Coniston

Coniston is situated in the south of the Lake District, between Coniston Water and the Old Man of Coniston. The village developed around the copper and slate-mining industries, but gained popularity as a tourist location in Victorian times thanks to the opening of the Furness Railway. Donald Campbell’s numerous attempts to break the world water speed record also boosted the profile of the town.

The Coniston Tourist Information Centre is a great place to get advice and stock up on leaflets and guides.

Hotels

Name	Notes	Normal Rate	Jul 21	Jul 22	Jul 23
Black Bull Hotel	Famous patrons have included Turner, Coleridge and Donald Campbell.	Call for rates and availability
Royal Oak Inn, Spark Bridge	Historic pub in the Crake Valley.	£65.00	Full	Full	Full
Sun Hotel	Great views of the Old Man.	Call for rates and availability
Waterhead Hotel	At the northern end of Coniston Water.	£114.00	£90.00 (save 21%)	£90.00 (save 21%)	£90.00 (save 21%)

Attractions & Activities

Name	Notes
Brantwood	The finest country house in the Lake District.
Coniston Boating Centre	Boat, canoe and kayak hire.
Coniston Launch	Cruises around the lake on solar-electric launches.
Coniston Water	Third largest lake in the Lake District.
Old Man of Coniston	Highest mountain in the Furness Fells.
Ruskin Museum	Small museum exploring the area’s history and heritage.
Steam Yacht Gondola	Tours of Coniston Water on a reconstructed Victorian yacht.

Restaurants, Pubs, Bars & Cafes

Name	Type	Location	Map	Notes
Black Bull Hotel	Pub	1 Yewdale Road	[View Map]	Large pub in the centre of Coniston. Home to the Coniston Brewery and offers their full range of beers (Bluebird etc.) plus guests. Pub food and accommodation also available.
Bluebird Café	Café	Lake Road	[View Map]	Lakeside café name after Donald Campbell’s boat. Fantastic views of Coniston Water. Offers soup, hot snacks, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, tea, coffee, beer and wine. Next to Coniston Pier (for Coniston Launch and Gondola).
Jumping Jenny	Café	Brantwood	[View Map]	Family-run café in the grounds of Brantwood. Best way to arrive is on the Gondola or Coniston Launch. Offers a great terrace with fantastic views of the lake. Offers sandwiches, cakes, baked goods, soups tea, coffee and a small selection of hot meals.
Sun Hotel	Pub	Brow Hill	[View Map]	400-year old pub with plenty of period features, and pleasant outdoor seating area. Real ales on tap include Coniston Bluebird and Hawkshead Bitter. Also offers hotel accommodation.

Review / Comment / Additional Information

John Ruskin is buried in St Andrew's Church, Coniston. Donald Campbell is also buried in the village.