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Walking through autumn field

Time to spoil the family with an Autumn Half Term Break?

Time off with the family is priceless. Half-term autumn is the last week off of the year, before the big lead-up to Christmas!

A week in one of our family lodges gives you lots of ‘us-time’ space to breathe, and plan your own adventure. Take your pick from a good walk, outdoor activities, visiting a local pub and just enjoying time together.

The beauty of our lodges is plenty of space for your family – both inside and out.

Here’s a few ideas to try as a family:

Pony Trekking adventures

If you’re a horsy family you’ll love a hack across the ancient fell routes once used by pack ponies. Cumbria has more bridleways than any other county in the UK and has a varied terrain offering riders a mix of trekking experiences.

If you are experienced, you could book onto the unforgettable experience of a beach canter on a majestic shire horse with Millom’s Heavy Horses or a Black Horses experience in Cartmel.

If you’re just getting started, or wanting to try something new, have a look at Lakeland Pony Treks in Troutbeck, just close by to Limefitt Park; Grizedale Riding Centre; or Park Foot Trekking in Howtown, off Ullswater offer fun experiences for varying levels. Brockhole-on-Windermere, just next to White Cross Bay offers pony trekking for beginners too. Read more here about horsy options in Cumbria.

Treetop Trek & Treetop Nets

In every family there’s a daredevil who will love flying high above the trees and whooping down a zip-wire, and there’s the more laid-back family member who just wants to have a mini-adventure which may even be simply having a cuppa and waving at the other family members from the safety of a warm chair ! (that would be me then…)

At Brockhole on Windermere’s Treetop Nets enjoy 1,500 metres of giant trampolines, slides and tunnel nets all suspended in the canopy 9 metres high. Minimum age is 3-years and after 2-hours you’ll be ready for a relaxing Lakeland beer!

Treetop Trek takes you high above the canopy, and you then zoom down the zip wire in the general direction of Lake Windermere. The adrenaline buzz from the generally being at such a heights and zipwire fun is not to be underestimated..

SUP: competitive family

Great for older kids and good fun in a large group. The Lakes are perfect as lots of safe places to try it out, calm waters, and you can book yourselves a slot. Total Adventure have 3 locations on quiet parts of Windermere, and all equipment can be hired.

GEO caching adventure

Keep things interesting for kids that want something extra on an outdoors walk. Geo Caching is a great way of re-discovering parts of the Lake District that you might have walked across before.

Using GPS satellite-smart devices, join a digital treasure trail where you’ll discover places and things right on your doorstep that you never knew existed. Download the Geocaching app on your smart phones or rent the hand-held devices from an outdoor shop.

Just make sure you check for being weatherproof (rain) and long battery life and always take OS maps with you too.

There’s a cracker of a family Geo-cache at Wray Castle
Have a look here for other geocache ideas.

Rainy day family games, swim or spa?

A swimming pool, gym area or games room could be a priority when booking a half term holiday, especially if we get a rainy day now and then. But don’t forget all our guests staying at Lodges on White Cross Bay, Limefitt Park, Fallbarrow or High Borrans have access to Choices Health Club at Troutbeck Bridge, which has a pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

White Cross Bay has its own pool on site, and Fallbarrow has a games room. Keswick Bridge is in walking distance to Keswick Leisure Pool in the town centre.

There are lots of swimming pools around the Lakes – from leisure centres, to luxurious spas, and you may even be brave enough to try some wild swimming – whatever you choose, don’t forget to bring your swimsuits!

Have a look here for more details about Cumbria’s swimming pools

Book your Half-term Autumn family break here