Child walking down a street between exposed brickwork cottages in Kirkby Lonsdale

Visit Kirkby Lonsdale with Kids

Kirkby Lonsdale is a stunning town in the Westmorland district of Cumbria and is right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

There is so much to do with the kids, that makes it a brilliant place to visit with the family!

Thinking of Visiting Kirkby Lonsdale with the Family?

Then we are here to help you decide what you can do with the kids whilst you are there!

We have had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful part of the world on several occasions, most recently in our pursuit of those Yorkshire Dales mountains (of which there are many on the doorstep of Kirkby Lonsdale!)

We have stayed in the centre and visited for the day. Either way, we think that Kirkby Lonsdale is a gem and so we have compiled out Visit with Kids Guide from our experiences along the way. So check it out for where to find the park, where to walk and where to find the best ice cream!

We know that if you go on holiday, you want to EXPLORE! So why not check out our Visit with Kids Guides for Sedbergh and Dentdale!

Child holding ice cream walking on cobbled street to church in Kirkby Lonsdale

Walking with an ice cream on the way to the riverside walk.

The Best Walks for Kids in and around Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirkby Lonsdale is found right on the south-western edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is a super base to explore the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District… but seeing as we’re all about the Yorkshire Dales, we shall be recommending walks there!

Do you want to find a waterfall? About 15 minutes down the road in Ingleton, you’ll find the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail to explore.

Looking for a riverside walk? Why not head along the riverside to Devil’s Bridge it’s a short walk, the perfect length to eat an ice cream!

If you’re in love with geology and fancy an awesome adventure, you can drive up to Bullpot Farm and walk to Ease Gill to explore the (mainly) dry stream bed and see all the awesome rock formations. Just don’t visit during heavy rain.

Or if peak bagging is your thing? Then there are several of the Dales mountains surrounding the area. Gragareth is a stone’s throw away, as well as Green Hill, Great Coum and Crag Hill making it an epic peak bagging walk. Or perhaps you can bag the smallest trig and mountain in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Calf Top as a linear walk from Barbon.

Or if you want a mini peak to kick off your peak bagging career, then try Winder over in nearby Sedbergh!

Outdoor Activities for Kids in and around Kirkby Lonsdale

You will NOT be surprised to hear that there is a whole LOAD of outdoorsy activities around Kirkby Lonsdale that are great for the kids!

Are you looking for a kid friendly trail? Then head to Ingleton Waterfalls Trail who has a family friendly trail to follow on the walk around the stunning falls or head a little further along the A65 to Clapham, where you’ll find the Mimpish Squimbies fairy trail on the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail.

Looking to go alfresco swimming Then Ingleton Open Air pool is found a 15 minute drive away.

Do you want to go cycling? Then head to Sedbergh e-bike hire (age restrictions apply so this is not suitable for younger children)

The Lakeland Maze Farm Park is just down the road in Sedgwick, so head there for their Maize maze in the summer or for all year round fun on the farm! If you’re here in October, they also do pumpkin picking, as does nearby Ullathorns farm.

Sizergh Castle is only a 15 minute drive from Kirkby Lonsdale and has a nature play trail to try!

Or for a BIG adventure, why not try the Yorkshire Dales Guides for caving, ghyll scrambling and more! (age restrictions apply)

Want a wild swim? Devil’s Bridge is a popular place for a dip! (Just make sure you check out the RLSS for all their Summer swimming safety tips!) We have also got a page dedicated to Wild Swimming with Kids, so check that our for links to expert advice and our own experiences.

wild swimming at Devi's Bridge

Wild Swimming at Devil’s Bridge

Where’s the play park in Kirkby Lonsdale?

The park in Kirkby Lonsdale is found just opposite the Booths (and coincidentally, right next to the Royal Barn…. part of the Kirkby Lonsdale Tap Room that does SUPER wood fired pizzas that the kids love!)

There is a car park directly outside of it on New Road/ Dodgson Croft.

It’s well equipped and has areas for toddlers as well as older kids. There is a climbing area, a zipline and also a skate park.

For more parks in the area, head to our A-Z of Yorkshire Dales parks!

Child Skating down a skate ramp
Walking through White Scar cave

Rainy day stuff to do around Kirkby Lonsdale

Come on guys… it’s Cumbria! It rains. Quite a bit actually (it makes the sun all the more worthwhile!)

Looking to burn off some energy? Then why not go indoor climbing? Head to either the climbing wall at Ingleton, or nearby Kendal. Both have instructor led beginner level options, or Kendal has a more clip and climb style area.

If it’s raining why not try White Scar cave for a day out in the longest show cave in the UK (although if it is super rainy, that does close in flooding) or try Ingleborough Cave, although there is a walk to reach the show cave.

A Day Out in Kirkby Lonsdale must do Itinerary

Ok. You only have a day in Kirkby Lonsdale, what would we recommend you do?!

Have ice cream from the Milking Parlour and take it on a walk with you along the Riverside, checking out the history of Kirkby Lonsdale as you go!

Head to the park and on the way pop into Chocolat for some take home treats!

Take a trip up the road to Sizergh and stop at Low Sizergh Barn for their award winning cafe, farm shop and raw milk.

Afterwards head to National Trust Sizergh Castle to take a tour of the gardens and do the nature play trail.

Head back to Kirkby Lonsdale for the wood fired pizzas at The Royal Barn.

Enjoy!

What else is nearby?

If you’re staying for the week, or you’re just stuck for ideas as to what to do with the kids near to Ilkley, then why not check out…

Sedbergh and the Westmorland Dales

Just down the road from Kirkby Lonsdale, you’ll find Sedbergh! This town is set in the Westmorland Dales, where you’ll find plenty to do with the kids!

Settle and the Ribblehead area

Head East to Ingleton, Clapham and the whole of the Settle area. Check out our dedicated Visit with Kids guide!

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Thank you for taking the time to have a look at my website and for reading this now!

I set up the Reluctant Explorers and maintain the website and attached social media accounts in my spare time, around mum-life and two jobs. It was designed to provide access for parents to free resources to help get more families outside and exploring in nature. These walks have all been created by myself and the kids and we have walked each one ourselves (and re-walk them regularly to keep the information as up to date as we can).

If you would like to support us and can afford a few pennies, you can make a donation to our ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ page. Simply tap the button below to head there!

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Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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Leave No Trace

The Yorkshire Dales is our home, and the home of so many others who care deeply about this beautiful space.

Should you visit, make sure to:

Take home anything you bring, leave no rubbish behind.

Make the world a better place by picking up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.

Leave everything else as you found it.

Help us to protect our wild spaces.