Northern Lake District with a 4 year old?

[SylvieBelle]

We have booked a short Monday-Friday break, staying approx 10 miles north of Keswick (near Bassenthwaite). We go mid-July.

We have been to Keswick many times before and stayed very local to the town so we know it fairly well, but this time we will have 4 year old dd with us.

I am looking for ideas of what I can plan for us to do during our stay. Maybe also some indoors options if the weather is really horrendous. We have a car and happy to travel!

We will be close to the wildlife park which we have been to before and enjoyed, so we will do that again but apart from that I'm clueless! Dd is extremely cautious and hates swimming, won't try indoor climbing or anything along those lines so I'm struggling with ideas.

Whinlatter Forest has a Highway Rat Activity Trail. Pick up a pack for £3 from the visitor centre. We haven't done this one but did the Gruffalo trail when they had they a few years ago. It's just over a mile. Each pack includes an activity book, mask, stickers, pencil etc... There's an additional 600m children's trail which has about 9 play areas along it which include scramble nets and log swings. The cafe sells light bites.

It's a bit of a trek from Keswick, but Wray Castle is a revelation in rainy weather. Set on the banks of Lake Windermere, Wray Castle is a young child's paradise by having a different activity in each room. These include giant games, dressing up, arts and crafts and the Peter Rabbit Adventure. Kds can play in Mr McGregor’s garden, have a snooze in Peter Rabbit’s bed and see where he lives. Outside, there is a great woodland playground and ducks to feed. There is only a small car park at Wray Castle so consider taking the ferry from Ambleside or the Brockholes Visitor centre to get there.
Brockhole Visitor Centre is also a great place in itself and you could easily combine the two and take the ferry between them. There's an outdoor adventure playground (with a separate under 7’s area), paddling in the lake or exploring the gardens. Boats are available to hire, as well as bikes with a good selection of tag alongs and child bikes.

Really great suggestions which I didn't know about! Thank you so much

We've stayed at the top of Bassenthwaite a few times (Keswick Reach) and it's pretty accessible; only 15 minutes to Keswick and then easy to get down to Grasmere, Borrowdale etc. The Gruffalo trail is fab. There are some gardens with an adventure playground at Mirehouse, half way along Bassenthwaite, and you can walk from there to the little church on the shores of the lake. You can also go into Dodd Wood from there and look for ospreys.

If you like walking this is a good website for easy walks:
www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/thingstodo/walking/mileswithoutstiles
If you want to go up hills, Latrigg, Catbells and Binsey are all doable, with great views. My sister could certainly do all those at 4 but had to be bribed to the top with mars bars!

You can also go on the launch on Derwentwater from Keswick, either all round the lake or just a few stops. The Pencil Museum is in Keswick and is more interesting than it sounds! There are more museums at Cockermouth which is close to where you'll be staying but not sure how child-friendly they are. There is an aquarium at Maryport which is also quite close.

Keswick Reach is exactly where we are staying! Thank you so much for the suggestions. I'll add them to my list

If you don't mind travelling, there's an acquarium, steam railway and car museum at the foot of Lake Windermere - you can get combined tickets with the Lake Windermere boats. A full day out, maybe for a wet day?

www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/
www.lakesiderailway.co.uk/
lakesaquarium.co.uk/

In addition to the Peter Rabbit attraction in Bowness, you can also visit Beatrix Potters farm home at Hawkshead (across the lake by car ferry).