UKC

Hello 

I'm not very well and can't walk far, about 5 or 7 km. Not too much height gain.

Camping in north lakes, bonus if there's a decent view and somewhere for the kids to paddle / swim. 

Thanks in advance 

Alasdair 

Lion and Lamb (Helm Crag) at Grasmere - you can park at the hotel top of the Easdale tarn road - very convenient !   This can be combined with Easdale tarn to give a nice 6 or 7k walk and not too much height with great views and the scrambly rocks to play around on at the yop of Helm Crag.  Fantastic walk

I don't know if Cat Bells would be feasible. Not far distance wise but it goes up a bit. If you think that's within range then I'd recommend it. Wonderful views.

Loughrigg Terrace from Grasmere to Ambleside and the open top bus back?  Dead easy, a couple of caves as added curiosity and utterly stunning views.  I would recommend that way round as I think the views are slightly nicer and I *think* it's net downhill though there is some steepish up involved out of Grasmere, but the other way also works.

Used to do it every year on Scout Easter Camp and I still haven't tired of it.

Depending exactly where you head up/come down it would tick your "paddle in a lake" box too.

If staying in Keswick you could do the whole thing by bus and avoid parking faff/cost.

Don't know if you'll be far from the coast, but you could do short sections of the Cumbria coastal way, maybe including around St Bees or Silloth which have nice sandy beaches for the kids if the tide's right.

The area around Buttermere and Loweswater also has some nice options - eg walking up to Rannerdale Knotts gives great views for the size of hill, or a walk around Buttermere. 

This is all great stuff thanks..beats getting the map out and guessing which is my usual method!

Also recommend the walk around Buttermere if you're fairly close to there. Lovely and some nice bits of lake shore to enjoy. 

We’ve enjoyed this walk above St John’s in the vale, 8km long, goes up to 300m but easy walk along the riverside back, great views of Castle rock.

https://www.ratedtrips.com/walking/st-johns-in-the-vale

There's a good loop around Binsey ( most northen Wainwright). The walk is about 5 miles so maybe pushing the distance but it's only 1000' gain for the total walk with a section on quiet road and lanes.

If interested in doing a few hills Sale Fell, Ling Fell, Dodd, Great Mel Fell, Little Mel Fell are some of the lowest Wainwright hills in the north being between 360m - 550m in height and very short if just heading up and down.

The bay at Scarness is good for a swim on Bassenthwaite.

+1 for the Buttermere round 

Park up at honister yha if you want a view without much yomping. Or bus up and walk back down. Plenty choices around there but the river in stonethwaite is a popular spot for a paddle.

From Keswick to Grange along the river, bus back. From Rosthwaite along Langstrath. Around Buttermere. Along the east shore of Ullswater, with bus and boat options. Aira Force. Or s. Cumbria, explore the paths between Elterwater, Little Langdale and Tarn Hows. Enjoy!

The circular walk at Aira Force around Gowbarrow Park was very nice, I thought. Up the river past the waterfalls then East over Gowbarrow Fell to pick up the perimeter path going South and finally along a gradually descending balcony path overlooking the lake.

As a family walk, with paddling/swimming, some combination of the path round the shore of Derwentwater and the round the lake launches takes some beating.

Souther Fell is a lovely circuit, with a pub at halfway which ever end you start (Scales or Mungrisedale).

Dodd, from Dodd Wood car park is nice and shady if its hot.

The walk up to Bowscale Tarn and back offers halfway paddling, and if you head down the grass to the footbridge and then return along the lane, the lovely cafe run by the Quakers is worth a visit if open.

Hallin Fell on the east side of Ullswater, park at Martindale church. Bit of a drive from Keswick but worth it - lakeside/rocky bits, walk round the hill or up it for the view.

Harrop Tarn is my go-to easier walk. Start from Dob Gill car park west of Thirlmere to go up to the tarn, and then keep going past the tarn and down the forestry track and back along either the road or lake path. You can swim in the tarn with a view of Helvellyn, and there are some good views on the descent too.

A really gentle option is Heughscar hill from Helton common to reduce the ascent (otherwise start from Askham, Pooley Bridge or Roe Head, especially if it has been wet or you might get stuck in the mud when parking). Good views down Ullswater and Askham has an outdoor pool. 

Low Fell from the big layby north of Loweswater lake has better views than either, but might be too far and too west. 

I would also second High Rigg, Aira Force (& Gowbarrow), Bowscale, and Dodd that others have already posted. 

Rannerdale Knotts in Buttermere would tick the box.

Totally agree. Perfect almost flat 5km walk with paddling and swimming options on the way round. Pubs and cafes at the finish too.

Some little pools to enjoy further up Warnscale too if the OP is after something a little more adventurous.

As an alternative to this, rather than walk along Rannerdale Knots, do the short reasonably steep path up to the south-west corner from Buttermere, then take the path down the beautiful valley to the north, and walk around Crummock Water to Loweswater. Eat at the Kirkstile then get a taxi back, or if you fancy it, walk back to Buttermere along the other side of the lake. Watch out for the gate on the left of the path that leads to the village. 

Buy this. No, really, really buy this! (It's available in non Amazon stockists too)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outlying-Fells-Lakeland-Pictorial-Guides/dp/071122...

Not only is it a great read when the weather is crappy and you dont feel like going out - I reckon Ive read all the pictorial guides including this about 6 times - but it details some absolute gems for short days, short people and days when your body cant match your mind but still want the same thrills and views.

Crummock -Park at lanthwaite wood walk down to crummock w - paddle / swim / fart about , walk around to “ second beach “  ( beyond the pumping station ) , set up for lunch /  swimming , ( best place in north lakes for a swim but shuss) walk to kirkstile for a pint / kids fart around in The pub garden , short walk from pub down t road to car . Jobs a good un ..

IIRC the path above St Johns Beck at the south end of that walk is rough and has a fair old drop to the beck. Probably not one to do if the OP is a bit unsteady.

You may well have a point…it did go up a steep bit at that point for a short while if I remember.

There is typically a Dipper in the river just before that bit, and one time we did it there was a tea room open along that section.

It’s a bit of a steep descent going down to the hall/church halfway along the walk as well so worth the OP noting that.

The tea room is still there. Should be open this time of year.

Hadrians Wall: Houseteads <> The Sill <> Walltown, part of the Pennine Way, regular bus the AD122. Mostly flatish except for the short sections crossing the "gaps". Great views, cafes at all points (and pay parking).

Or the PW from Alston to Slaggyford (and steam train or bus back). Really interesting Roman Fort at  Epiacum. Lots of coal mining remains.

Something different?

Castle Crag? I've not been up it myself but we were camping in Grange and walked past it once. Looked nice and on the old route between Grange and Rosthwaite, which was pretty. There's the river by Grange but it's VERY pebbly - I've got tough feet and I wished I had swim shoes. 

Also check out the wild swimming in the Lakes book - I often follow that sort of thing as it can give you reasonably short walls with a dip at the end (I can only walk similar distances). I think the only one I've tried from it was Black Moss Pot when camping nearby, which was a bubbling inferno in August (after downpours) and didn't look safe to get in at all, but I'm sure there are other options. Can look when I'm home if helpful.

Apologies - just seen that Castle Crag is 8km; think we got lucky with the location of our campsite! 

Rosthwaite up to Watendlath. Tearoom. Then either down through the woods to the Lodore Hotel with impressive cascades (path a bit rocky) or carry on to Ashness Bridge. Bus to Rosthwaite. Ferry from Lodore or Barrow Bay. (Presume starting at Keswick. )

Alternatively use the ferry to walk 'n' hop around Derwentwater. Eg Keswick to Lodore by ferry then rejoin the ferry at Hawes End, or walk back to Keswick. 

Climbed up rannerdale knot today. It was great! Thanks for the idea. We managed a wee swim in Buttermere water too. 

Will probably try another of the threads recommendations tomorrow. 

In which case I would recommend  Sale Fell  similar walk Rannerdale Knotts but a better view. Option extension to  Ling Fell. Its a figure of eight walk.

Bassentwaite for the post walk swim.

More reasonably priced sellers are available

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Res...

We did some orienteering on Sale fell. I was knackered after rannerdale so just enjoyed the views. 

Yesterday we walked down st John's in the vale to castle rock. Very quiet, scenic and we found a good swimming spot. 

Thanks for all the suggestions. UKC at it's best.