We headed out to the Peak District the other day for a family walk around Longshaw Estate. Hillary, Oscar and Casey came along, and this time we had my mum with us too — Grandma as far as the boys are concerned.
It turned out to be a lovely day for it. Beautiful views, a good long walk and plenty of chances to stop and take photos. I probably took a few more than I needed, but when the scenery looks like this it’s hard to resist.
The Longshaw Estate blue route
We chose the blue route, which felt like a good middle ground for us. It wasn’t too short, but it wasn’t so tiring that it took over the whole day either. Long enough to feel like we’d properly been out in the countryside, with time to enjoy it as a family.
The National Trust’s family guide to Longshaw describes the blue walk as around three miles. That’s the waymarked route length rather than a measurement of our own outing, especially with all the little stops along the way.
Woodland, open fields and beautiful views
One of the best things about the walk was the variety. We went from paths under the trees to much more open countryside, with views stretching out across the hills. It never felt like we were just walking along the same sort of path the whole time.
There were cows and sheep along the way too. Between the animals, the trees and the rocks, there was plenty for Oscar and Casey to look at. The photos of the boys on the rocks are probably a better record of the day than any description I could write.
A walk with Grandma
It was nice having my mum with us and getting everyone out together. The blue route worked well for our group that day: we had a decent walk without it feeling too demanding. That’s quite a useful balance when you’ve got children and adults of different ages coming along.
For me, that’s what makes a good family walk. You want somewhere that has enough to keep everyone interested, where you can take your time and enjoy being out together. Longshaw did that really well.
Next time, proper walking shoes
My one mistake was the footwear. I went in trainers, and they got a bit too dirty that day. They did the job, but I came away thinking I should have bought some proper walking shoes beforehand.
If we keep doing walks like this, I think that’s going to be my next purchase. It would be nice to enjoy the walk without looking down at the end and wondering what’s happened to my trainers.
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The evening views were worth staying for
As the afternoon went on, the light across the hills just kept getting better. The sunset views were a lovely way to finish the outing, and gave me another excuse to keep taking pictures.
Overall, the Longshaw Estate blue route was a really good choice for us. Beautiful scenery, enough walking to make it feel worthwhile, and a day out we could all enjoy together. I’d happily go back — with better shoes next time.
