Coniston is a village in the south of the Lake District, between Coniston Water and the Old Man of Coniston. It developed around the copper and slate-mining industries, but began to gain popularity as a tourist destination in Victorian times thanks to the opening of the Furness Railway. Connections with art critic John Ruskin, author Arthur Ransome, and world water speed record breaker Donald Campbell boosted the profile of the village.
Attractions
The Old Man of Coniston overlooks the village and it was from this mountain, and some of the adjacent fells, that copper was mined and slate quarried. The slopes still bear the scars of industry, but at over 2,600 feet it offers great views of Dow Crag, Coniston Water, Morecambe Bay, and even Winter Hill.
Coniston Water, just east of the village, is 5 miles long and ½ mile wide. The Monk Coniston estate lies to its north and was once owned by Beatrix Potter. The major attraction here is Tarn Hows, one of the most picturesque sights in the Lake District.
Brantwood enjoys a beautiful setting on the eastern shore of the lake and was previously the home of Victorian art critic John Ruskin. It is open to the public and is filled with his watercolours and drawings, and much of his original furniture, books and personal memorabilia. Visitors are also free to explore the 250 acre estate surrounding the house. It boasts a diverse range of environments including eight unique gardens, woodlands, lakeshore meadows, and open fell.
Grizedale Forest occupies much of the land east of Coniston Water and is managed by the Forestry Commission. The popular tourist attraction offers a wide range of facilities including the Go Ape tree top adventure course, a campsite, cycle trails (including one specifically designed for mountain bikes), waymarked walking paths, and a visitor centre with café, shop, children’s playground, and educational centre. However, the forest is perhaps most famous for its contemporary outdoor sculptures. Almost 100 have been commissioned since the programme began in the late 1970s.
Coniston Boating Centre offers a range of different crafts for hire including sailing dinghies, rowing boats, cabin cruisers, canoes and kayaks. Sailing tuition is also available. They are based at the north western end of Coniston Water, at the end of Lake Road and just a short walk from the village.
The Coniston Pier is nearby and is the main departure point for the Steam Yacht Gondola and Coniston Launch.
The Steam Yacht Gondola is an elegant vessel first launched in 1859 but now fully restored by the National Trust. Its regular cruise around the lake takes 45 minutes but passengers can break their journey at Brantwood or Monk Coniston. The walk from Monk Coniston to Tarn Hows is well worth it.
The solar-electric powered Coniston Launch offers two regular services around the lake. The Northern Service is the most frequent and is a circular cruise around the northern half of the lake, calling at the Waterhead Hotel, Torver, and Brantwood.
The Ruskin Museum in the centre of the village offers visitors the chance to explore the lives of John Ruskin, Donald Campbell, and other famous people associated with Coniston. It also contain exhibits about the geology of the area, dry stone walling, copper mining and other local industries.
Hotels and Accommodation
The Yewdale Hotel enjoys a great location on Yewdale Road in the centre of Coniston village, right next to St Andrew’s Church. Housed in a Victorian stone and slate building that was once a bank, it offers 8 en-suite rooms, a bar and restaurant.
The Black Bull Inn & Hotel is situated on the other side of the road and is the oldest pub in the village. It was built in the 16th century as a coaching inn and can count poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Donald Campbell amongst its former customers. The real ales here are produced by the Coniston Brewing Company, right next door to the pub. The Black Bull also offers bed and breakfast accommodation. 15 en-suite bedrooms are available, each with a flat screen TV, and tea/coffee making facilities.
The Sun is another pub in the village that offers accommodation. The excellent bar boasts stone walls and exposed timber beams and offers a great selection of real ales, draft lagers, and wines. An extensive beer garden offers great views of the surrounding scenery. Dogs are welcome in both the hotel and bar.
Lakeland House is a popular guest house on Tiberthwaite Avenue, opposite the village green. It offers 10 rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom and flat screen TV. Wireless broadband is available in most rooms. Services and facilities include bike storage, laundry, and an internet café.
Visitors requiring views of the lake will find the Waterhead Hotel meets their requirements. The 3-star hotel is situated on the western shore and offers 24 rooms and a restaurant.
Other places to stay include the Park Coppice Caravan Club Site and the Coniston Hall Camping Site. Both are situated on the western shore of Coniston Water. There are also two youth hostels in the area; the YHA Coniston Coppermines (situated halfway up the Old Man of Coniston) and the YHA Coniston Holly How (just north of the village).
Transport
Car
To get to Coniston by car from Ambleside simply follow the A593 for 7 miles. The shortest route from Bowness involves crossing Windermere on the ferry and then driving along the B5285 through Hawkshead.
The best place to park in the village is the Lake District National Park Authority pay-and-display car park on Ruskin Avenue (postcode LA21 8EH). The Coniston Tourist Information Centre is also here and offers brochures for local attractions, a hotel booking service, and wireless internet access.
Bus
The 505 (Coniston Rambler) runs between Windermere train station and Coniston village. Stops include the Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole, Waterhead (for Windermere Lake Cruises), Ambleside, Skelwith Fold, Hawkshead, and the Waterhead Hotel (for Coniston Launch). Another regular bus service is the X12 between Ulverston and Coniston.
Another way to reach Coniston is to take the Cross Lakes Experience. The service operates in the summer and allows visitors can plan their own journey around the Bowness, Hawkshead and Coniston areas using a combination of transport services. For example the journey from Bowness to Coniston would involve taking the Windermere Lake Cruises boat from Bowness to Ferry House, then catching a Mountain Goat minibus to Hawkshead, a Stagecoach bus to Coniston Water, and then the Coniston Launch to Coniston village.
Train
Coniston train station closed to passengers in 1958. The nearest railway station is at Windermere.
