If you’re looking for a walk that will keep the children entertained from beginning to end, I think you’re going to love the Grizedale Forest Marble run.
We recently tried the Giant Marble Run at Grizedale Forest and, honestly, it was brilliant. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect before we arrived, but it turned out to be such a fun way to explore the woods.
We visited during half term with our two-year-old, four-year-old and eight-year-old, and all three loved it. There were races, levers to pull, tracks that made sounds and plenty of excitement as we moved from one marble run to the next.
It’s a lovely woodland walk in its own right, but the marble runs make it feel like a proper little adventure for the children.
What is the Giant Marble Run at Grizedale Forest?
The Giant Marble Run is a family activity along the short Millwood trail at Grizedale Forest. As you walk through the woods, you’ll find five different marble run zones where children can roll, race and play with their own giant wooden marble.
The trail is around 1 km long and takes you through beautiful woodland, alongside a stream and past some of Grizedale’s sculptures.
We visited in autumn, and the trees looked gorgeous. It was one of those days where it was just lovely to be outside, enjoying the forest while the children had something fun to look forward to around every corner.
How does the Grizedale Forest Marble Run work?
When you arrive, head to the information point at the visitor centre to buy a giant wooden marble. They cost £8 each, and once you’ve bought one, it’s yours to keep and bring back whenever you visit again.
The marbles are much bigger than the ones you might have at home. They’re wooden and fit in the palm of your hand.
Before heading out, the children can decorate their marbles, which is a lovely activity in itself and means everyone can spot whose is whose when they’re racing down the tracks.
Then you follow the yellow Millwood trail markers into the forest and look out for the marble run zones along the way.
What are the marble runs like?
There’s a real mix of different runs, which is what made it so much fun.
Some are long tracks where you can watch your marble travel all the way down. There’s a racing run where you can compete against someone else, which, as you can imagine, can get a little competitive between children!
At other points, you have to pull levers or push the marble up high before sending it back down. Some runs travel down steps, while others make noises as the marble rolls along.
The runs are made from wood and metal and look lovely in the woodland setting. I kept thinking how much fun the people who designed them must have had putting them together.
We found ourselves stopping for ages at each one, trying the different tracks and seeing whose marble would get to the bottom first.
Is the Giant Marble Run good for young children?
Our three children were aged two, four and eight when we visited, and they all really enjoyed it.
There was enough variety to keep our eight-year-old interested, while our younger two loved putting their marbles in, watching them roll and joining in with the races. Some parts needed a little help from us, but that was all part of the fun.
What I particularly liked was that it gave the children a reason to keep walking. They were excited to find the next marble run, so the walk itself became part of the adventure.
How much does the Grizedale Forest Marble Run cost?
The marble run is free to play, but you need to buy a giant wooden marble from the information point. When we visited, the marbles were £8 each.
I’ll be honest, £8 per marble felt a little steep at first, especially when buying one for each of our three children. But you get to keep them and can bring them back to use again on future visits.
We’re planning to keep ours in the car, so whenever we come back to Grizedale, we’ll have them ready to go.
There is also a charge for parking at Grizedale Forest.
How long is the marble run trail?
The Giant Marble Run follows the short loop of the Millwood trail, which is around 1 km.
Although the walk itself isn’t long, I’d allow plenty of time because the children will probably want to stop and play at every marble run. We certainly weren’t in a hurry to get around!
You’ll also pass some of Grizedale’s sculptures along the way. We spotted a few during our walk, which gave the children something else to look at and explore between marble runs.
Room on the Broom at Grizedale Forest
During our visit, there was also a Room on the Broom trail in the forest, with signs, clues and activities inspired by the book.
We bought an activity pack from the visitor centre, but the children were so absorbed in the marble run that we didn’t really get around to doing much of it.
If your children love Room on the Broom, it could be a lovely extra to enjoy while you’re there. For us, the marble runs were enough to keep everyone busy, so we probably didn’t need to buy both on this occasion.
The trail pack cost £4 when we visited. Activities and prices can change, so it’s worth checking what’s available before you go.
The adventure playground at Grizedale
After the marble run, we headed to the adventure playground, which is another reason Grizedale is such a good family day out.
It’s a big play area with slides, poles, bridges and plenty of space for the children to run around. There was also a smaller marble run and a few more games to play with the wooden marbles, which we hadn’t seen before.
Our children still had plenty of energy after the walk, so it was a great way to finish off.
Café and facilities at Grizedale Forest
We’d already been to Esthwaite Water Boathouse earlier in the day, so we didn’t stop at the café this time. We have visited it before, though, and it’s a great place to stop for something to eat or drink.
There are also toilets, a visitor centre and a shop, so it’s an easy place to spend a few hours. Parking is available at the main visitor centre.
Make a day of it in Hawkshead and Grizedale
We combined the marble run with a visit to Hawkshead, where we’d been to the Chocolate Factory earlier in the day.
The two worked really well together. We had a fun indoor activity making chocolates, followed by fresh air and a woodland walk at Grizedale.
We already love Grizedale Forest and have been for sculpture walks and Go Ape activities before, but the marble run was something new for us. It’s definitely given us another reason to come back.
Our tips for visiting
- Buy your marbles at the information point before you head out on the trail.
- Decorate each marble differently so everyone can tell theirs apart.
- Keep your marbles for next time. Once you’ve bought them, you can bring them back and play again.
- Allow time for the playground. There’s plenty to keep children busy after the walk.
- Bring suitable footwear. You’ll be walking through woodland, and paths can be muddy or wet depending on the weather.
- Check what else is on. Family trails and activities can change throughout the year.
Address: Grizedale Forest, Hawkshead, Cumbria, LA22 0QJ.
If you’re looking for a family walk in the Lake District that feels a little different, we’d really recommend giving the Giant Marble Run a go. It kept all three of our children entertained, got us out into the woods and gave us another lovely day at one of our favourite places.
If you go, let us know what you thought.
Hannah. Host at the Pheasant Lodge x