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Original poster

Beaches on the way to the Lakes

39 replies

swisherfisher · 02/08/2020 13:54

We are off up to the Lake District next week. We have had it booked since last summer, so please no "you shouldn't be going" or anything like that. We are a family of 4, avid walkers and are unlikely to do much other than walk, cycle and have lunch in the odd pub. We are staying in a remote cottage in the south lakes near Coniston Water.

The kids are absolutely desperate to go to the beach. I've had a quick look online but after some real suggestions. We would be happy to drive for about 45 minutes, which means we can reach the west coast and the southern bit of coast by Barrow.

We would like a nice beach - sandy preferably but stony would be ok. No need to have any 'facilities', though they would perhaps be nice. Kids just want to paddle and play for a bit. A walk by the sea would also be just lovely.

We absolutely do not want anything stupidly busy. We want to be as responsible as we can whilst holidaying. We will be driving up from the Midlands past Blackpool etc, did occur to us to stop off there (or nearby) on the way there or back, but am guessing that will be crazy busy, especially as our travelling days are a Saturday.

Any thoughts for nice beaches that would fit the bill?

OP posts:
jmh740 · 02/08/2020 15:14

If you go to the blue bird cafe ( think it's called that) there is a a bit of the shore where my children love to have a little paddle and skim stones and feed the birds, and as a bonus you can enjoy a cake and a coffee 😁

Toddlerteaplease · 02/08/2020 15:15

I was also going suggest Crosby. It's less than two hours from the lakes.

merryhouse · 02/08/2020 15:27

Ravenglass beach was lovely but when we were there it was full of little jellyfish

I don't know how often that happens - this was 2015 (fortunately our boys are older and we were there at the beginning of A Walk).

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Ginfilledcats · 02/08/2020 15:51

We're went to the lakes on Friday, it was 30 degrees. We swam in tarn Howe (definitely recommend - you can park then walk round the lake in about an hour and a half, choose your spot to have a picnic on the waters edge and jump in the lake. It's protected so no boats or fishing allowed - just swimming. It's also little known so super quiet).

Have previously swam in Coniston and bear Ambleside.

If you're desperate for a beach, Formby is lovely with a walk through the red squirrel woods first on the way to the beach.

GiantKitten · 02/08/2020 16:02

Just had another thought - you could try Fell Foot Park, at the southern tip of Lake Windermere. Not seaside, obv, but loads to do there including paddling & swimming.

NT so has to be prebooked atm.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fell-foot

GiantKitten · 02/08/2020 16:05

Oh, of course organised activities are all off just now at Fell Foot, I hadn’t thought of that Confused

Original poster
swisherfisher · 02/08/2020 16:17

Amazing tips, thanks everyone! We will try the lake that @Ginfilledcats has suggested as that sounds perfect.

Also Ravenglass looks perfect!

Wet suits and shoes on order. Great tips.

OP posts:
LoungeLizardLhama · 02/08/2020 16:21

Ooh rave glass is lovely and depending what age your children are they might like a trip on the tiny steam train ravenglass-railway.co.uk/covid-19-info.htm

vanillandhoney · 02/08/2020 16:31

Ravenglass is lovely but it's not a traditional beach - it's an estuary so it's mainly mud.

If you want a proper beach, go to Silecroft. It's about thirty minutes from Coniston and absolutely gorgeous :) there's toilets and a cafe, and very often an ice-cream van too.

Beaches on the way to the Lakes
Ginfilledcats · 02/08/2020 16:43

@swisherfisher oh good we loved it! Recommend getting there early though, walk anti clockwise (most people naturally walk clock wise round) then find your spot for a picnic and swim by 11:30/12. We walked round once, then repeated about 200m to get onto a grassy headland with tree cover for shade for our spot.

Best thing was there was a national trust ice cream van at the car park so a nice ice cream before getting in the car. And nice clean toilets in the car park too.

No one had wet suits on as it was so hot that day

Have a lovely time x

bellinisurge · 02/08/2020 16:55

@squanderedcore , it ain't no Golden Mile (I was brought up on Blackpool) but I was there recently and there was a bit. Was told by junior that sirens are cool. Maybe that's just us .

StripeyDeckchair · 02/08/2020 17:13

What about Allonby - excellent chippy there for tea - all along that stretch of coast there are beaches, dunes and hardly any people.

Original poster
swisherfisher · 02/08/2020 17:37

Allonby looks lovely but a bit far for us I think :)

OP posts:
squanderedcore · 02/08/2020 18:19

Arnside siren definitely cool Bellini Smile It's straight out of Dad's army (or it was, back then).

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