What would you do for one day in the Lake District?

[GoFishFingers]

Basically we will be on our way home from holiday, should be somewhere around Penrith by 11am ish on Friday and happy to drive an hour or so on from there and then have until 5pm ish free. Never really been to the lakes, would love some advice on what to do/where to go - four of us, 2 children ages 8 and 3.

Also last time we went to Aira force, there was zero parking as it was absolutely heaving.
Not pushchair friendly due to the millions of steps, little paths, tree roots, rocks and stones. We spent the majority of the walk lifting, twisting and with a pushchair at 90 degrees between the two of us while trying to keep an eye on our 3 year old!
Nightmare.

Utterly utterly stunning walk though, without a pram, absolutely amazing place.

Do Tarn Howes, gorgeous and little kid friendly.

@WhatsALieIn

Hi I live in Penrith.

Whilst Aira Force is a nice place it is definitely not pushchair friendly. There are sheer steep drops with no barriers too so extremely dangerous for little kids.

I would definitely recommend Lowther Castle. It’s a derelict castle in stunning grounds with an amazing outdoor adventure play area.

Or a walk around Keswick and visit the ‘puzzling place’ get a donut from ‘Bruce and Lukes’ and have a walk down to the lake.

Oh god I live Bruce & Luke's!!!!

Deffo don't drive over Kirkstone Pass - it's horrific at the minute.

But definitely do what @WhatsALieIn or @dollypartonsperm have suggested, I'm local too and was going to suggest similar things

Haha, thanks for all the tips and comments. We won't be able to get there earlier - have to pack up etc before starting our drive but I know everywhere will be busy and there is no getting around that. One of our party is a blue badge holder (but for mental rather than physical reasons so can walk etc) so I'm hoping that will help with parking!!