This super child-friendly circular walk, starting with Latterbarrow is under 5km and an easy walk for children! It’s relatively easy navigation and all on visible paths, so simple to follow. Latterbarrow is a popular walk, and one of Wainwright’s Outlying Fells.
Navigation: OS Map: OL 7 The English Lakes South-eastern area. OS Grid reference: SD 36212 99175
Parking: There are a few places where roadside parking is possible at the foot of Latterbarrow, otherwise parking is available in Hawkshead (be aware this will add a few kilometres onto the walk).
Facilities: None on route. Hawkshead village has cafes, pubs and bathroom facilities.
Terrain: Footpaths over grassy fields, through woodland and rubble/ grit tracks. Can get very muddy and wet!
The route
From the road the climb to the Latterbarrow summit is quite steep, but perfectly achievable for children. Be warned, at the top of the climb it’s a short distance to the tall beacon. From the top you get fantastic 360 degree views, including of the beautiful Windermere and of Grizedale Forest.
When you’ve had your fill of view, you can descend by the grassy path in a South Westerly direction, towards the tarns you can see in the distance. When you reach the stile, you could cut the walk (very) short here and turn right to follow the path back to the start.
To walk the 5km route, cross the stile and follow the path in around the base of the fell, you’ll cross a little beck and enter some woodland. We turned right here, following the outskirts of the woodland until eventually we crossed a wall with some steep steps.
Follow this path until you meet a track, and turn right here to follow this all the way back to the road.
Despite it being a drizzly December day we all enjoyed the walk, and doable even for my four year old who is usually a very resistant walker! One that I’d highly recommend.
