Coniston

Coniston grew on copper and slate, and the scars of the old mines are still visible in Coppermines Valley above the village. The Old Man of Coniston rises directly behind it, and the lake, Coniston Water, stretches five miles south from the boat landings. It is less polished than the Windermere towns and all the better for it.

The village has two big names. John Ruskin, the Victorian critic and artist, bought Brantwood on the far shore in 1871 and is buried in St Andrew's churchyard. The Ruskin Museum, founded in 1901, tells his story along with that of the mines and of Donald Campbell, who died on the lake in 1967 attempting a water speed record in Bluebird K7. Brantwood itself is open to visitors and is best reached by boat.

On the water, the Coniston Launch runs regular cruises round the lake, and the National Trust's Steam Yacht Gondola, a restored Victorian steam yacht, sails in season. You can hire boats at the Coniston Boating Centre. Walkers climb the Old Man, often via Goat's Water and Dow Crag or the old quarry tracks, and Tarn Hows, the most visited tarn in the Lakes, is a short drive or a longer walk away.

Parking in the village is limited and the roads in are narrow, especially from Hawkshead. The Old Man is a serious mountain in poor weather, and its quarry tracks are steep and loose. The village is quieter than Ambleside, with a couple of good pubs and a small range of shops.