Can you help out...
Looking to go to the lakes for a week during the school holidays, ideally a caravan style park with an onsite pool for the kids, aged 7 and 4.
Are their any gems hidden away?
Or where have you been good or bad?
Would be great to get them up some " mini mountains"!
Don't know about the caravan park but from our own experiences (as tourists when the children were younger) somewhere South Lakes near Grizedale might work.
We've just been back with them this summer (mid teens now) for some road riding and walking.
There's a steam railway (Lakeside and Hatherwaite) that runs to the Southern end of Windermere (aquarium there too).
Grange Over Sands - has a nice long promenade and views out across the bay. There is a butcher there that does some awesome chorizo scotch eggs / other savoury treats. Great for a hungry cyclist/parent.
Boat trip option along Windermere.
We did do a day trip up to the wildlife park in the Northern Lakes as well.
Various other attractions about, including a chocolate factory in Hawkshead.
There are a couple of places where you can do waterfalls close to the road and without massive mileage iirc.
Skelwith Force is one of them, starting from Elter Water and walking roughly south east with the water on your right and after about 2km you come to Skelwith Bridge. You can then double back or pass along the Southern part of Loughrigg Fell at fairly low level (depending on your kids appetite for such things). I think there's also parking near Neuam Crag to make it a shorter walk.
I'm not aware of any that have swimming pools onsite. OH suggested this as there's a public swimming pool in Penrith (40 min by bus, 20 min by car). Lots of varied walking nearby too and other things to do on the lake.
Edit: and they have an interestingly-name restaurant!
https://www.parkfootullswater.co.uk/
Public baths in Keswick as well
How's about pine lake near arnside/silverdale? You get resort amenities, family friendly walking at warton cragg, arnside knott and more, then the lakes is just one more junction up the M6.
https://pinelakecarnforth.co.uk/
Park foot suggested above is a nice site btw, good playground for the kids.
Whitbarrow between Penrith and Keswick is great and fits the brief. Some good smaller hills nearby plus stuff like Cat Bells, Barrow, Walla Crag and Latrigg. I’ve stayed there three times and it’s always been great. Keswick is a great town too.
https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/accom/whitbarrow-lavr
We stayed in a lodge in this place a while (14ish years) ago.
https://www.neaumcragservices.co.uk/
It's a great location and has a small pool. The lodges are mainly individually owned and are rented out through other agents and informally as well as through Neaum crag.
Lots of family friendly walks from there, easy bus to Ambleside, also rideable on the Bridleway. Cafe at Skelwith Bridge is good, if busy and pricey.
For pools there are also community run outdoor pools at Askham, Greystoke, Shap ,Lazonby and others. Details here:
https://www.visiteden.co.uk/what-to-do/sports-activities/swimming-pools/
If you're happy with lack of towns nearby, Eskdale is great with kids - mini railway, few good pubs, Muncaster Castle, lots of sheltered, interesting walks, lovely pools for cold swimming, Ravenglass for seaside vibes, Roman stuff, old corn mill.
https://www.fisherground.co.uk/
Pine Lake, Carnforth has quick access to Y Dales and S Lakes and has pools. Nice seaside around Arnside and Silverdale too.
If you're just after being in the vacinity of the Lakes and happy to drive a bit then there's a Haven at the south end somewhere. Has a pool and all the usual Haven based delights (make of that what you may).
https://www.haven.com/parks/lake-district/lakeland