5 Moan-Free Hikes For Kids In The UK

If you try bringing up the subject of hiking with kids, most may well turn pale and start shaking as if you’d just told them you were cancelling the Wi-Fi, but even if you do happen to have outdoor-loving children, it can be tricky to find hikes and walks suitable for them.

Of course, you don’t want them to be too exhausted and moaning the whole way round, but you need it to be long enough to qualify as a hike and not just a quick stroll.

We’ve put together some of the best child-friendly walks and hikes in the UK, so they can pop on their walking boots and you can all get out and about.

Snowdon

Up Wales’ highest mountain? With children? Absolutely.

Snowdon is actually a pretty accessible mountain and, depending on which path you choose, isn’t too taxing. The Llanberis path is the easiest with its nice, shallow gradient, so is probably best for younger children, but it’s not the most exciting.

If you have slightly older children and want something a little more challenging but still relatively simple, then the Rhyd-Ddu path is a nice hike. And if your kids are too shattered when they get to the top, then you can always get the mountain railway back down to the bottom.

Read more about walks up Snowdon.

Lydstep Cliffs, Pembrokeshire

Lydstep Cliffs in Pembrokeshire are a sight to behold and a lovely short circular walk. There is plenty of greenery, home to various wildlife, including butterflies and all sorts of birds. You may even spot a dolphin or two in the water.

If you park in the nearby car park, the walk clocks in at around a mile, but you can make it a little longer by going from nearby Lydstep village.

If you bear right from the car park, you can access the caverns down below, which kids will love exploring, although beware that the caverns are only accessible during low tide.

Find out more about this walk.

Loweswater Circuit, Cumbria

This four miler around the picturesque Loweswater lake is a lovely walk that’s perfect for children. There is plenty of room to run around so they probably won’t even notice the distance. There are loads of trees to climb and you could even try a game of hide and seek.

Unfortunately, the lake is a no-swimming zone for both humans and dogs but the walk is a still a nice one despite this, and you can rent boats if you fancy a trip out onto the water.

Find out more about this walk.

Box Hill Stepping Stones, Surrey

The Box Hill stepping stones are an iconic landmark in Surrey and this delightful walk uses them to provide a fun way to cross the river. There are also plenty of lovely views over Surrey to take in.

This walk is around two miles long, starting at the National Trust visitor centre before heading down to the River Mole and then back up, giving the legs a nice little workout.

You will also pass the Fort, one of Box Hill’s oldest buildings, although you can’t go in as it’s home to bats.

Find out more about this walk.

The Balmoral Cairns

This is the longest walk on the list, totalling nearly seven miles, so it might be worth taking a picnic to break it up into two sections so little legs don’t get too tired.

As well as being a little lengthier, there are also some steep sections, so might not be the best walk for the younger ones. It’s a very historical walk as it takes in various cairns, many of which are really quite impressive, and you’ll even be able to peer onto Balmoral Castle.

Find out more about this walk.

Any suggestions for child-friendly walks in the UK? Let us know! And check out our great range of children's walking boots.