Lake District farm that inspired classic children's book opens to guests

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 06:10 · Archive

Bank Ground Farm on Coniston Water, which inspired Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons, offers B&B and self-catering accommodation.

Bank Ground Farm, a Grade II-listed farmhouse dating to the 15th century, sits on the eastern shore of Coniston Water between Coniston and Hawkshead. The working farm combines B&B accommodation and self-catering cottages with a café, restaurant and shop, and has welcomed overnight guests for more than 60 years.

The farm is best known as 'Holly Howe', the fictional home of the Walker children in Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons. The farmhouse and its lakeside setting helped inspire Ransome's classic children's book. Bank Ground was also extensively used in the 1974 film adaptation of the novel, which starred Virginia McKenna and Ronald Fraser.

The farm continues to celebrate this literary connection through the Swallows and Amazons Café and Restaurant. Food served there is homemade using locally sourced and home-grown ingredients where possible. Beef comes from the farm's pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd and lamb from its Jacob sheep, with herbs grown in its kitchen garden.

Beyond accommodation and dining, the farm offers recreational activities along its waterfront. More than half a mile of Coniston Water frontage is available to guests, with rowing boats, canoes and paddleboards available to hire.

The farm has strong online ratings across major review platforms. At the time of the reports, Bank Ground Farm held a 4.8 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor with 297 reviews, ranking it first among 16 B&Bs and inns in Coniston. It also held a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Google with 169 reviews.

How it is being reported

• Stay and dine at Lake District 'hidden gem' that inspired a children's classicStay at the "true hidden gem" Lake District farm with a café, restaurant and shop that helped inspire the lakeside setting of a classic children's book.NW Evening Mail · 1 Nov, 05:00
• Stay and dine at Lake District 'hidden gem' that inspired a children's classicStay at the "true hidden gem" Lake District farm with a café, restaurant and shop that helped inspire the lakeside setting of a classic children's book.News & Star · 1 Nov, 05:00
• Stay and dine at Lake District 'hidden gem' that inspired a children's classicStay at the "true hidden gem" Lake District farm with a café, restaurant and shop that helped inspire the lakeside setting of a classic children's book.Westmorland Gazette · 1 Nov, 05:00
• Stay and dine at Lake District 'hidden gem' that inspired a children's classicStay at the "true hidden gem" Lake District farm with a café, restaurant and shop that helped inspire the lakeside setting of a classic children's book.Whitehaven News · 1 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Bank Ground Farm · Coniston Water · Arthur Ransome · Lake District

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log