Any Lake District fell experts on here?

[MegBusset]

We're staying in the western Lakes (Eskdale) in the summer and looking for a couple of fells within easy reach to tackle with the DC who will be 8 and 10. DH and I have previously walked up Scafell Pike but think it'll be too long for the DC (we live in Norfolk so not much opportunity to build their hillwalking stamina beforehand!).

We're looking for fells that can be walked up in an hour or two, a small amount of scrambling OK but nothing too alarming, paths easy to follow and a decent view from the top :)

Cat Bells is a good one with children, I took mine up it when my youngest was 5 or 6. It's next to Derwent Water so the views are great and you can combine it with a boat trip.

We spent years holidaying in Newlands with kids doing fells from about 4 years of age.
Second Catbells but we always went up from Littletown, then down to Grange for ice cream and paddle/swim/fishing with net. You can park at Hawes end go up from there down to grange and get launch back to car.
Skiddaw is an easy climb but further and not the joy of ice cream at the end.
There's a lovely walk along the valley through Newlands right to the end where there are two beautiful, secret pools for swim and picnic with a small waterfall and a natural slide between two pools.
Castle Crag?
Up to Watendlath - park higher up at Surprise View and it's a relatively gentle climb with a cafe and duck feeding at the top.
Lords Seat and Grisedale Pike are doable by children with a visit to the Whinlatter visitor centre afterwards.
Causey Pike is also a good starter. Nice scramble to the top then ice creams and bacon sandwiches in the campsite cafe at Braithwaite.

Loughrigg Fell on the outskirts of Ambleside is quite a good one for children that age www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_141.html.
The website listed has a list of other graded walks easy, moderate etc that you may find helpful.

We live in Norfolk, too.

My not-robust 8yo did Scafell Pike last yr. There were people shooting up there with 5yr olds in flipflops (not carried). It's an easy enough one in good weather. Make sure you go the short path, not the long one.

We met DS2's yr6 teacher at the summit. Small frigging world.

Old Man of C & Black-something... (dale?) we also did no trouble. Grizedale forest was good, too.

Cat Bells
Latrigg (if Skidda' looks too daunting)
Langstrath Valley walk from Rosthwaite - there are swimming holes all along

Eskdale & Ravenglass railway - and you can get a booklet at the "station" there of easy walks from Li'l Ratty. Not really fells in the Wainwright way but lovely countryside.

Also the full size steam train at Newby Bridge - it meets the big ferry at Waterside, and gets you to Bowness. Or you can do the foot ferry across Windermere, and saunter to Wray Castle.

Lots around Grasmere/Rydal:
Easedale Tarn was the first long walk I did with 8 & 10 year olds. Great climbing up Sour Milk Gill (you just have to stop yourself imaging the many ways they can fall down the beck ...)
Loughrigg
Greenburn Bottom

Round the south of Coniston Water is fun - lots of rambling (not too high) around Blawith Fell & Torver Common. If you're an Arthur RAnsome reader, around Coniston is the heartland.

Rainy days: The Pencil Museum in Keswick is actually quite interesting on a rainy day, as is the Keswick Museum. Cockermouth is a lovely town for a mooch around. I'd avoid the Beatrix Potter world in Bowness. I'd avoid Bowness generally - full of day trippers & tourists.

Some of the quietest areas are around Crummock Water, Buttermere, and Loweswater, with nearby Fells including Mellbreak and Grasmoor.

Get Ordnance Survey 2-1/2inch maps (four cover the whole of Lakeland) and ideally the Wainwright guides for the areas you are in. (There have been two 'updates' to the original Wainwright books, with additional or new information shown in contrasting colours. All shops in the area will sell them, or by mail order from Eric Robson's Striding Edge website:

www.stridingedge.com/eric_robson/

www.wainwrightroutes.co.uk

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buttermere-valley

From Eskdale, it isn't too far to Bowfell, and there the 'Great Slab' is a fascinating walk, especially for anyone with any interest in Geology: