We’re standing on the end of a wooden jetty staring across peaceful Coniston Water at a small island covered in trees.

The rain has stopped and all is still. To the normal passer-by, it looks like any other island in the afternoon sunlight.

But this unassuming piece of land has great literary significance.

Peter, our friendly tour guide, has just informed us it’s believed to be the inspiration for Wild Cat Island from Swallows And Amazons.

Looking across the calm water, it certainly appears to be the idyllic setting for intrepid explorers setting out on a childhood adventure.

Sadly, we haven’t got a boat to check out the secret harbour in true S&A style, but Peter makes up for this with a seemingly endless supply of local stories and facts associated with the popular series of children’s books.

We’re mid-way through a new Swallows And Amazons minibus tour in the south Lakes. Fans of the children’s classic will know that Wild Cat Island – real name Peel Island – is where the Walker children (Captain) John, Susan, able-seaman Titty and Roger set up camp. They spent their time in the innocent pursuits of fishing, exploring, swimming, keeping watch for pirates, and drinking grog (ginger beer and lemonade). It’s also where they encountered the Amazons – Nancy (captain) and Peggy (mate).

The nostalgic day trip was launched earlier this year by local tour company Mountain Goat to celebrate its 40th year in business. It’s based around the 1929 novel written by Arthur Ransome, whose beloved books were inspired by his childhood holidays in the Lake District.

The books used locations in the area around Windermere and Coniston, although under different names, and the 1974 film was also filmed here.

And with the Swallows And Amazons story now set to be adapted by the BBC for the big screen, it’s the perfect time to set sail and relive this idyllic era.

The tour begins from what the book calls Rio (Windermere) and takes in an atmospheric steam train journey from Haverthwaite Station, which featured in the film, with lakeside views from the old-fashioned compartments.

The tour also stops near the book’s “Holly Howe”. In real life it’s a B&B and tearoom called Bank Ground Farm but it was the fictional holiday home of the Walker children. The house and its lakeside setting were also used extensively in the 1974 film.

And, as no self-respecting Swallow or Amazon would spend a day in the Lakes without a boating adventure, after a lunch stop the tour squeezes in a cruise on Coniston Water.

Throughout the day, Peter passes on dates and facts about the books and Ransome – the author worked in Russia as a journalist and was suspected of being a spy, or even a double agent.

The tour promises to take visitors to the more undiscovered places in the south Lakes, away from the usual tourist hordes. Expect to stop off at the boathouse at the River Crake, which was the Amazon river in the book, as well as “Octopus Lagoon” – real name Allan Tarn.

Visitors also get to see the Old Man Of Coniston, or Kanchenjunga as the Swallows And Amazons called the mountain. And the drive takes in plenty of the real places that were part of Ransome’s life, such as the Mason’s Arms, one of his favourite pubs when he moved to the Lakes with his Russian wife, and a couple of their homes, including Low Ludderburn and its grey barn where he wrote the book.

The tour has already attracted its first high-profile passenger. Actress and writer Sophie Neville, who played Titty in the Richard Pilbrow film, recently joined the day trip to check out some of the old locations she visited as a 12-year-old while filming in the area in 1973.

Peter’s anticipating an increased level of interest in Swallows And Amazons once the new BBC film is released.

The remake is billed as a “white-knuckle-ride action adventure” that could capture the imagination of the Harry Potter generation.

And it’s hoped that if the first film is successful, it will be the start of a series.

With this is mind, it could be wise to book your Amazon adventure sooner rather than later.

  • The Mountain Goat Swallows And Amazons tour runs from 10am to 5pm and guides are happy to collect from local hotels and B&Bs. For more information, visit Mountain Goat at mountain-goat.com, or call 01539 445161.
  • To escape the crowds, and if you like quirky and vintage, head for the Rum Doodle B&B. It’s tucked up a quiet road but only a few minutes’ walk from Windermere. Visit rumdoodlewindermere.com, or call 01539 445967.
  • The Angel Inn in Bowness-on-Windermere is popular for pub food – and the garden at the front offers great views. theangelinnbowness.com, or call 01539 444080.