10 Easier Family Walks in the Lake District You Should Try
By Dave Roberts 
Posted in Walks in the Lake District
10 Easier Family Walks in the Lake District You Should Try
The Lake District boasts numerous fells and countless walks up them, from our very own Scafell Pike, to Helvellyn, Old Man of Coniston to Skiddaw and Blencathra. That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of easier walks in the Lake District, suitable for families and children. Of course, you’ll know your kids and if they’d rather be scaling Great Gable or Catbells.
Are they these the best easier walks in the Lakes? We don’t think it’s possible to compile a list of only 10 easier walks in the Lake District without leaving a few gems out! If we’ve missed your favourite our, then tell us in the comments! We might even be tempted to add it to the list. All these walks are from our sister site – Mud and Routes.
Ensure that you check out the weather forecast before setting out and that your’re properly equipped and prepared for the walk.
The Coffin Route Ambleside to Grasmere
Height Gained – 190 metres , Distance – 6.5 km, Time –2 hours
Recently voted one of the nation’s top 100 walks, the coffin route follows the old corpse road between the two villages of Ambleside and Grasmere. It’s a good track, initially passing through Rydal Park and passing two of Wordsworth’s homes; Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage. The Coffin Route then continues high above Rydal Water and then on to Grasmere. You’ll need to account for the return trip for this walk, which is a reasonable 13km in both directions or you can catch a bus back to the start.
Easy Walk To Lily Tarn From Ambleside
Height Gained – 180 metres , Distance – 4.7 km, Time –2 hours
While the summit of Loughrigg Fell makes a good lower summit, this is an easier walk that’s much more manageable. This walk takes you to the tiny and picturesque Lily Tarn above Ambleside, and ideal spot for an active family picnic.
Latrigg from near Keswick
Height Gained – 90 metres , Distance – 2 km, Time –1 hours
You know that feeling, dragging the kids uphill, to complaints that there’s too much walking. Well you shouldn’t get many complaints with this walk from Keswick up Latrigg.. At only 2km in length and a barely perceptible climb of only 90m, this is a view that’s easily attained. The views should get them ready and raring to go for the next summit!
Castlerigg Stone Circle Walking Route from Keswick
Height Gained – 160 metres , Distance – 7 km, Time –2 hours
You don’t need to climb a mountain for extensice views. The Castlerigg Stone Circle is so perfectly positioned, with extensive views towards Blencathra and Skiddaw. Those ancient Britons were quite in tune with their natural surroundings, and you get a feel of that walking around the stones. Fun Fact – try and get the kids counting the stones and see if anyone gets the same number. ¡¿sʍouʞ oɥʍ = ɹǝʍsu∀
Walla Crag from Castlerigg
Height Gained – 200 metres , Distance – 3.6 km, Time –1.5 hours
Another walk from Keswick, and we’ll keep ’em coming! Wall Crag is 379m high, and is more of a viewpoint than a true summit, but worth an hour or two of your time.
Orrest Head from Windermere
Height Gained –100 metres , Distance – 2.3 km, Time –1 hour
Orrest Head has a particular importance in the history of fell walking in the Lake District. It was the first fell that Alfred Wainwright climbed, and the hill we have to thank for inspiring him to write his series of iconic Lake District guidebooks. Ascend this hill from the railway station, just as Wainwright did.
Ullswater Bridlweway
Height Gained –200 metres , Distance – 6 km, Time –2 hours
An easy walk from Patterdale to Silver Bay on Ullswater. It returns on a higher bridleway, but you can also return the same way of you wanted an easier walk with less ascent. Good walking with both hills and lakes to enjoy.
Catbells From Hawes End Derwentwater
Height Gained – 400 metres , Distance – 6.3 km, Time –2 hours
No trip with the family to the Lake District would be complete without a climb up Catbells. Beware that this is a challenging little walk – and is classed ‘easier’ as compared to the surrounding hills rather than ‘easy’. As parking is an issue,make a day of it and get to the walk start with the Keswick Launch to Hawes End.
Walk around Tarn Hows
Height Gained –300 metres , Distance – 8.4 km, Time –3 hours
Tarn Hows is one of the most visited and scenic locations in the Lake District. While many will visit from their car, get active and view it in all it’s glory with this wonderful short walk. While the full route is a touch over the 8km we mention in the introduction, it’s been included as the route is easily cut short by missing out the summit of Black Fell by cutting across the circuit a bit sooner. A much easier loop can be completed by just walking around Tarn Hows
Lingmoor Fell and Blea Tarn
Height Gained –450 metres , Distance 7.5 km, Time –3 hours
From the depths of Great Langdale, you can walk up to Blea Tarn. Surely this is one of the most scenic of the Lake District’s tarns, with the Langdale Pikes as a backdrop. It’s certainly among one of the more accessible. While the full walk is a sturdy 7.5km with 450 metres of climbing, you can easily cut the walk short by excluding Lingmoor Fell from this walk.
Dave Roberts
Related Posts
Circular Routes up Scafell Pike
Best Fell Walks in the Lake District
