18 July 2023 Local area
Here are our picks of the best walking routes for little legs and pushchairs!
The Lake District is renowned for its famous lakes and picture perfect views from the peaks of iconic hiking routes. For every daring ascent, there is a gentle and beautiful walk for the family to enjoy! The Lake District has 50 ‘Miles Without Stiles‘ routes, which are well suited to visitors with young children and pushchairs. Here we showcase a handful of our favourites – showing you the best hiking trails in the Lake District for families!
Nothing beats getting out in the fresh air and making memories with your family – and with the stunning views that the Lake District is famous for, you’ll be hard pressed to find better family-friendly walking routes elsewhere.
Before we name our recommendations, please bare in mind that we’re giving you the basic information about the routes, and you should always do further research to check that it is suitable for your family before you visit!
This circular route is a fantastic introduction to fell walking and boasts stunning views of Windermere and the central fells. The route is around 3.5km in length, with options for walkers and detours for pushchairs and all terrain wheelchairs.
The standard route features a challenging section in the Elleray Wood, with a 120m ascent up Orrest Head. Older children should manage just time, but younger families should follow th blue signs for the accessible path. You’ll also find red graded paths, which do not involve steps.
Start point: Where the narrow lane adjacent to entrance of Windermere Hotel leaves the main road
Postcode: LA23 1AW | Grid: SD 41284 98743 | W3W: ///opposing.unfocused.bike
Distance from Park Cliffe: 16-minute drive | View map
Find out more about the Orrest Head Circular route
The Bowness to Cockshott circular route is just 10 minutes drive from Park Cliffe and a firm favourite among our camping and caravan guests. The path incorporates the busier waterfront of Bowness and the quieter shore around Cockshott Point, providing the best of both worlds on a single walk! The route is labelled as a ‘route for all’ – making it ideal for visitors with pushchairs because it only features gentle slopes.
When you get to Cockshott Point, pushchair users are advised to stay on the surfaced path which is past the tree and leads out into a meadow with fantastic lake views!
Start point: When Glebe Road bears to the left, carry on through the gate and into field
Postcode: LA23 3HE | Grid: SD 398959 | W3W: ///starfish.contacts.ranking
Distance from Park Cliffe: 10-minute drive | View map
Find out more about the Bowness to Cockshott Point route
The Brockhole circular route gives you a fantastic view of the Windermere lakeshore! At only 1.5km in length, the trail is ideal for little legs and those with pushchairs. Along the walk you’ll pass through woodland and meadows, providing a glimpse at various habitats. There’s also an adventure playground – making it one of the best hiking trails in the Lake District for families!
En-route you’ll also find Mawson Gardens – which is a lovely place for families to stop at. Enjoy bite to eat in their café, explore the gardens, visitor centre and grab a treat from their shop!
Start point: Set off from the main car park off Mirk Lane and head past the adventure play park
Postcode: LA23 1QB | Grid: NY 38980 00906 | W3W: ///buyers.leads.unheated
Distance from Park Cliffe: 23-minute drive | View map
Find out more about the Brockhole route
Tarn Hows is regarded as one of the best beauty spots in the Lake District – so we think it’s definitely worth the drive from Park Cliffe! There are numerous benches and places to rest along the route – making it ideal for a family walk!
You’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the Coniston hills and Langdale Pikes along the Tarn Hows route!
The path is mostly made up of smooth, compact stone, however there are a few rough sections, and some parts with a slightly steeper gradient, which can be difficult with pushchairs. This route is better for families with older children!
Start point: From the main car park, turn right and take the train towards the tarn
Postcode: LA22 0PW | Grid: SD 327996 | W3W: ///echo.refreshed.limits
Distance from Park Cliffe: 34-minute drive | View map
Find out more about the Tarn Hows route
This route is the furthest from Windermere, but we think it’s well worth the journey to take in the incredible scenery! Along the 4.5km path, you’ll be treated to magnificent views of Kentmere. There are also some brilliant wildlife spotting opportunities! Make sure your family keeps their eyes out for buzzards, peregrine falcons and ravens along the route. Why not turn wildlife spotting into a tick list to make a game out of it?
Start point: Turn right off Hodgson Brew past St Cuthbert’s Church
Postcode: LA8 9JN | Grid: NW 456042 | W3W: ///prospers.limo.fevered
Distance from Park Cliffe: 40-minute drive | View map
Find out more about the Kentmere route
These are just 5 of the 50 fantastic ‘Miles Without Stiles‘ routes. They are all independently graded, so you know if they are suitable for ‘all’, ‘many’ or ‘some’. You can use this as an indication of whether the trails are pushchair-friendly.
Whether you want a short morning walk close to Park Cliffe, or to make an adventurous day out of it, you’ll find the perfect family friendly walking route in the Lake District during a stay at our caravan and camping park near Windermere.
If you’re happy to travel a little further afield for some excellent family walking and unrivalled views, we love Ravenglass, Ennerdale, Buttermere and Braithwaite to name but a few routes!
Pictured: Kendal
Park Cliffe Holiday Park is the perfect place to base yourselves for a family holiday in Windermere. We’re perfectly situated to explore some of the best hiking trails in the Lake District for families and lucky to be located with fantastic views of Windermere – Britain’s largest lake! This offers great family walking opportunities right from our park!
There are many ways to stay at Park Cliffe! Whether you opt for a static caravan, camping pod, or you plan to bring your tent or motorhome, you can expect the same great quality service and access to our brilliant family facilities on-site!
When you’re not out exploring the Lake District, you can be assured that your children will be well entertained at Park Cliffe, with play facilities such as an on-site adventure playground, indoor games room and pool table/board games in our restaurant and bar! You’ll also be happy to know that there are many activities for children nearby!
We also have a shop, private bathrooms and modern shower block on-site – so after a long day of adventures in the Lake District you can return back to your cosy base at Park Cliffe and enjoy a shower, comfy accommodation and great food and drink.
Pictured: Windermere views from a camping pod at Park Cliffe!
Image credits:
Orrest Head: Wildlife Terry | Flickr Kentmere: Robert J Heath | Flickr
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