It's no secret that the Lake District is fast becoming one of my favourite places in the UK to visit. From the many beautiful waterfalls, to incredible walks, and more, the Lake District really has it all! There are so many fantastic areas to visit but Coniston Water in particular really stole my heart last summer.
It's the third largest of the Lakes meaning you've plenty of water to explore, or if keeping your feet on the land is more your thing, there's miles of breathtaking countryside to tour.
So what exactly can you do around Coniston Water...
Coniston Launch boat trips
No break to the lakes is complete without a boat trip, and luckily Coniston has its very own fleet of VERY affordable passenger boats. There are several routes running on different days which are well worth joining, however the fleet also acts as a water taxi for foot passengers picking up and dropping off at several locations around the lake. The Coniston Launch boat trips employe an extremely knowledgable and friendly bunch of staff who will gladly answer any questions you have and also point out important points of interest. Come rain or shine, this is a great activity to do while exploring Coniston.
Climb Coniston Old Man
Recently featured in the top 10 of Britains Favourite Walks The climb up to the peak of Coniston Old Man isn't for the fainthearted. While it's no walk in the park, it's certainly one not to miss and I would recommend that even inexperienced climbers give this one a go!
The views across Coniston Water (and much further on a clear day) are well worth the roughly 2.5 hour scramble to the top.
While there are easier routes I would recommend parking at the Walna Scar Car Park and walking up towards 'Big Hill' and then 'The Bell' before continuing on the only path. This route can be quite steep in parts but it's very scenic and takes you through the old Slate Quarry which is worth exploring. I'd recommend taking a map for this walk however there is a map at the edge of the car park which you can just take a photo of.
Visit Donald Campbells Grave
Fancy a bit of morbid tourism on you visit to Conison? Well you're in luck! Just a short walk from the centre of Coniston town is Coniston Graveyard where you can find the final resting place of Donald Campbell, the speed record breaker who sadly lost his life on the lake.
Campbell continues to be only person to set both world land and water speed records in the same year, a record which hasn't been beaten in over 50 years!
Grab a beer in Coniston Town
Coniston town, small as it may be, it still host to several lovely pubs and restaurants. While you'll still be able to grab your favourite beer, it's well worth trying something new and opting for one of the locally brewed beers. Coniston Brewing Co, which has won multiple awards over the years, seems to be especially popular in the town.
Visit the Blue Bird Cafe
Whether you fancy a nice cool beverage at the side of the lake, or you're trying to escape the unforgiving lake district weather, the Blue Bird Cafe is the perfect place to spend a couple of relaxing hours. The cafe, which is named after Donald Campbells Hydroplane, can get busy in the summer months however it's location on the shore of Coniston Water brings people back time after time.
Kayak from one side to the other
There are many ways of getting from one side of Coniston to the other. From long winding roads, to the more direct Coniston Ferry, but there is nothing more rewarding than rowing there yourself. I'm not willing to comment on how safe an exercise like that is but I am willing to say it's lots of fun, and much further than you realise.
Kayaks, Canoes, rowing boats, and more can be hired from Coniston Boating Centre if you don't have a boat of your own.
Read Swallows and Amazons on the shore of Coniston Water
Want to feel like you're in the centre of the action without having to actually go off and explore? Grab yourself a copy of Swallows and Amazons and experience Coniston Water through the eyes of children. The novel, which is set on the lake, was released almost 100 years ago but luckily the area remains as beautiful as descirbed.
With all that to do and more, it's really no surprise that I fell in love with Coniston Water and the Lake District in general. And I'm not alone! It ranked VERY highly when I asked over a hundred bloggers where their favourite place to holiday in the UK was!
Have you been to Coniston Water?
Thanks for reading!
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They say you eat with your eyes before you even bite into your food. So what happens when you take that part of the dining experience away? What if you can't see the meal you are about to devour? What if you decide to dine in the dark...?
Dans Le Noir, which literally translates to "in the dark", is an international company specialising in sensory dining experiences. The group have several locations across the world including, London, Paris, Madrid, and now a pop up at Swinfen Hall Hotel in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside.
The pop up runs from Wednesday to Saturday until the end of March and is priced at £95 per person for 3 courses.
So what can you expect for almost one hundred Great British pounds?
Well this is no ordinary meal. From start to finish, you will dine completely in the dark. No phones, no glow in the dark watches, absolutely nothing that can cast any light is allowed into the dining area. Before entering the darkness you are greeted by a visually impaired server who will carefully escort you to your table and wait on you throughout the evening.
The three courses you are served cannot be chosen beforehand, and you will only truly know what you have just consumed once the meal has finished and the team can talk you through the menu. To avoid any issues you can let the team know in advance if there is anything you can't or wont eat.
What did I think of the dining in the dark experience?
The event was unlike anything I had done before. As a fussy eater I felt like this was completely out of my comfort zone, and while there were times I was slightly unnerved by the idea of eating something unknown, the experience as a whole was very enjoyable. I very quickly realised just how much texture plays a part in whether or not I find a dish appealing, and believe me, it is very important. I also learned that I actually can't tell what I'm eating by smell or taste alone. Madness!
Though I did spill a drink or two, I thankfully didn't make too much mess, and I did very much revel in the novelty of dining in the dark, or should I say Dans Le Noir!
I was incredibly surprised by the menu at the end of the night and even found myself enjoying things I would never even dream of ordering in a regular restaurant. My comfort zone was well and truly smashed and I'm actually okay with that.
So what was on the menu at Swinfen Hall? I guess you'll just have to find out yourself by dining in the dark...
Thanks for reading!
Estado Da India serves a creative blend of Portuguese and Indian dishes in tapas style portions. The restaurant which is still fairly new to Harborne caters to everyone with a selection of meaty options, veggie options, and dare I say it, even something for those who struggle with spice like myself.
On my Sunday night visit I ate with a group of people who have very different tastes and so I'd like to think we put the Estado Da India menu to the ultimate test.
We ordered :
- Wild Mushroom Croquets £5.25
- Prawn Rissol £7.95
- Iberico Vindaloo Pork Ribs £6.95
- Pork Arroz £9.95
- Tomato Naan £4.50
- Goan Cauliflower £4.95
- Masala Fries £3.95
- Goan Lamb £9.75
- Lemon Rice £3.95
- Duroc Pork Belly £8.95
- Lamb Espetada £8.95
Our waiter recommended each of us to order two dishes and then a further two to share across the table. As we don't often order tapas we were grateful for the recommendation, however we did order an extra sharer which gave us the perfect amount for the four of us to gorge on.
We also ordered a few drinks between us :
- Limao Spritz (Mocktail) £5.50
- Tropic Like It's Hot (Mocktail) £5.50
- Madri Excepcional Beer (Pint) £4.95
So what did we think of the Estado Da India...
The food really was full of flavour, and although sometimes it was on the cusp of what I could tolerate when it comes to spice I was pleasantly surprised. I asked for all of my dishes to come as mild as possible and without chilli which I did worry would potentially ruin the taste, but I can confidently say no flavour was lost. I will mention that some of the meats are soaked in a chilli marinate so it's impossible for them to be completely chilli free, but I found the dishes much milder than I was expecting. My family was also surprised by how mild the Vindaloo Pork Ribs were which was perfect.
The Pork dishes really were the stars of the show for me, the Pork Arroz in particular was fantastic. A juicy Pork skewer which is served resting on a bowl of curried rice, both of which were full of flavour. Although I'd admit this isn't the cheapest dish I left wishing I had ordered two as it was just so mouthwateringly tasty.
Another of my favourite plates from the Estado Da India menu was the slightly less adventurous Tomato Naan. Everyone in our group enjoyed a quarter of this fluffy bread which complimented our other bits very nicely. I would recommend ordering at least one of these to share with the table, or even eat completely to yourself.
For the drinks I usually order something fairly boozy, however I opted for a mocktail on this visit and I am very glad I did. I chose the Limao Spritz which according to the menu is a mix of Raspberry, Lemon and Lime, and topped with a sparkling soda. It was very refreshing but after trying a sip of my sisters mocktail (Tropic Like It's hot) I wish I'd have ordered one of those too. Hers was a combination of Passion Fruit, Coconut Cream, Pineapple, and Mango juice which is something I would never pick myself but it just worked so fantastically well together. The creaminess of the Coconut was extra delicious after wolfing down so much savoury spicy food.
All in all we had a fantastic evening in a beautifully decorated environment which we all admitted would be a lovely spot for a birthday treat or other special occasion.
Have you been to Estado Da India, the perfect Portuguese Indian in Harborne? I feel this one might soon become a favourite of Birmingham food bloggers.
Thanks for reading!
It's no secret that I've always struggled with my mental health. Ever since I can remember I've been plagued with the dreaded anxiety, and more recently I've been suffering low moods. So how have I been trying to tackle these mental health issues without medication? I've taken up several hobbies which I believe are really helping to improve my moods and keep demons at bay.
Here are the hobbies that help with mental health...
Gardening / growing vegetables/ house plants
As a 27 year old I never really thought gardening would be my thing, it's for old people right? But actually I've found gardening not only quite enjoyable, but I also believe its helped a lot with my mental health. Spending time out in the fresh air tending to plants I've grown from seeds is just really pleasant, and don't even get me started on the feeling of accomplishment that comes with growing your own veg. I've been a happy gardener and plant mom for months now and I don't intend to stop anytime soon as this is one hobby which is definitely improving my mental health.
Listening to and collecting music
Listening to the right music can lift anyones mood but there's something different about curating your own physical music collection. Lately I've been collecting and immersing myself into the world of records. Relaxing to a soundtrack of records you've compiled yourself really hits differently when your mental health isn't the best.
Walking
Exercise! The first thing any doctor will prescribe when you tell them your mental health isn't great is to get out there any exercise. I know this isn't a possibility for everyone but for anyone who is able, walking is a great way to get some gentle exercise without spending any more. I often go for walks for fresh air and to wind down after a stressful day. Last summer I even walked to the top of a few peaks including Snowdon which gave me such a huge sense of achievement. I know mustering up the energy to exercise is incredibly difficult when you're feeling low, but even a short stroll can help ease those demons.
Tidying
I'm not entirely sure tidying the house counts as a hobby, but my god has tidying my living areas improved my mental health. They say your mood mimics your surroundings and I can vouch for this as doing a 10 minute tidy each day has helped me so much when I'm feeling down. For a lot of people with depression especially, cleanliness isn't a priority so things may be a challenge but nothing beats the feeling of living in a tidy happy space especially now so many of us are working from home.
Blogging / creating
I've been a blogger for years now and whilst it's always a hobby I've enjoyed, when I'm struggling with my mental health I find it helps. For me blogging is a kind of online diary, which I'm able to pour my feelings and creativity into. while I know sharing emotions with the world isn't for everyone, this is how I've chosen to process some of my darkest times. Journaling is another great way to transform any bad thoughts into something creative without oversharing online.
Do you have any hobbies that help with your mental health? I'd love to hear about what keeps you happy!
Thanks for reading!
