Walking holiday with kids

[queensparkmum]

Last Easter we took our 2 kids (age 3 and 7) to the Lake District for 3 days. We stayed in a B&B, the weather was fab and we spent a lot of time doing small circular walks with them. They loved, we loved it! We usually head for the seaside so it was a revelation that we could do an 'inland' sort of walking holiday with our (often moany) London kids!

This year we fancy a change in location, maybe the Dales or Peak District. I wonder if anyone can recommend a good place to base ourselves, with walks on the doorstep, at least a good pub/cafe/ or tea shop. Any ideas. I'd be so grateful as I need a starting point!

Thanks!

We live near Skipton. We have a set of 10 maps with suggested walks for children in the Dales. It is called 'Making Tracks' and is by Julia Wright. It has been very good for getting us out and about in the area.

Last summer we went up to Buckden a few times. There is a nice tea shop and good pub. Mine spent a lot of time searching for fossils at the river bed. It might be a good place to base yourselves.

Location is not as important as preparation im my experieince.

I have always done a lot of outdoor holidays with DS, and I mea a lot, all over the country, and as long as you are well prepared it is lovely.

Make sure your kids arre well dressed for the weather, have good comfy walking boots/shoes, and you take plenty of water and snacks for them and they will be fine.

At the age of 4 my son climbed Tryfan in Wales, it took us 9 hours from setting off to reaching the bottom again, we hit appaling weather conditions, visibility was really poor and it was raining for at least four hours of the ordeal, but DS survived it!! He was swaying with exhaustion at the end and didn't even talk for the last four hours he was so exhausted but he survived! Kids are resilient, as long as you are prepared they will be fine!!

Good luck, the great outdoors is a wonderful place to be and your boys will love it.

The Peak district is wonderful, I recommend the roaches as a great place to explore!

and when you've been walking for hours, any pub/cafe/teashop you come across is a good one!

I can recommend the B&B at Arbor Low in the Peak District as a great place to stay. There are plenty of walks nearby and cycle trails (such as the Tissington Trail) where you can hire bikes and child carriers. There are plenty of pubs around and tea places, though they are not within walking distance of this B&B.

Thanks for all your recommendations!
Will let you know how we get on.
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