Favourite things to do in the Lake District

[LyraBelaqua]

Hello

We are off to the Lake District tomorrow. Our group has 4 children aged between 3 and 8 years old. I am wondering what your favourite things to do in the lakes are, or your favourite places to visit, that would be suitable for the children? We are staying in Windermere area but can travel. My dad will also be with us and he has mobility problems so anything that would be good for all of us would be a bonus, although he is quite fond of sitting in cafes whilst we go off exploring!
Many thanks in anticipation

There's a cute Beatrix potter museum in bowness/ Windermere . Lots of walks. Boat trips. Beatrix potters house. High ropes course. Canoe and bike hire. White Platts Park. Fell foot park.

I only ever go there for hiking...or a cheeky trip to Alton towers too as you're nearby.

Wray castle is amazing for kids

You mean Alton Towers Staffordshire?

That a right hike away

Grasmere for a walk in Wordsworth’s daffodil garden, a visit to the old gingerbread shop and then cake in Baldry’s!

Alton Towers is no where near the Lakes! Brockhole is good with kids though- right on Lake Windermere with a fantastic park and activities in the holidays.

Tarn hows is a nice easy walk for kids. It's in the same area as beatrix potter's house and hawksworth village which is pretty and has lots of nice cafes.

Watching for ideas too!

Beatrix Potter's house usually has a huge wait (and lots of stuff you can't touch) but Mr McGregor's garden is nice.
I second that Wray Castle is wonderful and has a lovely outdoor playground as well as things to do indoors if it's raining.
Boats, boats and more boats - even just the car ferry was fun for my DS when he was 4!
A friend went to Lowther Castle recently and thought that was excellent for kids too.

Alton Towers is absolutely nowhere near the Lakes. If you are desperate for rides Blackpool is closer but still miles.

Wray castle
Lingholm near Keswick
Brockholes
Grizedale forest
Whinlatter forest
Crazy golf in Ambleside
Beatrix potter museum

was thinking of peak district which is less than an hour drive from Alton towers. sorry my mistake.

Thanks for the ideas we will definitely be visit Wray castle, possibly Lowther castle too and are planning on dragging the children up Catbells as I love the name. Dad will definitely be sitting that one out! Our holiday home garden opens out into fell foot park so that’s ace.

This is a really good website for easy walks:

www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/thingstodo/walking/mileswithoutstiles

Catbells is a great first fell, also Loughrigg which is my favourite (see username!) or Orrest Head which you can climb from Windermere; short walk for a great view.

You can go on a boat trip from Windermere, Brockhole is good for kids, Winlatter and Grizedale forest are great fun, Beatrix Potter's and Wordsworth's houses are interesting and White Moss Common near Rydal is a great place for paddling if this weather continues.

Thanks for your help Loughrigg. Sounds good. Almost there now and it’s raining ☔️...blazing sunshine where we came from, surprise surprise.

We went to the musical theatre show at the Beatrix potter attraction in Bowness last week and it was absolutely amazing. Would recommend it! The actual attraction is nice but we went round it in 20 minutes. You can buy tickets just for the musical show though.

Also there's a Highway Rat and also a Gruffalo trail on at Whinlatter Forest which was great. They also have a trail with different play areas to follow which would appeal to the older ones too. The cafe is nice too!

Grizedale forest
Windermere boat trip
Grasmere for ALL the gingerbread, in little tins.

If you’re near Fell Foot then go into Lakeside and do the steam train and aquarium! The aquarium is small but really nice :)

Laurel & Hardy museum - we spent hours there!

Don't worry about the weather. It's been amazing for weeks- hence the hosepipe ban. It'll improve I'm sure.

Catbells is quite a drive from Windermere, get the boat over from Keswick to the other side of the lake as no parking under CatBells. Park your dad at the Lingholme estate for an amazing cafe. You can do alpaca walks there as well.

Park at Elterwater for a nice flat riverside walk to Skelwith Bridge, good cafe called Chester’s there which is very popular so will be heaving. Nice waterfall to see (will be better if we have some rain) on the way.

Remember the car ferry isn’t working across Windemere at the minute.

Bluebird cafe at Coniston on the lakeshore is very nice. Kids can paddle, you can hire canoes, do stand up paddle boarding, etc.

Hilltop is meant to be nice, I’ve never been.

Grizedale forest is nearer for you than Whinlatter....I think, though now you’ll have to drive round the lake check!

Go to Booths supermarket!

The passenger ferry across Windemere is still running, it leaves the east side of the lake from a different place than the car ferry though so check where it runs from and to.

And Brockholes visitor centre is meant to be great for kids, never been again.

How long are you here for OP? It's the Coniston Country Fair this Sunday, lots for the kids to see and do. And Ambleside Sports on Thursday.

Loather Castle is a favourite of my two because of the big play area. Wray Castle is also ace but they removed my son's favourite bit recently to make way for an exhibition so that was a bit of a sore point!

Honestly my kids just like to go paddling in the lakes. Cheap and cheerful. Buttermere is our favourite and there is some great ice cream available there. The lakes are really warm at the moment. It's a shame about the weather today but I think it's meant to improve slightly.

How long are you there for? There's a lovely Buddhist Temple near Ulverston. It's their summer festival next weekend.