Coniston is one of the most picturesque villages in the Lakes, with traditional stone buildings backed by rugged fells. It’s a lovely place simply to potter around, but venture just a short distance from the village and you’ll find that Coniston has some of the best wild places in the Lakes. From hidden quarries, to turquoise waterfalls you can swim under and of course fabulous fell walks too.
Nearby you’ll also find our favourite garden in the Lake District, Beatrix Potter’s house and gallery, and a great local museum.
Here are the best things to do in and around Coniston to help you plan the perfect trip.
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These are the best things to do in Coniston:
1. Wander the most beautiful garden in the Lake District
2. Climb the Old Man for spectacular views
3. Take a dip at the secret turquoise waterfall
4. Explore the hidden quarry
5. Take a leisurely stroll around Tarn Hows
6. Step back in time at Beatrix Potter’s House
7. Get out on the water
8. Brush up on local history at the Ruskin Museum
9. Enjoy some of Beatrix Potter’s original artwork
10. Discover hidden passageways at Cathedral Cave
11. Try the local brew
12. Pay your respects at Donald Campbell’s grave
13. See some of the tallest trees in England
14. Look for ancient rock art etched into giant boulders
14 Incredible things to do in Coniston
1. Wander the most beautiful garden in the Lake District
We’ve visited our fair share of gardens in the Lake District and my favourite has to be the Brantwood Estate. Beautiful at any time of year, it’s especially stunning in autumn, with the huge red maple trees and pops of yellow, orange and brown interspersed amongst the greenery.
We also got chatting to the staff, who said it’s incredible in spring with the giant rhododendron bushes, which we’ll definitely be back to see.
The walk around the main part of the garden is easy, but there are quite a few stairs and uneven terrain scattered throughout. For us, that added to the charm and we loved the slightly wild feel, but it won’t be as good for those looking for a manicured path.
As well as the wonderful gardens, you can also take a peek inside the house which was formerly owned by famous poet John Ruskin.
The house is full of lots of original furniture and it’s well worth a wander before you head to the excellent cafe - the menu is small, but the food is great and it’s the best cafe in Coniston in our opinion.
If you order the sourdough don’t go past tasting a bit of haggis butter - a new one for us that’s for sure!
2. Climb the Old Man for spectacular views
The Old Man is one of the best loved fell walks in the Lake District and definitely one of our favourites. The scenery is spectacular, with rugged peaks and sparkling tarns that remind us so much of the alps on a sunny day.
It’s gorgeous from start to finish and even offers the opportunity for a wild swim, and tarn views don’t come much better than this!
There are a number of different ways you can tackle the Old Man, with this 5.3 mile option being a lovely moderate hike.
There’s enough climbing to feel like you’ve had a workout, but it doesn’t start from the village, so it cuts out some of the hilly section!
3. Take a dip at the secret turquoise waterfall
If you think you need to fly to a far off tropical destination to get your turquoise water fix, think again. You can actually find it right here in the Lake District!
We couldn’t believe it either, and yet even when we visited and the waterfall was in shadow, the water was still undeniably turquoise and absolutely exquisite. In the sunshine, it would rival the prettiest turquoise water we’ve seen anywhere in the world.
The only downside to this spectacular spot is that it’s not the easiest to reach. The walk itself is pretty straightforward, but accessing the pool requires a scramble.
If you’re used to off track hiking and happy to scramble, read this post for our detailed directions.
4. Explore the hidden quarry
Even the entrance to Hodge Close Quarry is incredible. It has wild Indiana Jones vibes, with giant boulders and dense forest dripping in moss that lead you all the way up to the towering quarry walls.
It might have been man-made, but there’s no question that nature is reclaiming it. It’s worth visiting for the entrance alone, but once you get inside, the wows keep on coming.
On a calm day, the lake perfectly reflects the sky above and the cavern opening cascades with water, which breaks the silence and give lots of extra atmosphere.
The walk to reach the quarry is very short, but it’s not signposted, so we have you covered on all the directions here.
5. Take a leisurely stroll around Tarn Hows
Sometimes you want a challenge, and sometimes you just want a beautiful walk that’s not too taxing. If that’s you, Tarn Hows is the perfect place to go.
This picturesque lake is in a lovely secluded spot, with views out to the surrounding fells, and an easy two mile walk will get you all the way round on a well maintained path.
In addition to the lake loop you can also visit the pretty Tom Gill Waterfall, although it does involve a small climb and some uneven terrain. You can also bag a Wainwright by heading up to Black Fell - one of the easiest fells in the Lakes.
It branches directly off the Tarn Hows loop and has pretty views that make it very much worth the small amount of extra effort.
You can read about all three trails in our Tarn Hows guide.
6. Step back in time at Beatrix Potter’s House
Beatrix Potter needs no introduction and a visit to her beloved home of Hill Top is one of the best things to do in the area.
Hill Top was kindly left to the National Trust on the condition that it must be kept exactly as if she had just popped out for the day, and that’s exactly what makes a visit here so special.
In fact you don’t even need to be a Beatrix Potter fan to find a visit here fascinating, it’s hard to believe how tiny the adult beds were considering the 1940’s don’t seem too long ago really!
There is little information about her in the house, but you can ask one of the knowledgable volunteers who will happily tell you all about her life. We’d definitely recommend doing this as that’s what really brought the house and her character to life.
There is plenty of her artwork up the walls and a lovely garden you can wander in too.
Top tip: In our chat with the lovely volunteer in the house we were told that a coach tour group comes through on a Thursday morning, so avoid this time if possible for a quieter experience. It’s a small house and as such you have a time slot to get in, though once in you can stay as long as you like.
Hill Top is near the village of Hawkshead and also Tarn Hows so you can combine all three in one day. If you’re not a National Trust member fees apply and the house does close over winter. Opening times are here.
7. Get out on the water
Almost everyone visiting Coniston will take a trip out on Coniston Water, whether you choose to go on a cruise, hire a canoe, or simply take a dip.
We’ve done one of the lake cruises in the past, which was lovely, but nowadays we prefer to hire a canoe or kayak and go exploring ourselves.
There are rental places right at the water’s edge and prices are actually pretty reasonable for the Lakes, with a canoe or two person kayak costing £25 for two hours.
You can also hire motorboats if you want to explore independently and save your arms the heavy work.
If you’re looking to take a dip you want to head to the much quieter northern end of the lake where you’re away from the boat traffic and can swim in peace.
8. Brush up on local history at the Ruskin Museum
Originally the Ruskin Museum was created to account for Coniston’s local history. It had the usual things you’d expect, with information boards and exhibits taking you from the stone age settlements through to the modern day.
However the busiest part of the museum today was the exhibit that holds part of the Bluebird wreckage - Donald Campbell’s waterspeed record breaking boat that came to a tragic end on Coniston Water.
This whole section of the museum is full of memorabilia and information about how Donald Campbell broke the land and water speed record several times, before tragically dying in his final attempt. The biggest omission is the rebuilt version of Bluebird, which is currently part of a contoversial dispute between the Ruskin Museum and the group that salvaged the boat.
Hopefully one day the fully rebuilt Bluebird will be on display at the Ruskin Museum, but until then the museum is still well worth visiting.
9. Enjoy some of Beatrix Potter’s original artwork
Just a 10 minute drive from Coniston you’ll find the charming Beatrix Potter Gallery. You can see a lot of the original art from her best loved books, as well as learn much more information about her life.
It’s here that you’ll get a true feel for the work that she did for the Lake District communities, buying up vast amounts of land to stop it being built on. She left much of her estate to the National Trust in order that it would always be kept as public land.
The gallery is administered by the National Trust, so is free for members, but otherwise fees apply.
10. Discover hidden passageways at Cathedral Cave
Cathedral Cavern is one of the most impressive caves in the Lake District. The main chamber is lit by the huge opening at the top.
It’s an incredible sight, with a craggy wall, cascade of boulders and pops of vibrant green from the ferns and moss that have managed to carve out a home within the light shafts. The main chamber is easy to access, especially if you use our directions for an easy 15 minute route.
If you want to get a little more adventurous you can explore above the main chamber, it requires a very short, easy scramble and then there are several more passageways to discover, as well as some good views down over the main chamber from above.
11. Try the local brew
‘To the pure waters of the Coniston hills - add the finest Challenger hops and wonderfully roasted pale and crystal malts’. I’m not even a beer drinker, but when I saw that written on the Coniston Brewing Company’s website I was tempted to give it a try.
Whilst you can’t go inside the brewery itself, it’s run by the son of the Black Bull Inn and you can try all the different brews at the pub. I love that some have been given local names, such as the Bluebird Bitter and the Old Man Ale.
Joe went for the Bluebird (another nod to Donald Campbell) which got a thumbs up. The inn itself is very traditional, with a roaring fire for cosy nights and some outdoor seating for warmer days.
12. Pay your respects at Donald Campbell’s grave
Donald Campbell is a local legend, famous for his incredible world speed records on water and land in the 1950’s and 60’s. He passed away in a tragic accident when attempting a new world speed record on Coniston Water.
Both Campbell and his boat the Bluebird remained in Coniston Water for the next 34 years, before being laid to rest in the Coniston Cemetery.
If you’d like to pay your respects you can visit the grave stone, there’s a little map on the entryway to show you what to look out for (a bluebird on the gravestone).
It takes just a few minutes to walk to from the village, you can see it on the map here (don’t go to the church graveyard as many people mistakenly do).
13. See some of the tallest trees in England
Tree lovers can’t miss the High Close tree trail where you’ll find some of the tallest trees in England - including some real giants like the mighty redwood.
It’s a wonderfully peaceful 1.6 mile track which takes you around a variety of native and non native trees in one easy circuit.
We initially picked the trail in hopes of seeing some autumn colour and whilst there were some lovely yellows and browns, it was the trees themselves which stood out, so it’s very much worth a visit year round.
The first part of the walk is all on a very well maintained path, however if you enter the woodland section it’s a little more rustic. It’s still by no means a difficult path, just not so manicured and with a few undulations.
Parking for the walk is at the national trust car park next to the YHA Langdale on Red Bank Road (you can find it on Google Maps by clicking here), which has limited space.
However, it’s not an overly well known track so you shouldn’t have trouble parking.
14. Look for ancient rock art etched into giant boulders
Just a 15 minute drive from Coniston you’ll find the spectacular village of Langdale. There’s a huge amount to see and do in the area from traversing the jagged peaks of Crinkle Crags to swimming under the huge emerald waterfall which is a real hidden gem.
However, if you’re looking for something a little bit different, then head to the Langdale boulders (Copt Howe) to check out some of the ancient rock art.
The giant boulders are a bit of a curiosity in themselves, sitting alone surrounded by endless countryside and with spectacular fell views, but it’s when you get up close and see the prehistoric etches that things get really interesting.
We could only find one set of drawings that we were confident was the ancient artwork, but there’s meant to be more. We kept spotting what we thought could be art, but it could also be wear in the boulders over time. Enthusiasts might study longer and see much more!
The walk to reach the art is just a couple of minutes from the parking area, a lay-by you can find on the map here. It goes without saying not to touch or tamper with the site, it doesn’t have any fencing for protection.
Where to stay in Coniston
Rooftops
Set in a beautiful historic house, the two bedroom apartment at Rooftops is modern and comes with a fully equipped kitchen, and even a barbecue. It’s great for anyone looking to self-cater, but it’s in a really central location in Coniston, so you can also walk to the restaurants and cafes in town.
There are a few luxurious touches such as the freestanding bathtub, which is perfect way to spend an evening after a day out on the fells.
The Coniston Inn - The Inn Collection Group
The location of the Coniston Inn is hard to beat, as it’s situated at the shores of Coniston Water - a quintessential Lake District setting. The rooms are cosy, peaceful and traditionally styled, as well as having countryside views. It’s also really close to the town, which makes it the perfect place to stay for a short Coniston getaway.
YHA Coniston Holly How
Hostels don’t get much better than YHAs in the Lake District, and the Holly How in Coniston is one of many that are set in a beautiful old building. It’s a great option if you’re visiting on a budget as they offer dorms as well as private rooms and a fully equipped kitchen. It’s just a 10 minute walk from town and the staff are also really friendly which makes it all the more welcoming.
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