The Best Family Walking Holidays In The UK
A walking holiday with the kids can be immensely rewarding for the whole family, especially with some forward planning to avoid the possible (but largely obvious) pitfalls.
The location, distance and duration depends entirely on age: very young children are capable of less distance, but older kids can often go further than adults. Teens may relish the challenge of a point-to-point longer distance walk, while younger families may prefer centre-based holidays, with daily hikes from the same location that can be interspersed with non-walking days.
Whatever their age, the most important factor is maintaining morale with interesting sights along the way and, ideally, a memorable finale to aim towards.
Here’s a selection of some of the UK's best family-friendly walking holidays and destinations.
Family-friendly walking holidays in the UK
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Family fun on the Southwest Coastal Path
UK family-friendly walking holidays
In reality almost anywhere in the UK can be adapted for a family-friendly walking holiday, but here's a smattering of safe bets you might consider.

The Welsh Highland Railway promises family fun for all ages
Welsh Highland Railway, Snowdonia
Distance: Various day walks, from three miles+
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested age: Eight+ if walking, buggy friendly
The 25-mile Welsh Highland Railway runs steam trains through Snowdonia between Porthmadog and Caernarfon. Each station offers some great walking possibilities, so the train line can be used as the basis of a very adaptable walking holiday. Use it to make inn-to-inn journeys or stay in one spot and travel each day. A collection of 32 walks has been published by Walking Books (www.walkingbooks.co.uk) and there are many more, varying from a 20-mile Snowdon circuit to a three-mile potter around Caernarfon Castle.

Aysgarth Falls in the Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales
Distance: Various day walks, from four miles+
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Suggested age: Eight+
The Dales National Park is full of walks of varying length and difficulty, and most have interesting features to entertain youngsters. The less touristy towns like Settle, with its rail link, or Hawes, with its cobbled streets, make good bases. Walks in the Dales can be hardcore or relaxed. Holiday highlights may include memorable real-life geography lessons like visiting Aysgarth Falls, Malham Cove and White Scar Cave.

The ruins of Corfe Castle on the Purbeck Way in Dorset
The Purbeck Way, Dorset
Distance: 28 miles/43km
Duration: Two to three days
Difficulty: Moderate
Suggested age: 12+
There’s plenty to keep children entertained on this established scenic route through Dorset. The Purbeck Way leads from Wareham to Old Harry Rocks via Corfe Castle. Then switch to the South West Coast Path through the traditional seaside resort of Swanage. At Chapman’s Pool the path returns to Corfe, or extra keen walkers can opt to continue ten more miles along the coast path to see Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.

Sgwd Gwladus, or the Lady Falls, on the River Pyrddin in the Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons, Wales
Distance: Various day walks, from four miles+
Difficulty: Moderate
Suggested age: Eight+
Streams pour south from mountains in Brecon Beacons National Park through wooded valleys and gorges to the south, creating the UK’s biggest concentration of waterfalls. Dozens of walks cover the area, some even passing behind the cascades of large falls. The varied distances and difficulties of walks make it a perfect flexible option for families with children. The riverside villages of Ystradfellte and Pontneddfechan make good bases. Note that the falls are best after rain, but that means woodland paths can be very muddy and slippery.

Take a break from walking at the Cromer seaside
The Weavers’ Way, Norfolk
Distance: 62 miles/100km
Duration: Four to six days
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested age: 10+
Find an intriguing sequence of windmills, old churches and large manor houses on this quiet, safe and traffic-free long distance path in the north east of Norfolk. There’s a limited selection of refreshments and accommodation in villages between Cromer and Great Yarmouth, so book ahead. Reward reluctant children with seaside days at either end of the walk.

Following Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland
Best of Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Distance: 30 miles/48km
Duration: Three to five days
Difficulty: Moderate
Suggested age: 12+
The best stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, between Lanercost Priory and Corbridge, is like a walking history lesson. The wall and its forts are some of the UK’s best-preserved Roman sites and stand amid a dramatic Northumberland moorland landscape. Scenic highlights will also include the photogenic Sycamore Gap and Sewingshields Crags. Walk west to east with winds behind and take advantage of plentiful luggage services, public transport and walkers’ accommodation in inns, B&Bs and guesthouses.

Impressive locks on the Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness
The Great Glen Way, Highlands
Distance: 79 miles/127km
Duration: Five to seven days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Suggested age: 14+
Scotland’s Great Glen Way leads along a series of lochs, rivers and canals between Inverness and Fort William. Handily, the two highland towns are connected by train too, making transport arrangements easy. Kids will love exploring the shores of Loch Ness and the mostly flat route is full of chances to spot deer, dolphins, red squirrels… and maybe the monster too.

Next stop the Arctic Circle
The John O’Groats Trail (final section), Highlands
Distance: 34 miles/64km
Duration: Three to four days
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Suggested age: 15+
Select the final quarter of this 147-mile long distance trail from Inverness to give a meaningful finale to a family walking holiday. Start instead from Lybster and head north along this wild and rugged coast. Kids will love to boast that they walked to John O’Groats. Luggage can be transferred but facilities like buses and B&Bs are limited, so plan carefully. Highlights include cliff waterfalls, dramatic sea stacks, ancient harbours, windswept castle ruins… and of course John O’Groats itself.