Coniston Village

See Also - The Grizedale Forest - Coniston Water & Mountain

Coniston Village

Set in the heart of the Lake District, Coniston village lies on the north west tip of Coniston Water, in the lea of the mighty Coniston Old man. Centered around a clear running river, the village is rooted in a history of quarrying and mining for copper, the solid, grey stone buildings being hewn from the surrounding fell and mountain. The location is perfect for outdoor pursuits, walking, cycling and water sport holidays. On all points of the compass there are trails, leafy forest paths and tracks and lake shores to explore, and you need travel very little distance to find a new and exciting landscape. The village, along with its perfect location, has attracted some notable past residents and continues to be a great favorite with holiday makers today. Ruskin lived at Brantwood. Lord Tennyson resided at Tent Lodge, which over the years also saw the likes of Collingwood, Darwin and the Holts of The White Star Shipping Line. Arthur Ransome, author of the famous Swallows and Amazons, resided in a number of the houses, where today you can still track down the places described in his children’s books. One recent name that will always be synonymous with Coniston is that of Sir Donald Cambell and the Blue Bird. A 'daring do' character, he is perhaps more remembered for the tragic accident whilst attempting to best the water speed of 300mph, where Campell's craft disintegrated It was only recently that both Donald and his craft were recovered and the legend finally laid to rest.

Shopping - Dining - Entertainment

Coniston is very much a lakeland village where, unlike some of the villages, it has not yet totally given over to a host souvenir shops, boutiques and imported far eastern interior bling. However, there are a fair share of lamp fittings, clock faces etc, each stuck into shards of the Old Man, and designed to grace your mantelpiece, so be warned and exercise your better taste. What Coniston does have is a small but good selection of shops ranging from butcher, baker, grocer and chemist, along with outdoor clothing stores such as Coniston Outdoor & Country wear and the ever reliable and professional Summitreks on Yewdale Road. For dining and a decent pint there are a number of hotels and inns. Perhaps the best known is the Black Bull, at the heart of the village by the river. The oldest inn, it serves hearty pub grub and the the finest local brew, Coniston Gold, and has often been a welcome stop for me after a day on the mountain or lake. Across the water on the east shore is the Jumping Jenny Restaurant at Brantwood, fully licenced, serving delicious meals all day. Back to the village and you can sample, the Yewdale or The Ship Inn, with its beamed ceilings, cosy fire, good food and a fine pint of real ale. There is the Sun Hotel and The Waterhead Inn, set on the banks of Coniston Water and noted for its restaurant. There are plenty of cafes and now a wine bar, Harrys, run by Harry and Faye Larkin - well we have a gondola. Popular is the Meadowdore cafe, where you can get hearty breakfasts and lunch, along with takeaways for your days trek.

Out And About - Local Walks - Activities

Locally there are a number of places to visit, even more activities, both on and off the water, and endless hours of glorious walks, treks and climbs. In the village is the Ruskin Museum, charting the history of Coniston from the early prehistory era to the jet age. At Brantwood House, home of John Ruskin, you can see an exhibition of Ruskin's life and work. A pleasing way to get there is by launch from the village. For the adventurous there is a host of activities on offer. Summit Treks, run by Ron Rutland, will take you rock climbing, abseiling, aquasailing, canoeing and mountain biking. Similar are Joint Adventures, or you may like to try some avian pursuits, taking to the air with Coniston Paragliding. At the Coniston Boating Centre you can hire all manner of craft from sailing boats to canoes, windsurfers to little motor boats, all there for you to have fun mucking about in and on the water. Finally, over in the Grizedale Forest, you have Go Ape, a great adventure, swinging, scrambling and zip wiring through the forest canopy. More gentle is a trip on the lake. The Lake Cruise and Ferry Service offer regular daily sailings covering the whole of the lake, calling at seven jetties. Ideal for those visiting Brantwood, also as water taxi to walk start points - walks leaflets available, or for those that just want to relax and enjoy the scenery. For a very special trip there is The Steam Yacht ‘Gondola’. An elegant craft, beautifully restored and is truly Queen of the Lake. Gondola runs from Coniston Pier to Brantwood, a trip of about forty five minutes. It is possible to hire the craft for private parties such as anniversaries where, if well organised, relive and elegant past. Fishing is open to all with a rod license. You may fish from any of the public shores and more information can be obtained from the Coniston TIC. The lake is abundant with trout, eel, perch and huge pike. The lads at the Coniston Boating Centre seem very helpful and I am sure boat fishing can be arranged. Walking - for me Coniston is one of, if not the the best base for simply getting out and about, exploring the fells, mountains, water and forest. There are plenty of local guides available, well worth buying in order to get the very best from this area of great natural beauty. From the village, by the bridge, a path takes you deep into the old Coppermines Valley, with its beck and waterfalls. From the head of the valley you carry on to discover hidden tarns set in the lower slopes of the Mountain. The Old Man, standing at 2635 feet is the king of the Coniston Mountain Range. Paths lead to the summit, where the view is spectacular. Even if you only go some of the way you will have a wonderful experience. There are trails taking in low fell and lake shore, where you can pick up ferries and launches as part of your hike. Running from the east shores of the lake is the Grizedale Forest. A massive working woodland, it is criss crossed with paths and tracks for walking and mountain biking. The Forest is big into arts, commissioning fabulous statues and installations throughout the forest. It is well worth driving, via Hawkshead, around to the visitor centre, for a forest map and information to get the best from your day out. With so much, with even more only short drives away, such as little Tarn Hows, Windermere, the Langdales and the Duddon, your holiday will be full of memorable moments.