Joanna’s guidebook
Food scene
pubs, cafes and restaurants in and around Coniston
Great cafe in the village serving tea, coffee, a selection of freshly baked homemade cakes, light lunches, and hearty meals.
Open 10 AM to 5 PM
Very dog friendly. Owned by Yew tree farm at the head of the valley so most of the meat is sourced from the farm.
Herdwicks Cafe
Yewdale RoadGreat cafe in the village serving tea, coffee, a selection of freshly baked homemade cakes, light lunches, and hearty meals.
Open 10 AM to 5 PM
Very dog friendly. Owned by Yew tree farm at the head of the valley so most of the meat is sourced from the farm.
One of 5 pubs in the village which has been a coaching Inn for 400 years.
Plenty of outside seating as well as a traditional Bar, with exposed stone walls, oak beams, cosy log burning stove and comfortable chairs, fixed seating and tables.
The pub is the home of the microbrewery Coniston Brewery. They brew their own beer: Bluebird Bitter and Old Man Ale.
Open 10AM to 11 PM
Dog friendly
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Black Bull
1 Yewdale RdOne of 5 pubs in the village which has been a coaching Inn for 400 years.
Plenty of outside seating as well as a traditional Bar, with exposed stone walls, oak beams, cosy log burning stove and comfortable chairs, fixed seating and tables.
The pub is the home of the microbrewery Coniston Brewery. They brew their own beer: Bluebird Bitter and Old Man Ale.
Open 10AM to 11 PM
Dog friendly
One of 5 pubs in the village. Encompasses an eat in or takeaway Pizzeria.
Open 12 to 11 PM, 11 -11 at weekends.
Dog friendly
Yewdale Inn
2 Yewdale RdOne of 5 pubs in the village. Encompasses an eat in or takeaway Pizzeria.
Open 12 to 11 PM, 11 -11 at weekends.
Dog friendly
Saras is an Indian restaurant and takeaway. Vegetarian & Vegan options.
They don't have an alcohol license but you can take your own, they do not charge corkage.
Cash only.
Open 5.30 - 11 PM
8 personas locales recomiendan
Sara's Indian
4 Yewdale RdSaras is an Indian restaurant and takeaway. Vegetarian & Vegan options.
They don't have an alcohol license but you can take your own, they do not charge corkage.
Cash only.
Open 5.30 - 11 PM
The Crown is a Robinson's pub. The bar is large but there is also a dining room and a large seating area outside.
Good menu using fresh local produce. Pies particularly good. Limited vegetarian and vegan options.
The Crown Inn
Tilberthwaite AvenueThe Crown is a Robinson's pub. The bar is large but there is also a dining room and a large seating area outside.
Good menu using fresh local produce. Pies particularly good. Limited vegetarian and vegan options.
Situated on the shores of Coniston Water, The Bluebird Café's location is fantastic. Next to the Boating Centre and the ferry launch.
Freshly prepared food, homemade cakes, ice cream, delicious smoothies & shakes. Dog friendly.
https://thebluebirdcafe.co.uk/
27 personas locales recomiendan
The Bluebird Café by the Lake
12 Lake RdSituated on the shores of Coniston Water, The Bluebird Café's location is fantastic. Next to the Boating Centre and the ferry launch.
Freshly prepared food, homemade cakes, ice cream, delicious smoothies & shakes. Dog friendly.
https://thebluebirdcafe.co.uk/
Excellent food for a special treat. Booking advised.
https://drunkenduckinn.co.uk/
50 personas locales recomiendan
The Drunken Duck Inn & Restaurant
Excellent food for a special treat. Booking advised.
https://drunkenduckinn.co.uk/
The Britannia Inn is nestled in the breath taking Langdale Valley with scenic views and seasonal pub dining both inside and in the garden.
Great starting point or welcome end to a walk.
https://www.thebritanniainn.com/
17 personas locales recomiendan
Britannia Inn
Main StreetThe Britannia Inn is nestled in the breath taking Langdale Valley with scenic views and seasonal pub dining both inside and in the garden.
Great starting point or welcome end to a walk.
https://www.thebritanniainn.com/
The Terrace at Brantwood is situated in the former coach house. Sit outside to enjoy spectacular views across the lake to the mountains. Combine with a visit to the house and a trip on the Coniston Launch or Gondolier.
They serve seasonal dishes including hot lunches, salads and specials. Cakes, scones and savoury baked goods are available all day, alongside barista coffee and tea. The lunch menu is available from 12 until 3pm.
https://www.brantwood.org.uk/theterrace/
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Brantwood
The Terrace at Brantwood is situated in the former coach house. Sit outside to enjoy spectacular views across the lake to the mountains. Combine with a visit to the house and a trip on the Coniston Launch or Gondolier.
They serve seasonal dishes including hot lunches, salads and specials. Cakes, scones and savoury baked goods are available all day, alongside barista coffee and tea. The lunch menu is available from 12 until 3pm.
https://www.brantwood.org.uk/theterrace/
https://www.zeffirellis.com/
2 award winning vegetarian restaurants, a daytime cafe and Jazz bar attached to this Ambleside Cinema.
They have 2 restaurants, Zeffirellis and Fellinis.
The jazz bar is upstairs in Zeffirellis, which plays host to live (and mostly free) music events with internationally acclaimed artists.
Fellinis is just around the comer from Zeffirellis on Church street.
64 personas locales recomiendan
Zeffirellis
2 Compston Rdhttps://www.zeffirellis.com/
2 award winning vegetarian restaurants, a daytime cafe and Jazz bar attached to this Ambleside Cinema.
They have 2 restaurants, Zeffirellis and Fellinis.
The jazz bar is upstairs in Zeffirellis, which plays host to live (and mostly free) music events with internationally acclaimed artists.
Fellinis is just around the comer from Zeffirellis on Church street.
Sightseeing
The Ruskin Museum is an award-winning ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ telling the Story of Coniston from the first Stone Age fell-walkers, who made and traded stone axes, to the Jet Era of 50s and 60s when speed ace Donald Campbell broke 4 World Water Speed Records in Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Ruskin Museum
The Ruskin Museum is an award-winning ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ telling the Story of Coniston from the first Stone Age fell-walkers, who made and traded stone axes, to the Jet Era of 50s and 60s when speed ace Donald Campbell broke 4 World Water Speed Records in Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water.
Brantwood is a house on the East of the Lake which was the home of John Ruskin for the last 28 years of his life. With beautiful gardens, a good cafe and interesting house it makes a nice trip out, especially if you take the Coniston Launch or Steam Yacht Gondola across from Coniston Boating Centre (down Lake Road past the Spa garage).
Filled with many fine paintings, beautiful furniture and Ruskin’s personal treasures, the house retains the character of its famous resident.
Famous as a writer, artist and social reformer, many great thinkers have been influenced by Ruskin’s ideas. Brantwood remains a place of inspiration. Displays and activities in the house, gardens and estate reflect the wealth of cultural associations with Ruskin’s legacy – from the Pre Raphaelites and the Arts and Crafts Movement to the founding of the National Trust and the Welfare State.
Brantwood's historical Lakeland estate comprises 250 acres, with remarkable gardens created , beautiful in all seasons with spectacular views across Coniston water to the fells.
https://www.brantwood.org.uk/
27 personas locales recomiendan
Brantwood
Brantwood is a house on the East of the Lake which was the home of John Ruskin for the last 28 years of his life. With beautiful gardens, a good cafe and interesting house it makes a nice trip out, especially if you take the Coniston Launch or Steam Yacht Gondola across from Coniston Boating Centre (down Lake Road past the Spa garage).
Filled with many fine paintings, beautiful furniture and Ruskin’s personal treasures, the house retains the character of its famous resident.
Famous as a writer, artist and social reformer, many great thinkers have been influenced by Ruskin’s ideas. Brantwood remains a place of inspiration. Displays and activities in the house, gardens and estate reflect the wealth of cultural associations with Ruskin’s legacy – from the Pre Raphaelites and the Arts and Crafts Movement to the founding of the National Trust and the Welfare State.
Brantwood's historical Lakeland estate comprises 250 acres, with remarkable gardens created , beautiful in all seasons with spectacular views across Coniston water to the fells.
https://www.brantwood.org.uk/
Beatrix Potter's 17th-century farmhouse.
Full of her favourite things, this house appears as if Beatrix had just stepped out for a walk.
The lovely cottage garden is a haphazard mix of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables. Bought in 1905 with proceeds from her first book, the Tale of Peter Rabbit, she used Hill Top itself and the surrounding countryside as inspiration for many of her subsequent books.
Advanced booking is advisable to guarantee entry to the House & Garden. Tickets go on sale each Friday morning for the following week. See 'What's On' to book online.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hill-top
57 personas locales recomiendan
National Trust Hill Top
Beatrix Potter's 17th-century farmhouse.
Full of her favourite things, this house appears as if Beatrix had just stepped out for a walk.
The lovely cottage garden is a haphazard mix of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables. Bought in 1905 with proceeds from her first book, the Tale of Peter Rabbit, she used Hill Top itself and the surrounding countryside as inspiration for many of her subsequent books.
Advanced booking is advisable to guarantee entry to the House & Garden. Tickets go on sale each Friday morning for the following week. See 'What's On' to book online.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hill-top
Step into another century as you experience William Wordsworth’s life at Dove Cottage. Wordsworth and his family lived in this humble Lake District cottage from 1799-1808.
https://wordsworth.org.uk/visit/
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Dove Cottage
Step into another century as you experience William Wordsworth’s life at Dove Cottage. Wordsworth and his family lived in this humble Lake District cottage from 1799-1808.
https://wordsworth.org.uk/visit/
Rebuilt Victorian steam-powered yacht on Coniston Water
Steam Yacht Gondola is a great way to enjoy the lake.
Luxury travel once experienced by wealthy Victorians, riding in style in Gondola’s opulent saloons or relaxing on her open-air decks as she glides across Coniston Water.
Take in the spectacular scenery of the Coniston Fells and listen to the crew’s commentary on the area’s history and famous connections.
NT Members: A discount of 10% is available to National Trust members on all Coniston circular cruises. You must show your NT membership card when boarding
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola
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National Trust - Steam Yacht Gondola
Lake RoadRebuilt Victorian steam-powered yacht on Coniston Water
Steam Yacht Gondola is a great way to enjoy the lake.
Luxury travel once experienced by wealthy Victorians, riding in style in Gondola’s opulent saloons or relaxing on her open-air decks as she glides across Coniston Water.
Take in the spectacular scenery of the Coniston Fells and listen to the crew’s commentary on the area’s history and famous connections.
NT Members: A discount of 10% is available to National Trust members on all Coniston circular cruises. You must show your NT membership card when boarding
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola
At the southern end of Lake Windermere the Lakes Aquarium makes a great day out for families. Over 30 displays of wildlife and freshwater creatures dwelling in and alongside these magnificent waters.
The aquarium is at the Lakeside Pier, where you can arrive by boat from Waterhead or Bowness, or you could come on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. There is ample parking.
https://lakesaquarium.co.uk/
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Acuario de los Lagos
At the southern end of Lake Windermere the Lakes Aquarium makes a great day out for families. Over 30 displays of wildlife and freshwater creatures dwelling in and alongside these magnificent waters.
The aquarium is at the Lakeside Pier, where you can arrive by boat from Waterhead or Bowness, or you could come on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. There is ample parking.
https://lakesaquarium.co.uk/
Activities
Coniston Launch offers a variety of ways that you can enjoy a beautiful boat cruise on Coniston Water in the Lake District.
Regular services cover two different circular routes on Coniston Water - stay on the boat for the full cruise or stop off at any of the jetties to catch a later boat back.
You can combine a boat cruise with a walk around the shore of Coniston Water - see the website for suggested lakeshore walks and fell walks
https://www.conistonlaunch.co.uk/
Landing Stage
Coniston Launch offers a variety of ways that you can enjoy a beautiful boat cruise on Coniston Water in the Lake District.
Regular services cover two different circular routes on Coniston Water - stay on the boat for the full cruise or stop off at any of the jetties to catch a later boat back.
You can combine a boat cruise with a walk around the shore of Coniston Water - see the website for suggested lakeshore walks and fell walks
https://www.conistonlaunch.co.uk/
Hire bikes, rowing boats, motor boat, kayak, canoe or paddle board from the boating Centre on the shore of Lake Coniston.
https://www.conistonboatingcentre.co.uk/home
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Coniston Boating Centre
Lake RoadHire bikes, rowing boats, motor boat, kayak, canoe or paddle board from the boating Centre on the shore of Lake Coniston.
https://www.conistonboatingcentre.co.uk/home
Treetop adventures for various ages in the heart of Grizedale Forest.
https://goape.co.uk/adventures
53 personas locales recomiendan
Go Ape Grizedale
Treetop adventures for various ages in the heart of Grizedale Forest.
https://goape.co.uk/adventures
Stunning Tarn Hows offers an accessible circular (1¾ miles) walk through beautiful countryside with majestic mountain views. A great place to walk or to begin your wider Lake District countryside adventure. There are also rare Belted Galloway cattle and sturdy Herdwick sheep grazing by the tarn.
Tarn Hows is located in the low level hills between the villages of Coniston and Hawkshead and is ideal for a walk or cycle trip from either. It's a favourite with both regular and first-time visitors to the area and is popular with artists and photographers who love the setting and the views.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tarn-hows-and-coniston#Overview
88 personas locales recomiendan
Tarn Hows
Stunning Tarn Hows offers an accessible circular (1¾ miles) walk through beautiful countryside with majestic mountain views. A great place to walk or to begin your wider Lake District countryside adventure. There are also rare Belted Galloway cattle and sturdy Herdwick sheep grazing by the tarn.
Tarn Hows is located in the low level hills between the villages of Coniston and Hawkshead and is ideal for a walk or cycle trip from either. It's a favourite with both regular and first-time visitors to the area and is popular with artists and photographers who love the setting and the views.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tarn-hows-and-coniston#Overview
The Old Man of Coniston rises up behind the village. It can be climbed directly from the cottage.
Coniston Old Man is the highest peak in the Furness Fells at 803 metres in height. One of the most popular destinations for fell-walking in the Lake District, it is one of Wainwright’s Southern Fells. It has seen extensive slate quarrying over centuries. Crag Cottage was a miner's cottage so its early inhabitants would have been walking up into the mountain at the beginning and end of their working day.
The Old Man of Coniston has a number of routes to the summit from all directions but if you want walk from the cottage turn left at the fell gate and walk along the wall until you get to the gate, then turn right and follow the wide track up the side of Church Beck . Cross over the beck when you get to the Miner's bridge and take the little path up towards The Bell and the Old Man beyond. This is an alternative to the walk described here: https://www.mudandroutes.com/routes/walk-up-old-man-of-coniston-from-coniston-via-church-beck/
You can do various circular walks down the mountain, either coming down via Goat's water and Walna Scar or Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike and Walna Scar or heading north to Swirl Howe, Prison Band and then descend to Levers water.
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The Old Man of Coniston
The Old Man of Coniston rises up behind the village. It can be climbed directly from the cottage.
Coniston Old Man is the highest peak in the Furness Fells at 803 metres in height. One of the most popular destinations for fell-walking in the Lake District, it is one of Wainwright’s Southern Fells. It has seen extensive slate quarrying over centuries. Crag Cottage was a miner's cottage so its early inhabitants would have been walking up into the mountain at the beginning and end of their working day.
The Old Man of Coniston has a number of routes to the summit from all directions but if you want walk from the cottage turn left at the fell gate and walk along the wall until you get to the gate, then turn right and follow the wide track up the side of Church Beck . Cross over the beck when you get to the Miner's bridge and take the little path up towards The Bell and the Old Man beyond. This is an alternative to the walk described here: https://www.mudandroutes.com/routes/walk-up-old-man-of-coniston-from-coniston-via-church-beck/
You can do various circular walks down the mountain, either coming down via Goat's water and Walna Scar or Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike and Walna Scar or heading north to Swirl Howe, Prison Band and then descend to Levers water.
Here are some links to local walks. Most can be adapted to walk from the cottage. Look out for reference to Holly Howe Youth Hostel, which is next to Crag Cottage.
https://www.walkscene.co.uk/description_40/tarn_hows_from_coniston_via_low_yewdale
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tarn-hows-and-coniston/trails/yewdale-valley-walk
https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/mileswithoutstiles/mws17
https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/routes-and-maps/routes-and-maps2/map-9
https://www.mudandroutes.com/routes/all-walking-routes-up-coniston-old-man/
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Coniston
Here are some links to local walks. Most can be adapted to walk from the cottage. Look out for reference to Holly Howe Youth Hostel, which is next to Crag Cottage.
https://www.walkscene.co.uk/description_40/tarn_hows_from_coniston_via_low_yewdale
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tarn-hows-and-coniston/trails/yewdale-valley-walk
https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/mileswithoutstiles/mws17
https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/routes-and-maps/routes-and-maps2/map-9
https://www.mudandroutes.com/routes/all-walking-routes-up-coniston-old-man/
https://www.zeffirellis.com/
Ambleside Cinema with 2 award winning vegetarian restaurants, a daytime cafe and Jazz bar.
They have 5 Cinema screens (2 on site at Zeffirellis, a further 2 just down the road in Zeffs by the Park, and one above Fellinis, their 2nd restaurant).
The jazz bar is upstairs in Zeffirellis, which plays host to live (and mostly free) music events with internationally acclaimed artists.
Fellinis is just around the comer from Zeffirellis on Church street.
64 personas locales recomiendan
Zeffirellis
2 Compston Rdhttps://www.zeffirellis.com/
Ambleside Cinema with 2 award winning vegetarian restaurants, a daytime cafe and Jazz bar.
They have 5 Cinema screens (2 on site at Zeffirellis, a further 2 just down the road in Zeffs by the Park, and one above Fellinis, their 2nd restaurant).
The jazz bar is upstairs in Zeffirellis, which plays host to live (and mostly free) music events with internationally acclaimed artists.
Fellinis is just around the comer from Zeffirellis on Church street.