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Pictures of Coniston

a Lake District Village in the county of Cumbria

View of Coniston from Brantwood

About Coniston

There is a timelessness about this pretty village which is set beneath the awesome splendour of "The Old Man of Coniston" towering some 2,500ft above.

The properties in the village, though not of great age are attractive and charming. Some are built from the dark local stone and others have walls that glisten with whitewash. Of the architectual features to be found in Coniston, perhaps the most handsome is a whitewashed, seven doorway terrace, right beneath the Old Man and overlooking the Church Beck's boulder-strewn waters. This terrace is said to be about 165 years old.

Apart from the infinite beauty of Coniston Water, it will be long remembered as the place where Donald Campbell died while trying to break the world water-speed record in 1967. His jet-powered Blue-Bird lost control at more than 300 m.p.h. and it is only recently that Donald Campbell's body was recovered.

Of the historic features - nearby the main street a museum pays tribute to the life and celebrated work of John Ruskin, the victorian writer, critic and social reformer. Ruskin had a profound influence on the general artistic taste of his time and he lived at his home on the far side of Coniston Water from 1871 until his death in 1900. Given the great honour of a grave in Westminster Abbey, he chose instead to buried in a quiet corner of the local churchyard and lies beneath a beautifully carved wooden cross.

Interestingly, this beautiful place was chosen by Arthur Ransome as the setting for his world famous novel Swallows and Amazons.

Coniston and the surrounding lakeland area is popular with anglers, fell walkers and climbers. People converge here for a variety of reasons at all times of the year. In the summer when the sun shines and the land is fresh and green, the beautiful scenery of the lakes is best enjoyed from the water. In the autumn and winter months, with snow clinging to the peak of The Old Man and water cascading down ridges in a series of endless waterfalls, it is then, that this picturesque place comes into its own. The dark waters of Coniston, spread out on the valley floor beneath the snow covered mountainous Old Man in a setting of unrivalled beauty is indeed Lakeland's "Jewel in the Crown" it is no wonder that this special place has long remained the haunt of many celebrated Artists.

Other lakes in the area are, Windermere, Wast Water and to the north of this great area lies Bassenthwaite Lake, Ullswater and Derwent Water. There are many enchanting towns and villages and a host of genial inns and pubs. There are a great many shops all well stocked with the requirements of modern living to locally made souvenirs.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Coniston

Tarn Hows(2.3 miles, 3.7 km, direction NE)Pictures
Grizedale Forest Park Country Park(2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction SE)Pictures
Hill Top(4.5 miles, 7.2 km, direction E)Pictures
Wray Castle(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction NE)Pictures
Hardknott Pass(5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction NW)Pictures
Hardknott Roman Fort(5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction NW)Pictures
Lake Windermere(5.9 miles, 9.4 km, direction E)Pictures
Langdale Pikes(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction N)Pictures
Windermere Steamboat Museum(6.3 miles, 10.2 km, direction E)Pictures
Dove Cottage(6.4 miles, 10.2 km, direction NE)Pictures
Blackwell - The Arts & Crafts House(6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction E)Pictures
Lake District National Park(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction N)Pictures
Eskdale(7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction W)Pictures
Stanley Force(8.0 miles, 12.8 km, direction W)Pictures
Aquarium of the Lakes, Newby Bridge(8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction SE)Pictures

All attractions in Coniston
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Recommended towns near Coniston

Torver in the county of Cumbria (2.4 miles, 3.8 km, direction SW)
The lovely village of Torver is found in rich countryside beside Coniston Water in England's Lake District National Park.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hawkshead in the county of Cumbria (3.1 miles, 4.9 km, direction E)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Little Langdale in the county of Cumbria (3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction N)
Little Langdale is a delightful hamlet in a hauntingly beautiful area lying above the Furness Fells.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Elterwater in the county of Cumbria (4.6 miles, 7.5 km, direction N)
Elterwater is barely 200ft above sea level, it is picturesquely set beneath the glories of the Langdale Pikes
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hall Dunnerdale in the county of Cumbria (5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction W)
Scenery does not come much finer than the scenic beauty surrounding the Valley of the River Duddon where you will find the delightful hamlet of Hall Dunnerdale.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Ambleside in the county of Cumbria (6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction NE)
Ambleside, meaning "Shieling" or summer pasture by the riverbank, lies next to the northern shore of Lake Windermere. A busy victorian town ideal as a base when visiting the Lake District
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Grasmere in the county of Cumbria (6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction N)
This tiny stone village is beautifully set between the tranquil waters of Grasmere Lake and the jagged heights of Helm Crag and Nab Scar
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bowness on Windermere in the county of Cumbria (6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction E)
This is the principal resort on Lake Windermere, it is a town crammed with quaint narrow streets jammed full of summer tourists which sprawls along the shores of the lake somewhere between Waterhead and Lakeside.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Broughton Mills in the county of Cumbria (6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction SW)
It offers a panorama of superb views in all directions, and is certainly one of the most magnificent walking areas close to the western fringe of the Lake District National Park.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Windermere in the county of Cumbria (7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction E)
Lake Windermere is England's largest lake, and one of it's most popular with visitors. It is 10.5 miles long and approx 1 mile...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Broughton-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction SW)
This attractive little place can boast of once being an important market town with a history stretching back to around the 15th and 16th centuries.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Boot in the county of Cumbria (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction W)
Boot is one of Lakeland's precious jewels, a charming stone village surrounded by towering scenery which includes two of the regions most scenic waterfalls, the Dalegarth Force and Birker Force.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Grizebeck in the county of Cumbria (8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction SW)
This is a place that is all "Morning Glory" as the sun rises over the vast sweep of the moors, nature seems at peace with herself showing an intringent range of moorland colour and newly awaken wildlife creatures, out in search of food.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Wasdale Head in the county of Cumbria (9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction NW)
Vast, lonely landscape of towering fells, jewel like streams and tarns situated at the head of the Wasdale Valley with the mighty Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain and Great Gable forming an almost uniformity range of mountains in the distance.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Eskdale Green in the county of Cumbria (9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction W)
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All towns in Cumbria
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Windermere Station(7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction E)
Foxfield Station(9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction SW)
M6 Junction 36(17.2 miles, 27.7 km, direction SE)
M6 Junction 37(18.5 miles, 29.8 km, direction E)
Blackpool Airport(41.1 miles, 66.2 km, direction S)
Isle of Man Airport(65.8 miles, 105.9 km, direction W)
Coniston to London(233.0 miles, 374.9 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Coniston

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Coniston center
Waterhead Hotel(0.6 miles, 0.9 km)
Red Lion Inn(3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction E)
Sun Inn(3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction E)
Langdale Classic Hotel & Country Club(4.9 miles, 7.9 km, direction N)
New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction N)
Lake House(5.9 miles, 9.4 km, direction NE)
Regent By The Lake(5.9 miles, 9.4 km, direction NE)
Cherry Garth(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction NE)
Lakes Lodge(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction NE)
Churchill Hotel(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Coniston


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