Swallows and Amazons boathouse for sale The boathouse is where Arthur Ransome, the author of the books, learned to sail when he stayed at Lane Head, a country house on the lake, with his friend W G Collingwood, the artist. In the book, four young adventurers sail a dinghy around Lake Coniston, cook for themselves over campfires and sleep in makeshift campsites with a freedom rarely experienced by children in modern times. Views from its deck look out onto Coniston village, which shelters beneath the 2,634ft-high fell known as the Old Man of Coniston. One of two dinghies mentioned in the Swallows and Amazons books, Mavis, can be seen by anyone visiting the Lake District on display at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, which also houses displays about the artist and critic John Ruskin. Matthews Benjamin, the estate agent, is looking after the sale of the boathouse, but a spokesman said they have had more interest from journalists than potential buyers. Interested parties should contact them on 015394 32220 or at www.matthewsbenjamin.co.uk.