Hill walking with children

[weebirdie]

Hello all!

I have two boys, 7 and 5, who have caught the walking bug. They've always been great wee walkers, and are quite used to longish flat walks (20 km or so) around Lanarkshire. They also had a whale of a time climbing Ben A'an (the wee man was three at the time and got a round of applause at the top!). Last year they climbed Ben Lomond with us on one of the hottest days of the year and they loved it, though I feel it was probably a touch too long a day for them (we took it very slow) but the following day they were out on their bikes and playing football whilst my muscles wouldn't let me get down the stairs without wincing!

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for hills or other interesting walks of a varied terrain that aren't too arduous for them and have good, clear paths as we like them to enjoy their freedom and 'scout on ahead' a bit, rather than following my natural desire to rope them to me for safety.

Things around the Ben A'an kind of level of elevation / walking time would be absolutely ideal, they loved the change in the environment and the different levels of difficulty. We are hoping to do Tinto Hill soon too. Please bear in mind that they have wee legs (and so do I!) but have excellent stamina and a brilliant sense of adventure! (7 year old is gutted I'm not taking him on the WHW in April, bless his heart!).

We live in Lanarkshire and have access to a car, so anywhere around the Central Belt, Loch Lomond and Trossachs, the East around Fife etc and down to Dumfries and Galloway are all great for us.

Many thanks!!

[jmarkb]

Dumyat
East and/or West Lomond
Benarty Hill
Various options in the Pentlands
The Whangie
Dumgoyne and Earls Seat

[weebirdie]

Fantastic! Added to my list - thank you! Funnily enough, I've just been looking up the Whangie. Because, ya know, you've got to go to a place with that name!

[Sgurr]

Bishop's Hill
Norman's Law
Conic Hill

[smudger71]

I would also recommend

Meikle Bin
Ben Venue
Meall Nan Tarmichan


all have great paths and have less ascent and are shorter than Ben Lomond.

[weebirdie]

Fantastic! Many thanks all, these ideas are filling up the calendar nicely.

Now if only the kids would stay still long enough for me to Fabsil them...

[MG1976]

Hi weebirdie,
My eldest is now 7, and bagged his 1st Munro when he was 3. I have had him on plenty of hills, Ben A'an being one of his favourites. I always hope to see more reports of people walking with their children, and also appreciate heads up's on routes that aren't going to have them moaning "are we there yet" after a few hundreds metres.

I've posted reports on each the the Munros i've climbed with Chase, and i try to give plenty of details on "realistic times" for walking with kids.

Take a look, and see if any of these sound good.
My walks with Chase are easy to spot; look out for "Super-Chase" in the title.

MG1976 Walk Reports

Martin (MG)

[StevieC]

Goatfell is ideal for kids, plus you have the adventure of a ferry crossing

[mountainboy12]

Kinnoull Hill done that when i was wee with my family

[DivvyBoy]

The lost valley in Glencoe is a great wee walk to take the kids. We took our 10 yo lass and she really loved the adventure and even mede it up on to the big boulder that lies in the valley(something which my 30 something Mate couldn't manage) then we spent the night at the red squirrel campsite where they let you have a campfire. Kids love that sort of thing and to be fair one of the best days out I've had in a while.

[flipside]

The donalds around over pawhope bothy, some can can be done individuals with overnight in bothy my kids loved it .

The whangie
Tinto
Cairnwell three
Mount Keen
Corrie fee

[weebirdie]

You lot are brilliant, thank you so much!

My seven year old has just discovered the joys of geocaching as well - I suspect I am going to be a fair bit fitter at the end of this year than I am at the start! I don't think they've left me a weekend to myself!

Lovely to hear others being so enthusiastic about young children walking - I have encountered some negativity (eye rolls and tuts and 'this isn't the place for them' sort of thing) as well as some really super people who have taken the time out to encourage the boys or congratulate them on their feat. With obesity levels soaring in this country, and children becoming more sedentary whilst the costs of out of school sports clubs goes through the roof; what could be better than a good stomp up a hill where they can also learn about nature, the weather, navigation, risk taking etc? If done with caution, why should it be more dangerous than a game of bulldog in the playground?

[Boris_the_Bold]

Beinn na Lap plus a night in Loch Ossian Youth Hostel
Beinn an Lochain (from the Rest and Be Thankful)
Dollar Glen (and maybe on up the hills behind)

BtB

[Sarah86]

The whangie is a great suggestion as it could be fun for kids to try and find the opening, I missed it first time I know it is a little further away from where you are looking but if you are every in the Aberdeenshire area, Clachnaben is a great walk and has an interesting top.

If you do visit either of the Lomond hills a walk to Maspie Den is a pretty walk with a small waterfall you can walk under.

A walk at Loch Turret is also pleasant

Again if you fancy further afield Corrie Fee is wonderful (especially if you go when the heather is out).

The Cobbler

Conic Hill

Bracklinn falls and then up to Callander Crag.

[Lightfoot2017]

For a whole day out, Mayar and Dreish - with a lovely approach through Corrie Fee - are a nice easy duo in fine weather . Will bump up the Munro tally soon enough, I'm sure.

Also, Schiehallion is a doddle too, in finer weather. Park at Braes of Foss and up ye go. Simples.

Got two boys 5 & 7 myself too...hoping to get them started this Summer

P.