The village of Coniston, Cumbria lies in the Furness region of England. It has a current population of around 3,500 people. It is also located in the southern region of the Lake District National Park, in the northwestern areas of the country. Coniston sits at the head of the third-longest lake in this district, called Coniston Water. The town lies just east of the Coniston Old Man, a nearly 2,700-foot high mountain.
Prior to 1974, the town was part of Lancashire County. It was placed within the newly-created ceremonial county of Cumbria at that time. Coniston started its life as a small farming village, growing slightly to serve the nearby mining activities that focused on copper and slate. During the Victorian era, it became more popularly known as a tourist destination after a rail line was run into the town in 1859.
The scenic nature of the town’s location and its proximity to the Coniston Old Man and other rugged and wild natural areas has led to Coniston benefitting from tourism in the form of hill walking and rock climbing enthusiasts. Dow Crag, which lies about 3 miles from the village, is particularly attractive to climbers.
The town also benefitted from the birth of district national park in 1950. This served to provide a nice boost to the tourism activities which to this day are the main industry of the town and its environs. The village plays host to a number of hotels and two youth hostels. There are also 2 slate quarries still open and operating in the area.
The shire county of Cumbria came into existence in 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act of 1972. It lies in the northwestern part of the country, and it boasts a current population of nearly half a million people. It is also the third-largest ceremonial county in all of England, by land mass. Both Coniston and Cumbria are great examples of what England is like in this modern day and was like in its past.
For accommodation in Coniston check this list of Coniston hotels.