Coin trees. What’s it all about?
If you’ve seen one, you’ll know what I mean – a tree trunk with loads of coins hammered into it. Sometimes just a few, sometimes absolutely covered. The more there are, the more wonderful if you ask me.
I’ve seen them over the years and growing up but since running the Pheasant Lodge have started noticing them more. My kids love them and they give us a moment to stop and admire a quite peculiar thing.
The history behind coin trees Lake District walkers find
I had a quick Google after the last time we saw one, and it turns out they’re not just a random thing people have started doing. These coin trees Lake District walkers come across today actually have a long history behind them.
From what I could find, the tradition goes back hundreds of years – likely to at least the 1700s – and is linked to older ‘wish tree’ customs, where coins were left for luck or healing.
People would hammer coins into the bark as a kind of offering. Sometimes for luck, sometimes to make a wish, and sometimes to leave illness behind – the idea being you’d walk away… and the tree kept it.
In some places they were even called “wish trees” or “healing trees”, which makes a bit more sense once you know that.
Now it feels like one of those things people just carry on doing without really knowing why – you see one, you add a coin.
Is it ok to add a coin?
Well this part is a bit undecided.
I really like the idea of it – loads of people passing through the same spot over time, all leaving something small behind. They always seem to come at the right time when the kids need a distraction too. The perfect little break and what kid doesn’t like to bash a stone into a coin into a tree trunk. Or is that just mine?
I’ve never actually seen a coin tree that’s still alive – they always seem to be old trunks or stumps, which at least means no damage is being done to a living tree.
What do you think – would you hammer a coin in?
Where we’ve seen them in the Lakes
In the woodland near Aira Force, Tarn Hows circular – a really quite spectacular one, on the way to Rydal Caves and a newer one on the West Windermere walk on the way to Lakeside.
They’re never really obvious, never signposted. You just sort of come across them. Knock a coin in yourself and carry on.
They’re not just found in the Lake District either – you’ll spot them in other parts of the UK and even across Europe
Have you seen one?
I’d love to know if you’ve come across a coin tree anywhere in the Lake District – or even elsewhere.
And be honest… did you add a coin and make a wish?
Staying in the Lake District
If you’re staying around Cartmel or the southern Lakes, it’s worth keeping an eye out when you’re out walking. They’re easy to miss, but once you spot one, you start noticing them more.
This kind of thing is exactly why I love the Lakes – it’s not always the big views, sometimes it’s just slightly fun/odd little things you come across along the way.
Let me know your thoughts below.
Hannah – Host at the Pheasant Lodge x