I love exploring the Lake District with kids. But I don’t always want a full day of organised activities, especially when the school holidays are busy and everywhere seems to be packed.
There are brilliant attractions here, from museums and swimming pools to adventure playgrounds, and we enjoy those days too. Sometimes, though, I need a break from the noise and busyness of everyday madness. And I think the children do too.
On those days, we pack something to eat, a flask with something yum and find somewhere we can spend a few hours together without much of a plan.
These are some of my favourite things to do with kids in the Lake District and nearby Cumbria when we need a little ahhhhhhh time. Whether you’re visiting for half term, the summer holidays or a weekend away, there’s plenty of scope for a day that moves at your own pace.
You won’t necessarily have these places to yourselves. But they offer room to explore, stop for a while and let the children find their own fun.
1. Take hot chocolate up Gummer’s How
Sometimes, giving a walk a small purpose makes all the difference. Walking up a hill might get a mixed response. Walking up a hill for hot chocolate and marshmallows tends to go down pretty well with my kids.
Gummer’s How is one of the places we love for this. The views over Windermere give everyone something to stop and look at, and taking a flask means there’s no rush to get back down for a drink.
On a clear evening, watching the light change over the lake is a lovely way to spend time together. We can sit, have something warm and enjoy being outside without needing to do very much at all.
If you’re going up towards sunset, plan the descent carefully, take torches and warm layers, and leave enough time to get down safely.
2. Pack a picnic for Roanhead beach
The Cumbrian coast is one of my favourite options when we want a change from the lakes and hills.
Roanhead, also known as Sandscale Haws, has a beautiful stretch of beach backed by a protected dune landscape. It’s the sort of place where you can arrive with a picnic and let everyone have some freedom; collecting stones, running down the dunes or just kicking a ball around.
Even when we’ve only brought sandwiches and a few extra layers, it can feel like we’ve gone much further away and feels a world away from the Lake District.
Check tide times and local safety signs before visiting.
Our little extra: take spare clothes, even when nobody is planning to get wet. Beach plans have a habit of changing.
Where: Sandscale Haws, Hawthwaite Lane, near Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 4QJ.
3. Look for wildlife at South Walney Nature Reserve
South Walney is one of the places I love most for getting a bit of space. It’s a reminder that there’s so much more to explore around here than the best-known Lake District stops.
Take binoculars if you have them, stop to watch the birds and seals and see what you can spot together.
South Walney is a protected nature reserve, so this is a wildlife outing rather than a beach-play stop. There is no access to the beach or seal colony, and visitors should watch from the permitted paths and hides. We normally walk down to the hide at the end which has brilliant views and a good place to look for seals.
Where: South Walney Nature Reserve, Walney Island, near Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 3YQ
4. Catch the ferry to Piel Island
A little boat journey can make a day feel like an adventure before you’ve even arrived.
Piel Island combines that excitement with a ruined castle to explore. The passenger ferry leaves from Roa Island, and the castle gives the kids the perfect adventure playground and hide and seek ground.
For me, this is the appeal: you don’t need to add much. The journey, the island and the castle are enough to build a day around.
You can look around the ruins together, imagine who lived there and take your time over a picnic.
Ferry services are seasonal and depend on weather and tides, so always check the operator’s latest information before travelling.
Our little extra: leave some room in the day for a trip to the only pub on the island – you may even meet the King!
Where: Roa Island ferry departure point
5. Make up your own adventures at Kendal Castle
Kendal Castle is a good example of somewhere that doesn’t need lots of activities laid on for children to enjoy it.
The ruins sit above the town, with sections of castle wall and a surviving tower. There’s enough there to get their imaginations going without a whole programme to work through.
This is the sort of outing I really enjoy with the children. We can explore, play an imaginary game and stop for something to eat. There’s no need to make it into a full day if a couple of hours is what everyone needs.
Make sure you supervise children around the ruins, uneven surfaces and drops.
Where to park: Parking is available on Castle Drive, subject to spaces and local restrictions. Alternatively, combine your visit with a wander around Kendal and walk up from the town centre via Parr Street and Sunnyside. The final stretch is uphill.
6. Hire a boat on Windermere
Hiring your own little boat is another way to spend time together with a bit of space around you.
The shore can be busy, but once you’re out on the lake, you can be in your own world. There are boats to watch, views to take in and the excitement of seeing everything from the water. Plus if you hire from Windermere Lake cruises – even the kids can drive! My 3 year old loved it!
It’s something we’ve enjoyed as a family, and it feels different from following a walking route or visiting an attraction. For a while, everyone is in the same place, sharing the same little adventure.
Windermere Lake Cruises offers self-drive electric boat hire, including from Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere. Check the current hire locations, availability and conditions before making plans.
Where: Lakeside, at the southern end of Windermere. Use LA12 8AS for parking by the main pier. The self-drive boats are a short walk away, in front of Lakeside Hotel & Spa
7. Follow the sculptures through Grizedale Forest
Grizedale is somewhere I love taking the children when we need a bit of breathing space. There are sculptures to look out for, woodland trails to explore and plenty of reasons to stop along the way.
We choose a route that suits us, see what catches the children’s attention and take our time looking for wildlife.
That’s what I enjoy most about it. You can have something to follow without feeling that you need to complete a whole list. Plus if it is a bit of a grey day, it won’t matter so much in the forest.
There’s a playground and a café too, which is useful when someone needs a change of scene or something to eat. But heading further along the woodland trails can give us that feeling of finding a little space of our own.
If you want to do a little more, you could tick off a bucket list experience to with a Go Ape Grizedale experience.
Where: Grizedale Forest Visitor Centre, near Hawkshead, LA22 0QJ
Exploring the Lake District with kids at your own pace
Exploring the Lake District with kids doesn’t mean filling every day from breakfast until bedtime.
Sometimes a walk and a picnic are enough. Sometimes it’s a beach wander, a boat trip or a couple of hours exploring a castle. And sometimes everyone has had enough sooner than expected, and heading back is the best plan.
These are some of our favourite days out in the Lake District with kids, with a few trips into nearby Cumbria too. The days I come back to when we need a break from being busy. There’s still plenty for the children to enjoy, with room for all of us to slow down a bit too.
If you want some rainy day ideas too – check out this blog with some great ideas.
A family base near Cartmel
If you’re visiting the Lake District with kids, The Pheasant Lodge gives you room to spread out and relax between adventures. The Pheasant Lodge is our spacious, ground-floor holiday home in Field Broughton, near Cartmel, sleeping up to six.
There’s room to eat together, gardens to spend time in and deep sofas for those evenings when everyone is ready to put their feet up. In the cooler months, the log burner is a lovely thing to come back to after a day outside.
If you’re planning a family holiday in the Lake District, take a look around The Pheasant Lodge and check availability for your next stay.
Hannah – The host of the Pheasant Lodge x