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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to plan a day trip to the Lake District? Help!

57 replies

Heyhihobye · Yesterday 01:08

Hiya Mumsnet, I am so confused and worried about sounding a bit thick, really.

I want to take my children (1, 6, 9) to the Lake District next week. I was thinking a full day trip - early morning to evening time.

I am basically clueless (trying to research online) and actually have no idea where to begin.

Is a day trip worthwhile and possible?
What do people actually do there?
What are your tips and recommendations?
How can I make the most of it?

Please help me out so I can create an itinerary and give the kids a nice memorable trip!

Thanks Mumsnet x

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · Yesterday 01:13

How far away are you?

Heyhihobye · Yesterday 01:15

sittingonabeach · Yesterday 01:13

How far away are you?

According to Google I am 55 minutes away from Lake District National Park. We are planning to move away in September so I thought I’d make the most out of it before then 😅

OP posts:
PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · Yesterday 02:08

I think that as you are under an hour away @Heyhihobye, that it could be worth it, but I'm not sure how much fun the children would find it, especially the 1 year old. If your youngest uses a pushchair you might want to check wherever it is that you intend to visit, as since I had to use a wheelchair, some places - a lot of places - were too difficult for me to negotiate. That was because many curbs, and steps into shops, cafes, and restaurants, are very high, and along with some cobbled roads - in some of the town centres - it was just too difficult for me to manoeuvre. Of course a pushchair is much lighter, as is it's occupant, so they could be lifted into many of the type of places I mentioned.

The only activity that I can think of at the moment, and that you may all enjoy, to a lesser or greater extent, is maybe a passenger boat ride on Lake Windermere. If you want to do that, Ambleside would probably give you the best choice. (Some of the other lakes also have passenger boats)

I think that it would also be a good idea to research beforehand any free childrens play parks, and maybe - if the 9 year old doesn't mind, have a cuppa and a snack at a childrens soft play, for the younger two? If you could find somewhere that had both soft play, and something like a childrens wall climbing activity, then that could make a reasonable place where they could all let of some steam!

Talking of steam, I have a feeling that there is also a pleasant steam train journey, but I think it is nearer to the West Coast, and probably quite south within the LD. But I'm sure that it wouldn't be hard to look it up. However, I found that when we were actually within the National Park, most of the roads are very windy - like a snake, rather than windy like a gale! - and, of course, they also had lots of ups and downs. I always loved that part as you could get some stunning views from the higher parts, but it does mean that if you want to visit several different places in the one day, the roads can make the journeys take quite a bit longer than you may imagine from the distances.

Personally, I would not have even attempted the LD if I didn't have another adult with me to help with three children, and you haven't mentioned whether anyone else is going with you. Of course you might have a much stronger constitution than I do, and a 1 year old, a 6 year old, and a 9 year old, might be a breeze for you, so please don't let any negativity I have shown, put you off if you have no worries about coping. I would just add that it probably wouldn't be a great idea to go if it is forecasted to be a rainy day... 🤭

Whatever you do with them next week, I hope you all have a brilliant time 😁

BigYellowBus · Yesterday 02:15

It would be helpful to know which direction you will be coming from. No point in advising for Windermere if you'll be in Penrith

akkakk · Yesterday 04:02

The boat on Windermere (it is a Mere not a lake apparently!) goes to the south of the ‘lake’ where you can get off and get the steam train from the same place going south and back to catch the next boat back…

alternatively if you can carry the 1 yr old and the others can walk - waterfalls like Aira Force by Ullswater are good fun…

Keswick has the pencil museum and a place with lots of optical illusions / a good toy shop / a park with pitch and putt golf / walk to derwent water / feed the ducks there or take large boat trip / hire your own rowing boat or motor boat / walk around a bit of the lake (flat and easy)

Somnambule · Yesterday 04:27

Do you have a car? If so, I recommend Tarn Hows - it's a national trust owned tarn (basically tiny lake) with a fully accessible path round it. The views are beautiful and it will give you the Lake District experience without challenging terrain. Your older children will absolutely love the freedom of being in a wild beautiful landscape. There's a lovely cafe there too. Definitely don't take them to soft play!!

Ambleside is a pretty town and has a nice park but be warned, it will be very busy in half term. The roads are narrow and twisty but don't be put off, just take it steady and use the passing places. You'll have a lovely time, the lake District is mind-blowingly beautiful.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/tarn-hows-and-coniston

Tarn Hows and Coniston | Lake District

Discover Tarn Hows and Coniston, great places to walk and picnic, or to begin your wider Lake District countryside adventure.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/tarn-hows-and-coniston

Zanatdy · Yesterday 04:33

tell chat GPT what you want to do, and how much time you have and it will work our an itinerary for you.

TheatreTraveller · Yesterday 04:49

I live in the North East of England and often have a day trip to the lakes. With children those ages I'd concentrate on Windermere.
Our last day trip I went with my mam and kids, we got there early and did Beatrix Potter Visitor Attraction, then down to the lake and did a lake cruise over to the other side - did the steam train and Aquarium of the Lakes, cruise back over and had fish and chips, then a look round shops on way back to the car.

CheshireDing · Yesterday 05:14

I presume you are driving there.

for children that age - Grasmere is lovely and easy to walk round, it has the gingerbread shop too. There is Faeryland there as well which you can walk to, hire a boat and get something from the cafe.

Beatrix Potters home near Ambleside is excellent, then you could drive down and poke about Ambleside town, there is a waterfall there too.

LocalHobo · Yesterday 05:17

Our last day trip I went with my mam and kids, we got there early and did Beatrix Potter Visitor Attraction, then down to the lake and did a lake cruise over to the other side - did the steam train and Aquarium of the Lakes, cruise back over and had fish and chips, then a look round shops on way back to the car.
I second this suggestion. The B Potter attraction is in Bowness, as is the quay to board the lake cruise.

Sartre · Yesterday 05:23

It depends where you are, the Lake District is huge so saying you’re 50 mins away is like- 50 mins from where exactly?? Windermere? Keswick? Ambleside? St Bees? Eskdaleside? It’s a pretty huge region!

Beatrix Potter world is good but always absolutely rammed, same with the boat trips on the lake in Windermere. To be frank, Windermere is lovely but just so packed all of the time. Beatrix Potter’s house in Ambleside is nice. The pencil museum in Keswick is surprisingly good on a rainy day… it’s mostly walking and scenery though OP!

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · Yesterday 05:27

BigYellowBus · Yesterday 02:15

It would be helpful to know which direction you will be coming from. No point in advising for Windermere if you'll be in Penrith

Maybe Ullswater in that case - I think it is further North, but I'm not positive about that? I loved Ullswater, and I know that it at least used to have a passenger boat, as we had a lovely split trip on it once. However, at that time I thought it was more of an adult, and maybe older teenager area when consideing tourists, than the lakes further south are? We certainly didn't have our children with us when we went there for a long weekend, but I could have been erroneous in my thinking then, and any actual activities for youngsters may have improved a lot, since then, if I wasn't.

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · Yesterday 05:44

akkakk · Yesterday 04:02

The boat on Windermere (it is a Mere not a lake apparently!) goes to the south of the ‘lake’ where you can get off and get the steam train from the same place going south and back to catch the next boat back…

alternatively if you can carry the 1 yr old and the others can walk - waterfalls like Aira Force by Ullswater are good fun…

Keswick has the pencil museum and a place with lots of optical illusions / a good toy shop / a park with pitch and putt golf / walk to derwent water / feed the ducks there or take large boat trip / hire your own rowing boat or motor boat / walk around a bit of the lake (flat and easy)

Edited

I agree with you that Windermere is actually a "mere", which apparently means "shallow lake", but if you look up the largest lake in England, it names Windermere, so I don't think we need to get too bothered by semantics here, when we are referencing what the OP wants to know. Having said that, when discussing something more formally, I am very keen on the correct usage of words, especially their accuracy, so thank you @akkakk for that information.

PumpkinPie2016 · Yesterday 05:54

I love the Lakes- very regular visitor!

I'd plan around Keswick. Loads to do there.

Puzzling place/the pencil museum are both good for an hour with kids.

Hope Park is lovely and you can get ice cream/play crazy golf.

Boat ride on the lake.

Nice easy lake side path for a walk - can go as far as you want and either walk back or get the boat back.

Plenty of places to eat.

The kids will love fraiers sweet shop on the maim Street.

Have a great time!

bk1981 · Yesterday 06:12

Will you be coming in from the a66 or m6?
What kind of things do you enjoy doing? Are your kids big walkers/ into boat rides/ splashing in lakes etc? Do you have a baby carrier or off-road pushchair?
Happy to make suggestions with some more details 😊.

akkakk · Yesterday 06:17

bk1981 · Yesterday 06:12

Will you be coming in from the a66 or m6?
What kind of things do you enjoy doing? Are your kids big walkers/ into boat rides/ splashing in lakes etc? Do you have a baby carrier or off-road pushchair?
Happy to make suggestions with some more details 😊.

I would def. Come in from the North / M6 -> A66 as the Kirkstone pass is currently closed (we were in the lakes last week!)

AIBU to plan a day trip to the Lake District? Help!
akkakk · Yesterday 06:18

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · Yesterday 05:44

I agree with you that Windermere is actually a "mere", which apparently means "shallow lake", but if you look up the largest lake in England, it names Windermere, so I don't think we need to get too bothered by semantics here, when we are referencing what the OP wants to know. Having said that, when discussing something more formally, I am very keen on the correct usage of words, especially their accuracy, so thank you @akkakk for that information.

Sorry - wasn’t getting at you - more an interesting fact - hence I then used lake to describe it because everyone does! 😀

Sartre · Yesterday 06:22

akkakk · Yesterday 06:18

Sorry - wasn’t getting at you - more an interesting fact - hence I then used lake to describe it because everyone does! 😀

It is a lake. Mere is just an old word for lake hence Windermere, Grasmere, Buttermere… A mere isn’t a separate thing.

Maray1967 · Yesterday 06:26

LocalHobo · Yesterday 05:17

Our last day trip I went with my mam and kids, we got there early and did Beatrix Potter Visitor Attraction, then down to the lake and did a lake cruise over to the other side - did the steam train and Aquarium of the Lakes, cruise back over and had fish and chips, then a look round shops on way back to the car.
I second this suggestion. The B Potter attraction is in Bowness, as is the quay to board the lake cruise.

Yes, this is probably the best option. If you want to go to the North Lakes instead as we usually do then I would head for Keswick and take the launch on Derwentwater. Go part way round clockwise and get off at High or Low Brandlehow, taking a picnic and clothes and footwear that they can paddle in. Then pick up the launch later on back to Keswick. There’s a big car park near the Lake with toilets.
We often have tea at the Fish and Chip restaurant at the top of the High St. As you’re going up the High St there is a fabulous sweet shop on the left.

KojaksLollipop · Yesterday 06:28

I’m in the NE and get to the Lakes usually every year, mostly just day trips. I like Keswick or Bowness, both good for kids.

Missohnoyoubetterdont · Yesterday 06:31

Sartre · Yesterday 06:22

It is a lake. Mere is just an old word for lake hence Windermere, Grasmere, Buttermere… A mere isn’t a separate thing.

technically none of the ‘lakes’ are actually lakes except Bassenthwaite, the others are waters, meres and tarns.

Missohnoyoubetterdont · Yesterday 06:35

I live here, I would go Keswick or also love Grasmere, Allen Bank is fabulous. Theres a room where kids can paint and be creative. There are always red squirrels about and it’s just a lovely place to wander round. Beatrix Potter stuff there too. A few nice shops/cafes in the centre of Grasmere and the gingerbread place. Lovely walks around the lake and a fairy place with boats. You can also paddle and swim if nice day.

Sirzy · Yesterday 06:37

Brockhole is also worth a visit will often have on specific activities for children

Sartre · Yesterday 06:41

Missohnoyoubetterdont · Yesterday 06:31

technically none of the ‘lakes’ are actually lakes except Bassenthwaite, the others are waters, meres and tarns.

That’s like saying something isn’t a river but an Avon, you’re just using old English to describe a lake. Bassenthwaite is the only one with lake in the name, it doesn’t mean it’s the only lake.

Missohnoyoubetterdont · Yesterday 06:50

Sartre · Yesterday 06:41

That’s like saying something isn’t a river but an Avon, you’re just using old English to describe a lake. Bassenthwaite is the only one with lake in the name, it doesn’t mean it’s the only lake.

It’s just a nice little fun fact, like I said technically they are not lakes except one
www.lakelovers.co.uk/blog/how-many-lakes-in-the-lake-district/

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