going camping next weekend with our two 6 year olds + plus friends and their two (6 and a toddler).

Any recommendations for places to go, eat, explore etc.

Happy to drive a bit but would like to head into the Lakes so the kids can see the beautiful scenery.

http://southlakessafarizoo.com
http://www.cocklakes.co.uk
Loads of stuff to do in Keswick then down to Ambleside.
http://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/whinlatter
My new fav Lakes cafe; http://thechaletportinscale.co.uk
http://thebritanniainn.com
http://www.chestersbytheriver.co.uk

Heading that way tomorrow. The inlaws have a static caravan near there. Penrith has a pool, decent shops. Booths supermarket is good for supplies, particularly beer and cheese.. Walby Farm, near Carlisle is good. Loads to do and a good indoor play area if it rains, including vertical drop slides for adults.. Keswick is a good town to visit. Nice shops theatre, boat trips on the lake. It also has a good pool, indoor climbing wall, a pencil museum (more interesting than it sounds). Whinlatter trail centre is near by. The Rhegged centre close to Penrith has craft shops, soft play, outdoor play areas.
Heritage steam railway and car museum near Hawkshead. Good if you like steam trains and Back to the Future.
A bit down the M6 Whitescar caves near Kirkby Lonsdale are impressive but not suitable for a toddler.
Hope that helps.

Thanks for the help so far.

But caves not suitable for toddlers *or* claustrophobic wifes… 😉

johndoh. They are very claustrophobic. We squeezed through with a 5 year old a 2 year old and a newborn in a sling. Not a great idea. Took about half an hour to walk to the deepest part of the cave. The eldest needed a pee, however nowhere to go. He spent the return journey twitching about like a cat on a hot tin roof.

If you get nice weather there is a nice house with estate close to Windermere. Can’t remember the name. They have crazy golf, pony trekking, go ape, falconry displays, kayaking.

Ullswater steamer is good too…

The tea rooms for cake and the finest wines available to humanity?

Cocklakes farm shop on the A66 is great for picking up food or stopping for lunch.

I’ve heard the Llama Karma Kafe is supposed to be great for kids, although I’ve never visited.

Also if heading into Ullswater checkout Granny Dowbekins tea rooms in Pooley Bridge, nice for a stop and afternoon tea by the stream.

Climb the Beacon in Penrith.
Visit Armathwaite and walk down river path, towards the caves.
Melmerby bakery is ace, lovely village to wander round and nice walks.
Mungrisedale has great stream to play in and dam, and the short walk upto old mine waste heaps is great ‘crystal hunting’…
Askham pub does *the* best steak and ale pie.
Castle park in Penrith has loads of play area/crazy golf/nice walk potential, our kids loved in when little as a stop off on longer trips.
Walk along Ullswater South shore at Pooley Bridge, the the a Picnic.
Ullswater steamers are great.

(From oab, Penrith boy for many years)

Blencathra is a nice family mountain, easily climbed and back down in half a day. Go up Doddick fell for a teeny bit of scrambling and it’s quite dramitic. Back down to scales to the pub.

On a Sunday – nip up to the cafe at Hartside and ogle the motorbikes.

If you get nice weather there is a nice house with estate close to Windermere. Can’t remember the name. They have crazy golf, pony trekking, go ape, falconry displays, kayaking.

That could be Brockhole, the Lake District National Park visitor centre you’re thinking of. It’s good but expensive, unsurprisingly. If you do go, beware the parking – it’s done by time and recorded by ANPR, the signs aren’t massively visible, easy to drive in and drive out without realising you need to pay, pay machine’s down by the Go-Ape kiosk…

It’s also the annual Steam Gathering at Flookburgh this weekend. There’s Lakeland and Haverthwaite Steam Railway, that can be tied in with a trip on a Windermere steamer and a visit to the aquarium.

The zoo’s a bit of a drive – around 1h 15 from Penrith to Dalton – so depends if you don’t mind a drive, but it is good and there’s some newer bits and pieces this year. Also easier to access too as they’ve moved the access route from a drive through Dalton town centre to a big new turn off the A590 at Lindal.