The Lake District is one of the best places in Britain to introduce children to the outdoors, with twinkling tarns for swimming and skimming stones, craggy summits for scrambling, quiet trails for cycling and lakes for paddling and boating. With outdoor adventures designed for children under 12, this Cicerone guidebook by Rachel Crolla and Carl McKeating gives families everything they need to make the most of a visit to the national park. 

Rachel Crolla and Carl McKeating's Cicerone guidebook covers 40 graded outdoor adventures across the Lake District, rigorously road-tested and approved by the harshest of critics — the under-12s themselves. Designed for long-term use, it takes families from first easy outings through to more challenging adventures as children grow in confidence and ability.

• The 40 adventures span hiking, biking, scrambling, swimming, paddling, boating, camping, bothying and hostelling, with something to suit every age, energy level and weather forecast
• Adventures are graded from easy green routes through blue to more challenging red and black outings, with alternatives provided throughout so families with children of different ages can find the right level
• Highlights include Catbells, Coniston Old Man and Scafell Pike for summits; Derwent Water, Coniston, Ullswater and Windermere for lake adventures; Cathedral Cave, Castlerigg Stone Circle and Wray Castle for exploring; and hidden gems such as Hodbarrow Point and Dunnerdale's Fickle Steps
• Each adventure includes OS mapping, clear route description and practical information on bike and boat hire, public transport and local bases, making it straightforward to plan a day out from anywhere in the national park
• Appendices cover bike and boat hire, local attractions and playgrounds, outdoor activity providers and useful contacts, alongside practical guidance on adventuring safely, getting close to nature and responsible use of the national park

The perfect companion for any family holiday in the Lake District, whatever the age or ability of your children.

Outdoor Adventures with Children - Lake District - Quick Facts

Contains: 40 outdoor adventures for children under 12 
Activity types: Hiking, biking, scrambling, swimming, wild swimming, paddling, boating, camping, bothying and hostelling 
Grading: Green (easy), blue, red and black (most challenging); alternatives given throughout for mixed-age families 
Ages: Designed for children under 12; graded for long-term use as children grow in confidence and ability 
Key centres: Southern Lakes — Ambleside, Coniston, Grasmere, Windermere; Northern Lakes — Keswick, Cockermouth, Glenridding 
Highlights: Catbells, Coniston Old Man, Scafell Pike, Derwent Water, Coniston Water, Ullswater, Windermere, Cathedral Cave, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Wray Castle, Hodbarrow Point, Tarn Hows, Loughrigg, Hampsfell, Dunnerdale's Fickle Steps 
Lakes featured: Derwent Water, Coniston Water, Buttermere, Windermere, Ullswater 
Mapping: OS maps included for each adventure 
Practical appendices: Bike and boat hire; attractions and playgrounds; outdoor activity providers; useful contacts 
Introduction covers: Bases and transport, hiking and biking with children, getting wet, wild nights, adventuring safely, responsible use of the national park, getting close to nature 
Best season: April to October; many adventures are possible year-round

Author Highlight

“After years of having outdoor adventures on our own terms, when we became parents, our focus shifted to include our children and pass on a love of wild places to them. Like most aspects of parenting, this is a learning process not without its occasional ups and downs. Yet in spite of a few lost mittens and soggy picnics, our children have genuinely loved their outings and inspired us to see the outdoors with fresh eyes.”

- Rachel Crolla and Carl McKeating, authors of Outdoor Adventures with Children - Lake District 

List of adventures

Map key

Activity symbol key

Overview map

Making this guide

Introduction

The Lake District with children

Bases and transport

When to go

Hiking with children

Biking with children

Getting wet

Wild nights: camping, bothying and hostelling

Adventuring safely

Responsible use of our national park

Getting close to nature

How to use this guide and grading

The southern lakes

The northern lakes

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Where to hire bikes and boats

Appendix C Attractions and playgrounds

Appendix D Outdoor activity providers

Appendix E Useful contacts

Seasons

April to October are best, but many routes can be tackled year round.

Centres

Bases in the southern Lakes include Ambleside, Coniston, Grasmere and Windermere; in the north Keswick, Cockermouth or Glenridding.

Difficulty

There are adventures to suit all abilities graded from easy-to-manage green routes, building up through blues to more challenging red and black outings. Most routes have options for families with children of different ages and capabilities.

Must See

Includes adventures around all of the major lakes: Derwent Water, Coniston, Buttermere, Windermere and Ullswater. Visit Cathedral Cave, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Wray Castle and classic summits such as Catbells, Coniston Old Man and Scafell Pike. Discover hidden gems such as Hodbarrow Point, Hampsfell and Dunnerdale's Fickle Steps.

September 2020

Walk 4 start point

August 2019

Updates

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