CONISTON gave a warm welcome to 28 visitors from its twin town of Illiers-Combray and celebrated 20 years of twinning at the village's Sports and Social Club.
Many were visiting the Lake District for the first time and were said to be 'amazed' by the mountainous scenery and adored the little black Herdwick lambs.
Illiers-Combray is a very pretty and historic town, but the countryside around it, in the Paris basin, is completely flat and largely covered with wheat fields, so Coniston is quite a contrast.
Some of the visitors enjoyed a ride in the steam boat Gondola, others admired the views of the Old Man and Wetherlam from Ruskins’s Brantwood garden, but the more energetic went on a steep walk up through the bluebells woods to Lawson Park.
One group took the X112 bus from Coniston to Bardsea to enjoy a coastal walk and a pub lunch. Another group went on a minibus tour of the Lakes with the local tour company, Bluebird tours, which included a ride on L’al Ratty and a chance to look round Eskdale.
At least 60 people turned up for the twinning celebration at Coniston Sports and Social Club. They enjoyed a sing song with the Coniston Community choir, a Jacob’s Join and a special birthday cake. The French guests also sampled roast beef and Yorkshire pudding at The Ship Inn, Coniston.
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