Welcome To Coniston
Introduction To Coniston
Coniston village is located in the south of the Lake District National Park. This rural village is sandwiched between the massive Coniston lake which is 8km long and just under 1 km and the famous wainwright the Old Man Of Coniston which towers over the village. The group of fells surrounding Coniston village are the southern most in the Lake District. There are shops, pubs and places to eat and stay in the village one of the most notable feature of Coniston is the mining history and all the slate quarries scattered around the fells.
Things To Do In Coniston
Old Man Of Coniston
The old man of Coniston is one of the Lake District wainwrights and it stands at 802m, This Lakeland fell is a must do if you are a keen walker. The mountain towers over Coniston village in which you can start this epic hike.
Tarns hows is a tarn located in a scenic location nesseled in the Lakeland fells, the area allows for many walks for all levels of fitness including a the wainwright Black fell.​
Steam Yacht Gondola
The Steam yacht Gondola is a rebuilt Victorian steam powered boat in which you can get tour across Coniston water. This is great for a relaxing day were you can take in the scenic landscape.
Hodge Close is a Quarry with rich history of Coniston slate mining. There are other mining caves scattered around the area hodge close is particularly popular with divers and an interesting location to explore.
The Langdales is arguably the most picturesque location within the Lake Distirct National Park. just a short drive from Coniston this rural area has lots to offer from some of the most popular fells in the Lakes to amazing swim spots with views and majestic waterfalls.
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Coniston Water
Coniston water is a large lake located just underneath Coniston village, on Coniston water you are able to do so many different water activities such as swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding. There is an island on Coniston water in which you can explore.
Places To Stay In Coniston
Coniston is a stunning village located in the south of the Lake District National Park. Coniston is an amazing adventure base as it is surrounded by lakeland fells and the stunning Coniston water. Coniston has many different types of accommodation in many different areas around the town such as lakeside properties of stunning fell views properties.
Visit the link to find your desired property and your desired location in Coniston for your wonderful stay in one of the Lake Districts greatest locations.
Walks In Coniston
Coniston is a very popular area in the Lake District with plenty of people passing by and staying every day. The Lake District is one of the best places in the UK for adventurous activities hiking being one of them. Coniston is surrounded by rolling hills and fells with dramatic scenery and is home to some of the most popular walks in the Lake District. There is a variety of walks around Coniston varying in difficulty and length to suit beginner hikers and more experienced hikers. Below are some of the breath taking walks within the Coniston area that the Lake District has to offer.
Coniston Hiking Trails
1. The Old Man Of Coniston Circular
Distance - 6 km
Time - 2.30 h
Elevation - 577 m
Difficulty - Moderate
This walk up Old Man Of Coniston starts at the Walna Scar Road car park, the trail heads along the track before making a steep climb up the rough path to the summit of the Old Man. Once on the summit you head down a different way towards the tarn underneath the summit. Along the way back you will come across a few caves and old slate mining buildings. Find this route here
2. Tarn Hows Circular
Distance - 3.2 km
Time - 1 h
Elevation - 192 m
Difficulty - Easy
This low level walk around Tarn Hows is suitable for a type of walkers and perfect for families. Tarn Hows is in a rural area and provides sensational views in all directions of the Lake District fells. You are able to extend this walk and hike up the wainwright Black Fell. Find this route here
3. Langdale Pike Circular
Distance - 10.8 km
Time - 4 30 m
Elevation - 786 m
Difficulty - Hard
This walk in the scenic Langdale pikes will cover 7 of the Lake Distircts wainwrights, Blea Rigg, Sergeant Man, Thunacar Knott, Pavy Ark, Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle, and Loft Crag. The start of the route to the top of Blea Rigg is a little hard to navigate up when walking up the rocky boulders as there is no set route. From this point there is a clear path between all other wainwrights on this large plateau area with its prominent peaks. The views from peak to peaks are sensational Find this route here
4. Hodge Close and Cathedral Caves
Distance - 5.1 km
Time - 1 30 h
Elevation - 182 m
Difficulty - Easy
This low level walk from Hodge close to Catherdal caves is perfect for exploring the interesting caves and quarries of Coniston. When walking between these two amazing locations you will get varied scenery and terrain from woodlands, farm fields and the famous packhorse bridge. Find this route here
5. Holme Fell
Distance - 6.1 km
Time - 2 h
Elevation - 288 m
Difficulty - Easy
Holme fell is just a small wainwright in the Lake District, this is a short walk and perfect for beginner hikers This route goes up through woodlands until you make it up high near the summit when the terrain gets quite rocky and full of purple heather if in the autumn season. You have very good views of the much larger fells in the immediate area from the top of Holme fell. Find this route here
Coniston History
Coniston is historically most famous for its copper and slate mines, although they are not active they are still scattered across the area and to this day tourists can still explore these quarries and caves. The year 1590 is when the copper mining at Coniston began. In the early stages of mining the tunnels were broken out of the rocks by hand, the tunnels were only large enough to fir one person in and they gained the name coffin tunnels.
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When Gunpowder was discovered more than 1000 years later in the 17th century the process of copper mining increased in speed drastically with the depth of the mining now reaching 90m Gunpowder was later replaced by dynamite in the late 18th century. The miners used to extract the copper from the mines by wheel barrow and carts until the 18th when they started to use wagons as an easy method of transporting the Mineral.
How To Get To Coniston
There is a vast amount of people who visit Coniston every year however Coniston is fairly restricted due to its rural area. Coniston is located in the south of the Lake District and is connected to Ambleside via the A593. The easiest transport option to get to Coniston from within the Lake District is by car.
1. Train To Coniston
The Train closest to Coniston ends in Windermere. There is no train station at Coniston however from Windermere train station it is only a 30 minute drive to Coniston in which you could get a taxi or the 505 bus. The train which terminates at Windermere line runs directly to Manchester airport this is as far south the trainline travels without changes.
2. Car To Coniston
Coniston is fairly accessible by car, most likely tourists would be taking the m6 north or south bound to the Lake District. If coming from the north you would then join the A66 then onto the A591 which connects Keswick to Kendal right through the centre of the Lake District. when you get to Ambleside you would then take the A593 to Coniston. If coming from the south you would join the A590 then follow onto the A591 until you reach Ambleside then take the A593 to Coniston. The time it will take will vary depending on your Location.
3. Bus To Coniston
The buses in the Lake District are fairly efficient and priced. By bus you would ultimately by taking the 505 bus to Coniston as this is the only bus which travels to Coniston. The 505 bus connect Kendal to Coniston via Windermere and Ambleside. If traveling from the North of the Lake District you would need to take the X4 or X5 bus to Keswick then from Keswick catch the 555 bus to Ambleside then the 505 to Coniston.
4. Ferry To Coniston
If travelling to Coniston by ferry you will most likely be coming from Isle Of Man, Northern Ireland or Ireland. From Isle of Man you would arrive in Heysham port and drive from Heysham to Coniston which is approximately a 1 hour and 30 min long journey. If travelling from Northern Ireland or Ireland you would catch a ferry to Liverpool which is then approximately a 2 hour 10 minute drive.
5. Flight To Coniston
The nearest airport to Coniston is Manchester airport, from Manchester airport you can get a direct train straight to Windermere and then travel by road 30 minutes to Coniston or drive from Manchester airport which is approximately a 2 hour drive.