Things to do in Coniston…

Coniston is a quaint little village on the lakeshore of Coniston Water, renowned for the craggy mountain The Old Man of Coniston that rises over the village the centre. It may be a small town, but there are plenty of things to do here.

  • Water sports and boat tours

Coniston is on the shores of Coniston Water, providing endless opportunities for water sports including kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and boat hire. Coniston Boating Centre is an ideal place to get involved with activities on the lake including equipment hire and motorboat hire. If you want a more relaxed experience, Coniston Launch and the Stream Yacht Gondola also set sail from the boating centre, stopping along the lake at Brantwood and other jetties.

  • Mountain Walking

Coniston is surrounded by the stunning Coniston Fells; using the village as a base, you can set off and explore the popular Old Man of Coniston, along with fellow Wainwrights Dow Crag, Brim Fell, Grey Friar, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Wetherlam. If you’re feeling brave, you could complete the ‘Coniston 7’ is one round over a 13 mile hike.

  • Cycling and Mountain biking

Due to the small scale of the village, exploring Coniston by bike is often an easier way to get around compared to driving and much more environmentally friendly too. Whether you want a bike to simply explore the village or you want a muddy adventure in the mountains, bikes are available to hire at Coniston Boating Centre. The centre charges an adult £25 for 4 hours or £35 for the full day. Children can also hire smaller bikes at a charge of £15 for 4 hours or £20 for the full day. Helmets and a spare inner tube are provided in with the price.

  • Brantwood House

Brantwood House is the historical Lakeland home and estate of John Ruskin situated on the shores of Coniston Water. Ruskin was a poet, artist, critic and a social revolutionary and conservationist and bought the home in 1871, adding his own features including the famous turret on the southwest corner. The house is now owned by the Brantwood Trust who display a large collection of Ruskin’s watercolours and drawings in the house for the public to see. The estate also has 250 acres of land with splendid, extensive gardens, woodland and cascading streams to explore.

  • Ruskin Museum

Set in the heart of Coniston Village, the Ruskin Museum was founded in 1901 originally to commemorate the famous Victorian polymath John Ruskin who lived on the shores of Coniston. The museum now also covers the history of Coniston itself and influential people, alongside Ruskin, who have lived and worked in the village including World War One hero Lance Corporal James Hewitson, World Water and Land Speed Record holders Donald Campbell and his father Malcolm and many more historic figures who have contributed to the area.

  • Coniston Copper Mines

Dating back to the 16th century, remains of Coniston’s copper mining industry are scattered around the Coppermines Valley above Coniston Water. A hike through the valley will explore the areas geology, how the copper mining industry developed and delves into the lives of the miners and their families who lived and worked here. Learning resources are available on the Lake Districts official website on how to hike a self guided tour of the copper mines including downloadable leaflets to take with you so you can learn about the history and identify the kind of remains you are looking at.

  • Tarn Hows 

Tarn Hows is a stunning area of tarns and woodland around 2 miles away from Coniston village. It is one of the most visited spots in the Lake District and rightly so; a walk around this beauty spot is a must when visiting Coniston. The landscape is made up of three tarns joined together in the 19th century and surrounded by thick woodland and views of the Helvellyn range and the Langdale Pikes. The area was a beloved place of famous author Beatrix Potter who once owned the land before passing it on to the National Trust.