Coniston

The location:

Coniston is a large village on Coniston Water, overlooked by Coniston Old Man, and is popular for walkers and climbers. At 5 miles long, the lake is the third largest in the Lake District and has been the setting for many water speed record attempts. Lying to the west of the village, Coniston Old Man is 803m and is the highest point in the Furness Fells.

Did you know?

Kanchenjunga, the mountain in Arthur Ransome’s Swallowdale was inspired by the Old Man of Coniston.
That’s not where the inspiration ended. Peel Island on Coniston Water is Wild Cat Island in Swallows and Amazons.

Famous people

Arthur Ransome drew much inspiration from Coniston Water for his books Swallowdale and Swallows and Amazons.

The poet John Ruskin lived in Brantwood, a mansion on the edge of Coniston Water, until his death in 1900, rejecting the chance to be buried in Westminter Abbey and choosing instead to be buried in St Andrews, Coniston.

Sir Malcolm Campbell who, in August 1939, set the water speed record at over 140mph in his boat, Bluebird K4.

Donald Campbell, Sir Malcolm Campbell’s son, who set four water speed records between 1956 and 1959. His quest to break through 300mph proved to be his final attempt. In January 1967 he achieved 320mph before losing control and crashing. He was killed instantly on impact. The remains of his body and Bluebird K7 were recovered from the bottom of the lake in 2001.

Things to do

Boat hire is available from the lakeside, or the steam yacht Gondola tours the lake during the summer. You can see a collection of the works of John Ruskin at the Ruskin Museum, as well as the salvaged remains of Bluebird K7. There are several pubs and restaurants in the village so ample opportunity to sample the beers brewed by the Coniston Brewery.

See Also: The Coniston Suite in Windermere