Lake District Activities for Families
Looking for things to do in the Lake District with your Family?
Family time is precious. Spend some quality time with the family and have an experience you'll treasure and talk about for years to come. All our family activities are designed with you in mind. We offer activities that will keep the kids entertained all day. Small things make a big difference. We have Ghyll Scrambles that are close to the car parking so little legs don't have to walk far and small winter wetsuit's so that children will be warm and comfortable. Our Instructors are very experienced and will offer fun challenges and games for every activity.
Choose from lots of activities:
Ghyll Scrambling, Rock Climbing, Guided Walks, Bushcraft Courses, Canoe & Bushcraft, Canoeing and Abseiling.
Below is a helpful guide to our most popular activities for different ages of children. If you have more than one child, go with the activity that suits your youngest child.
Our Most Popular Activities For Families With Children Aged 5+
Canoeing and Canoe & Bushcraft
An exciting canoe trip exploring the beautiful Coniston Water. Play games, take on challenges and enjoy the amazing scenery. If you choose Canoe and Bushcraft, you'll stop off to have a go at fire lighting, make hot chocolate and toast marshmallows
Spend half a day in the woods exploring, making fire, foraging and cooking mini pizzas!
Exhilarating fun for all ages! Also known as Gorge walking, this exciting family adventure includes jumping into plunge pools, scrambling up rocks and around and under waterfalls.
Best venues for age 5 upwards - Church Beck (age 5+ session) & Stickle Ghyll (age 5+ session), Tilberthwaite
Other suitable activities are:
Rock Climbing (Age 5+)
Archery (Age 7+)
What makes these activities popular for young children?
Each of these activities is either designed or can be adapted for young children. Our half-day activities are great for keeping children energised and entertained throughout the whole session. The venues mentioned above are easy to access and are great for little legs.
How small does our kit and equipment go?
We have an extensive range of wetsuits and safety equipment that will fit a small 5 year old and all sizes upwards.
Our Most Popular Activities For Families With Children Aged 8+
Exhilarating fun for all ages! Also known as Gorge walking, this exciting family adventure includes jumping into plunge pools, scrambling up rocks and around and under waterfalls.
Best venues for age 8 upwards - Church Beck (age 8+ session) & Stickle Ghyll (age 8+ session)
Rock Climbing, Half-Day Session
A great introduction to outdoor Rock Climbing, based in the stunning Langdale Valley. Learn how to tie knots and belay a climber safely using the rope. Fantastic for building confidence, learning different climbing techniques and spending time in a very beautiful and inspiring environment.
Spend half a day in the woods exploring, making fire, foraging and cooking mini pizzas!
Canoeing and Canoe & Bushcraft
An exciting canoe trip exploring the beautiful Coniston Water. Play games, take on challenges and enjoy the amazing scenery. If you choose Canoe and Bushcraft, you'll stop off to have a go at fire lighting, make hot chocolate and toast marshmallows
Great family fun in a lovely countryside setting. A chance to perfect your aim, play Archery games and enjoy some good friendly competitions!
Other suitable activities are:
Hodge Close Abseil (Age 10+)
Cathedral Quarry Abseil (Age 12+)
Full-day Canoe & Bushcraft (Age 12+)
Dark Sky Canoe (Age 12+)
What makes these activities popular for children?
Each of the popular activities listed above are either designed or can be adapted for children age 8+. Our half-day activities are great for keeping children energised and entertained throughout the whole session. Some sessions such as full-day Canoe & Bushcraft are better suited to slightly older children due to the amount of paddling required and things such as the motor skills required for delicate knife work.
Can my children take part in activities that are quoted for older children?
In some cases, yes, especially if the age is very close to what we have advertised as suitable. It may be that a 9-year-old is very capable and confident, and attempting a large abseil such as Hodge close (Age 10+) may be the right level of challenge for them. We want children to have a great time with the right level of challenge that helps to build confidence and for them to go away with a positive experience wanting more!
Please do get in touch if you would like to book something with children of a younger age than recommended, or if you would like advice on the most suitable activities for your family.
Please note: If your child is a few years younger than the stated age, and you feel they are capable to do an activity, please contact us as we may be able to accommodate you on a private session (at an extra cost). Public sessions won't be suitable in this case, as others participating in that session will be expecting a certain age range of people to be attending.
Our Most Popular Activities For Families With Children Aged 14+
Exhilarating fun for all ages! Also known as Gorge walking, this exciting family adventure includes jumping into plunge pools, and scrambling up rocks and around and under waterfalls.
Most adventurous venues for ages 14 and upwards:
Church Beck (age 14+ session) - Half-day adventure
Esk Gorge (age 14+ session) - Full-day adventure
Cathedral Quarry Tour and 45m Abseil
Take a fantastic guided tour through quarries and pretty oak woodland to the spectacular Cathedral Quarry. There you'll have the opportunity to explore the quarry and take on its 45m mega abseil!
Bushcraft Fundamentals - Full Day
Spend a full day in the woods learning the fundamentals of survival. The day includes a full lunch of fish and accompaniments prepared by yourself.
Combine a stunning canoe trip on the beautiful Coniston Water with a stop-off to learn and test your Bushcraft skills. You will have a go at friction fire lighting using fire bows, learn some handy knife work and prepare and cook your lunch whilst taking in the magnificent views of the lake.
A unique opportunity to appreciate Cumbria's amazing dark skies and experience the peace and tranquillity of paddling through the silky black waters of Coniston water by night. We'll guide you through the major star constellations and the greek mythology connected with them.
Other suitable activities are:
Canoeing & Canoe & Bushcraft - half days
Rock Climbing - half and full days
Exceptional Outdoor Adventures - Thanks for your reviews...
"We did the Church Beck ghyll scramble with our instructor Scott. We were part of a family group with ages ranging from 6-45 years. Scott had a wonderfully relaxed yet professional manner. He tailored our experience to meet the needs of everyone in the group; supporting the younger members while offering challenges for more experienced participants. He encouraged the children to take on leadership roles and be as independent as possible which, as a parent, was wonderful to see.
The organisation and kit were fantastic.
We just loved every minute of it!
Can’t wait to book our next Path to Adventure challenge the next time we are in the Lake District."
John Udberg
"Excellent morning out. I took my two boys 9 & 10 yrs old Ghyll Scrambling. Scott took us out for the morning. It was great fun, super equipment and an excellent guide. Wetsuits, gloves and socks kept us super warm even in October water! Scott's great with the kids and we all had a brilliant time. Lots of little challenges along the way, Scott's knowledge of the area is impressive. I'd highly recommend this."
Kelly D
"We did ghyll scrambling and a half-day canoe session and both experiences were exceptional. John, the guide was so experienced, knowledgeable and kind and was very patient with our youngest daughter who we were determined would join us on the excursions with her older sisters!
The Lake District is so beautiful and we are so happy to have created such great memories with our family by doing such fun and varied activities.
Would highly recommend the Path to Adventure team and will definitely book other excursions when we come back. Thank you so much!"
Nicky Russell
"Thank you for everything. My nephew, age 12, had such a wonderful and unforgettable experience. He had such a great time. Once again thank you for your kind patience and endurance towards his unstoppable questions. I will definitely return for my next adventure with you. And especially to instructor Bounty (please forgive me if I got your name wrong or “sir” as my nephew called you) you came to my rescue when he moaned he was too tired to row his canoe, your endless patience was very much appreciated."
Sophia Lim
"Fantastic day out Ghyll scrambling with my 10 year old son. Al was very friendly and patient and pitched the day perfectly at our level - pushing us just enough to feel challenged and have lots of fun. Would thoroughly recommend this company and will definitely be booking again the next time we are in the Lake District as they do a whole range of activities that we both want to do!"
Steve Carlson
"While we try to teach children about life, children teach us what life is all about"
Angla Schwindt