Have you climbed a uk mountain with your primary school aged dc?

[InterstellarDrifter]

It’s one of the things I want to do this year. Can you tell me which mountain please and how it went?

We used to stay in Lake District every year. Children did the ‘motorway mountains’ like Catbells from about four. They did Skiddaw, Robinson, Causey from about six.

They used to walk daily from Littletown over the saddle of Catbells/Maidenmoor down to Grange and across to Lodore or stop at Chinese bridge for a swim.
We’ve also done a few of the Munro’s but I think they were upper primary/lower secondary age.

Kinder Scout isn't a mountain!

There are good options for "mountains" in the Peak District that don't have the height, but do have that atmosphere. Bonus points for well laid tourist paths.

Dovedale/ Thorpe Cloud
Mam Tor
Surprise View (a ridge with lots of lovely rock formations, car park near the top and good for a beginners wander and explore.

Mine (6&9) have done the 5 mile loop around Mam Tor a few times. They love the collapsed road section on the way down which means it's just the last flat bit where the whinging kicks in.

Dovedale is within an hour from us so we can romp around there regularly in the summer months which is good for building stamina.
From London, it's worth considering more accessible upland areas like the Chilterns to test the ground.

I'd consider Kinder Scout in good summer weather, but am now rusty about the details at the top, so would want a good day even without it's tendency to inclemment weather. I know my DCs haven't been out enough in recent months to have the stamina at present.

Lots of sweets. Spare warm layers. Walking recently, I had a survival shelter and sleeping bag for any delays/ mishaps. DS1 is the kind of child in need of a good stick, so brought one he foraged earlier! On this occasion, I was confident that we knew our Mam Tor route well enough to not need a map as we've been up a lot and it's fresh in mind.

We did the Cat Bells in the Lake District when they were 5 (walked all) and largely carried our 3 year old.

Paths in the mountains are not always obvious, and there may be multiple paths - some of which lead to dangerous ground.

Ben Nevis is in no way suitable for beginners. There is a path, yes, but the safe route takes you close to the cliffs and there are fatalities on Ben Nevis most years. There is often snow on the summit (and cornices over the gullies, so you can't see whether you're on solid ground) until mid summer.

If your experience is as low as your posts suggest, I'd recommend either a properly easy route - some in the Peak District would be very suitable (although don't try to cross Kinder if you can't work a compass!), or something straightforward in the Lakes, or hiring a leader for the day.

Edale weekend for the win!

The biggest problem with Kinder Scout is that if you take your kids up Grindsbrook Clough, they’ll have so much fun they’ll complain that all other mountains are too dull if the weather is poor, go up and back down the same route rather than walking around the plateau.

Grindsbrook Clough is excellent for a bit of an adventure for kids.

I would be wary of taking small kids up Helvellyn - Striding Edge has a very steep drop!

Do it from the Thirlmere side.

Not a mountain at all but I'd recommend Malham, it's amazing.

Lots of good recommendations already. If your kids are fairly fit but you live somewhere flat, IME the main issue is that going uphill can hurt the backs of the calves (stretching in an unaccustomed way as well as lack of apt muscles I think) so let them stop as often as they need, turn round and enjoy the views!

Mam Tor shouldn't be a problem at all though, good first choice - carry on along the ridge for fantastic views!

Yes. We’ve done a few Munro’s in Scotland now, first one when they were 5 and 7. Our criteria are not too much climb so pick ones with a high starting point, good wide tracks, easy navigation, good weather and good views. Be prepared for it to take a lot longer than you expect!

We have a storm shelter for stopping for lunch in if it’s a bit windy or just for the novelty value of sitting in a giant bag. We also take lots and lots of snacks/treats/sweets to keep them going.

They are a bit older now so it’s a lot easier!

We’ve done the one @Rhubarbisevil refers to I think - either Cairn Aosda or Cairnwell. Both start from the Glenshee ski centre car park and are only about 250m of ascent and 2 or 3km to the top, all on nice wide tracks.

Cat Bells is an excellent starter mountain, and has the added bonus of being accessed by boat! There is virtually no parking around the foot of Cat Bells, and walkers are encouraged to get the launch boat service from Keswick. You can get woven badges for many of the peaks from tourist info, which my dc (then 7 and 10) loved for their Cub camp blankets.

Echo @BikeRunSki Catbells is great for kids, boat to get there and back and had small "scrambly bits" but nothing outrageous!

It is a LONG drive to the Lakes but there are so many great walks and other things to do.

Get a rowing boat or little motorboat on Ullswater or Windermere , take the steamer all the way down Ullswater, go abseiling at Cathedral Caves, short walk and picnic by a tarn or waterfall, visit stone circles, mines and Wray Castle. Beatrix Potters house, Allan Bank for a NT /Arty crafty day.

Loads of walks with great views and summits in the midst of others so you really feel ‘in the mountains’.

But.... the M6. Terrible.

We also attempted Hartafell last week in the lakes but the weather turned almost instantly and we had several much younger children with us so we turned back. Beautiful and although it was challenging, my own family aren’t really climbers/walkers and we were managing fine. Just made sure we had snacks as bribes!

Actually, Hartafell was not the one when the weather turned on us, it was Great Langdale! Lovely with the waterfalls too.
We drove up to the lakes for a week from just outside London. We aren’t natural outdoorsy people, we do go for a walk most weekends but only for an hour or two and nothing massively tricky!

DD did pen y Ghent with her dad at 5, she loved it. Lots of sweets!

Our youngest was 4 when we did Snowden by the miners track. Took about 6hrs. The cafe is a good incentive. We also did pen y fan in South Wales which is a good one to start with, as is sugar loaf. From London the Peak District is a good weekend trip and whernside would be a good hill to try. Lots of cycling trails around there as well if the kids are bored of walking.

Erm... Whernside is in the Yorkshire Dales, which is significantly further north of London than the Peak District - a good couple of hours a the best part of 100 road miles.

The “big peak” in the Peak District is Kinder Scout, which I’d consider with KS2 + age children in fine weather. I find it to be very hard navigation in poor weather up there.

There are some amazing views from the fells around Ullswater. Gowbarrow from Aira Force is a lovely walk (although not a mountain as not high enough) Place Fell also a good one.

We've been up Catbells several times but it can almost be like a conveyor belt of people, especially on weekends.

I really wouldn't recommend Kinder Scout. We're keen walkers and that has to be my least favourite.

There's Hope Mountain in north wales. Great views from the top, and you can drive up there

Snowden took us about 6 hours all in with a 4 and 6 year old (no carries)

I once climbed snowdon a different route than the beaten path. I'm terrified of heights and was clinging onto a ledge type area almost screaming unable to move and a kid of about 11 walked past me with his parents literally walked while I ridiculously clung on like I was dangling over Everest lol.
Anyway, it's a nice climb/ walk

We did Scafell and my Dad ended up carrying me down as a fog came in. I agree it is interesting but very tiring for little legs.

Cat Bells is great as it has three peaks, so two false peaks then the final one. The views are amazing and you will get some stunning views.

Latrigg is not a mountain as such but a great one to do in Keswick. Also Whinlatter Forest is a good undulating walk.

All in Lakes.

The peak of Gummer’s How in the very south of the Lakes is literally about a half hour walk from the nearest car park. It’s not high enough to be a mountain, but it is a very easy walk for people who want “big mountain feel” and fabulous views, but don’t have the experience, time, fitness or have other constraints for going into the main mountains.