The Lake District National Park is an area of mesmerising beauty and has unsurprisingly provided inspiration for many world-renowned authors and poets. There is plenty of adventure to undercover and you could easily spend hours exploring various lakes, fells and woodlands, all of which make for some mesmerising scenery. Why not turn a couple of hours into a full day’s adventure? Pack up a picnic and throw on a pair of walking boots and you’re all set. Here are just a few potential picnic spots that the whole family will love.
Buttermere
Hassness Tunnel by User – CC SA 2.0
Work up an appetite with a scenic walk around Buttermere Lake. The 7km trail takes around three hours to complete and involves mostly flat ground, so is suitable for children. There are plenty of look out points along the path that provide stunning views out onto the lake, such as the summits of Red Pike and Haystacks. If you take the anticlockwise route around the lake, you will finish near the Hassness tunnel, an exciting change of scenery for the children to explore.
Tarn Hows
The family-friendly Tarn Hows path is less than 2 miles in length and is one of the most visited places in Lakeland. It’s well maintained and level ground mean it is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Enjoy some outstanding scenery of the surrounding woodland and views overlooking the Langdale Pikes. Did you know that author Beatrix Potter bought the Tarns in 1929 and sold the half that included Tarn Hows to the National Trust?
Helm Crag
Image credit – Bob-McCraight
Helm Crag, or the ‘Lion and the Lamb’ as it’s known, is possibly the best known of all the Lakeland fells. It makes for a great family day out as it’s a relatively easy climb, despite its steep appearance. A hike to the summit will leave you rewarded you with some memorable views of a stunning landscape. The summit is sprinkled with jagged rocks that supposedly bear resemblance to a lion and lamb, hence the nickname. Helm Crag is within easy reach of quaint village Grasmere and is roughly 6km in length, meaning it should only take a few hours to complete. Turn the outing into a full-day excursion by stopping for a picnic along route and taking the time to absorb your surroundings.
Derwentwater
Image credit – Daniel_Kay
Take the 10-mile waymarked excursion around Derwent Water and enjoy a variety of scenery, flora and fauna. The paths will guide you through ancient woodland and along the picturesque shores of the river. They are easy to navigate and the ground is flat, making it a wonderful day-long adventure. See the Hundred Year Stone, John Ruskin’s memorial, the Entrust sculpture and look out for the red squirrels en route. You can download a map of the route here.
Ashness Bridge
Image credit – golfer2015
The popular viewpoint of Ashness Bridge offers spectacular views across Bassenthwaite Lake and the River Derwent. It can be accessed as part of the scenic walk between Keswick and Borrowdale Road. Whilst on this route, it’s definitely worth stopping at Surprise View, a lookout point of spectacular proportions. On a clear day, you can enjoy uninterrupted views of not only Derwent Water, but the shores of Scotland in the distance.
Muncaster Castle
Image credit – Jeff Buck
Muncaster is a lived-in, allegedly haunted castle in the Western Lakes. It is owned by the Pennington family and has been so for more than 800 years. A visit to the castle will allow you access to the adjacent gardens, an incredible 77 acres of tranquil greenery. A stroll through the gardens is quite the adventure, with masses of woodland to explore. There are several picnic benches to stop at and enjoy a spot of lunch, then why not venture over to the Hawk & Owl Centre and witness one of the incredible bird displays or take the audio tour and learn more about the history of the castle?
If you would like to make your next family holiday destination the Lake District, please take a look at our excellent range of Lake District properties here.
Featured image credit: Michael_Conrad