Easy & family walks
The Lake District's gentlest walks — lakeshores, waterfalls, tarns and easy viewpoints, all under 500 m of climb — with honest suitability flags so families know what they're taking on. Several already have a full guide with a map, GPX and live conditions; the rest are on the way. After a bigger day instead? See all fell routes →
These are the walks I'd pick with children in tow. I walked most of Ambleside to Rydal pushing a pushchair in April 2026, and its page names the stretch I haven't.
Effort is the size of the day, from the distance and the climb; each route’s own page grades the steepness, navigation, exposure and ground underfoot, and names the hardest.
Tarn Hows circuit Guide
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
2.92 km · ~61 m ascent · ~½–1 h · loop
Starts at Tarn Hows NT car park · near Coniston
Park: Tarn Hows (NT, paid) · Bus: 505, 1.4 km walk from Holling Brow (near)
Buttermere lake circuit Guide
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
7.41 km · ~66 m ascent · ~1½–2¼ h · loop
Starts at Buttermere village
Park: Buttermere village (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 77 at the start
Orrest Head Guide
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
4.16 km · ~173 m ascent · ~1–1½ h · loop · 1 summit
Starts at Windermere village · near Windermere
Park: Windermere Station car park (Northern, paid) · Bus: 505 at the start
Stock Ghyll Force Guide
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
1.92 km · ~89 m ascent · ~½–¾ h · loop
Starts at Ambleside · near Ambleside
Park: Ambleside, King Street (paid) · Bus: 555, 810 m walk from Ambleside, at Hayes Garden Centre
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
4.22 km · ~43 m ascent · ~¾–1¼ h · loop
Starts at Keswick town centre · near Keswick
Park: Keswick Rugby Club car park (paid) · Bus: 554 at the start
Hallin Fell Guide
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: steepness
1.98 km · ~165 m ascent · ~½–1 h · out and back · 1 summit
Starts at Howtown (steamer) · near Pooley Bridge
Out and back · Park: unnamed car park south-east of Hallin Fell (free) · Bus: UB1, 530 m walk from Martindale Cattle Grid (near)
👶 Kids (care)👀 Big view⚠️ easy-moderateModerate effort Moderate: distance and navigation
10.71 km · ~288 m ascent · ~2½–3½ h · loop
Starts at Grasmere / Rydal · near Grasmere
Park: Ambleside, Rydal Road (paid) · Bus: 555, 1.6 km walk from Ambleside, at Scandale Bridge
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
7.6 km · ~164 m ascent · ~1¾–2½ h · loop
Starts at Elterwater village · near Ambleside
Park: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the start
Grasmere lake circuit Guide
👶 Young kids👀 Big viewEasy effort Moderate: navigation
5.67 km · ~95 m ascent · ~1¼–1¾ h · loop
Starts at Grasmere village · near Grasmere
Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the start
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going⚠️ longer (4 mi) but gentleEasy effort Moderate: steepness and navigation
6.46 km · ~216 m ascent · ~1½–2¼ h · loop
Starts at Rydal / Pelter Bridge · near Grasmere
Park: Pelter Bridge, Rydal (paid) · Bus: 555, 2.3 km walk from Rydal, at White Moss Common
Blea Tarn (Langdale) Guide
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good goingEasy effort Easy: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposure
2.66 km · ~34 m ascent · ~½–1 h · loop
Starts at Blea Tarn NT car park
Park: Blea Tarn (NT, paid) · Bus: 516, 2.4 km walk from Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
👶 Young kids👀 View⚠️ torch for the tunnel; unprotected drops and deep water at the quarry; dogs on leadsEasy effort Moderate: navigation
2.2 km · ~92 m ascent · ~½–1 h · loop
Starts at Little Langdale
Bus: 516, 2.2 km walk from Elterwater, opposite The Britannia Inn
Watendlath & the packhorse bridgeGuide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~1.0 mi · tarn
Starts at Watendlath, Borrowdale
Bowder Stone Guide
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
1.16 km · ~16 m ascent · ~¼–½ h · out and back
Starts at Borrowdale
Out and back · Park: Quay Foot Quarry, Borrowdale (NT, paid) · Bus: 78 at the start
Loweswater circuit Guide
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: navigation
5.87 km · ~56 m ascent · ~1¼–1¾ h · loop
Starts at Loweswater
Park: Maggie's Bridge, Loweswater (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 3.2 km walk from Lanthwaite Green Farm (opposite)
Crummock Water shore Guide
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going⚠️ flat underfoot but long (8 mi)Moderate effort Moderate: distance
13.17 km · ~191 m ascent · ~2¾–4 h · loop
Starts at Buttermere
Park: Buttermere village (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 77 at the start
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going⚠️ flat lakeshore but 6 mi roundModerate effort Moderate: distance
9.58 km · ~114 m ascent · ~2–3 h · loop
Starts at Claife / Wray Castle · near Hawkshead
Park: Wray Castle (NT, paid) · Bus: 505, 1.6 km walk from Low Wray, at Wray Castle Road End
Fell Foot ParkGuide coming
🍼 Pushchair👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~1.0 mi · lakeshore-park
Starts at Newby Bridge
Brockhole grounds & shoreGuide coming
🍼 Pushchair👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~1.0 mi · gardens/lake
Starts at Brockhole, Windermere · near Windermere
Wastwater shore (the Screes view)Guide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · lake
Starts at Wasdale
Lanty's Tarn & KeldasGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~2.0 mi · tarn/viewpoint
Starts at Glenridding · near Glenridding
Dodd summit (Dodd Wood)Guide coming
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · forest/view
Starts at Dodd Wood, Bassenthwaite
Whinlatter Forest trailsGuide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~2.5 mi · forest-trail
Starts at Whinlatter Forest · near Braithwaite
Grizedale Forest sculpture trailGuide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👣 Good going
~2.5 mi · forest/art
Starts at Grizedale Forest · near Hawkshead
Holme FellGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good going
~2.5 mi · small-fell
Starts at Coniston / Yew Tree Tarn · near Coniston
Black Crag (Black Fell)Guide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · small-fell
Starts at Tarn Hows · near Hawkshead
Walla CragGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good going
~3.5 mi · viewpoint
Starts at Keswick / Great Wood · near Keswick
Castle Crag (Borrowdale)Guide coming
👶 Kids (care)👀 Big view⚠️ steep, loose quarry-spoil path to the summit — not for tiny legs
~4.0 mi · small-fell
Starts at Grange, Borrowdale
Silver HowGuide coming
👶 Kids (care)👀 Big view👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · viewpoint
Starts at Grasmere · near Grasmere
Loughrigg Fell (Ambleside side)Guide coming
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · viewpoint
Starts at Ambleside · near Ambleside
Jenkin Crag & StagshawGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~2.0 mi · viewpoint/woods
Starts at Ambleside / Waterhead · near Ambleside
Todd CragGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~2.0 mi · viewpoint
Starts at Ambleside · near Ambleside
Stickle Ghyll to Stickle TarnGuide coming
👶 Kids (care)👀 Big view⚠️ steep/rocky — not for tiny legs
~2.5 mi · tarn/waterfall
Starts at Langdale (NT)
Colwith ForceGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~1.5 mi · waterfall
Starts at Little Langdale
Claife Heights / The StationGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · viewpoint/woods
Starts at Windermere west shore (ferry) · near Hawkshead
Coniston shore & BrantwoodGuide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · lakeshore
Starts at Coniston · near Coniston
Beatrix Potter's Hill Top & Near SawreyGuide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~2.0 mi · village/fields
Starts at Near Sawrey · near Hawkshead
Dunmallard Hill & River EamontGuide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~1.5 mi · hill/riverside
Starts at Pooley Bridge · near Pooley Bridge
Heughscar HillGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~3.0 mi · viewpoint/Roman-road
Starts at Pooley Bridge · near Pooley Bridge
Ullswater Way: Pooley Bridge to HowtownGuide coming
👶 Kids (care)👀 Big view👣 Good going
~6.5 mi · lakeshore
Starts at Pooley Bridge (steamer back) · near Pooley Bridge
White Moss & the Wordsworth walksGuide coming
🍼 Part-buggy👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~2.0 mi · woods/lake
Starts at White Moss, Rydal/Grasmere · near Grasmere
Buttermere: Sourmilk Gill & Scale Force fringeGuide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View
~3.0 mi · waterfall
Starts at Buttermere village
Tarn Hows from Coniston (Monk Coniston)Guide coming
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good going
~5.0 mi · tarn
Starts at Monk Coniston · near Coniston
Gowbarrow Fell (Aira Force round)Guide coming
👶 Young kids👀 Big view👣 Good going
~3.5 mi · small-fell/falls
Starts at Aira Force NT car park · near Glenridding
👶 Young kids👀 ViewEasy effort Moderate: navigation
7.32 km · ~261 m ascent · ~1¾–2¾ h · loop · 3 summits
Starts at Whinlatter - Forestry Commission Car Park
Park: Whinlatter Visitor Centre (paid) · Bus: 77 at the start
👶 Young kids👀 Big viewEasy effort Moderate: terrain
6.42 km · ~202 m ascent · ~1½–2¼ h · loop
Starts at Coniston Village
Park: Coniston, Ruskin Avenue (paid) · Bus: 505 at the start
West Side of Coniston Guide
🍼 Part-buggyEasy effort Moderate: navigation
5.8 km · ~27 m ascent · ~1–1¾ h · out and back
Starts at Coniston, Lake Road
Out and back · Park: Coniston (layby) · Bus: 505, 660 m walk from Coniston, outside John Ruskin School
🍼 Part-buggyEasy effort Easy: distance, steepness, terrain and navigation
6.21 km · ~78 m ascent · ~1¼–2 h · out and back
Starts at Ambleside
Out and back · Park: Ambleside, Market Place (4 on-street bays) · Bus: 555 at the start
👶 Young kids👀 ViewEasy effort Easy: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposure
5.94 km · ~68 m ascent · ~1¼–1¾ h · loop
Starts at Ambleside
Park: Ambleside, Rydal Road (paid) · Bus: 555 at the start
🍼 Part-buggyModerate effort Moderate: distance
9.12 km · ~153 m ascent · ~2–3 h · out and back
Starts at Windermere station
Out and back · Park: Windermere Station car park (Northern, paid) · Bus: 505 at the start
Kentmere to Hartrigg Guide
Easy effort Moderate: navigation
4.47 km · ~62 m ascent · ~1–1½ h · out and back
Starts at Kentmere
Out and back · Park: Kentmere Institute (donation, very limited)
Grasmere to Easdale Tarn Guide
👶 Young kids👀 Big viewModerate effort Moderate: distance, steepness, terrain and navigation
9.52 km · ~237 m ascent · ~2¼–3¼ h · out and back
Starts at Grasmere Village
Out and back · Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the start
Hawkshead into the woods Guide
👶 Young kids👀 Big viewEasy effort Moderate: steepness, terrain and navigation
7.54 km · ~283 m ascent · ~1¾–2¾ h · loop · 1 summit
Starts at Hawkshead Car Park
Park: Hawkshead Car & Coach Park (paid) · Bus: 505 at the start
Ambleside to Wray Castle Guide
Easy effort Easy: distance, steepness and navigation
6.54 km · ~189 m ascent · ~1½–2¼ h · one-way
Starts at Ambleside
One-way: finishes at Wray Castle · Start: Ambleside, Low Fold (paid) · Bus: 555, 360 m walk from Ambleside, at Hayes Garden Centre
🍼 PushchairEasy effort Easy: distance, steepness and navigation
3.16 km · ~162 m ascent · ~¾–1¼ h · one-way
Starts at Ambleside
One-way: finishes at Pine Rigg · Start: Ambleside, Low Fold (paid) · Bus: 555, 350 m walk from Ambleside, at Hayes Garden Centre
Easy effort Moderate: navigation
7.57 km · ~94 m ascent · ~1½–2¼ h · out and back
Starts at Ferry House, Far Sawrey
Out and back · Park: Harrowslack (NT, paid)
👶 Young kids👀 Big viewEasy effort Moderate: navigation
6.61 km · ~106 m ascent · ~1½–2 h · loop
Starts at Old Dungeon Ghyll
Park: Old Dungeon Ghyll (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the start
👶 Young kids👀 View👣 Good goingEasy effort Moderate: terrain
4.25 km · ~91 m ascent · ~1–1½ h · loop
Starts at Elterwater Village
Park: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the start
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Common questions
What are the best easy walks in the Lake District?
Family favourites include Tarn Hows, the Buttermere lake circuit, Orrest Head, Latrigg and Friar's Crag — low-level lakeshores, waterfalls, tarns and easy viewpoints, all under 500 m of climb. Filter this page by pushchair, young kids, view or feature to find the right one.
Which Lake District walks are pushchair-friendly?
Tarn Hows, Friar's Crag and the Derwentwater shore read as pushchair-friendly from OpenStreetMap's mapped surfaces and barriers. We have not walked them with a pushchair, so treat the ‘Pushchair’ filter as what the map says rather than a promise.
What are good Lake District walks with young children?
Short, rewarding walks with a feature to aim for work best — a waterfall (Aira Force, Stock Ghyll Force), a tarn (Tarn Hows, Blea Tarn), a stone circle (Castlerigg) or a quick big-view summit (Latrigg). Filter by ‘Young kids’.
Are there flat walks with no big hills?
Yes — the lakeshore and valley walks are the flattest: Buttermere, Derwentwater (Friar's Crag), Grasmere, Rydal Water, Elterwater and the Ullswater Way are all gentle, low-level routes.
What are the best short walks for bad weather?
Waterfalls are at their best in the rain (Aira Force, Stock Ghyll Force, Skelwith Force), and forest trails (Whinlatter, Grizedale) and short lakeshore strolls give a worthwhile outing without the exposed tops.
Are there easy walks near Keswick, Windermere or Ullswater?
Plenty. Near Keswick: Friar's Crag, Latrigg, Castlerigg, Walla Crag. Near Windermere/Ambleside: Orrest Head, Stock Ghyll Force, Brockhole, Jenkin Crag. Near Ullswater: Aira Force, Lanty's Tarn, the Pooley Bridge walks.