Lake District Hiking Guide For Families With Young Children

Lake District Hiking Guide For Families With Young Children

From short walks to epic hikes, the Lake District is one of the Britain’s best holiday destinations for families seeking an adventurous experience. With such a massive variety of great walks to choose from, picking the best trails can be difficult.

Many of the Lake District’s most famous walks – the Scafell Pike summit walk, for example – are only suitable for experts. They’re long and draining, with rocky and challenging terrain that prevents beginners and children from taking part.

If you’re just getting started fellwalking, it’s a much better idea to choose walking trails that are suitable for your whole family. We spoke to Pure Leisure about the best trails and tips for walking with your children in the Lake District.

Lake District Hiking Guide For Families With Young Children

Orrest Head: A simple beginner walk with great views

Just arrived? Familiarise yourself with the Lake District’s incredible scenery with a walk to the summit of Orrest Head. This fell walk is short enough to complete in 20 minutes or less and easy enough for children as young as three years old.

Start from the Windermere Train Station and follow the signposted trail. The view from the top of Orrest Head may not be as dramatic as Scafell Pike’s, but it’s a great introduction to the scenery and geography of the Lake District.

Orrest Head is easy to access, quick and simple, and perfect for getting familiar with the Lake District, making it the perfect “first walk” for families.

Cat Bells: A popular walk for beginners and families

Cat Bells could be the Lake District’s most popular walking trail. While Orrest Head is Windermere’s best trail for absolute beginners, this simple two-hour walk is the best route in the Keswick area for families with children.

This energising walk involves a 342-metre climb up one of Keswick’s most famous hills. From the summit, you can enjoy fantastic views of Derwent Water, with local landmark Skiddaw – England’s fourth-highest mountain – in the distance.

Cat Bells is significantly more challenging than the Orrest Head walk, but is still a suitable trail for children five and up.

Latrigg: A great family walk with incredible views

Latrigg is another wonderful Keswick walk. At just 1.5 miles in total, it’s suitable for young children and absolute beginners. Enjoy fantastic views of Derwent Water and Great Mell Fell from the summit of Latrigg.

The climb up Latrigg is modest and simple, with walkers scaling the 120-metre peak in no time. Thanks to the National Park Authority, visitors can reach the summit in very little time using the easy mobility path to the Latrigg Top viewpoint.

Short, straightforward and very rewarding, the climb up Latrigg is a great first walk for families staying in Keswick.

Packing for a hike: What to bring on your trip

The Lake District’s walks range from quick and simple to highly demanding. While you’re unlikely to need any serious adventure equipment for family walks, packing well is a great way to keep your children energetic and comfortable.

Pack a pair of comfortable shoes for each of your children – preferably some sports trainers with good ankle support. While most of the trails are safe, small rocks can occasionally lead to slips and falls without the right footwear.

Make the most of the fantastic views by bringing a packed picnic lunch with you on your family walks. Stop at the summit of Latrigg, Cat Bells or Orrest Head and enjoy a lovely family picnic before you make your way back down.

Travel to the Lake District today

Book a caravan holiday in the Lake District from Pure Leisure today and enjoy Britain’s top scenic walking destination.