Things to do in Coniston
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Brantwood
John Ruskin (1819–1900), the Victorian polymath, philosopher and critic, was one of the great thinkers of 19th-century society, expounding views on everything from Venetian architecture to the finer points of traditional lace-making. In 1871 he purchased Brantwood and spent the next 20 years expanding and modifying the house and grounds, championing the value of traditional 'Arts and Crafts' over soulless factory-made materials.
The result is a living monument to Ruskin's aesthetic principles. Every inch of the house, from the handmade furniture through to the formal gardens, was designed according to his painstaking instructions (he even dreamt up some of the wallpape…
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Coniston Launch
A more contemporary way to get around the lake is aboard Coniston's two modern launches, which have run on solar panels since 2005. There are two routes: the Northern service calls at the Waterhead Hotel, Torver and Brantwood, while the Southern service sails to the jetties at Torver, Water Park, Lake Bank, Sunny Bank and Brantwood via Peel Island. You can break your journey and walk to the next jetty. There are between five and nine daily trips depending on the time of year.
As with the Gondola, commentated cruises on the Campbells (adult/child £11.70/5.75) and Swallows & Amazons (£12/6) are available throughout the year. Ask at the ticket office for details.
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Walking
The popular climb to the summit of the Old Man (7½ miles, four to five hours) starts at St Andrew's Church in Coniston. On a clear day the views stretch to the Cumbrian coast and Windermere. Another walk from St Andrew's Church climbs through picturesque countryside to Tarn Hows, an artificial lake backed by woods and mountains. Allow 2½ to three hours for the 5-mile walk. The tourist office has leaflets on both walks.
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Gondola
Rescued from dereliction by the NT, the steam yacht Gondola, described by the Illustrated London News as 'a perfect combination of the Venetian gondola and the English steam yacht', was launched on Coniston Water in 1859. The luxurious saloons have been completely refurbished, and the boat runs like clockwork between Brantwood and Coniston Pier.
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Ruskin Museum
Coniston's museum explores the village's history, touching on copper mining, Arthur Ransome and the Campbell story. There's also an extensive section on John Ruskin, with displays of his writings, watercolours and sketchbooks. An extension is currently being built to house Campbell's K7 boat: if it's not finished by the time you get here, you can see the boat's tail fin, air intake and engine. The museum also arranges guided walks exploring the Campbell story and the area's John Ruskin connections.
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Black Bull
Quality pub grub right in the middle of Coniston village: the Cumberland sausage is particularly noteworthy, as are the house-brewed ales, including Bluebird Bitter, Old Man Ale and Winter Warmer Blacksmiths.
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Harry's
Part wine bar, part cafe, part bistro, serving solid (if rather unstarry) steaks, pizzas, pastas and club sandwiches, along with the prodigious Harry's Big Breakfast.
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Bluebird Cafe
Perfectly placed by the Coniston jetty, the Bluebird is a fine spot for tea and cakes or a quick ice cream before hopping aboard the cross-lake launch.
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Jumping Jenny
There's an excellent café at Brantwood, the Jumping Jenny, which makes a glorious spot for afternoon tea. Both of the Coniston launches stop at Brantwood.
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Summitreks
Arranges outdoor activities and hires out walking gear, as well as kayaks and canoes.
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Coniston Boating Centre
The Coniston Boating Centre hires out rowboats, motor boats, canoes and dinghies.
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Sun Hotel
Dine under hefty beams or in a fell-view conservatory at the Sun, perched on a little hill just behind the village and famously used as an HQ by Donald Campbell during his final fateful campaign.
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Steam Yacht Gondola
Built in 1859 and restored in the 1980s by the National Trust, this wonderful steam yacht looks like a cross between a Venetian vaporetto and an English houseboat, complete with cushioned saloons and polished wood seats. It's a stately way of seeing the lake, especially if you're visiting Brantwood. There are five trips daily from mid-March to October, plus less frequent commentated Explorer cruises covering Ransome, the Campbells and Ruskin. Reduced fares are available to other points round the lake.
And don't fret about carbon emissions; since 2008 the Gondola's been running on ecofriendly waste-wood logs, cutting her carbon footprint by 90%.
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