The sun was shining bright, the skies were clear, and we couldn’t have picked a better spot than Balloch Country Park for a little family escape.
We started with a gentle walk through the park, soaking in the fresh air and stunning views over Loch Lomond.
It’s been a while since we’ve visited Cunningar Loop, but we finally made it back today! 🌳 The weather was perfect for a stroll, and it was so nice to reconnect with the natural beauty of the area. The boys had a blast running around, exploring, and spotting wildlife. We even managed to enjoy a little picnic in the sunshine.
Had a lovely little adventure today at Fernbrae Meadows Nature Reserve. It was a bit muddy underfoot, but that just made the walk even more fun! The fresh air and peaceful surroundings were exactly what we needed. I didn’t even know this hidden gem existed until today, but I’m so glad we discovered it. Definitely a spot to visit again for some quiet nature time!
Today was nothing short of incredible! We kicked off the day with a tour of the White Scar Caves, and wow, what an experience. The underground world was absolutely stunning, with crystal formations, towering stalagmites, and the eerie stillness of the caverns. It was both thrilling and awe-inspiring to be in such a unique place!
What a day! I’m absolutely knackered after trying to keep up with this pair. 10,200 steps later and I’m definitely feeling it! Balloch Country Park at Loch Lomond was gorgeous, but while they were zooming around on their scooters, I was doing my best to keep up on foot. 😅 We had a blast though, with stunning views and plenty of fresh air. Totally worth the sore legs! #BallochCountryPark #LochLomond #ScooterVsWalk
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Spent a lovely few hours down at Rouken Glen Park—perfect weather for a walk while the boys zipped around on their scooters. The sun was shining, spirits were high, and it felt so nice to just slow down and enjoy the day. We grabbed hot chocolates from the Boathouse Café and found a quiet spot by the pond to sit and soak it all in. Simple moments like these are the best.
Our last full day in the Lake District was between Keswick and Windermere for our trip, and this time Keswick won. We’ve enjoyed both places before, but today we decided to spend the day exploring around Derwentwater.
As usual, parking near the Theatre on the Lake can be quite expensive, so we did a bit of research and discovered we could park at Keswick Rugby Club for just £4 for the whole day. From there, it’s a lovely walk through the park that brings you straight to the lake. We headed off towards Friars Crag and then followed the lake path, but this time we went a bit further than usual. Along the way, we stumbled upon a massive rock on the beach—split in half, and it had the most fascinating structure inside that looked like a brain!
After the walk, we popped into Keswick town for some well-earned fish and chips. Always a classic when you’re in the area!
With a total of 17,135 steps today, we were all pretty exhausted by the end, but it was the perfect way to wrap up our time in the Lakes. A day full of beautiful scenery, good food, and, of course, plenty of steps to keep us busy!
Today was Mother’s Day, and the first one we’ve celebrated while on holiday. The boys did a fantastic job of making me feel special, with gifts of books, sweets, and lots of handmade cards, pictures, and gifts. After a breakfast in bed, followed by a second breakfast of bacon and eggs, it was time for me to choose the day’s adventure. I went with Housesteads Roman Fort, a part of Hadrian’s Wall that we had planned to visit last October but ran out of time.
It turned out to be an excellent choice! The fort is perched on a steep hill, so it was a bit of a hike up, but once we got there, the views were absolutely stunning, and the fort itself was incredibly impressive. The site has a shop and an information centre, which includes a short video on what the fort looked like back in the day, along with some artefacts to explore. The boys also enjoyed the dress-up station, where they could pretend to be Roman soldiers and reenact Roman fights—definitely one of their favourite parts!
Once we made it to the Roman Fort, we were all really impressed by how much larger it was than we expected, and we had a great time walking around, learning about its history, and soaking in the views. Oliver especially loved exploring every nook and cranny of the fort.
Afterward, we took a short drive to Steel Rigg, which was only a couple of minutes away. A short walk down, followed by a bit of an uphill trek along the Wall and the crag (Lyndsey wasn’t too fond of this part), brought us to the top, where the view was breathtaking. Definitely worth the climb!
Pro tip: Wear walking boots if you plan on doing this walk—definitely makes the journey easier!
We ended the day with a steak and chips dinner and a couple of glasses of rosé—a perfect way to finish off a wonderful Mother’s Day.
8646 steps today, and a perfect day all around!
What an amazing day we had today! We made our way to Pooley Bridge and went for a lovely walk around Ullswater Lake—something we missed in October due to the flooding. It’s a walk we really enjoy, so it was fantastic to finally get to do it again.
As soon as we reached the start of the lake, we came across a rope swing—it was great fun! And surprisingly, it held adults too, so we all had a go. There’s something so fun and freeing about swinging out over the water!
We managed to walk a bit further than we usually do and ended up at the campsite and farm area, where there was a food van. We grabbed some chips to complement our sandwiches and sat down to enjoy them. The boys were quick to spot the small park nearby, and they spent some time playing. However, there were a couple of incidents along the way: Lewis got whacked by a swing and went flying through the air (it was a bit of a shock, but he was fine), and then Alexander fell off the climbing wall, landing right under a swing. He stood up, cracked his head, but thankfully he was okay too! It was a little chaotic, but they both bounced back quickly.
Pro tip: We parked at the all-day parking in Pooley Bridge, which cost us £3.00. There’s also an alternative car park that costs £3 for up to 2 hours.
On the way back home, we stopped by the shops in Penrith for some ice creams, then decided to visit Brougham Castle, which is just a 5-minute drive from our chalet. It’s a lovely ruin, with flowers growing through the old walls. You can walk up to two levels of the castle for a fantastic view. It was a great little stop to round off the day.
By the time we got back, we were all absolutely shattered after a full day of adventures.
11008 steps walked—an excellent way to kick off the holiday!
After a quick shopping trip, we decided to make the most of the day and headed to Bothwell Castle for an impromptu adventure. It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon, and it was also our first castle visit of 2019!
Bothwell Castle was absolutely stunning, with its towering walls and rich history. We spent some time exploring the grounds and admiring the architecture. One fun highlight was trying to find the cannonball embedded in one of the walls. It’s surprisingly tricky to spot! After some hunting, we finally had to ask for help, as it’s definitely not the biggest cannonball we’ve ever seen. We’ll be sure to look for it again the next time we visit!
After our castle exploration, we decided to take a 2-hour woodland walk along the River Clyde to Blantyre. The trail was peaceful and scenic, a perfect way to unwind after a day of shopping.
Overall, it was a lovely and unexpected day out, and we’re already looking forward to our next visit to Bothwell Castle!
Gilchrist Family Adventures 