Whether you’re enjoying a guided or self-guided walking holiday, there’s always the opportunity to linger for longer. Here’s our pick of the very best things to see and do within easy travelling distance of Monk Coniston.
Coniston
About a mile from the house and easily accessed from a direct path, this small village charms with a superb position at the foot of the Old Man of Coniston and by the western shore of Coniston Water. The small town of Ambleside is a 20-minute drive away.
The John Ruskin Museum
Coniston’s John Ruskin Museum charts the history of the village through exhibits focused on the people who have lived and worked here throughout the ages. It's newest treasure is the restored Bluebird K7, Donald Campbell CBE’s world-record breaking Jet Hydroplane. Mr Campbell broke 4 World Water Speed records on Coniston Water and tragically died attempting his 5th when Bluebird somersaulted in January 1967. The wreckage lay at the bottom of the lake for 34 years until it was raised in 2001, finally returning home to Coniston in 2024.
Steam Yacht Gondola
Manged by the National Trust, this restored steam-powered yacht on Coniston Water was built by the Furness Railway Company in 1859. It stops at the Monk Coniston jetty at the bottom of the meadow below the house and calls at Coniston and Brantwood House.
Brantwood House
A couple of miles away, this 250-acre Lakeland estate was once home to English writer, philosopher, art critic, and social revolutionary, John Ruskin. The eight beautiful gardens were created by Ruskin, his cousin Joan Severn, and head gardener Sally Beamish.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Known locally known as La’al Ratty meaning ‘little railway’, this is one of England’s oldest and longest narrow gauge railways dating back to 1873. A trip here can easily be combined with a walk over Muncaster Fell or to the Stanley Ghyll Waterfall.
Blackwell House
Designed by esteemed architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott between 1898 and 1900, this Grade I-listed building is one of the UK’s finest examples of Arts & Crafts architecture. Don’t miss the well-preserved interiors and the formal terraced garden.
Tarn Hows
Just a short walk away, this man-made lake was created in the mid-19th century by one of Monk Coniston’s former owners, James Garth Marshall. The 1.5-mile path around the lake has been well maintained by the National Trust and is suitable for wheelchair users.
Grizedale Forest
Set right in the heart of the Lake District between Windermere and Coniston, this vast woodland is perfect for walking, mountain biking, and swinging through the trees on a Go Ape course. There’s also a visitor centre with a gift shop, tearoom, and playground.
Levens Hall & Garden
A 50-minute drive away, this privately-owned Elizabethan mansion is cherished for its award-winning topiary gardens – the oldest in the world. Inside, there’s fine oak panelling, ornate plasterwork, leather wall coverings, and the earliest examples of English patchwork.
Grasmere
Best known for its William Wordsworth connections, this impossibly pretty village is a 30-minute drive away. Highlights include Grasmere Lake, Allan Bank, and the 17th century Dove Cottage - home to the Wordsworth Museum.
Windermere
The largest natural lake in England, this watery wonder measures 10.5 miles long, one mile wide, and 220 feet deep. Ferries connect Ambleside in the north to Bowness and Lakeside in the south, where you can board the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.
