Walks in the lakes with young kids

[oiboi]

We're in the lakes for a week and have 5 year olds and looking for some walk suggestions.

We're going to do cat bells (any parking suggestions for best route for small legs?) and looking for others which will have enough to keep all of us interested?

We've done gunners Howe, old man, Loughrigg tarn, cathedral cave, tarn hows and Grasmere/Rydal etc and few other random ones.

Staying in Ambleside but happy to drive.

Thanks

Rydal caves is nice.

Orrest Head in Windermere is lovely and gives great views. It was the first Lakes walk we ever did with our kids and they were fine with it.

There is a nice little walk from Rosthwaite to Grange, past a river where you can paddle etc, and it ends at a lovely tea shop if it’s open.

Walking around Derwent water is nice, especially if you buy a hop on hop off boat ticket so that little legs can hop on the boat for a bit if they get tired.

How long a walk are you looking for?

There's stockghyll waterfalls.

Wansfell - is a longish walk but its got a defined path all the way to the top.

Todd crag- overlooks the lake and is an easy walk.

Tarn Hows near Coniston. Circular walk around a tarn very pretty and ice cream van often in the car park.

Hallin Fell. You can park in a field in Pooley Bridge for a few pounds and walk to the cruiser to the bottom and walk up. Go to the top of the Fell as there are fantastic views. You can park on that side of the Lake but often busy. Can’t remember the name of the stop on the pier.
Granny Dowbekin’s has a garden by the river and the food is great.

Bowness on Windermere. Walk up the Claire and across fields to Sawrey. Have lunch in the Tower Arms ( in Beatrix Potters story of Squirrel Nutkin) and visit her house at Hilltop. There used to be a guided walk from the tourist info shop and the guide showed the tree in the story and a couple of other things on the way referring to the illustrations. Not sure if they still do this and not appropriate at this time but they might tell you what to look out for in the wood. It is a lovely walk.
There is a little book of tea shop walks.
Hope the weather is kind to you. Have fun.

If you're passing any bookshops, then it might be worth picking up the Kiddiwalks book for the Lakes? We used the Peak District one when our kids were small and it was brilliant.

www.bookscumbria.com/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_3525

Steamer pier is Howtown. Otherwise you could try and park at Martindale but often busy as there isn’t much parking. Lovely little church at Martindale.

Just remembered Aira Force. Fantastic waterfall and great for photos. Five year old can do this easily as DD did it at 2. Can be muddy though so good boots.
Agree with walk around Derwent Water and the Rosthwaite to Grange the cafe has outside tables and might be open now.

Grizedale Forest is always popular with our 5yo

Brilliant, thanks all.

Would like 3-6 miles. We love the walk down the Derwent.

The one up to hilltop sounds good, tho guessing it won't be open.

I've seen Orrest head on a few websites so might try that.

Thanks guys, keep them coming, we've 5 days to fill!

We also like Aira Force, and some of the walks from Wray Castle. And I'd second Tarn Howes.

I tend to park here for Cat Bells. There's a long layby that has quite a few spaces for cars and you can then walk along the lower path to the north end of the fell, up over the ridge and back down. There isn't much parking at the north end and it does fill up early, especially this time of year.

Buttermere is a favourite of my two, especially as we always stop at Syke Farm for an ice cream at the end.

The coffin route at Loweswater is a good one, you can drop down through the forest and down to the lake.

Latrigg

There's also Dodd Wood at Bassenthwaite with a good walk up to the summit of Dodd. Great views from there and you might see Osprey.

Around Grasmere you've got Loughrigg Fell and the other fells around it, quite easy for kids round there, just pick a route.

Galleny Force and Black Moss Pot, plunge pools with waterfalls along the Cumbria Way heading out of Borrowdale from Stonethwaite towards Langdale.

Ha, came on to suggest a walk around Buttermere, but a PP has beaten me to it!

The walk round Buttermere is lovely - low level, defined path, tunnel at one side but you'll need your wellies to walk through if it's been wet. Crummock - Walk down to the Lake by the river then a bit of stone skimming when you get there.

And me!

Pick up a copy of miles without styles some great shorter walks

Also, the beaches at Ravenglass and St Bees are good for a walk.

Ooh butter mere sounds good. Would like a mixture of high fells and lower walks.

We wondered about going up to stickle tarn as we thought they'd like the climbing rock path and if it's warm enough for paddle/swim at the top. Anyone done that?

Thanks all.

There are plenty of parking options nearby – including a local field that charges a small amount – but it’s also a pleasant stroll from Portinscale or Keswick. we parked our car in the Lakeside car park in Keswick. Parking here was pretty steep at £7 for six hours, but convenient. There are also public toilets there. We took the steamer from the Keswick Launch, sailing across to the Hawse End jetty. At Hawse End there’s a path straight to the foot of Cat Bells. It is clearly sign posted so you can’t go wrong. Once on Catbells heading south, you can turn left at Hause Gate and descend on a path to the wooded area of Manesty, before returning on a lower path north to catch a return launch. We walked for a total of three hours but that includes a stop for snacks and lunch break.

Another good walk: Catch the Ullswater steamer to Howtown. Turn right at the pier, follow the signs around the lake – there is a nice stony beach near the start – and then head up.The wide fields narrow to a small rocky path as you climb up. It isn’t steep but some parts are tight and there are drops, then skirt the lake around Hallin Fell. There are great picnic spots with amazing lake views and a fun section of exposed sandstone which children can clamber on. You can either turn back at the sandstone for a shorter walk or head right the way around Hallin Fell and back to Howtown. There is a lovely tea room – but don’t forget to check the steamer timetable to catch your boat back.
We particularly like a walk at Muncaster Fell because it combines so well with a trip on theRavenglass and Eskdale Railway. One great route is from Ravenglass to the Irton Road station, which is approx six miles and follows the ridge of the fell, with amazing scenery all around. Don't forget to get an intermediate station timetable, and to check times carefully if planning to catch a return train later in the day.
Whinlatter has amazing views across Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Keswick. There are several walking trails, plus bike hire, picnic areas,ma play area and a cafe.

family-walks-pubs-lake-district.com/

One of the best walks we ever did was when dc & sdc were quite small - on our first trip to the lakes as a family.

We went up (and down !) Cat Belles.. it was like watching the end of the sound of music .. As DCs were 3.5,5,7,9,9 &11..: 15 years ago now but they still talk about it.. we fell head over hills for the lakes and have been every year since - but now in glorious childfree-ness..