Coniston

Coniston is a delightful South Lakeland village, sitting comfortably between the Old Man of Coniston, which rises dramatically behind the village to a height of 803m and beautiful Coniston Water which, at 8km long, is the third largest lake in the Lake District. The area is steeped in history with many examples of mines and quarries, now mostly faded and overgrown, giving hints at the area’s past. Farming now prevails and, in the main, is focussed on the iconic Herdwick sheep which you will see regularly on our runs. The landscape is a mix of open hillside and forests, old and new, streams and tarns, all of which makes for spectacular running with spectacular views almost at every turn.

There are two public launch services on Coniston Water, the Coniston Launch, and the National Trust’s Steam Yacht Gondola. Both of these call at Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin, the influential 19th century poet, art critic, social thinker and philanthropist, now an historic house, museum and vibrant arts centre with magnificent views over the Lake to the hills. Arthur Ransome based his childrens’ book ‘Swallows and Amazons’ on locations around Coniston Water; and Beatrix Potter owned an estate in the area which was given to the National Trust on her death. The estate now includes the famous beauty spot of Tarn Hows.

There are a number of pubs in the village, should you wish to have a wander at some point, possibly the most famous being the Black Bull Inn, a 400 year old coaching inn at the foot of Coniston Old Man. It is home to the Coniston Brewing Company, makers of ‘Bluebird Bitter’, CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 1998.

Our accommodation for this weekend is the Yewdale Inn,”A welcoming village inn situated in the centre of Coniston at the heart of the South Lakes.” Perfectly situated in the village, the Yewdale Inn offers delightful guest rooms with en suite bathroom and shower and some with bath. Each offers a view of the surrounding fells or picturesque village. The pub offers a warm welcome to visitors and locals alike. There is always a cosy fire in winter and a jovial atmosphere. There is an extensive terrace for drinks should the weather be kind enough. As the name suggests, the Yewdale Inn provides quality ales and wines and hearty home-cooked meals, using seasonal and local produce wherever possible. All of their produce is sourced from local suppliers. Head Chef Ross Bowman, together with his team of chefs, works hard to develop menus to cater for every taste, including vegetarians. The Café breakfast menu has a wide selection of breakfast items and serves fresh cakes, sandwiches and light meals every day. The Evening Menu is supplemented by a selection of Specials.

Rooms are available as follows

• single
• double
• twin

The running

The running on both days is preceded and followed by Pilates sessions, run by Kerry Robinson of Calm & Control Pilates. These sessions will be designed specifically for runners so that you are best prepared for the day’s running ahead and to help with your recovery afterwards.

Our Saturday run will take us through delightfully mixed terrain which will include lakeside paths, open hillside and typical South Lakeland woodland. You will cover just less than 20km, but will have plenty of time to stop and admire the surroundings, find out about he local area and take some stunning photographs.
On Sunday, you have a choice of two runs, depending upon how you feel; the longer run (approximately 14 km) will head down the East of Coniston, whilst the shorter run (approximately 9km) will head out towards Tarn Hows.

To complement the running, we are also offering a couple of optional extras for Saturday afternoon/evening. You will be able to enjoy a couple of hours of Stand Up Paddle Boarding with our friends from Lakesup, which is available at £35 per person for 2 hours. Alternatively, if this sounds a little energetic, you could indulge in an Ayurvedic head and shoulders massage, which will cost £10. Both of these activities will need to be pre-booked and will not be available to book during the weekend. You are, of course free to wander around the village or stroll down to the lake for a paddle (or even a swim if you are feeling adventurous).

Booking information coming soon, but please get in touch if you’re interested