Coniston
Coniston
Coniston village nestles on the lake of the same name in the shadow of the old Man that favourite hill according to wainwright of boy scouts. It is located on the western shore of the northern end of the lake; Coniston Lake is the third longest in the Lake District national park.
Historically the village was associated with slate quarrying and ore mining as well as farming, originally it was in the northwest of the county of Lancashire before the boundary changes it is now in the administrative county of Cumbria South Lakeland.
The advent of the railway boosted the village’s popularity and the Victorians love of the area saw it increase as a tourist destination. The philanthropist and art critic John Ruskin further increased awareness of the village when he bought a property Brantwood where he lived until his death; he is buried in the local churchyard.
Perhaps Coniston’s greatest claim to fame is its link with the exploits of Donald Campbell who broke world water speed records on the lake until his tragic death while attempting to break it again for the eight time. His body was finally recovered in 2001 and laid to rest in Coniston cemetery, the Bluebird K7 was also recovered and is expected to be exhibited in the Ruskin museum in its own purpose built extension.
Coniston today relies on tourism and is very popular with hikers walkers and rock climbers heading for Dow Crag, there are numerous trails and walks in the area on the Furness fells and in Grizedale forest.
Activities in Coniston
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