The Lake that gives the town of Coniston its name, Coniston Water is one of the Lake District’s prettiest lakes – and luckily enough it is also one of the least crowded.

It is famous for two things – the first being that is is the setting of Arthur Ransome’s children’s adventure classic Swallows and Amazons.

And more tragically this is where Donald Campbell died in 1967, trying to beat his own world speed record. Campbell’s body was never recovered after an accident that totally destroyed his boat – there is a plaque commemorating him on the village green.

There are trips available on the river, if you can try to catch a ride on the Gondola – an exquisite steam boat dating from 1859.