Top 10 Lake District walks for little legs

The Lake District is a great place to take the whole family for a walking adventure during school holidays. Why not take the time to wonder at nature with your little ones and discover the delights of being outdoors together? Challenge each other to spot the most wildflowers, or see who can find the funniest cloud!

It can take an extra amount of planning to find walks that are suitable to bring kids and that have enough to see and do to keep them occupied along the way. Luckily, we caught up with the people who have been there and done it many times - the mums and dads of the Lake District National Park Authority, who told us more about where to go.

So get those wellies out, and start exploring!

Alice Chivers, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator

"It’s hard to choose a favourite as there are so many fantastic spots you can walk to with little ones without having to hike up a huge hill.

I love walking up Orrest Head as there’s lots of things to spot in the woods and of course the Gruffalo sculptures, and then the views at the top are unbeatable for how far you have to walk.

The walk along the shore of Ullswater from Pooley Bridge is great as it has lots of interest for the kids with different beachy sections to skim stones, a bridge for pooh sticks and plenty of logs to sit on for a snack and a hot chocolate! It’s also suitable for pushchairs so ideal for little legs when they get tired."

Phil Drane, Team Leader - Strategy & Policy

"A favourite walk for my family over the years is around Loughrigg Tarn. We’ve found it suitable for young children and it’s still tolerated now they are teenagers. We start and finish at Chesters By The River in Skelwith Bridge, which usually sustains the kids with the promise of cake after the walk. You get a good workout climbing the hill at the start, beautiful views of the Langdales, and dependent on the weather we have been known to have a swim in the tarn.

The route takes the public footpath, from the B5343 towards Loughrigg Tarn, through the Neaum Crag holiday lodge estate, eventually leading to a stile where you can walk around the tarn. From there you pick up another public footpath that leads to Tarn Foot Farm, and then you can head back to Chesters down the hill via Foulstep.

The walk takes about an hour at slowish pace and can be extended in different directions if desired."

Emma Moody - Lead Strategy Adviser, Recreation and Sustainable Transport

"My kids are now 17, 20 and 22 but I have lots of happy memories of walks we enjoyed!

They loved the La'al Ratty (Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway) and joining that with a walk was always popular. The routes from Dalegarth including the Miles without Stiles walk when they were very little (suitable for buggies and small legs) and when they were a bit bigger Stanley Ghyll was always an adventure.

Derwentwater and Borrowdale are good, with lots of chances for paddling in the lake or river and lots of wildlife to spot (even if all they see are ducks and geese, it's still exciting!). A trip on the launch is good followed by the lakeside walk over the boardwalks from Lodore to Low Brandelhow for the launch back, or continue to Lingholm for the Beatrix Potter connection and something nice to eat, before continuing on the walk. The open-top bus ride up Borrowdale is also great for kids, then walk back down the valley from Rosthwaite to Grange with lots of nice paddling and picnic sites, ending with a cafe and ice-cream.