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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 Ruskin 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
Set in the south-west of the region the Duddon Valley is remote, unspoilt and one of the most…
Nestled in the scenic English Lake District, The Crown Inn in Coniston offers a charming retreat at…
Birchbank Cottage is nestled on the fells between Coniston Water and the Duddon Estuary with many…
Generally you expect to find long rolling descents on mountain bike routes in the higher peaks and…
Medium length - Easy (28 or 36km)/Road and Cycle Track
Ghyll Scrambling by Genuine Adventures in the Lake District is a thrilling climb up mountain…
At 5 miles long, Coniston Water is the third largest of the lakes. Arthur Ransome based his…
Educational farm business, involving learning about the farm and Herdwick Sheep, including meeting…
On-site cafe/restaurant serving teas, coffees and light lunches all homemade on the premises.…
The Jack Diamond Path up Coniston Old Man is one of the few paths in the Lake District named after…
Not a light undertaking with some challenging climbing, particularly the infamous Walna Scar Road.
The myriad of slate quarries, including the famous Cathedral Cavern close to Coniston provide a…
Whatever your ability level, Grizedale is a fantastic place to get on the trail and enjoy the fresh…
Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and…
Set in a quiet corner of Western Cumbria, and with panoramic views over Duddon Sands, South…
Subberthwaite Common and the Blawith Fells lie at the southwest tip of Coniston Water. Most people…
The Millom & Broughton Agricultural Show has a long and rich history, and is one of the highlights…
• Sleeps 4 • Mountain hot tub with incredible views of Coniston Old Man • 2 bedrooms and 2…
If you want to try camping but don’t have the equipment or just don’t fancy putting up a tent then…
We have three route options for this glorious off road adventure around Coniston and the Grizedale…
Grab your tent and get ready to set off on your next adventure. At our Coniston Park Coppice site…
Each of the three roads out of Coniston village are traced for part of their route by cycle paths.…
Tarn Hows is a stunning local beauty spot, artificially made in the 19th Century by joining 3 tarns…
Buses to and through Coniston: Coniston Rambler 505 Ambleside - Hawkshead - Coniston. X12…
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Number of results: 113
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Address
Shepherds Bridge Lane, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8ALTelephone
07570982500Coniston
Join me - local guide Emma Seery - and some fellow explorers, for a group walk in the beautiful Coniston Fells.
Contact me via www.southlakesadventures.co.uk to discuss or to confirm your place now
Weather permitting we will head up the…
Address
Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EHCumbria
Most of the low fells East of Coniston Water are covered by woodland and forestry plantations. The extensive network of access tracks within the forestry has some way marked and colour-coded mountain bike routes - which are particularly ideal for…
Address
Water Park Lakeland Adventure Centre,, High Nibthwaite,, Cumbria, LA12 8DQTelephone
015394 33826High Nibthwaite,
This one-day course will give you an insight into safer swimming practices and help build practical lifesaving skills. With a nice balance of practice and theory, this will be a fun and educational experience for all involved. Our lake-side venue,…
Ulverston
Offering peace and tranquillity, enclosed in 38 acres of glorious woodland, 5 Star rated Black Beck Holiday Park is nestled in the heart of Britain's Lake District, near Bouth. Black Beck provides the perfect setting for short breaks and extended…
Cumbria
Buses to and through Broughton:
X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.Coniston
Breath-taking mountain views, a private hot tub, wrap-around gardens and a tranquil location on the outskirts of Torver, yet with all the amenities of Coniston close at hand, make Hollace the perfect choice for those looking for a spectacular…
Cumbria
Yewdale, Arnside Intake, Tarn Hows and Monk Coniston make up an intricate network of small valleys on the North side of Coniston; collectively they are widely regarded as making up some of the most romantic scenery in the Lake District. Most people…
Address
Spoon Hall, Haws Bank, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AWTelephone
015394 41391Coniston
Spoon Hall Caravans is a quiet family run farm site with beautiful views over Coniston water. Nearly 1 mile from Coniston village in a good area for walking and touring the Lakes.
Tourism For All
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, 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…
Address
Thornthwaite Farm, Thornthwaite Woodland, Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA20 6DFTelephone
01229 716340Broughton-in-Furness
Thornthwaite Farm is set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Woodland Valley. We have four cottages including our 4 star VisitEngland Gold Award barn conversion and a handbuilt Log Cabin all with stunning views of the Lakeland fells.
Tourism For All
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
Coniston Pier, Lake Road, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8ANConiston
Float back to Victorian times as you indulge in a luxurious cruise on captivating Coniston water in this exquisite steam-powered craft. You can choose from three routes: Mountain cruise, Heart of the Lake cruise or the Full Lake cruise.
Address
Yewfield Guesthouse, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0PRTelephone
07783881461Ambleside
2026 Spring Women's Wellness
Nature Retreat
April 16th - 19th 2026
A 3 night Lakeland escape in luxury accommodation with stunning views
Relax, reflect and revitalise with us at Yewfield, a very special retreat centre in a peaceful and quiet corner…Torver
• Sleeps 4,
• Luxury cottage rated 5 Star Gold by Visit England
• Private hot tub with open countryside views
• Up to 2 dogs welcome
• Stunning, luxurious interior
• Wifi
• Walks from the door including The Old Man of Coniston
• Wood-burning…Address
Grizedale, AMBLESIDE, Cumbria, LA22 0QJTelephone
0300 067 4495AMBLESIDE
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) – please pay on exit.
Address
Grizedale Forest Visitor Centre, Grizedale, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QJTelephone
0300 067 4495Ambleside
Breath-taking views, stunning artwork and forest trails, come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer!
Starting from the visitor centre, the Wood Moss Tarn route is about 5.5 miles (just under 9km) long and explores some of the quieter areas…
Address
Hawkshead Hill, AMBLESIDE, Cumbria, LA22 0PPAMBLESIDE
Car park with 15 spaces. Good for walking and cycling trails.
Address
Lake Road, CONISTON, Cumbria, LA21 8EWCONISTON
Coniston Boating Centre Car Park is on the western shore of Coniston Water and is easily reached from the village centre. Follow the brown signs for 'Gondola'.
Address
Grizedale, Cumbria, LA22 0QQGrizedale
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) – please pay on exit.
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