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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.
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.
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?
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The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
Number of results: 115
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CONISTON
Free parking area with space for around 25. There is a donation box for the Lake District National Park Authority located at the car park.
Tilberthwaite Ghyll car park is a large layby close to Tilberthwaite Farm. The parking area is accessed via a…
AMBLESIDE
Car park with 15 spaces. Good for walking and cycling trails.
CONISTON
Pay by mobile phone reference: 7250 - https://paybyphone.co.uk/. You can also pay by credit card as well as in cash.
AMBLESIDE
A Pay on Exit system operates in the main car park.
CONISTON
The Lake District National Park Authority manage car parks around the National Park, as do the National Trust and local councils. There are also free smaller car parks in more remote areas. Monk Coniston car park is on the shore of Coniston Water at…
CONISTON
Electric bike charging point, located at Coniston Boating Centre.
CONISTON
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'.
Grizedale
Car park with 15 spaces. From Grizedale Visitor Centre head south on the minor road to Satterthwaite. First turning on the left about 1 mile south of the Visitor Centre.
Ambleside
Breath-taking views, stunning artwork and forest trails, come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer! Wood Moss Tarn route is about 5.5 miles or just under 9km long, heading south from the visitor centre and passing the Wood Moss Tarn, before…
Coniston
Located in the car park on the lake shore of Coniston Water. Postcode: LA21 8EW.
CONISTON
With 250 spaces and only £6 for the whole day, enjoy time in Coniston and the surrounding area knowing that there will be somewhere to park when you arrive and no penalty notice when you get back – however late that might be!
Grizedale
Pay on Exit. Good for walking and cycling trails through Grizedale.
Coniston
There's something for everyone at Coniston Boating Centre, both on and off the water. You can hire motor boats, rowing boats, sailing dinghies, canoes and paddleboards to explore the lake in a style that suits you. We have a wheelchair-accessible…
ULVERSTON
Pay & Display car park with 30 spaces.
Public toilets adjacent to the car park.
Ambleside
The Tramper mobility scooter is free to use and helps to improve access for all at Tarn Hows.Part of our commitment to make more of these beautiful places accessible to those who are less physically able. You don’t have to be registered disabled or…
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