#CountryKids: Rambling in Cumbria

 

 On Wednesday my mum bribed us with promise of a pub lunch to get up early and join her Ramblers group on a 6 mile hike. We weren't too enthusiastic about leaving the house at 8:45 but once we met up at the start the children were a bit more enthusiastic:

It was a sunny day but the wind chill meant that hats and layers were required but it was a beautiful day:

We were the only family on the walk out of nearly 30 hikers, such a shame as a 6 mile walk with not too steep climbs was perfect for children aged 6 and up. My children quickly adopted adults to walk with at the front of the group whilst I pootled along at the back taking photographs!

After all this dry weather it was nice walking on non muddy paths. There were a few close encounters with the local residents though:

It was a nicely varied route with sunken lanes and woods as well as the open fields:

When we got up high their were marvellous views back to the Kentmere Horseshoe and the Lakeland Fells:

Its obviously a popular route with many paths branching off:

The children were happy to chop and change who they walked with and sometimes even went with their own family:

There were plenty of interesting things to spot on the way from tree stumps:

Or old lime kilns:

It was nice to stop for our coffee break though:

Then refreshed we went on the next section of the walk which took us to Scout Scar which has marvellous views across the countryside:

It was up on this that we really noticed the strength of the wind:

Our walked continued further along the Scar before we descended into woodland and then across fields full of hundreds of wonderful lambs:

Our next leg was through woodland and my son kept looking for evidence of squirrels etc by examining pine cones on the ground and looking around:

And my daughter had a nice sit down whilst watching this black sheep and her lamb:

The walk seemed to take less long when there were more interesting things to see:

and a variety of stiles to climb:

or squeeze through:

Another more knowledgeable walker even told us what creatures had left this delightful deposit (can you guess?):

By this stage the children were finding their legs a little bit tired but they didn't have much further to go until we returned to the Punchbowl and a well earned lunch:

So why don't you find your nearest Ramblers and see if they have a family friendly walk near you? You can go on a couple before you have to join and pay.