Steam Yacht Gondola
National Trust heritage cruises on Coniston Water aboard a rebuilt Victorian steam-powered yacht first launched in 1859, with mountain, cultural and full-lake sailings.
About Steam Yacht Gondola
Steam Yacht Gondola is one of the Lake District's most distinctive visitor experiences: a rebuilt Victorian steam-powered passenger yacht cruising Coniston Water from Coniston Pier. The original Gondola was built in Liverpool in 1859 and designed for the growth of Victorian rail-and-lake tourism.
The vessel combines ornate period styling with a working steam engine that visitors can see in operation. National Trust cruises interpret the scenery and history of Coniston, including the Old Man of Coniston, John Ruskin and Brantwood, Arthur Ransome and Swallows and Amazons, and Donald Campbell's Bluebird story.
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The current programme offers three principal cruise experiences: a shorter Mountain Cruise, the Heart of Coniston cruise and a longer Full Lake Cruise. Route details and sailing times change through the operating season, and some sailings allow passengers to disembark at Brantwood and return later.
Gondola is operated by the National Trust but cruise fares are separate from ordinary National Trust property admission. National Trust members currently receive a discount on standard fares. Dogs are welcome in designated non-carpeted areas aboard the vessel.
Boarding normally involves no more than a small number of steps with a handrail, but visitors must be able to transfer safely onto the historic vessel. Accessible toilets are available at Coniston Boating Centre nearby. Brantwood's jetty is followed by a steep path towards the house.
Gondola operates seasonally and sailings are weather dependent. Advance booking is recommended, particularly during school holidays and good weather, and visitors should check the National Trust page for the live operating calendar before travelling.
Our local note
Coniston's most atmospheric cruise: less about getting from A to B and more about experiencing the lake as Victorian visitors once did.
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