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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Is the Lake district suitable for a 4 year old ?

34 replies

mummyloveslucy · 01/04/2009 20:10

Hi, We haven't been on holiday since our honeymoon 6 years ago.
We now have a 4 year old daughter and would love to go to the lake district. I don't know if it's really suitable for a 4 year old though.
She loves the great outdoors, but could we really relax and enjoy it too?
She also loves the tales of Beatrix potter. She has them all on audeo CD and listenes to them at bed time. I know there is an attraction there which she will love.
She's never been on holiday before so I'm a bit undecided.
Have any of you been? where did you stay ? Was it good?
I'd be really greatfull for any advice.

OP posts:
flockwallpaper · 01/04/2009 20:14

Sorry, I haven't been but I am interested in replies. Hopefully someone will come along soon. I worry about what it would be like if it rains all week, like it did once when we went there before we had children. When it was just the two of us we would just stick the wet weather gear on and go out anyway...

Kbear · 01/04/2009 20:16

Do the same with the kids - make sure everyone is warm and waterproofed and go out and wander. Kids like the simple life, short walks, playing in streams with sticks, building camps, looking for birds etc. She'll love it.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 01/04/2009 20:17

We go all the time with our slightly younger dcs but yes, it's great for kids.
Never been to the commercial Beatrix Potter attraction but there's also Beatrix Potter's house, Hilltop, which belongs to the National Trust. Some of the drawings in the books were based on rooms in the house and there are lots of her things (eg dolls house furniture). The staff there are lovely with little ones too - I would think your dd would really enjoy it.

We generally camp or stay in youth hostels, but there are lots of hotels.

Lots to do and no reason why you shouldn't be relaxed!

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 01/04/2009 20:17

Perhaps water proof clothing should be high on our list of priorities then.
That would be so disapointing though.

OP posts:
Clayhead · 01/04/2009 20:17

I haven't done the Lake District but have done Yorkshire Dales with 3 and 4 year old dcs, also when they were 4 and 5 and 5 and 6!!

We always go self catering, take walking boots and waterproofs and try to walk as much as we can. ds is 5 now and can do up to around 7 miles - it always helps if there is a break for a sandwich along the way.

I think it is a fantastic holiday as the time spent together walking, with no distractions, phone calls etc. is just lovely family time.

HTH.

Kbear · 01/04/2009 20:18

It should be number one on the list!! If you have them you'll be fine, nothing worse than a wet, cold, whinging child husband!!

Millets do lovely flowery coats and if you need a pair of waterproof trousers I have some that are age 5-6 if you want them.

random · 01/04/2009 20:19

It does rain a lot in the lakes windermere is nice to visit it has a seasidey feel

chatee · 01/04/2009 20:19

yes definetly worth a visit ....

world of beatrix potter in ambleside
trotters animal park near bassenthwaite
feeding the ducks and crazy golf in keswick
are just a few things we have done(that are not that expensive)
lots of good walks around lakes.... cheaper

there are also ferry boats on derwentwater? and a small aquarium and open top bus rides

and a visitor centre at brockhole
and whinlatter forest
carlisle cathedral and bitts park

enjoy your visit!!!

Kathyis6incheshigh · 01/04/2009 20:20

There are lots of wet weather things to do. The usual museums, soft play etc, but for example you could go on a boat trip in a boat with a cabin so you wouldn't get wet

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 01/04/2009 20:20

Wow, camping would be fun. (I think)
How much is it to stay in a youth hostel, and what's it like? I don't know anything about them. I do need to keep the cost of it quite low.

OP posts:
chatee · 01/04/2009 20:21

oops really took too long typing (and thinking) and meant to say carlisle castle not cathedral(although it is lovely too)

WorkInProgress · 01/04/2009 20:23

It's great. One of our best holidays was a week in June with 2.5 year old and 9 month old. We got a great cottage. Loads to do, short walks, boat trips etc. A lot less hassle than going abroad. Recommend getting a self catering place so you have the option of cooking or eating out/ take out.

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 01/04/2009 20:24

Thanks Kbear, that's really sweet of you.

OP posts:
Kathyis6incheshigh · 01/04/2009 20:25

Youth Hostels
Basic family room with bunk beds about £45 a night, so cheaper than hotels but more expensive than camping. There are shared communal spaces and a self-catering kitchen you can use, plus they do meals at set times at quite reasonable prices. Most of them are in fantastic locations. Generally fairly basic and scruffy but friendly and nice atmosphere.

ProfYaffle · 01/04/2009 20:27

We took our 4 yo and 1yo last spring and they had a great time. We stayed on a Hoseasons holiday park on Windermere so we had stuff to do on site, pool etc. We went to the Aquarium of the Lakes, Beatrix Potter attraction and her house, the boat/train combo on Windermere, as well as a few short walks. Weather was mixed, some days were awful but didn't spoil our enjoyment (mil, on the other hand, was a different story )

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 01/04/2009 20:30

Thanks, sounds good to me.

OP posts:
chocolateshoes · 01/04/2009 20:31

you must go to Grizedale Forest which has some really easy flat walks with sculptures and musical instruments on the way. It also has a really good adventure playground & cafe.

Also Brockholes on Windermere is good with walks, picnic areas & very good playground.

And Fell foot park simialrly - boat rides, playground, cafe, lots of space to run around.

Your DD would love the steamer accross Windermere and propably the Steam train from Haverthwaite.

For walking you copuld try Gummers How - ds is 4 in June and has walked it. If you go the more gentle way round & you get a fab viwe over Windermemre. Make sure you get an ordonnance survey map.

Another nice easy walk is Tarn Hows - round small lake, not hilly and then you can stop at the Drunken Duck for a pint - they have lovely beer garden too.

The Swan pub at Newby Bridge (bottom of Windermere) does good food, has a marina & a good play area in the garden

The Aquarium of the Lakes is good for a rainy day and a bit further afiend the animal park at Dalton is very good for a day out.

Yes it is suitable for 4 yr old!

PatTheHammer · 01/04/2009 20:32

We went last summer with our 2 year old and loved it so much we are going back this summer with dd and our ds who will be 5 months. Loads to do with kids and although we only had 3 dry days out of 7 we were not short of child friendly activities.
Beatrix Potter land is good but doesn't take long (save for a rainy morning perhaps), nice cafe there but it is a little small. However Bowness (where the attraction is) is great with lots of boat trips and other things you can do. We also did a steam railway/aquarium thing and a farm park.
Enjoy but take your waterproofs

chocolateshoes · 01/04/2009 20:33

oh and if weather not good there is a soft play in Bowness called Lakeside (I think) with comfy leather sofas....

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 01/04/2009 21:37

Thanks everyone, I've looked at some cottages and hostels but it says price per person. Would our daughter be classed as another person? They don't mention children. I thought if we could have one room with a double bed, then we could take her blow up bed so she could sleep in the same room.

OP posts:
DadInsteadofMum · 02/04/2009 13:58

I first went to the LD when I was 6 and my sister 4 and have been taking my own kids to LD since the eldest was 9mo, lots of relatively short walks that still take you to the top of something (e.g Loughrigg, Stickle Tarn) so the kids feel they have climbed a mountain, lots of alternative activities (thought Beatrix Potter thing was Windermere not Ambleside - have been round once was OK) and if you can drive to the other side you also have the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway.

If really into Beatrix Potter then should walk Catbells (which is where Mrs Tigglywinkle is set) and if you start from Little Town you start form Mrs Tiggywinkles cottage.

Enjoy.

flockwallpaper · 03/04/2009 14:26

Some great suggestions here, will def try to book something for later in the year.

AnyFuckerStealsHerKidsEggs · 05/04/2009 22:08

btw, the Beatrix Potter attraction is free and great for littlies

don't worry too much about the weather, it is very changeable, so might start out wet, but when the sun comes out it is magical

Ponders · 05/04/2009 22:25

World of BP not free according to this...

Don't miss the pencil museum in Kendal! (or is it Keswick?)

AnyFuckerStealsHerKidsEggs · 05/04/2009 22:28

excuse meeeeeee.....

I went to the World Of Beatrix Potter in Bowness yesterday and it was completeley free for 2 adults and 2 dc