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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
• Sleeps 4 • Mountain hot tub with incredible views of Coniston Old Man • 2 bedrooms and 2…
Enjoy cruising aboard our launches around beautiful Coniston Water. A personal commentary by our…
Coniston used to have its own railway line with a terminus station in the village just up from the…
Buses to and through Broughton: X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.
An exceptional, luxurious 5 bedroom lake house with beautiful and stylish interior, private lake…
Thornthwaite Farm is set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Woodland Valley. We have four…
Generally you expect to find long rolling descents on mountain bike routes in the higher peaks and…
We train people to undertake expeditions, and also run expeditions across the UK, but mostly in the…
Most of the low fells east of Coniston Water are covered by woodland and forestry plantations. The…
Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and…
Buses to and through Coniston: Coniston Rambler 505 Ambleside - Hawkshead - Coniston. X12…
Medium length - Easy (28 or 36km)/Road and Cycle Track
The North Face trail is a single track trail designed for experienced mountain bikers with better…
Series of matinee piano recitals showcasing talented concert pianists in the exquisite venue of…
• Sleeps 4, • Luxury cottage rated 5 Star Gold by Visit England • Private hot tub with open…
• Sleeps up to 16 • 3 inter-linking cottages, can be booked individually sleeping 2-8 or together…
Race the Sun is an exhilarating triathlon-style team challenge where teams of two or four bike,…
Covering 112 miles, and the most famous passes of the Lake District, the 4 Seasons Fred Whitton…
Springbank Cottage is a luxury, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage in the popular village of Coniston.…
Educational farm business, involving learning about the farm and Herdwick Sheep, including meeting…
Spoon Hall Caravans is a quiet family run farm site with beautiful views over Coniston water.…
Backed by low fells and woodland, the western shore of Coniston Water is a delightful place for a…
Enjoy cruising aboard 1920's launches with solar-electric power. A unique and environmentally…
The Yewdale Inn is a traditional British pub located in the picturesque village of Coniston. Enjoy…
• Sleeps 4 • Mountain hot tub with incredible views of Coniston Old Man • 2 bedrooms and 2…
Enjoy cruising aboard our launches around beautiful Coniston Water. A personal commentary by our…
Coniston used to have its own railway line with a terminus station in the village just up from the…
Buses to and through Broughton: X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.
An exceptional, luxurious 5 bedroom lake house with beautiful and stylish interior, private lake…
Thornthwaite Farm is set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Woodland Valley. We have four…
Buses to and through Broughton: X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.
An exceptional, luxurious 5 bedroom lake house with beautiful and stylish interior, private lake…
Thornthwaite Farm is set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Woodland Valley. We have four…
Generally you expect to find long rolling descents on mountain bike routes in the higher peaks and…
We train people to undertake expeditions, and also run expeditions across the UK, but mostly in the…
Most of the low fells east of Coniston Water are covered by woodland and forestry plantations. The…
Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and…
Buses to and through Coniston: Coniston Rambler 505 Ambleside - Hawkshead - Coniston. X12…
Medium length - Easy (28 or 36km)/Road and Cycle Track
The North Face trail is a single track trail designed for experienced mountain bikers with better…
Series of matinee piano recitals showcasing talented concert pianists in the exquisite venue of…
• Sleeps 4, • Luxury cottage rated 5 Star Gold by Visit England • Private hot tub with open…
• Sleeps up to 16 • 3 inter-linking cottages, can be booked individually sleeping 2-8 or together…
Race the Sun is an exhilarating triathlon-style team challenge where teams of two or four bike,…
Covering 112 miles, and the most famous passes of the Lake District, the 4 Seasons Fred Whitton…
Springbank Cottage is a luxury, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage in the popular village of Coniston.…
Educational farm business, involving learning about the farm and Herdwick Sheep, including meeting…
Spoon Hall Caravans is a quiet family run farm site with beautiful views over Coniston water.…
Backed by low fells and woodland, the western shore of Coniston Water is a delightful place for a…
Enjoy cruising aboard 1920's launches with solar-electric power. A unique and environmentally…
The Yewdale Inn is a traditional British pub located in the picturesque village of Coniston. Enjoy…
• Sleeps 4 • Mountain hot tub with incredible views of Coniston Old Man • 2 bedrooms and 2…
Enjoy cruising aboard our launches around beautiful Coniston Water. A personal commentary by our…
Coniston used to have its own railway line with a terminus station in the village just up from the…
Show More
Prev
- 1Buses to and through Broughton
- 2Tanglewood
- 3Thornthwaite Farm Holiday Cottages & Glamping Cabins
- 4Tour of Tilberthwaite and Tarn Hows
- 5The Expedition Club
- 6Grizedale Forest and Parkamoor
- 7Brantwood, Home of John Ruskin
- 8Buses to and through Coniston
- 9Coniston Water & Subberthwaite Common
- 10Grizedale Mountain Biking Trails
- 11Piano recital series "Through the Winter"
- 12Cragg Cottage, Torver, near Coniston
- 13The Bridge Cottages, Coniston
- 14Race the Sun Lake District Coniston Off-Road
- 154 Seasons Fred Whitton - 4 Day Tour
- 16Springbank Cottage
- 17Herdwick Experience at Yew Tree Farm
- 18Spoon Hall Caravans
- 19Western Shore of Coniston Water
- 20Coniston Launch Boat Trips and Tours
- 21The Yewdale Inn
- 22Slater Bob's, Coppermines Valley, Coniston
- 23Coniston Launch Co.
- 24Tour of Coniston Water & the Torver Trail
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Towns & Villages
Number of results: 105
, currently showing 61 to 80.
Address
John Ruskin School, Lake Road, Coniston, Cunbria, LA21 8EWTelephone
+447884490810Coniston
Road race
Coniston
Scrambling is an outdoor adventure experience that sits half way between hill walking and rock climbing, it is a great way to ascend a mountain taking on the challenge of using your hands and feet to climb steeper sections of rocky terrain. As the…
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Address
Various Locations, The Lake District, CumbriaTelephone
07967 630956The Lake District
We train people to undertake expeditions, and also run expeditions across the UK, but mostly in the wilder corners of Great Britain. All expeditions are led by highly experienced, qualified and insured instructors.
Address
Blind Lane Car Park, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8LQTelephone
+447852162142Ulverston
A 3-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, tasting wild ingredients and a wild snack near Windermere.
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
Coniston used to have its own railway line with a terminus station in the village just up from the Sun Hotel. It was connected to the Furness Railway at Foxfield but sadly it was abandoned in 1958. The track bed has since then been unused (apart…
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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
Explore Coniston Water - one of the Lake District's famous lakes and see the magnificent scenery from a Canadian Canoe. We'll tailor the day to suit your group - whether it’s a fun day of games, exploring the lake and splashing with the whole family…
Facilities
Beyonk Online Booking
- Bookable Product
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
Each of the three roads out of Coniston village are traced for part of their route by cycle paths. They offer traffic free cycling along easy travel tracks passing through some very pleasant landscape. The one alongside the A593 Ambleside Road and…
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
It's hard to imagine visiting Coniston without climbing Coniston Old Man. It hangs over the village like the Matterhorn hangs over Zermatt. Smaller of course, but in the same way it is an integral part of the landscape. Most people attempt it via…
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…
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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.
Coniston
The Lakeland 100 'Ultra Tour of the Lake District' is the most spectacular long distance trail race which has ever taken place within the UK. The circular route encompasses the whole of the lakeland fells, includes in the region of 6300m of ascent…
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Address
Crown Inn, Coniston, Tilberthwaite Ave, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EDTelephone
01539441243Coniston
The team at The Crown Inn takes great pride in the food we prepare; serving fulfilling dishes made with the freshest, Cumbrian produce.
Tourism For All
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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
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
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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Coniston
Do you want to learn what to do when the mist comes down and how to accurately take and follow a compass bearing? Come on our intermediate navigation course to find out.
Cumbria
Most of the low fells east of Coniston Water are covered by woodland and forestry plantations. The extensive network of access tracks within the forest has some way marked and colour-coded mountain bike routes - which are particularly ideal for…
Address
Glen Mary Bridge Car Park, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8DPTelephone
+447852162142Coniston
A 5-hour course with a foraging expert, which includes ID work, tasting wild ingredients and a wild-inspired feast near Coniston.
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Address
The Coniston Inn, Hawkshead Old Rd, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AJTelephone
015394 93333Coniston
Located on the shores of Coniston Water with sensational lake and fell views, this classic Lakeland slate building has undergone an exciting restoration to create a stunning pub with rooms. Open all day, every day for food, drinks and rooms.
Tourism For All
