UK walking holiday with DC - experience or tips please?

[Iheartholidays]

I'm trying to search online but search results are mostly expensive guided walking trips.

I will be with a 13 year old and 9 year old. None of us are particularly fit but enjoy a walk with lovely scenery.

I think 5 nights/6 days with 3 or 4 of those days doing some walking. Somewhere in England accessible by train. We are in the South East so the lakes probably too far. Mileage wise we aren't going to cover much distance but I like the idea of staying in different places. Although in holiday periods we might struggle to book single nights (maybe youth hostels with private rooms but I hate the metal bunks).

Has anyone done similar (and did DC enjoy it?!)

My dad used to take us long walks on holiday at that age and I bloody hated it. It was just so boring. Sorry, but I really don't think that'll be 9 and 13yr old idea of fun. You know your own kids though.

I'd maybe soften in by staying in a nice lodge or hotel with on site leisure facilities.

We’ve done it in the lakes with 9 and 7 year olds. However we stayed in one place - I wouldn’t consider moving accommodation, especially as you’re getting the train as then presumably you’d need to carry all of your luggage on your walks.
On the whole the kids loved it but it was exhausting and we definitely (and we’re lucky to have) needed a nice place to stay to relax in the evenings. We had to pack loads of snacks every day and also keep up the chat during the walks (generally about minecraft) to keep their attention away from finding it difficult.

So you could do Yorkshire coast. Maybe robin hood's bay, to Whitby, to Redcar. These are stunning coastal walks. Think there would be B and B options so one night not a problem. I think you are brilliant to do this. Good for you. As a child I think I would have loved it but it's not for everyone.

We have taken kids abroad of similar ages for walking holidays. We just had a holiday rental and did day trips from there as it was in the mountains.
Maybe the New Forest? Or a bit of the South West Coastal path?

Not sure what time of year you are thinking of, but my main tips are
bring lots of water, food + snacks + more snacks, plasters, nettle cream, waterproofs. Kids of that age can definitely carry a bag each but maybe not if its several days of clothing etc. The SWCP does have a service to ferry bags.

Or, just an idea, you could stay a week in Whitby and do walks to robin hood's bay and Redcar (opposite direction) from there. It's a fabulous base and this might give you the best of both worlds.

I was going to say North Yorks coast too. You could start at Staithes, walk to Runswick Bay. Then onto Sandsend and Whitby. Spend a day or two there and then walk to Robin Hood's Bay and stay at Boogle Hole Youth Hostel. Not massive amounts of walking but enough and beautiful scenery.
If you wanted to extend it you could get the bus from Robin Hood's Bay into Scarborough spend a night there and then walk to Filey. Lots for kids to do in Filey, Scarborough and Robin Hood's Bay.

My dad used to take us long walks on holiday at that age and I bloody hated it. It was just so boring. Walking in mountains and camping/hostelling are some of my favourite childhood memories. My children might not love it like I did but I don't think they'll hate it. Its possible though!!

We are good at packing light but it's a good point about carrying bags. I've just looked at the bag carrying service thanks.

I really like the idea of actually traveling each day with a break in middle. I get perhaps its not sensible but as a child it seemed really adventurous.

I could drive but prefer long distances by train over car. Although trains to Yorkshire etc are expensive so might have to rethink that.

Some good ideas of areas - im looking at, thanks.

I'd do the Dorset coast. Walks around Swanage, Studland, Corfe Castle, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.

Train to Bournemouth/Wareham. Bus route along the coast too.

My dad used to take us long walks on holiday at that age and I bloody hated it. It was just so boring. Walking in mountains and camping/hostelling are some of my favourite childhood memories. My children might not love it like I did but I don't think they'll hate it. It's possible though!!

I'm afraid I was another one who hated long walks. My siblings and parents loved them though. I think one of my siblings would say that some of the walks are their favourite childhood memories: I would say some of my more miserable holiday memories.

I can describe them.
We'd be told we were going for a walk, perhaps 2-3 hours. No option for staying behind. Even when as an older teen I expressed not wanting to go, I would be guilted into going "as a family".
So we'd drive until they found somewhere free we would park. This normally involved slotting the car into the side of the road a long way from where the walk really started.
After about 4-5 hours I'd ask how much further and get a reply along the lines of "well, we were going so well that I thought we'd go a little further. You see the hill in the distance? (with squinting and a little imagination) We're aiming for the one just beyond that."
Shortly afterwards df/dm would decide on taking a short cut. This would involve at least three of the following:

1. A muddy field/lane with soggy mud you were up to your knees at least. Sister once lost a boot in a particularly bad patch. I think that may be my best memory of a walk. At least I laughed.
2. Going through a farmyard with (naturally) territorial dogs. Df was fine (all animals love him) and the dogs would fawn over him and then go for the rest of us.
3. Going through a field with cows. Repeat df would be fine because cows loved him too. Then we'd have to push through a herd of cows all standing staring after df to get to the only stile out of the field. Don't trust cows. I'm sure they're trying to take over the world.
4. Discovery of loss of map or generally getting lost, probably in an area where there are no landmarks and definitely no one to help.
5. Df walking so far in front of us that we don't see that he's taken a small turning off to one side. We don't have the map and have no idea where we are and no mobile phones to call either. Then we can both walk round in (different) circles for hours until independently both decide to head for the car. If we're un fortunate enough to meet up before we're halfway back walk will be resumed.
6. Df/dm seeing the rare lesser-spotted-what's-its-name which is tiny and possibly hiding in the top of the tallest tree. We have to wait half an hour with them hushing us in excitement until they discover what they've actually been watching was a sparrow/empty crisp packet/a speck on the end of their binoculars.

Then we'd have the picnic. Soggy sandwiches because dm would fill them with frozen ham. Yuck. Frozen drink which I never drank any of because I was always afraid of needing the toilet and there never was one. Cake, homemade-often by the time we got it would be more crumbs than cake. Biscuits that always went to my brother because he was "hungry". Fruit - the juicer and drippier the better. probably produced when near a wasps' nest.
All in all, what that taught me was how to appear to eat an entire picnic without actually eating anything, and to loathe pack lunches. The smell of a pack lunch box still makes me heave.

Once we arrived back at the car, about 2-3 hours after sundown. Then we had the game of "you're not getting in the car with that mud on you". So we had to brush ourselves down and eventually get in the car. The next day the amount of mud in the car would be noted and complained about.

So we'd arrive home very late, me not having eaten or drunk all day, which tends to give me a migraine. Unfortunately a migraine also makes me nauseous, so by the time I got to bed (brother had to have his bath first because he was the youngest, but there was always the game of argue with him for half an hour before he'll go and actually get wet) I felt sick, and then dm would come and enthusiastically tell me how much I'd obviously loved the day and couldn't wait to do it again. 🙄

🤣

I have heard that HF organise family walking holidays, one centre based and apparently quite popular. Your DC would then meet others which might be more exciting.
I have been with HF doing some of the south coast path (but with no dc) and was pleasantly surprised how well organised they were.

Otherwise, maybe some of the Thames path or south /SW coast using trains/buses for a few days?

Some guide books for trails do give details of connecting public transport eg South Downs.

There is a poster on here who walked the whole SW coast path with her DC's of similar age but having done half of it myself, it's quite tough in places so maybe not for first trip.

The South West Coast Path has a Sherpa service that will take your kit from point A to point B so it's waiting for you when you arrive.

I've never used it as DH has wimped out with age, so walks a short distance with me then turns back to the car and drives to meet me at the other end. I do recall it not being overly expensive though and an infinitely better option than lugging your kit with you.