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Coniston VillageConiston The Lake District
Coniston Water from BrantwoodConiston The Lake District- Tarn Hows, ConistonConiston The Lake District
- Coniston Water through the window of BrantwoodConiston The Lake District
- Coniston VillageConiston The Lake District
- Coniston Water from BrantwoodConiston The Lake District
Coniston village is especially popular with walkers and outdoor enthusiasts primarily because of its position – at the foot of one of Cumbria’s most popular fells, the Old Man of Coniston and by the western shore of Coniston Water, at 5 miles (8km) long one of England’s largest lakes. A relic fish from the Ice Age, the Arctic Char, still inhabits these waters.
Born on the back of the copper mining and slate quarrying industries, the village today has a thriving economy based on walking, sightseeing, water sports, mountaineering, horse riding and the consumption of real ale!
North of Coniston, two spur roads lead to Tilberthwaite and the old slate quarries, now carved into a distinctive landscape of huge spoil heaps and gaping rock chasms.
Food & Drink in Coniston
Coniston is spoilt for choice with many of its cafes and restaurants having beautiful lake vistas, or are even sited by Lake Coniston itself. How about sitting on a cosy sofa in a Farmhouse tearoom overlooking the lake, or take your coffee, or perhaps something more substantial, on a café terrace, with unrivalled views across the Lake.
Many of the pubs, restaurants and cafes have intimate settings, which are warm and cosy and offer a variety of locally sourced, award-winning foods. There’s everything from Indian food, making a very good choice for vegetarians, to a marvellous selection of traditional pubs with roaring log fires, a warm and friendly service, either in the town itself or in nearby Torver.
The selection of beers are second-to-none, with Coniston having its own local brewery, there is much to try from the Bluebird Bitter to Coniston Old Man Ale.
Portions are often generous without skimping on quality with many eateries being dog-friendly. There’s classy Bistros with beautifully presented inventive cuisine and several of the eating establishments in Coniston aren’t licenced, so you need to BYOB. What better way to enjoy first class food at affordable prices.
Whatever the weather, couples and families will always find somewhere to relax and unwind and enjoy the very best of Cumbrian cuisine and hospitality.
Coniston - Culture & Heritage
This area’s history is defined by sheep, copper and slate. In the 16th century, rich seams of copper ore were found in Coppermines Valley. With little local mining expertise, German miners were drafted in to work the copper veins. Peak output for the mines was the middle of the 19th century, when most of the copper was used to line the hulls of wooden sailing vessels.
Falling copper prices and greater competition from overseas resulted in a gradual decline and the closure of the mines in 1915 – but the legacy is still visible in the abandoned shafts and open workings that are still pretty dangerous to wander into.
Much of this area was formerly monastic land owned by Furness Abbey which made its money from sheep farming, and iron ore mining and smelting. One of their estates was at Monk Coniston, now owned by the National Trust.
They bred the local Herdwick sheep – from the old Norse for ‘sheep farm’ – whose distinctive grey fleeces and short, sturdy legs were particularly suited to the rigours of living on the open fells. Many Lakeland hill farms continue to farm this old breed.
Slate quarrying developed during the 17th century in response to increased demand for building materials, particularly roofing slates. The quarries at Tilberthwaite and on the ‘Old Man' were mined systematically for around 200 years and one or two are still in operation today.
Quarrying and mining were so profitable that in 1859 a railway was built to bring out the copper and slate. In later years, the railway brought the first tourists to the area, but was subsequently closed in 1964.
Clearly such heavy industry did little to spoil the area’s natural beauty as early tourists still came to marvel at the region’s natural beaty. The influential 19th century writer and social reformer John Ruskin was so enchanted by the landscape that he once declared his house on the eastern shore of Coniston Water – a nice pile called Brantwood – to have ‘the best view in all of England.’
Did you know?
JOHN RUSKIN
John Ruskin (1819-1900), one of the most influential critics, thinkers and social reformers of his day, who inspired Tolstoy, Proust, Shaw, Oscar Wilde, the first Labour MPs, and Gandhi, amongst others. Revolted by industrialisation and rampant capitalism, he revived the local linen industry, the museum houses the finest collection of Ruskin Lace in the world.
DONALD CAMPBELL (1921–1967)
Coniston Water was the scene of an ill-fated attempt by Donald Campbell to break the water speed record. On 4 January 1967, Donald was at the helm of Bluebird K7 and travelling at around 320 mph when the boat somersaulted into the air and disappeared into the water. It was not until 2001 that the remains of Bluebird were raised from the lake bed, and has subsequently been restored and brought back to Coniston, where it can be seen in the specially built ‘Bluebird Wing’ of the Coniston Museum.
SIMON’S NICK
Simon’s Nick, ‘a fearsome crack in the rocks below Levers Water’, was where a seam of copper was worked by a miner called Simon Puchberger. He was blown up by his own explosives. His ghost is said to haunt the mine to protect what remains of the copper ore.
HALIFAX BOMBER
In October 1944 a Halifax Bomber crashed into Great Carrs, a steep mountain side behind Wetherlam. All on board were killed. One of the engines can be seen outside the Ruskin Museum.
OLD MAN OF CONISTON
'The ‘Old Man of Coniston' (SD 272 978) rising dramatically behind Coniston is one of the highest mountains in Cumbria at 803 metres. The ‘man' is the large cairn on the summit.
GERMANIC SURNAMES
The influx of German miners in the 16th century has left a legacy of Germanic surnames and patronyms among Coniston’s residents today, such as the Calkers, Knipes and Zinagles (now Senogles).
Highlights
Each of the three roads out of Coniston village are traced for part of their route by cycle paths.…
Subberthwaite Common and the Blawith Fells lie at the southwest tip of Coniston Water. Most people…
If you want to try camping but don’t have the equipment or just don’t fancy putting up a tent then…
Do you want to learn what to do when the mist comes down and how to accurately take and follow a…
Located on the shores of Coniston Water with sensational lake and fell views, this classic Lakeland…
Most of the low fells East of Coniston Water are covered by woodland and forestry plantations. The…
Medium length - Easy (28 or 36km)/Road and Cycle Track
Meet Coniston's heroes, John Ruskin, artist, radical and seer and Donald Campbell, speed ace. View…
Coniston used to have its own railway line with a terminus station in the village just up from the…
It's hard to imagine visiting Coniston without climbing Coniston Old Man. It hangs over the village…
Spoon Hall Caravans is a quiet family run farm site with beautiful views over Coniston water.…
The Jack Diamond Path up Coniston Old Man is one of the few paths in the Lake District named after…
• Sleeps 4, • Luxury cottage rated 5 Star Gold by Visit England • Private hot tub with open…
Locally based and proudly independent, we manage a beautiful collection of self-catering properties…
The little side valley of Tilberthwaite was once a thriving centre for slate quarrying. Numerous…
Set in a quiet corner of Western Cumbria, and with panoramic views over Duddon Sands, South…
We train people to undertake expeditions, and also run expeditions across the UK, but mostly in the…
Backed by low fells and woodland, the western shore of Coniston Water is a delightful place for a…
A 3-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, tasting wild ingredients and a wild…
Looking for exciting family activities this Easter? Go Ape Grizedale, near Hawkshead is the perfect…
• 5 Star Gold Rated Barn Conversion for 2 • Idyllic riverside location • Secluded gardens • Views…
Scrambling is an outdoor adventure experience that sits half way between hill walking and rock…
Breath-taking mountain views, a private hot tub, wrap-around gardens and a tranquil location on the…
• Sleeps up to 16 • 3 inter-linking cottages, can be booked individually sleeping 2-8 or together…
Each of the three roads out of Coniston village are traced for part of their route by cycle paths.…
Subberthwaite Common and the Blawith Fells lie at the southwest tip of Coniston Water. Most people…
If you want to try camping but don’t have the equipment or just don’t fancy putting up a tent then…
Do you want to learn what to do when the mist comes down and how to accurately take and follow a…
Located on the shores of Coniston Water with sensational lake and fell views, this classic Lakeland…
Most of the low fells East of Coniston Water are covered by woodland and forestry plantations. The…
Do you want to learn what to do when the mist comes down and how to accurately take and follow a…
Located on the shores of Coniston Water with sensational lake and fell views, this classic Lakeland…
Most of the low fells East of Coniston Water are covered by woodland and forestry plantations. The…
Medium length - Easy (28 or 36km)/Road and Cycle Track
Meet Coniston's heroes, John Ruskin, artist, radical and seer and Donald Campbell, speed ace. View…
Coniston used to have its own railway line with a terminus station in the village just up from the…
It's hard to imagine visiting Coniston without climbing Coniston Old Man. It hangs over the village…
Spoon Hall Caravans is a quiet family run farm site with beautiful views over Coniston water.…
The Jack Diamond Path up Coniston Old Man is one of the few paths in the Lake District named after…
• Sleeps 4, • Luxury cottage rated 5 Star Gold by Visit England • Private hot tub with open…
Locally based and proudly independent, we manage a beautiful collection of self-catering properties…
The little side valley of Tilberthwaite was once a thriving centre for slate quarrying. Numerous…
Set in a quiet corner of Western Cumbria, and with panoramic views over Duddon Sands, South…
We train people to undertake expeditions, and also run expeditions across the UK, but mostly in the…
Backed by low fells and woodland, the western shore of Coniston Water is a delightful place for a…
A 3-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, tasting wild ingredients and a wild…
Looking for exciting family activities this Easter? Go Ape Grizedale, near Hawkshead is the perfect…
• 5 Star Gold Rated Barn Conversion for 2 • Idyllic riverside location • Secluded gardens • Views…
Scrambling is an outdoor adventure experience that sits half way between hill walking and rock…
Breath-taking mountain views, a private hot tub, wrap-around gardens and a tranquil location on the…
• Sleeps up to 16 • 3 inter-linking cottages, can be booked individually sleeping 2-8 or together…
Each of the three roads out of Coniston village are traced for part of their route by cycle paths.…
Subberthwaite Common and the Blawith Fells lie at the southwest tip of Coniston Water. Most people…
If you want to try camping but don’t have the equipment or just don’t fancy putting up a tent then…
Show More
Prev
- 1Intermediate Navigation Course with More Than Mountains (Coniston)
- 2The Coniston Inn
- 3Grizedale Forest and Selside from Coniston
- 4Coniston Water & Subberthwaite Common
- 5The Ruskin Museum
- 6Tour of Coniston Water & the Torver Trail
- 7Coniston Old Man
- 8Spoon Hall Caravans
- 9Coniston Old Man via the Jack Diamond Path
- 10Cragg Cottage, Torver, near Coniston
- 11Lakes & Country Escapes
- 12Tour of Yewdale and Tilberthwaite
- 13Longlands Holiday Park
- 14The Expedition Club
- 15Western Shore of Coniston Water
- 16Forage and Nibble near Windermere
- 17Easter Holidays
- 18Mill Pool Barn, Torver, Coniston
- 19Scrambling near Coniston with More Than Mountains
- 20Hollace
- 21The Bridge Cottages, Coniston
- 22Tour of Low Yewdale
- 23Subberthwaite Common
- 24Coniston Park Coppice Site - Camping Pods
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Towns & Villages
Number of results: 105
, currently showing 41 to 60.
Address
National Trust - Tarn Hows, Coniston, Cumbria, LA22 0PPTelephone
015394 41456Coniston
Tarn Hows is a stunning local beauty spot, artificially made in the 19th Century by joining 3 tarns together. In 1929 it was bought by Beatrix Potter who sold it to the National Trust. There is a 1.5 mile, level footpath around the tarn.
Address
Grizedale Forest & Visitor Centre, Grizedale, Hawkshead, Cumbria, LA22 0QJTelephone
0300 067 4495Hawkshead
There are 8 waymarked walks and 5 waymarked cycle trails, plus the North Face trail, in the Grizedale Forest Park. Further information is available from the visitor centre where maps for all the trails can be purchased.
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Address
The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages, The Estate Office, The Bridge, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8HJTelephone
01539441765The Bridge, Coniston
Springbank Cottage is a luxury, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage in the popular village of Coniston. Close to spectacular walking, the lake and with a beautiful, enclosed garden it really is the perfect base for any Lake District holiday.
Address
-Coniston Old Man, rises dramatically to its height of 2635ft. Also known as the 'Old Man of Coniston' - a popular walk for visitors.
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Address
The Bridge Cottages, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8HJTelephone
015394 41765Coniston
• Sleeps up to 16
• 3 inter-linking cottages, can be booked individually sleeping 2-8 or together sleeping 16
• A total of 8 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms
• Each cottage comes with its own hot tub - 3 hot tubs in total
• Large rooms, perfect for… Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
Generally you expect to find long rolling descents on mountain bike routes in the higher peaks and fells. However, tucked away amongst the low fells around Tilberthwaite and Tarn Hows are two trails that break this convention. The first one is an…
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Address
Coniston Experience Freedom Glamping, Park Gate, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8LATelephone
015394 41555Coniston
Our range of glamping pods can be found in the heart of the Lake District at our Coniston Park Coppice site.
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Address
Tarn Hows, Tarn Hows Main Car Park, Nr Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AGTelephone
015394 41456Nr Coniston
Tarn Hows is a stunning local beauty spot, artificially made in the 19th Century by joining 3 tarns together. In 1929 it was bought by Beatrix Potter who sold it to the National Trust. There is a 1.5 mile, level footpath around the tarn.
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Coniston
• Sleeps 8
• 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms
• Huge garden including terraces, outside seating and woodland
• Up to 2 dogs welcome
• Idyllic location close to village and lake
• Stunning interior which has been recently renovated to an exceptional… Address
Coniston Boating Centre, Lake Rd, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8ANTelephone
017687 75753Coniston
Enjoy cruising aboard our launches around beautiful Coniston Water. A personal commentary by our crew complements your experience of this wonderful area.
Address
The Farmer's Arms, Lane Head, Lowick Green, Cumbria, LA12 8DTTelephone
01229 481160Lowick Green
Historic pub and arts venue The Farmer's Arms in Lowick Green, Ulverston announces a Mothering Sunday with a little extra for 2025 – the Throw Down experience for the family!
Guests will be able to join us for a part or full day, as their schedule…
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Address
The Ruskin Museum, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8DUTelephone
015394 41164Coniston
Meet Coniston's heroes, John Ruskin, artist, radical and seer and Donald Campbell, speed ace. View the fully restored Bluebird craft in the Bluebird wing of the museum. Discover the mineral wealth of the fells, all at 'the most thought provoking…
Address
Grizedale Forest & Visitor Centre, Grizedale, Hawkshead, Cumbria, LA22 0QJTelephone
0300 067 4495Hawkshead
The North Face trail is a single track trail designed for experienced mountain bikers with better quality mountain bikes. Please be aware that this trail is not for tag-alongs or trailers bikes.
Address
Blind Lane Car Park, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8LQTelephone
+447852162142Ulverston
A 3-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, finding and tasting wild ingredients, and a wild snack in Grizedale Forest.
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Address
High Hollin Bank, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AGTelephone
015394 41680Coniston
We are a small family run cottage letting business in Central Lakeland. Our five traditional cottages are in Langdale, Grasmere, Ambleside and Coniston.
Address
15 Yewdale Rd, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8DUTelephone
01539 441823Coniston
A product of Dublin's famous club An Góilin Traditional Singers, since launching his own solo live career at the 2016 Celtic Connections, Daoirí Farrell has gone from strength to strength. On the verge of releasing his fourth solo album in early…
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The Lake District is one of the best places you can visit for Stargazing and is listed in the top 5% of the darkest places in Britain. On a clear evening, we are able to see thousands of stars and constellations including the spectacular Milky Way.
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Address
Brantwood, East of Lake, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8ADTelephone
015394 49025Coniston
On-site cafe/restaurant serving teas, coffees and light lunches all homemade on the premises. Parties and groups catered for. Outside seating on the terrace overlooking the lake.
Address
CumbriaSet in the south-west of the region the Duddon Valley is remote, unspoilt and one of the most idyllic valleys of the Lake District.
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
The little side valley of Tilberthwaite was once a thriving centre for slate quarrying. Numerous clean-cut walls and deep-water filled hollows bear testament to this. They have been idle for many decades and nature has pretty much reclaimed them…
