Lake District with small children

[BikeRunSki]

I love and adore the Lakes, have been going all my life, but only know it as a rufty tufty climber, walker, mountaineer, mountain biker, and have seldom been without wild camping.

Now have 2 DC, 3.5 and 0.5 and looking to spend a week in the Lakes soonish. Have eliminated Centre Parks as DH can't swim, doesn't see a swimmimg pool as the basis of a holiday.

Whereabouts should we base oursleves for a child size holiday in the Lakes? DS is just beginning to be able to walk a fair way - couple of miles, can be tempted up small "mountains" with mini eggs and choccie buttons.

I'm thinking we need a bit of towniness for easy cafe lunches, pottering on wet days etc. Cottage? B&B? Bunk house? Any personal recommendations for places to stay, places to visit, things to do etc with LOs.

Anyone?

Windermere or Ambleside for towniness?

Keswick base - coffe shops and a good swimming pool not forgetting the best crazy golf ever.
Also at Keswick a great children's park and a lovely easy walk along the disused railway with the most amazing wooden bridge that my kids love.

There's some good shortish walks around Patterdale area and Ullswater. Also some kid friendly walks by Coniston.

Oh and for nice non-walking days Brockhole Visitor centre is worth a visit. There's a good adventure play area for all ages. Decent grounds to walk around ( gardens, lakes) and often events on like a climbing wall etc...

Forgot to say - accommodation wise I know a lot of families have used the youth hostels that have family rooms and spent a few nights at each one.

Sorry I am boring myself now never mind you.

Oh yes Keswick is nicer. Was loathe to suggest Windermere because it's so touristy!

But it has the Lakeland shop.....

Bowness is always busy but good boat trips.

Ambleside has the boat too. Lots of nice food.

Keswick has the pencil museum!

Pancake- you are not boring me at all. I am exited about rediscovering the Lakes at low level. Interested in Youth Hostels - did hostel a bit in my youth, not sure how we'd get on with a small baby. Might try a week end nearer home first (we live on edge of Peak District). Definitely think we should base your selves in Keswick - home of the Pencil Museum!

Ahhhhh the pencil museum....... Ha ha. After the sad closure ( sad for my DS1 who is 6) of the famous car exhibition - well the pencil museum is star attraction. Oops forgot the puzzle place .... Am we selling it to you yet Bike?

Have you considered staying in a lovely static caravan?
We stayed at Holgates, its gorgeous, near to south lakes wildlife park (which is fantastic for little ones btw), near to keswick, windermere..oooh ooh and Tarn howes is also good for little ones...we took ds in his pram when he was little. loads of spots to sit and have butties, paddle in the lake etc and an ice cream van at the start, tis lovely.

Windermere is touristy, but in a nice way, and with small DC it's good to have all those little distractions on your doorstep.

The visitor centre at Brockhole is brilliant - the adventure playground is good for all ages, there's a teeny tiny soft play area indoors, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, and a lovely cafe. there's a treasure trail map which takes you down by the lake, and there's lots of good paddling spots.

My DC really enjoyed Muncaster castle, and if you're in Ravenglass there is the steam railway there too.

the Angel Inn in Bowness is child friendly.

Kirkby Lonsdale is a nice little market town with lots of cafes.

You're selling it don't worry. Obvioulsy I have been to Kewick, Ambleside and Windermere, but only as respite from the hills. Climbing/biking mountains has always been the purpose of the holiday, so I guess I am trying to work out where is best for lower keys activities.

Love Ambleside, but this thread is making me veer towards Keswick for kids.

Grasmere is lovely and not too busy. Depends when you are going. Keswick in August can be hell. Lovely park in Grasmere, ideal for very small children. Feed ducks by lake, take out a boat and some nice little walks along the river going up towards Sour Milk Gill. Ambleside and Keswick are near enough if you want the towns. Nice to take bikes with seats as well if you can. We did some easy biking with ours around Grasmere and another time near Coniston.

We used to go a lot. Always rained so seemed to spend our life in Rheged www.rheged.com/events

We used to drive around mostly.

At Fell foot there is a ferry and steam railway. It's fun driving over hard knot pass and the other one it leads into. Kids love that.

Oh Lough Rigg is a good family walk. You do all the climbing at the beginning and pass quarries, lakesides and caves. Start from Ambleside.

The Kendal Brewery Arts centre has events and exhibitions.

Staveley is a village with a train station.

I would second Keswick. You can have nice easy walks there by taking the boat to the other side of the lake and then walking around the lake shore as far as the DCs are able and then getting the boat back from a different point.

Lake District National Park website has section on walks called "Miles without Stiles" which are perfect for little ones! Whinlatter and Grizedale Forests both good for children. New play area just opened at Whinlatter which is amazing, my 2 nephews (5 and 2) loved it!

North or South Lakes are both as popular as each other and good for children, I am bias for the North but because I live there!

Grasmere is good as a base as pretty much in the middle!

Glenridding?
It isn't a town like Keswick or Ambleside, but there is loads to do which is child-friendly, right from the front door. Such as a steamer trip to howtown and Pooley Bridge and back - or some members of the party can walk back from Howtown, there is a lovely child friendly walk up to Lanty's tarn, it's well placed for day trips to Ambleside (over the Kirkstone pass) or Keswick, up the other way. A couple of village shops, a pub and a cafe.

We've stayed all over the place, with young and now older kids. Bowness is very touristy, but there is the Beatrix Potter "museum" and a lovely short walk up to Brant Fell. Ambleside has lots to offer, particularly the walk around the falls behind the Saluation Inn (I did that 8 months pregnant with a 6 year old), and Wansfell with wonderful views. Some nice shortish walks near Grasmere too, as well as the jigsaw shop.

between Keswick and Threkeld is a cycle/walking path which is ideal for family stuff; Keswick swimming pool ideal for wet days (even if OH doesn't fancy it!), big fan of the pencil factory too
if you still do camping then I can recommend The Quiet Site, altho right just now can't remember the nearest village to it but the site has play areas, is very pleasant and has a pub too