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If you’re looking for a gentle toddler walk in the Lake District, this Fell Foot circular is hard to beat. Set within the beautiful National Trust park at the southern tip of Lake Windermere, the route is mostly flat and easy to follow, making it ideal for little legs.
The walk has everything young children love: pebbly lakeshore beaches for throwing stones, wide grassy spaces to run around, a lovely little playground, and plenty of opportunities for a paddle on warm days. Finish with a stop at the Boathouse Café or treat the kids to an ice cream overlooking the lake. This is a brilliant morning or afternoon outing.
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When planning your visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs, and park your car in designated parking areas. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change.
PARKING INFORMATION: Please do not rely solely on the postcode for parking directions. In the National Park, a postcode can cover a large area. Postcodes are only provided as guidance. Please either use the Google Maps point or what3words, which are provided on every walk guide.
Fell Foot walk walk map
On all Lake District family walks it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map with you, even if you have your phone on you. For this walk you need the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL7 (English Lakes South-eastern Area). It’s also a good opportunity to show young kids the map features and get them started with map reading.
Need to know
DISTANCE OF WALK: 2.7km / 1.7 miles
TERRAIN: Smooth, hard paths or grass. Mostly flat but with two steeper slopes.
PARKING: National Trust Fell Foot car park. Click here for Google Map location. Postcode: LA12 8NN. Parking is free for National Trust members. Non-members: £7.00 up to 2 hours; £8.50 up to 4 hours; £10 all day. Parking payment can be made through the JustPark app or at the car park’s machines.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The number 6 bus from Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere to Barrow in Furness runs all year, and the bus stop is right outside the park’s entrance.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Shore access to Lake Windermere with pebbly beaches at multiple points throughout the circuit. Children’s play area on the route. ‘The Boathouse Cafe’ and an ice cream parlour at the walk’s end.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Allow 45 mins.
TOTAL ASCENT: 28 metres
FACILITIES: There are toilets with changing facilities available in the National Trust car park, as well as next to ‘The Boathouse Cafe’. The cafe serves a range of pastries, cakes and sandwiches; an ice cream parlour next door serves a selection of Northern Bloc ice cream.
The route
START: National Trust Fell Foot car park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SD 3812 8697
Post code: LA12 8NN
what3words: ///maddening.stunt.dodges
Route follows a clockwise direction.
1. Exit the main section of the car park to pass by the National Trust information pod on your left. After 100m, take a sharp left turn, signposted ‘Lost Villa Lawn; Pinetum & Meadow’ and ‘Play area; South car park’. As the path branches after 20m, take the left fork.
2. The path opens into a wide grassy space. Continue straight across, until a set of stone steps is visible on your right. Follow these to their base.
3. At the bottom of the steps, turn left and follow the clear path until you reach a 4-way cross road. The route turns right here, signposted ‘Cafe, toilets and changing place; Active Base’, but a detour to the National Trust play area to the left is highly recommended!
4. Follow the path to the water’s edge, turning left when you reach a T-junction, following the clear sign for ‘Meadow’. After 50m of following the water’s edge, the path bends gently left, then almost immediately forks to the right, leaving the stone track for a grass path.
5. Follow the wide grass path as it leads you to a wooden gate. Pass through this to enter a wild-flower meadow. The clear path leads you around the meadow, until the lake comes into view once more. Enjoy stopping at some of the many pebbly beaches along the shore here.
6. The path climbs a gentle slope and brings you back to the start of the wild-flower meadow. Fork left to return to the wooden gate and retrace your steps along the grass path back to the previous T-junction.
7. Instead of turning right and returning to the car park, continue ahead along the gravel path, following the sign for ‘Cafe, toilets and changing place’. The path hugs the lake’s edge, before bringing you to the National Trust’s ‘Boathouse Cafe’ and ice cream parlour next door. Take advantage of the lakeside seating here and pause to take in the beauty of the water.
8. Pass by the ice cream parlour on your left and follow the path as it turns sharply right, leading you up a steep, stone slope. As you reach the top of the slope, the path intersects with a flat, stone track. Turn right and continue along this main route to return to the car park.
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Also, feel free to share your walk photos in our Lake District Kids Facebook Group or on Instagram using by tagging @lakedistrictkidsuk in your caption so we can share with our wider community.