There are so many great things about this book, but perhaps the greatest is the way in which the authors have found the story in each walk. Kids love stories so what better way to get them into the car than with the promise of “The mystery of the four stones at Clent”,“Beaches and battles at Bamburgh” or “Giants and glaciers on Cadair Idris”? This collection of 100 walks is spread out across the country which make it the ideal staycation companion for families. Graded for difficulty, every page turned brings a new map, great photographs, a written overview and a new adventure! The secret to any good guide book is trust and having done quite a few of these walks I can vouch for their accuracy - but what surprised me is what I’d missed! Jen and Sim Benson know their walks but they also know kids. Brilliant!
100 Great Walks with Kids Fantastic stomps around Great Britain Synopsis
Starting with a useful and informative introduction with advice on making walks with kids successful and enjoyable (best clothing and equipment, food and drink, the countryside code, and a light-hearted troubleshooting guide for commonly-encountered problems), the book divides the walks themselves by geographical area:
- England: south-west, south-east, central north-west, north-east
- Wales: south, central, north
- Scotland: borders and south,central, north and islands
Each route is graded according to its relative difficulty but all will be short to moderate in length, and very achievable for anyone with a good level of fitness and symbols will indicate hazards, refreshments, toilets, dog-friendliness and buggy suitability.
As well as being themed, each walk will include other points of interest along the way to keep the children engaged and encourage the idea that spending time outdoors is enjoyable and fun.
Illustrated throughout with the authors' photography showcasing the beauty of Britain, this will be an attractive and inspiring guidebook for all families wanting to make the most of the great outdoors.
"Bursting with ideas for family adventures. Expertly researched and written, with illustrated maps and simple step-by-step directions, it covers everything from pushchair-friendly strolls to more challenging ascents with kids. And the best thing? It covers the whole of Britain, so there's something for everyone!" - Trail Magazine
"Packed full of ideas and advice to get me and my little adventurer out there exploring...This is a book for anyone who wants to spend more time outside with their kids, and there are a whole range of walks to suit kids of all ages... Your children will love using it to plan your next adventure just as much as you will."- theoutdooradventureblog.com, Rob Haggan
Jen and Sim are terrifically well equipped with the knowledge and experience to pick out the best and most suitable walks for children... Perfect for littler legs, walks are arranged by region and feature at-a-glance symbols... There's also bags of tips on boosting the fun factor on family walks... there will no doubt be other gems that we might never have discovered without this well researched outdoor guide. -- Natalie Hoare, Editor -Walk: Magazine of the Ramblers
Author
About Jen Benson, Sim Benson
Jen and Sim Benson are routes editors for Trail Running magazine, have a monthly column in Outdoor Fitness magazine, and are regular contributors to Trail, Country Walking and Runner's World.
They're the authors of Wild Running (Wild Things, 2014), Amazing Family Adventures (National Trust, 2017), Day Walks in Devon (Vertebrate, 2017), The Adventurer's Guide to Britain (Bloomsbury, 2018) and Short Runs in Beautiful Places (National Trust, 2020).
They're Active Outdoors Ambassadors for the National Trust and Ordnance Survey Get Outside Champions.