Brantwood Coniston

26/10/2026

📚✨Step inside the world of John Ruskin at Brantwood...

Autumn is the perfect time of year to head over to Coniston and enjoy a fascinating trip around the house itself. With so many of John Ruskin’s treasures to discover up close and the chance to catch a glimpse of stunning Lake District views from every window, whatever the weather has planned - it will certainly be a trip to remember.

🌸 New this October we also have a rather exciting celebratory exhibition, ‘Brantwood in Bloom’ which illustrates the history and heritage of the gardens here created by John Ruskin and his cousin Joan Severn, right through to modern day and the recent RHS Chelsea gold medal win. Entry is free with your admission.

☕ Cozy coffees and early Christmas shopping are also topping the list over the next few months - The Terrace cafe is open for brunch, lunch and afternoon treats as always (we’ve always got our eye on the pistachio and carrot cake...) plus we have some fantastic gifts in the shop from local artists as well as our lovely Brantwood favourites 🎁

So go on, pop an autumnal date in the diary and we’ll look forward to seeing you soon for a day of inspiration here at beautiful Brantwood ❤️

25/10/2026

Open today!

Our wonderful staff have made it in, so the café and house are both open today.

The gardens and estate are however closed until the wind dies down, but a warm welcome awaits you at the café.

22/10/2026

Coniston - a valley of two halves this morning! 🌈😍

20/10/2026

Remember, Remember, Stargazing November!
Brantwood Dark Skies and Pie Moonlight Walks
Saturday 7th & Saturday 14th November 2026 6pm – 9pm

Guided walk with professional Mountain Leader, Martin Rivett

Saturday 7th November: Crag Head
Discover the night sky over Coniston Water from Crag Head (233m), a recognised Dark Skies environment. The route includes some steep paths and stone steps, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended. This walk is for human companions only, so please leave four-legged friends at home.

Saturday 14th November: High Walk
A gentler, lower-level experience to High Walk, a flat open area within the Brantwood Gardens. This evening is family and dog friendly.

Both evenings begin with a homemade pie supper in the Coach House Loft, followed by an introductory talk and then the guided walk. Please wear suitable footwear and appropriate clothing for the conditions.

£25 per person, including supper. Numbers are limited, so we recommend booking early to secure your place.

Accessibility: The routes are not suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or prams due to the natural terrain.
BOOK NOW: https://www.brantwood.org.uk/event/remember-remember-stargazing-november/

Supper options: Choose from meat or vegan when booking. Both are served with gravy, pea purée and sweet pickles.

Remember, Remember, Stargazing November! Brantwood Dark Skies and Pie Moonlight Walks Saturday 7th & Saturday 14th November 2026 6pm – 9pm Guided walk with professional Mountain Leader, Martin Rivett Saturday 7th November: Crag Head Discover the night sky over Coniston Water from Crag Head (233m),...

16/10/2026

STUNNING! Sunset over Coniston taken last night by our Director. Where else would you want to be at moments like this 😍

12/10/2026

📷🤩 This time last week...

We welcomed Larry Lamb to Brantwood to share his wonderful poetry with us.

As we reflect on what was a simply fabulous occasion (and sell-out event!) we had to share one of our favourite photos of the day, Larry with some of our wonderful team here at Brantwood in Ruskin's beautiful Drawing Room.

It was a joy to see everyone having such a memorable evening and even better to have Larry stay with us for a few days and soak up the very landscape that inspired John Ruskin himself. We'd love to welcome him back to the Lake District anytime.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and we can't wait to host some more special events soon! 🧡

09/10/2026

Thank you to Moray and Hazel and The Ford Park volunteers for all their hard work yesterday in The Professor’s Garden and The Fern Garden. Such a great day all round. We loved having you here and our Gardens Team really appreciated your help and cheerful company. 🌱🪏🍂

06/10/2026

If you joined us last night in John Ruskin’s beautiful Drawing Room you were in for an extra special treat! 📖

Larry Lamb captivated us all with a his wonderful poetry here at Brantwood - the perfect Lake District setting for the evening.

Larry shared poems from his personal collection as well as stories from his early life in a fabulous conversation with our Director Howard Hull. His journey through acting and into writing was a joy to listen to and luckily for our guests the evening didn’t end there…

With plenty questions and time to meet Larry himself after the readings - it truly was a very special occasion to remember for everyone who came along 🤩

05/10/2026

While our gardens are still looking lovely with Autumn colours coming on a treat, the weather can be a 'bit uncertain' at times! Step inside to see our new exhibition in the Severn Studio 'Brantwood in Bloom'. This exhibition is a celebration of over 200 years of evolution of Brantwood’s gardens and estate. Not only do the gardens represent an important phase in the history of garden development, encompassing the evolution of the ‘Wild Garden’, but it remains a special place for the interpretation of Ruskin’s philosophies. While we look back at an amazing year for Brantwood, winning a Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 and obtaining our Plant Heritage National Collection of Wisteria, we also look forward to the opening of the newly restored Professors Garden in the Spring of 2027. Included in admission ticket.

25/09/2026

🍂✨ As September settles over Coniston Water, there’s still plenty to be discovered here at Brantwood…

Wander through the gardens as the colours begin to change and take in the stunning Lake District landscape from up high or right by the water. 🌿

Come and explore Treasures of the Earth: The Mineral World of John Ruskin - a dazzling journey through Ruskin’s lifelong fascination with minerals, beauty and the natural world. Taking place in the Blue Gallery until 25th October 💎

Or simply join us for a fabulous lunch, coffee or cake in The Terrace Café – we might be a little bit biased but we’re pretty sure there’s no nicer place to sit and relax (stunning September views guaranteed!)