You don’t need the latest walking gear or to be super fit to enjoy the best of British family walks. A thirst for adventure and safe footwear and clothing is enough. Think of the fitness benefits of walking too. The family who walks together stays fit together. All ages can enjoy these outings – so why not take the grandparents too?
Walks with young children shouldn’t be too long or arduous but at a pace that’s right for you.
Here’s a selection of favourite British family walks:
This beautiful, peaceful island off the Pembrokeshire coast is just two miles wide and you can visit from April to October. Famous for its puffins in July, it’s a magical place for visitors of all ages. You can also see guillemots, razorbills and seals in the surrounding turquoise waters. Take a 20-minute boat ride from nearby Martin’s Haven to reach the unspoiled scenery of the nature reserve. There’s an initial steep climb unsuitable for pushchairs but younger children can be carried. There’s a £10 charge for adults on the boat and £6 for children. Children under 16 can visit Skomer for free while adults pay £7 with reduced rates for pensioners and students.
More information: www.welshwildlife.org.
Marvel at the host of stunning colours reflected in the serene surface of the lake as you walk this easy four-mile path. Gaze up at surrounding mountains High Stile and Red Pike. They will take your breath away, just as they did for Beatrix Potter. Most parts are suitable for pushchairs, with no major climbs or challenging stretches, but the path is quite rough at times. The journey there across some very minor roads through a rural landscape may put some people off but it’s well worth it. Start your walk at the Fish Hotel in Buttermere or stop off at a little tea shop half way round.
More information: www.visitcumbria.com.
This 26-square mile Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has a wealth of gorgeous views to captivate the whole family. Take a gentle mile-long stroll through the forest along a specially-designated ‘healthy heart’ walk at Birches Valley, where older children can also try out a Go Ape course through the trees. At the Visitor’s Centre in Marquis Drive, there’s a café serving very reasonably priced hot meals, a play area and displays on wildlife and nature. Or spot deer at Brocton and feed the ducks. We love it!
More information: www.cannock-chase.co.uk.
More breathtaking views can be enjoyed on this easy trail which has been designed to suit walkers of all abilities. Breathe in the fresh smell of pine and experience the sights of the water as you start at the east end of Loch Morlich. Budding twitchers can see dippers, wagtails, herons and sandpipers. You can also see the majestic and often snow-capped Cairngorms.
More information www.visitscotland.com.
Known as the gateway to the Jurassic coast, this spectacular beach is a great setting for a bracing family walk – for as far as you want to go. Discover the joys of searching for fossils on the shore at low tide. You can book the services of guide Chris Pamplin for three hours at a cost of £75.
More information: www.charmouth.org and www.fossilwalks.com.
At two-thirds of a mile, this is a perfect walk around a lake and aimed at all abilities. There are no steps or stiles and it’s a popular spot for families with young children. Each day there’s an opportunity to stop and watch kites being fed. Other birds spotted are herons, buzzards and ravens. The area, near Aberystwyth, is also known for its rare white Red Kite. Go your own way into wooded areas or stop for a picnic. Themed events are held throughout the year. The nearby Red Kite Café has long been a familiar milestone of a watering hole for many a holidaymaker.
More details: www.nantyrarian.com.
This is another four-mile walk which should take you about two hours, leading through stunning scenery with birds and wildflowers to admire. Follow the walk through Silverburn Park where you can enjoy a rest in a walled garden or try out a play area suitable for children aged up to 11. The coastal path at Leven is just a short walk away.
More details: www.visitscotland.com.
Don’t let the thought of climbing a hill put you off. If your children can climb the stairs then they can manage this gentle ascent and it’s also easy with pushchairs. The path is ample and solid underfoot. Reaching the summit should take you just half an hour and there are plenty of benches to help you along if needed. You’ll be rewarded with a view of a lush rolling landscape with treetops and church spires. On a clear day you can see the Welsh Hills. Why not have a mooch around Malvern itself where CS Lewis is said to have found inspiration for Narnia?
More information:www.malvernhills.org.
Take in the sort of traditional countryside views which inspired Jane Austen in this charming and simple four-mile walk, starting in the village of Milldale. Food and drink is served from a hatch at the picturesque Polly’s Cottage to send you on your way, or sit outside the Charles Cotton Hotel. Have fun climbing the stiles before you cross fields, a farm and wind down into Beresford Dale.
More information: www.snapthepeaks.co.uk.
At one and a half miles, this easy walk goes through woods and takes you across old railway lines, into farmland before setting eyes on a spectacular stretch of water in Lower Wensleydale. Remember All Creatures Great and Small or Last of the Summer Wine? These are the landscapes that inspired the writers of these programmes defined by their landscapes, as well as Emmerdale.
Aysgarth is renowned for a triple flight of waterfalls, carved out by the River Ure waterfall. Explore the National Park Centre in converted railway cottages and discover how the falls were created, and sample some mouth-watering home cooked fare at The Coppice Café.
More information: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk.
Comments
i need activities to do in
i need activities to do in the crewe thear seams to be alot to but not in this arer
i need activities to do in
i need activities to do in the crewe thear seams to be alot to but not in this arer