Whinlatter Forest
England's only true mountain forest: Gruffalo sculptures on the trail, the WildPlay adventure area, red squirrels if you are lucky, and Go Ape for older kids. Views over Derwentwater thrown in.
Honister Slate Mine
Keswick, Cumbria
Honister is a working slate mine at the summit of the pass between Borrowdale and Buttermere, and the guided mine tour takes you properly inside the mountain: about 50 steps down into hand-carved passages, vast chambers, original tools, and a mock explosion for good measure. Tours last around an hour and a half, cost from £25 a head, and take all ages, though under-16s need an adult with them.
Book ahead in the holidays, and arrive 30 minutes early for helmets and headlamps, which are provided. The terrain underground is rough and uneven, so it is not one for buggies or wobbly toddlers. For older kids the Via Ferrata Classic follows the old miners' route up Fleetwith Pike, clipped to a cable the whole way: minimum age ten, minimum height 1.3 metres, from £55 each.
The drive up the pass is part of the day, steep and narrow with drops your passengers will narrate. The yard at the top, stacked with cut slate, feels like another century.
What it costs: Mine tours from £25 per person; Via Ferrata Classic from £55 per person, minimum age 10 and 1.3m tall. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Know before you go
- It is cold in the mine whatever the weather outside, and strong shoes are non-negotiable - trainers with grip are the bare minimum.
- The 10+ and 1.3m via ferrata rules are firm, so do not promise it to a nine-year-old.
Worth knowing: Mine tours take all ages; via ferrata is strictly 10+ and 1.3m tall.
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Go Ape Whinlatter
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What’s on near you, every Friday
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.