Sitting towards the Eastern parts of the Lake District, Coniston is a traditional town with a small but perfectly formed set of amenities and some of the best lake and mountain access right on the doorstep. There are plenty of places to eat and drink some great accommodation and a bit of shopping.

The town was the centre of world attention when world water speed records were being challenged on Coniston Water by Donald Campbell who tragically died chasing records on the lake. Following on from the famous exploits of his father Malcolm the Campbells are part of local history.

Other famous Coniston residents include John Ruskin who along with Wordsworth was an instrumental part of the romantic movement and far more interestingly as an environmentalist foresaw the “greenhouse effect” over a century ago. Today Brantwood, the former home of Ruskin is a must visit for anyone with a literary bent.

The town stands at the northern end of the Lake Districts fifth largest body of water which is a popular location for sailing and canoeing. The famous Steam Yacht Gondola takes passengers on a trip along the lake as well as taking passengers back in time.