The Wilsons Arms (Coniston)

Head two-miles south from Coniston village along the A593 and you will find the quirky and charming Wilsons Arms in the hamlet of Torver. This delightful inn is brimming with character, from the unusual fish tank housed in an old fashioned red phone box outside the pub’s entrance, to the cubicles of the ladies’ toilets that are made with slabs of slate and sections of trees.

Superbly located, the inn lies on the Cumbria way and is a day’s hike from the start of the route in Ulverston. As a result, it’s a popular place for walkers to stay the night, especially as they can stock up for the next day in the inn’s very own deli shop.

Food & Drink

The Wilsons Arms is a free house, and takes pride in serving real Cumbrian ale. You will find some of Cumbria’s most successful brews here, including Coniston Bluebird, Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold, and Barngates Brewery Tag Lag, as well as other guest ales. Guinness and various lagers are available on tap, and there is a wide selection of ciders to choose from.

The wine list has 20 varieties sourced from around the world, with four available by the glass. There is a fine selection of spirits and whiskies, and for non-alcohol drinkers, various soft drinks and barista style coffee is available.

The Menu

The food at the Wilsons Arms is highly rated, and for walkers who are passing by it’s useful to have a venue that serves food all day from 8.30am. Cooked breakfasts are available in the mornings, and, during lunchtime and the afternoon, there is a good choice of sandwiches, platters, and main meals. In the evenings, there is a tempting array of “pub classics”, including sausage and mash, scampi, and battered haddock and chips.

The chef uses locally sourced produce wherever possible and all the dishes, including the desserts, are made on site. The portions are generous and the menu is reasonably priced. However, it’s worth noting that there are limited options for vegetarians. There is a children’s menu with the usual favourites, and a meal deal for children with a main, pudding, and drink is available.

Other Features

There are two beer gardens at the Wilsons Arms. To the front of the property, there are a number of tables and chairs where you can watch the comings and goings of the hamlet, or perhaps watch the fish in the unusual fish tank.

To the rear of the property, there a terrace with cushioned outdoor seating and heating, as well as an enormous grassed area with picnic tables, surrounded by farm fields with various animals to keep you company. The pub operates a deli in one end of the building. Here you can buy freshly made sandwiches, filled jacket potatoes, soups, breakfast rolls, and various sweet treats, as well as grocery essentials.

Accommodation

The Wilsons Arms has seven en-suite bedrooms available to let on a B&B basis. These stylish and immaculately presented rooms all feature televisions, free Wi-Fi, and a hospitality tray with complimentary bottled water. There is one single, five doubles, and one triple room. Room one is particularly spectacular with a copper bath at the foot of the bed and a large walk-in monsoon shower, whilst room two also has a large monsoon shower and its own log burner. These two rooms also have their own mini bar.

Guests of the Wilsons Arms have access to a drying room, a wash room for muddy boots and bikes, and secure cycle storage. A continental breakfast is included in the room rate, with a cooked breakfast available for an additional charge. Dogs and children are permitted to stay in certain rooms only.

In addition, the inn has a number of holiday cottages and apartments in the nearby area available to let on a self catered basis, ranging from a one bedroom apartment to a three bedroom cottage. There is one luxury executive suite that has its own hot tub and other special features, such as a PlayStation, docking station, sound system, and remote controlled shower. All cottages and apartments have fully fitted kitchens.

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