The top Coniston pubs to visit during your stay
For a place that’s not very big, Coniston punches well above its weight when it comes to welcoming hostelries. So, once that mountain is climbed or the day’s hike is done, it’s time to shrug off your rucksack, take off your jacket and relax and refuel at one of these fine traditional establishments. Cheers!
If you’re staying in Coniston why not try out a few (or all) of these pubs?
The Black Bull Inn
Family-owned, traditional and has its own microbrewery – what’s not to love about the Black Bull Inn?
If you’ve worked up an appetite on the fells or on a stroll round nearby Tarn Hows, the hearty food will fill you up. How does Woodall’s of Waberthwaite Cumberland Sausage with creamy mash and onion gravy sound?
And how about an award-winning ale from the on-site Coniston Brewing Company to wash it down?
Built as a coaching inn around 400 years ago, and located in the heart of the village, it’s a welcoming pit-stop whether you’re staying locally or just passing through.
The Sun Hotel
Describing itself as a ‘creaky old building with a great bar, lounge & garden’, the characterful 400-year old Sun Hotel sits in the shadow of Coniston Old Man overlooking the village.
It’s definitely traditional, with its stone floors, oak beams and a slate bar – not forgetting the roaring fires. But the food is pretty special too. It doesn’t wander too far from the pub classics, but it’s all beautifully cooked, locally sourced where possible and the portions are reliably belly-filling.
There are always at least eight beers on tap, and your four-legged friends can come and rest their weary paws too.
The Yewdale Inn
At the Yewdale Inn, traditional Lake District hospitality meets Italian-style wood-fired pizza – and why not?
On a warm day (or just wrap up warm), you can sit outside on the large terrace and raise your glass of local cask ale to the Old Man of Coniston.
Inside – yes, there is a roaring fire – you can tuck into pub classics like fish and chips, burgers, the pie of the day, and a roast on Sundays.
Or, if you fancy something a bit different, order up a cheesy circle of deliciousness from the wood-fired pizza menu.
And if you don’t fancy a whole night in the pub – do stay for a drink first, though – you can get your pizza to go.
The Coniston Inn
If it’s a pub with a view you want, The Coniston Inn delivers. Standing on the shore of Coniston Water with views of the surrounding fells, including the Old Man, this lovely old building has been given a complete spruce-up and a new name (it used to be The Waterhead Hotel).
They keep their beer the old-fashioned way, so every pint is perfectly pulled. The food is freshly cooked, locally sourced, and changes seasonally – we’ve heard good things about their Sunday roasts.
And the atmosphere is welcoming and family-friendly (for doggies too), with Lake District memorabilia looking down at you from the walls.
The Crown Inn
Slap bang in the centre of Coniston, you can find the not-so-hidden gem that is The Crown Inn.
If you’re hungry, they serve up the usual pub classics, but a quick peruse of the menu also highlights some more adventurous options too – Saag aloo pie, Moroccan cauliflower fritters, and the Burrata salad, to name but three.
To quench your thirst, you can sup on award-winning ales, ciders and wines, creative cocktails (with non-alcoholic Prosecco for designated drivers), spirits from around the world.
And your four-legged friends are also welcome to come and relax in this traditional Lake District pub.
The Wilson Arms
Not many pubs have their own deli, but the Wilson Arms does. A stone’s throw from Coniston, in the village of Torver, this lovely Lake District pub offers a warm welcome to weary travellers and their canine companions on the Cumbrian Way, or those who just happen to be passing.
With the Old Man of Coniston and Dow Crag providing the scenery if you’re sitting outside, a real log fire to warm your toes inside, you can fill your rumbling tummy with a dish from the extensive menu and wash it down with a pint of local ale.
And about that deli, which you can find at the side of the pub – you can pick up a pie to go, freshly made sandwiches, or a cheeky cake to fuel the next leg of your journey.
The Ship
In a lovely location, a short walk from the village along the Cumbrian Way, The Ship is a traditional Lake District pub that serves up hearty grub, a wide range of drinks, and has regular live entertainment to get your toes tapping.
Recently refurbished, it’s a cosy family-friendly, pooch-friendly space, with a roaring fire in the colder months, and views to die for outside.
There’s all the usual pub classics on the menu, but if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, there are dishes like Chorizo chipolatas with local piccalilli dip, or Cajun pasta to get your taste buds tingling.
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