A delightful village, formerly a centre for slate quarrying and copper-mining, where many walkers choose to spend an extra night to climb the nearby Old Man of Coniston (801m); or take a short bus ride to visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery at Hawkshead and her former home at Hill Top Farm, Sawrey; or take a trip on the lake on the Victorian steam yacht Gondola. Coniston was the one time home of another writer, Arthur Ransome; the lake and its surroundings figure extensively in Swallows and Amazons. Coniston is linked by bus services with Ambleside, Ulverston and Barrow. There is a National Park Tourist Information Office.