CONISTON WATER ACTIVITIES FIELD GUIDE
Spars, Lashings, and Laughter: Building a Raft on Coniston
A hands‑on, three‑hour session on Coniston where you design and lash together spars and barrels, then pilot your creation around a lake course — useful for anyone planning a team or family outing.
Spars, Lashings, and Laughter: Building a Raft on Coniston.
On the glassed expanse of Coniston, groups come together to sketch, model and then lash wooden spars and barrels into working rafts before testing them on a marked course. The exercise blends practical problem solving, physical work and the kind of unforced hilarity that comes with a shaky vessel and a determined crew.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Design, Model, Build
Sessions begin at the drawing board: teams plan a design on paper, build a scale model, then move on to full‑size construction using spars, barrels and lashings.
Navigate a Course on the Lake
Once your raft is lashed together you take it onto the water to negotiate a set course — a practical test of design, knots and teamwork.
Team Building and Good‑Natured Chaos
Whether run as a fun afternoon or a structured team‑building exercise, the activity emphasizes creativity, cooperation and memorable moments — and often a wet ending if lashings are loose.
What the day feels like
What the activity feels like
The session moves from quiet concentration to energetic handiwork and finally to the noisy camaraderie of a lake test. Teams sketch ideas, fashion a scale model, then wrestle spars and barrels into place with rope lashings; success is measured as much in laughs as in seaworthiness.
THE PROCESS
Design, Model, Build
Sessions begin at the drawing board: teams plan a design on paper, build a scale model, then move on to full‑size construction using spars, barrels and lashings.
THE TEST
Navigate a Course on the Lake
Once your raft is lashed together you take it onto the water to negotiate a set course — a practical test of design, knots and teamwork.
THE SPIRIT
Team Building and Good‑Natured Chaos
Whether run as a fun afternoon or a structured team‑building exercise, the activity emphasizes creativity, cooperation and memorable moments — and often a wet ending if lashings are loose.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this session suits — and who should pause.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Typical sessions run for three hours.
Price listed from £50 per person.
No specialist equipment is required from participants; the session uses supplied rafting spars, barrels and lashings as part of the activity.
Minimum age is 7 years; instructors provide safety cover on the water and will assist or rescue groups and rafts if necessary.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does the raft building session last?
The activity runs for three hours.
What is the minimum age to take part?
Participants must be at least 7 years old.
Do I need to bring any special equipment?
No specialist kit is required; the rafting spars, barrels and lashings used to build the raft are supplied as part of the activity.
What happens if our raft breaks apart on the lake?
Instructors provide safety cover and will assist or rescue you and your raft if it comes apart during the lake course.
Is this suitable as a team‑building exercise?
Yes — the activity is described as an excellent option for team building, combining planning, cooperation and a practical on‑water challenge.