How To Hike Wansfell Pike With Kids In The Lake District

We visited the Lake District at the start of winter. Wansfell Pike with kids is an easy hike and starts and ends in the pretty town of Ambleside. If you’re visiting the Lake District with children and looking for an easy introduction to the fells and hills of Cumbria, this could be the one for you.

View over Ambleside Lake District

Panoramic view from Wansfell Pike aross to Morecambe Bay.

Wansfell Pike With Adventure Peaks

There was a dusting of snow across the top of the mountains when we arrived in Cumbria in November and I thought I’d book onto a navigation course to better my map and compass skills. Sadly, nobody else had this idea and the course was postponed as I was the only weirdo who had booked it. As I’d already paid for it, I had the option to transfer onto a different course or hire a hiking buddy. I decided to hire a hiking buddy and the rest of the family came along too.

The company is called ‘Adventure Peaks‘ and they’re based in Ambleside.  They have a number of shops and as well as offering global expeditions and treks, they also offer guided walks in The Lake District.

We decided that an easy introduction (and I do mean really easy) to walking in the Lakes was Wansfell Pike above Windermere.  Two of our kids really wanted to come and as my husband was around as well it seemed foolish not to turn it into a family walk. After mercilessly teasing me for hiring ‘a friend’ to walk with they decided to hijack my friend! Oh the irony.

Windermere Lake District

View from Hundreds Road west towards Windermere.

Meeting The Guide

We were allocated Nathan as a guide and he was lovely. He was great with kids, so much more patient than I am, helpful too in playing pooh sticks with them and pointing out other mountains and things to see.

Adventure Peak Ambleside

Nathan and Immy stopping for a break

Wansfell Pike

At 487 metres Wansfell Pike is much smaller than many other mountains we’ve climbed however it offers brilliant views across Windermere, the Troutbeck Valley and all the way out to Morecambe Bay. It is just 1½ miles east of Ambleside and this meant I could park in the town of Ambleside (next to Adventure Peaks shop) and walk up the fell which is part of the ridge of Caudale Moor.

Wansfell Pike

Not quite at the top

The route

We opted to start with the steeper incline (on a good path) and end on the quicker descent.  The route was a mixture of grassy paths, reinforced stone paths, quiet lanes and woodland tracks, as well as a few concrete roads. It’s a circular walk of 4.5 miles suitable for children but not for pushchairs or people with mobility problems.

View route map for Wansfell Pike on plotaroute.com

Starting in Ambleside

The walk starts in Ambleside at Old Lake Road just opposite the shop.  Passing Skelghyll Lane, a residential area, and through to the beginning of Skelghyll Woods and the walk.

Skelghyll woods, Ambleside

The start of Skelghyll woods

Jenkin’s Crag

You can make a slight detour by turning right off the path to Jenkin’s Crag for this view.

Skelghyll woods, Windermere, Cumbria

The view from Skelghyll woods

Lots of mini water cascades

In most places the path (which was extensively re-built in the late 90s) is wide and stoney with the odd tree root across it. You will cross a number (five?) of little water ways, the one below is Stencher Beck.

Wansfell Pike

Wide and open pathway

Wansfell Pike

Stencher Beck

The Old hunting lodge

The path will lead to what I think is an old hunting lodge although I can’t find any proof of its existence anywhere. There are farms locally so they could just be old out buildings.

After this derelict building you will cross Hol Beck which gushes water over the pathway. Have no fear though, it is unlikely to wash you away and it makes a great stepping stone for kids to jump.

Wansfell Pike

Possibly an old hunting lodge

Wansfell Pike

Crossing Hol Beck

Wansfell Pike

Crossing Hol Beck

Heading north

The path will meet a much wider (vehicle able) path that suddenly breaks to the north (Hundreds Road) and climbs up towards Wansfell Pike.  We met one man and his car on this route. I am not sure if he was a farmer though as he seemed to be counting sheep. It’s not a tarmac road so traffic shouldn’t be an issue.

The pathway starts to climb upwards, steadily and gradually, it isn’t excessively steep and it’s perfect for little legs or an afternoon stroll.

Wansfell Pike

View towards Skelghyll woods

Wansfell Pike

Hundreds road

Finding Slate

Around Windermere 420 million years ago, sedimentary mudstones, sandstones, siltstones and some limestone, formed in the sea.  These were later folded and faulted, pushed up and eroded down to their present levels which stand around the area.

Just besides the road were a collection of different rocks, one of which we think might be slate. We photographed the rocks in a bid to discover more later.  We are still trying to discover what the rock below is?

Wansfell Pike

Not sure what rock this is?

Wansfell Pike

What we think is slate

Hundreds road

Hundreds road continues to climb north. It becomes slightly more rocky and in places more boggy. Avoid these unless you want wet socks!

Wansfell Pike

Hundreds Road

Wansfell Pike

Boggy areas

Discovering a waterfall

I have no idea what this waterfall is called however as we were close to its source, we decided to stop for a drink. The water was wonderfully cold and fresh and Nathan played pooh-sticks with the kids!

One of our kids (the boy) decided (despite begging to come on the walk) to have a sulk and refused to walk very quickly – on the sole basis that he wanted to climb the easy side of the mountain first. Nathan was great with him (whereas I would have walked off and left) and played games with him.

Wansfell Pike

Discovering the waterfall

Wansfell Pike

Playing pooh-sticks

Wansfell Pike

Playing pooh-sticks

Drinking Stream Water

Our map told us we were close to the source of the water and as we couldn’t see any dead sheep in it, we drank it.  Never drink any water that isn’t fast flowing or that has a chance to stagnate in any way but this should be a good and natural source of vitamin B12!

Wansfell Pike

Drinking from the waterfall

Straddling the water

Once you have crossed the waterfall, heading further north you leave Hundreds Road and take a narrow path. the path will eventually fork into a T-Junction and you have the choice as to turn left up towards Wansfell Pike or right towards Troutbeck.  At this point the path becomes more man-made (to prevent erosion) and consists of a flat stone pathway.

There are lots of little mounds along the way that those with too much energy can climb. The path becomes steeper as you climb towards the summit and you’ll break out into a little sweat but really nothing major.

Wansfell Pike

Straddling the source of the waterfall

Wansfell Pike

Climbing little mounds

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Heading north towards Wansfell Pike

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Mad-made flat rock pathway

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike

Reaching The Summit

From here to the west you can see the Langdales (Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags and the Pike of Blisco), to the North there is the Kirkstone Pass and Fairfield Horseshoe, to the East is High Street and Windermere to the South.

There are some flat rocks to enjoy the view and maybe a quick lunch.  There was a cold wind (in November) but really mild in comparison to what I was expecting.  Your best bet is to wear lots of thin layers that can be removed if necessary.

As one of the smaller Wainwrights it can be busy and even though we went during a school-day, there were a fair number of people up there. It seems to be a popular fell to run as well.

Ambleside Lake District CUmbria Snowy mountains

Looking further north towards Baystones

Wansfell Pike

Sitting on the summit

Boy scrambling rocks Lake district

Climbing the summit

Take Time To Admire The View

For a walk that requires only a bit of sweat and effort, the views are breathtaking. You have Windermere & Loughrigg to the west, the sea of Morecambe Bay to the south and Troutbeck and Sallows to the east.

Wansfell Pike

Admiring the view

Windermere, Ambleside, Cumbria

Windermere

This Is NOT Wansfell

Wansfell Pike (484m) should not be confused with its slightly bigger brother of Wansfell also known as Baystones (487m). The fell’s two summits are linked by a dry stone wall. Although Wansfell Pike is the lower of the two it definitely has the better views.

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike

The view over Windermere, Ambleside & wansfell

Wansfell

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike

Wansfell Pike Descent

The descent back down to Ambleside is much steeper than the ascent and at the beginning there is no flattened, man-made path, just rocks descending. Watch your footing and you’ll be fine.  After a short distance the pathway becomes paved with stones again but is still steep.

Kids Hiking Lake District Ambleside

The start of the descent to Ambleside

Wansfell Pike

Steep, stony path

Wansfell Pike

The view from the descent

Descending into Ambleside

The start of the stoned pathway on the descent

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The view back up to Wansfell Pike from the descent path

View of Ambleside and Lake district

Ambleside in the valley below with Nathan our guide and the kids

Wansfell Pike

Imogen on the descent back to Ambleside

Adventure Peaks Ambleside Guide

Nathan our guide – I didn’t tell him I was taking this!!

Wansfell Pike

Rich on the descent

Check Out The View Over Ambleside

Below in the valley is the bustling town of Ambleside. Situated at the north of Windermere it caters well for hikers and has a huge number of outdoor-clothes shops, lots of restaurants, cafes and bakeries as well as pubs and shops. The town dates back to at least the 1600s and is home to the ‘bridge House’ a building that straddles Stock Ghyll. It is estimated to be at least 300 years old.

The path takes you down to a wooden footbridge and down onto Stock ghyll lane.  Wandering down the lane you will soon hear the water from the falls, Stockghyll force.

Wansfell Pike

Nathan and Zach admiring the view of Ambleside

Wansfell Pike

Mountain view

Wansfell Pike

Zach and Nathan

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Imogen descending

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The path climbing up our descent. Imogen and Rich waving

Walking Down Stock Ghyll Lane

The walk back to Ambleside takes you onto stock ghyll lane, through the woods and turning right you can see the waterfall, stock ghyll force.

Wansfell Pike

Stock ghyll woods

Wansfell Pike

Stock ghyll lane

Seeing Stock Ghyll Force

Stock Ghyll Force is a 70 foot waterfall which drains into Windermere.

Wansfell Pike

Stock ghyll force

Wansfell Pike

Stock ghyll woods

Descending Through Stock Ghyll Park

Stock Ghyll Park is a wooded, relatively flat area encompassing the river.

The river has a heavily industrialised past and used to be nicknamed Rattle Ghyll. Many of the old mill buildings can still be seen along the route back into town, although they’ve now been renovated into houses and apartments. They used to produce bobbins for silk and cotton thread, to process wool so it was warm and tough, as well as grinding corn.

Wansfell Pike

Stock ghyll wier

Wansfell Pike

Stock ghyll river

Bridge House, Ambleside

Take a deviation through the town and find the house that straddles the river.

Wansfell Pike

The house over the river

Search For Local Cottages In Cumbria

Use this map to search for local cottages in the Lake District.

What Else Could You Do In The Lakes?

If you’re visiting The Lake District with kids and are looking for other ideas. here are a few.

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As a small child my favourite book was 'People of the World' which featured Inuits from Alaska, children from China and farmers from Peru. It was a glimpse into another world that would inspire me to wander the globe in search of something special.

 

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