The Hiking Household recently spoke with Alex, our wonderful Media & Marketing coordinator, to find out which Lake District walks she has been enjoying since becoming a new parent.
Are you wondering how to get out and enjoy The Lakes this summer with your new baby?
Planning a day-out with a baby can be a daunting task to begin with – let’s be honest, even getting out of the door is a challenge some days!
But it’s SO worth it – the fresh air, family time and the change of scene are the perfect tonic for mind, body and soul.
After a few weeks of newborn loveliness (and sleeplessness!), my husband and I were keen to start planning some slightly more adventurous trips out. Pre-baby, I was a regular fell walker, but my knowledge of the more accessible trails in The Lake District was quite limited. So The Hiking Household website really came to the rescue!
I’ve outlined my top picks below.
Please note for further walk details you can click on the highlighted words in red, you will then be taken directly to that walk page.
Baby’s First Lake District Walk
For our little one’s first walk in The Lakes, we headed to Keswick for a 2-mile pram walk that gifts you with beautiful views of Derwentwater.
It’s a great first walk to take as a new family, as you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and feel like you’ve really escaped the town, whilst still being extremely close to civilization!
Older babies will love looking at the leaves on the trees along the way. For more details please click here.
Short Pram Walk
The first time I went to Tarn Hows, it took my breath away. It is the most magical place. Charming, beautiful and with a very zen atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a chilled pram walk. It’s a flat 2 mile walk, with plenty of parking and public toilets.
For more details please click here.
Friars Crag
Friars Crag
Tarn Hows
Long Pram Walk
Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path:
This is an excellent pram walk for when your baby can last a little longer between feeds and nappy changes (although you will find benches dotted along the way if you need a pit stop).
The path is tarmac almost all of the way, which is always a plus for whoever’s pushing the pram.
We did this route in reverse – starting at the Threlkeld end. We parked on Burns Road which is the first left turn beyond the last Threlkeld junction on the A66, if you’re coming from the M6. Just after the bridge on Burns Road you’ll find a gate on the right, which leads you down onto the railway path. We walked the 5k to Keswick where we stopped for lunch, (and baby feeding/changing) in a cafe, before heading back up the path towards Threlkeld, making the walk 10k in total, which feels like a rewarding kind of distance.
For more details please click here.
Baby Carrier / Hiking Backpack Walk
We’ve recently bought a hiking backpack and our little one’s tolerance of it is hit and miss! So this walk felt like a comfortable one for us – it’s a 6k there-and-back route, so you’re never more than 3km from your car. As it happened, she was having a pro-backpack day so we were all able to enjoy the great views of the Langdales.
It’s nice and flat – great for the legs of whoever’s carrying the backpack. If all’s going well, at the end there’s the option to head on an extra half mile to the lovely Sticklebarn cafe. Alternatively, if baby is having a backpack meltdown, hop in your car and take yourself the 30 second drive down the road for a much needed hot chocolate!
To note: there aren’t any baby changing facilities at the cafe, so we just had to do a quick change in the car boot.
For more details please click here.
Baby’s First Wainwright
Binsey is the perfect first Wainwright to tick off baby’s list. It’s a short walk, and while you might feel the burn walking up the hill, it’s not too steep and the path is pretty good underfoot. It’s a simple up and down route, which is easy to follow – no danger of getting lost.
You’re rewarded with fantastic panoramic views, and the trig point at the top provides a nice focus for some family photos.
For more details please click here.
Keswick to Threlkeld
Mickleden Valley
Binsey
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