Lake District recommendations Post Reply

[dhcwong]

Hi lovely mums. I'm planning to head to the Lake District for Easter with friends. We will be two couples - one pregnant, and 1.5,2 and 4 year olds


Where should we stay? Are there any connecting cottages that we could rent for a week? What do we do with small children?

[dudette]

I booked a cottage through Lake Lovers and it was very good - have a look at their website. All the properties seem pretty high quality.

[url]https://www.lakelovers.co.uk/url]

The kids are a bit young for hiking but there are some nice gentle walks round various lakes that they might enjoy, with opportunities for paddling, throwing stones into the water etc. You can also go on boat trips (either rowing or big steamers but it might be a bit chilly). There's really only one main road through the National Park, unless you detour via the M6 so you need to choose where you want to stay carefully. If you choose the Southern Lakes then the Northern ones are a bit of a trek and vice versa. We stayed in Grasmere which is beautiful and very well placed as it's pretty much in the middle so it makes it easier to get everywhere. It also has a particularly nice gingerbread shop!

Having said that I'm not sure I'd have taken my kids there when they were very small. It's such an outdoorsy place, and the scenery is so beautiful, but that's really lost on young children. North Wales might be a better bet - still beautiful scenery but with the added bonus of castles to explore, steam trains to ride on, a mine to go down, Portmeirion (recreated Italian village) - I just think there will be more to do there than the Lakes for the little ones. I took my kids there when they were about 3 and 5 and we had a great time.

[dhcwong]

Having said that I'm not sure I'd have taken my kids there when they were very small. It's such an outdoorsy place, and the scenery is so beautiful, but that's really lost on young children. North Wales might be a better bet - still beautiful scenery but with the added bonus of castles to explore, steam trains to ride on, a mine to go down, Portmeirion (recreated Italian village) - I just think there will be more to do there than the Lakes for the little ones. I took my kids there when they were about 3 and 5 and we had a great time.

Thanks for the detailed reply.. the reason why we chose the Lake district was because we are meeting our friends 'halfway' between Aberdeen and London. In your experience, is there another good spot in between we could meet? North wales will be very far for them to drive to.

[pie81]

I'd suggest a look at the website Babyfriendlyboltholes. They show accommodation in the Lake District which is particularly child friendly. Generally that means there will be some gentle activities for the children such as farm animals nearby, or a play area, or at least a nice garden and toys supplied. Since you will have two under 3 and maybe not quite at day trip stage, these might be a good option. I haven't stayed in any myself though.

There are other similar sites you could check, like Tots Too, I-escape with Kids and Smith & Family, though some of these are more focused on abroad or hotels.

[dudette]

Hmm, I see your problem! You could try Northumberland (more of a trek for you but at least it avoids the M6, Britain's biggest car park!). Again, lovely scenery, but also the Farne Islands, Alnwick Castle (was used in Harry Potter films, but has the most fabulous gardens which the kids will love - all manner of amazing water features and a giant (truly!) tree house), Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall, Beamish Museum (outdoors historic folk museum, brilliant).

Or you could try the Yorkshire Dales (nearer for you, further for them), with Bolton Abbey, various caves and castles, and a great place called the Forbidden Corner which is hard to explain but the kids will love it (we went in the pouring rain and still had a good time).

I also love Shropshire which is very underrated (but maybe too far for your friends?)- beautiful scenery and lots of things to do. Blists Hill museum (part of the Ironbridge museum) is similar to Beamish - a recreated Victorian town. Just brilliant. Plus you're near Cadburyworld - toddler heaven!