Launch, or Coniston Ferry Service Ltd as it is known formally, was founded by Gordon and Margaret Hall in 1992. They ran a service between Coniston and Brantwood, but they also called at Monk Coniston. At this stage they only had one boat – M L Ruskin. It soon became apparent that there was a need to cater for walkers and a jetty was established at Torver. Due to the volume of coach parties they chartered M L Iris from Keswick Launch for much of the 1994 season. This was so successful that a second boat, M L Ransome, was purchased that winter and M L Iris was returned to Keswick Launch.
The Special Interest Cruises were further developed in 1995 and included the southern end of Coniston Water. However, it wasn’t until 1999, after huge efforts were made to obtain landowners’ consent and planning permissions for jetties around the southern end of the lake, that it became possible to run to Lake Bank, Park a Mor and Sunny Bank. In 2005 Waterhead was substituted for Consiton jetty and in 2006 Water Park was substituted for Park a Mor. In February 2008, Douglas and Gillian Hodgson took over the business from Gordon and Margaret.
Coniston Launch’s boats were converted to solar-electric power in 2005. Both boats use electric motors instead of diesel, with solar panels helping to charge the batteries, making their boats environmentally friendly and quieter and which reduces your “carbon footprint”.
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