Top 10 Outdoor Sports Events around Coniston Water
11th September 2023
Our Coniston holiday cottages are ideally located for several outdoor sports events that are held every year in the Lake District.
The following annual events see runners, cyclists and swimmers compete within a stone’s throw of our 2 holiday cottages in Low Nibthwaite, located at the southern tip of Coniston Water.
See our Coniston holiday cottages here
March
Coniston 14 Run
The Coniston 14 is undoubtedly the most beautiful road race in Britain. Every year around 1600 runners compete in one of the best organised small races in the country. The race is organised by a committee of volunteers from Coniston village.
May
K2B, & C2B walk/run 
The Keswick to Barrow (K2B) Walk is a sponsored 40 mile walking and running event in the Lake District. K2B is Cumbria’s biggest team walk event. Teams of 4-12 test themselves on a challenging route, to raise money for charities and good causes.
The idea of walking from Keswick to Barrow originated from a statement made by the late U.S. President, John F Kennedy, that “every American should be capable of walking 50 miles a day”.
C2B walk/run
The Coniston to Barrow Walk (C2B) starts on the edge of Coniston village just a few miles from our Coniston Water cottages in Low Nibthwaite. The C2B is 21 miles long and takes place on the same day as the K2B.
https://keswick2barrow.co.uk/challenge
June 
Velo Retro Cycling Festival
The Velo Retro Cycling Festival is the only retro and vintage cycling event in the Lake District where steel vintage bikes and retro cycling jerseys are proudly celebrated. The race starts in Ulverston and the route goes through High & Low Nibthwaite along the eastern shore of Coniston Water.
The festival is held over a weekend and there’s usually 3 different retro bike rides on the Sunday.
Lakeland Trails, Coniston
The ‘Lakeland Trails at Coniston’ is a large running event in the Coniston Valley.
There’s 3 events that start and finish at Landing Point, near Coniston village. The 10k Coniston Trail Run, the 15k Coniston Trail Race and the 15k Coniston Trail Challenge.
The 3 events take in the shores of Coniston Water then into the shadows of the ‘Old Man of Coniston’ mountain before passing through the historic Coppermines Valley.
This great event has a carnival like atmosphere for both spectators and competitors, with live music, race commentary, food and drink all available at the start and finish.
https://www.lakelandtrails.org/coniston
July
Conquer Coniston
Conquer Coniston is a huge event, a triathlon with a twist. The event is in support of Alderhey Children’s Charity where teams need to be 4 or 6 members. All team members take part in each part of the triathlon.
https://www.alderheycharity.org/events/latest/coniston-challenge/
Lakeland 50/100 mile Montane Mountain Trail Race
The UK’s Premier Ultra Trail Race.
The Lakeland 100 ‘Ultra Tour of the Lake District’ is the most spectacular long-distance trail race in the UK. The circular route encompasses the whole of the Lakeland fells and includes around over 20,000 feet (6300 meters) of ascent. The overall time available for the route is 40 hours.
A finisher’s medal in the Lakeland 100 is possibly one of the most treasured possessions you will ever receive as around 50% of the competitors don’t finish the course. Around 90% of those drop out prior to or ‘at’ the halfway point.
The route starts and finishes in Coniston village a short distance from our holiday cottages
Lakeland 50
With around 50% of competitors dropping out of the Lakeland 100, the Lakeland 50 has been widely acclaimed to be one the greatest ultra-trail challenges in Europe, perhaps the world. The trail is run over the second half of the Lakeland 100 Ultra Tour course of the Lake District and finishes in Coniston village.
September
Race the Sun – Coniston
Race the Sun pits teams of two or four against the clock in a triathlon-style team challenge. Bike, hike and paddle around a course between dawn and dusk, in a race against the setting sun.
https://action.org.uk/events/team-challenges/race-the-sun-lake-district-coniston-off-road
Swim Run Coniston
Swim Run Coniston is an adventure through the spectacular mountains, forests and lakes of the Lake District National Park. Swim and run 3 different length courses, with options to join as a solo entry or as part of a team of two
October
Power Boat Records Week 
The annual Coniston Power Boat Records Week is the only event in the powerboat racing calendar to feature all classes of powerboat. This fabulous event is walking distance from our Coniston Water cottages.
November
Cumbrian Cracker Cycling Sportive
The Cumbrian Cracker Cycling Sportive is one of the original Lakeland cycle sportives. The 60 mile route starts and finishes in Grasmere village and continues along Coniston Water to reach the food stop at Cartmel. The return leg then weaves its way through beautiful country lanes via Grizedale Forest, Hawkshead and Ambleside. The route is undulating but does not climb any of the major passes. The route is acclaimed to cycle some of the best countryside you will ever ride and is a classic autumn sportive day out on the bike.
https://epicevents.co.uk/cumbrian-cracker/