Top 2 Festive Family Walks

picked for you

The Lake District is jam-packed with walks, we’ve picked just two that would be great for family groups of mixed abilities, and all have access to that important cuppa and cake at the end, or perhaps a craft beer and something warming to eat?

Lakeside amble around Derwentwater thanks to our friends at the National Trust, Lake District.

Route Details

Hawes End Jetty, Portinscale. No parking, use ferry to access Easy Distance: 3.6 miles Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, plus ferry Map Explorer OL4 Dog friendly Child Friendly Hawes End Jetty: grid ref: NY250213.

Take the ferry to Hawes End jetty. From here, turn left and head south along the wide track along the lakeshore. Continue through the woodland with tress on your left, through a narrow band of trees and towards the lakeshore where you’ll see Low Brandelhow jetty.

Keep heading south (to your right) and follow the lakeshore path. The path will take you past the huge hands sculpture which was created in 2002 to celebrate 100 years of the National Trust. It is big enough to sit inside! The path gets a little rougher and muddier as it follows the lakeshore to High Brandlehow jetty, where there’s a picnic table and a nice place to pause and enjoy the views.

Continue along the lake shore until you reach the next jetty at High Brandelhow, then make a sharp u-turn onto the upper track in the wood, passing under the line of large Douglas fir trees. Follow this upper path all the way back to the Hawes End Adventure Centre.

Walk back through the woods, ignoring any sidepaths to the left and right and stay on the main path. You’ll get glimpses of the lake, and you’ll pass by the traditional stone barn.

You’ll pass beside Hawes End Adventure Centre, coming onto a road, then look for a track to your right which is signposted ‘Hawes End Jetty’. This will take you back to the Jetty and complete the circular walk.

Sizergh Castle Estate near Kendal, Cumbria.

Route Details

Difficulty: Moderate Time: 2 hours Distance 2.5 miles (4k) Map OS Explorer OL7 Child Friendly

Park at the Castle Car Park, signposted off the A590 near Kendal. Here you’ll find, café, loos, shop and of course the Castle and gardens. From the car park, follow the orange way marker arrows labelled ‘Sizergh Fell’. You’ll leave the car park at the southern end, through a gate and into a field. Walk along with the wall on your left, to the next gate. You may see buzzards and pheasants as they nest in Castle Wood to your left.

Walk through the field to the next gate into another field. Ignore the gate to your right and keep walking onto Sizergh Fell, where you’ll wander up hill, keeping the low wall and fence on your right side.

Continue walking uphill, aiming for the clump of trees on the top. You’ll pass many hawthorn trees, which attract many nesting birds. At the top you’ll find a log bench, with wonderful views out to Morecambe Bay, and the Howgills and Pennines behind.

From the top, follow the footpath across the top and downhill with stunning views of Whitbarrow Scar and the Lake District Fells ahead of you.

You’ll reach a gate in a wall – follow the arrow to Sizergh Fell, immediately right. There is a flat track through a bumpy field – which are ant hills. This field is a magnificent wild-flower meadow in summer, a haven for bees and butterflies. Head to the gate and follow the arrow downhill steeply with a woodland to the left. You’ll see Lane End Farm and a road ahead of you.

Take a right through a double gate at the bottom of the hill and continue on this field keeping the road to your left. As you reach the end of the field, you’ll be able to turn right and head across the field to another double gate.

Walk through the pedestrian gate and take a left around a large Ash tree, cutting a corner off the field. Walk through a small footpath gate in the wall and into the next field keeping the wall on your left, aiming for the footpath gate on the other side of the field.

Walk through this gate and up a small slope onto Ashbank Lane and head right, immediately going through a large field gate. Walk along this stone track, keeping the high, historic deer park wall to your right. You will eventually pass a spectacular veteran ash tree on your right side, and not far past this is a large gate hung from impressive limestone stoops.

Walk through the gate, onto a narrow track with a hedgerow on your right and a wall to your left. Walk up a slope, and down the other side which will then return you to the Sizergh Castle car park and some well-earned refreshments at the café!