Family walking holidays in the UK

There are some great family-friendly walks 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 my favourite family-friendly walking holidays in the UK.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.