- Accommodation
- What's On
- Things to Do
- Food and Drink
- Explore Cumbria
- Areas of Cumbria
- Towns & Villages
- Lakes of the Lake District
- Travel
- Year of the Coast
- Dark Sky Cumbria
- World Heritage Cumbria
- Access for all - Adventure for Everyone
- Historic Houses, Parks & Gardens
- Mountains and Fells
- Wainwrights
- The National Trust in the Lake District
- Cumbrian Castles
- Cumbrian Churches
- Harbours & Marinas
- Tourist Information Centres
- Areas of Cumbria
- Ideas and Inspiration
- Starring Great Britain: The Lake District, Cumbria
- Lake District, Cumbria Bucket List
- Selfie Guide
- Suggested Itineraries
- Sunny day ideas
- Rainy day ideas
- Spa Breaks
- Romantic Breaks
- Family Holidays
- Dog Friendly Holidays
- Bespoke Holidays
- The Inn Collection Group in the Lake District
- Sustainable Stays
- Caring for the environment
- Live, Work and Study in The Lake District, Cumbria
- Starring Great Britain: The Lake District, Cumbria
- Weddings
- Conferences & Event Spaces
- Prizes & Guides
- Blog
- Plan your journey
- Special Offers
Don't Miss
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
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
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
.jpg)
Search
- Accommodation
- Things to Do
- What's On
- Food & Drink
-
Towns & Villages
Accommodation
Things to Do
What's On
Food & Drink
Accommodation
Things to Do
What's On
Food & Drink
Towns & Villages
Towns & Villages
Number of results: 105
, currently showing 41 to 60.
Address
-At 5 miles long, Coniston Water is the third largest of the lakes. Arthur Ransome based his children's book Swallows and Amazons on the Lake.
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
The Coniston Fells are fronted by the rugged face of Coniston Old Man and the towering cliffs of Dow Crag. These two fine mountains are a big enough draw to spirited walkers but, add to this the stunning array of peaks stacked up behind them and…
Address
Coniston Boating Centre, Lake Rd, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8ANTelephone
017687 75753Coniston
Enjoy cruising aboard 1920's launches with solar-electric power. A unique and environmentally friendly way to enjoy beautiful Coniston Water. A personal commentary by our crew complements your experience of this wonderful area.
Facilities
Beyonk Online Booking
- Bookable Product
Address
Coniston Sports Ground, Sherpherds Bridge Ln, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8ALTelephone
01403 210406Coniston
Race the Sun is an exhilarating triathlon-style team challenge where teams of two or four bike, hike, and paddle around a stunning course in the Lake District, racing to finish between dawn and dusk. Featuring an exciting off-road cycling section…
Coniston
• Large Victorian house in Coniston Village
• Sleeps 16 guests across 6 bedrooms with 6 bathrooms
• Lake views and open fire
• Large lounge & dining room, ideal for get-togethers
• Perfect adventure base for those wanting to explore everything the…-
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
Tanglewood, Brown Howe, Coniston Water, Water Yeat, Cumbria, LA12 8DWTelephone
015394 41765Coniston Water, Water Yeat
An exceptional, luxurious 5 bedroom lake house with beautiful and stylish interior, private lake frontage on Coniston Water, 2 private jetties and jaw-dropping views throughout.
-
Address
Coniston Experience Freedom Glamping, Park Gate, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8LATelephone
015394 41555Coniston
Grab your tent and get ready to set off on your next adventure. At our Coniston Park Coppice site we welcome tent campers and can accommodate tents of up to 3mx3m (approximately a 4-person tent). Dogs are welcome too.
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…
-
Address
Old Station Car Park, Old Furness Rd, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8HUTelephone
07752205976Coniston
Ghyll Scrambling by Genuine Adventures in the Lake District is a thrilling climb up mountain streams, with jumps, slides, and stunning views, guided by experts for all skill levels.
Tourism For All
Facilities
Beyonk Online Booking
- Bookable Product
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
Covering 112 miles, and the most famous passes of the Lake District, the 4 Seasons Fred Whitton Bike Tour follows the annual sportive route but can be completed 365 days a year at your own pace. It's a fantastic opportunity for individuals, groups…
Address
Force Mills, Sattherthwaite, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8LQUlverston
Near Satterthwaite, Grizedale, Ambleside. Known locally as Force Forge. In open woodland.
Cumbria
Buses to and through Broughton:
X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.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…
-
Coniston
Explore Coniston Water - one of the Lake Districts' famous lakes and see the magnificent scenery from a Canadian Canoe. Along the way we will stop off to try a little Bushcraft. We will cover the exciting and essential skills of how to make a fire…
Facilities
Beyonk Online Booking
- Bookable Product
-
Address
Grizedale, Hawkshead, Cumbria, LA22 0QJTelephone
0300 067 4495Hawkshead
Come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer – take in Lake District landscapes, experience a whole range of contemporary art and enjoy an adventure, no matter your age!
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
The Coppermines Valley lies directly behind Coniston village cutting a deep gash between the long high ridge of the main Coniston Fells and the shapely outlying summit of Weatherlam. This impressively steep valley, as its name suggests, has been of…
-
Address
The Estate Office, The Bridge, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8HJTelephone
015394 41765Coniston
Many of our cottages are over 100 years old; and most have been sympathetically restored and refurbished to a high standard. Many have outstanding views, log fires, exposed beams, antique furniture, quality and great character
-
Address
The Coppermines Mountain Cottages, Coppermines Valley, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8HJTelephone
015394 41765Coniston
• Sleeps up to 22
• 4 inter-linking cottages, can be booked individually sleeping 4-8 or together sleeping 22
• A total of 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms
• Each cottage comes with its own hot tub - 4 hot tubs in total
• Stunning mountain location with… -
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.
