Keep the Kids Entertained with Mountain Activities in the UK This Summer 

The summer holidays always seem to come around before we know it. You blink and suddenly there are six weeks ahead for your children to enjoy, free of teachers, free of homework and free of schedules. So, this summer, why not forgo the tablets, TVs and computers (for a few days at least!) and head to one of these mountain activities in the UK, giving your family an amazing outdoor experience they will be sure to remember for years to come.

Climb a Mountain

For adults and children alike, there is something so special – that sense of pride and achievement – that comes from looking down from the mountain top and knowing that it was you, and only you, that got yourself there.

Up in Scotland, the full summit of Ben Nevis is one that should only be taken on by older children. However, the Glen Nevis area can be enjoyed by all in the family. It’s got a variety of easy hikes, and to really delight your child you can head over to Steall Falls, the waterfalls featured in the Harry Potter movie The Goblet of Fire! Here you are also less than an hour away from the Ice Factor. Described as “the biggest and best ice climbing wall in the world”, this facility in Kinlochleven uses 500 tonnes of snow and ice to form a 12-metre ice wall which provides a great experience for passionate climbers alongside first-timers.

To give your children their first taste of mountain hiking, Wales is a great place to head. From the gentle four-mile journey to the top of Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, to the varied walks up to the top of Mount Snowdon, your children are sure to enjoy their first taste of mountain adventure here.

In fact, Snowdon is one we would highly recommend for a family’s first mountain summit. Wales’s highest mountain, it’s actually surprisingly accessible and a great adventure for children to tell all their friends about. Younger children can head up on the Snowdon Mountain Train, enjoy the view and then walk down, while older children will easily navigate the path. There’s even a café at the top to satisfy rumbling stomachs – win-win!

Surf in Snowdonia

Speaking of Snowdon, this is a fantastic area to head for some outdoor adventure with your family. Within the forests and mountains of the Snowdonia National Park there is awesome hiking, mountain biking, climbing and surfing on offer. Yes, I did say surfing…

Surf Snowdonia is the world’s first inland surf lagoon and the only place in the UK you can be guaranteed surfing year round. It’s a great facility for children to learn a new skill while having a lot of fun in the process. Surfing isn’t something that most children in the UK have a huge amount of access to, so it’s sure to be something they will be excited to try.

Image Credits – Surf Snowdonia

Take a Ride on an Alpine Coaster

Similarly, just north of Snowdonia in the Conwy Valley you can find the Zip World Fforest Coaster – the only alpine coaster of its kind in the UK. Hitting top speeds of 40kph on its six-minute run, it’s a great way for young children to enjoy the outdoors while having an exhilarating ride. If you’re not a fan of typical rollercoasters, this is one to consider. With a highest point of five metres above the ground, you can control the speed, meaning it’s down to you how intense an experience you have. In Zip World you can also find a Zip Line, a giant swing and a forest course, as well as an underground trampoline experience!

Adventure in Aviemore

While Scotland’s Aviemore has stunning walking, hiking and mountain biking opportunities, it’s also got many more unique and entertaining mountain adventure activities. From white-water rafting, to quad bike trekking, to rock climbing – you could spend weeks here without once wondering what’s going on on your favourite TV programme.

Love animals? Try a pony ride, or take part in one of the many wildlife safaris, where you can watch pine martens and badgers in their natural habitat with the help of highly qualified guides who will be able to impart their wisdom on the local wildlife.

Adventurous kids can give archery or clay shooting a go, or can take the fun to the water with canoeing or white-water rafting! This area has a lot of great rivers for rafting, which are sure to give the whole family a fun-filled adrenaline boost. You’ll have to drag them away!

Explore Edinburgh

While not necessarily “in the mountains” as such, Edinburgh is a fantastic summer destination for families, with ample entertainment for both children and parents. The historical city itself provides great opportunities for education, and kids are sure to love learning within this incredible setting, pretending they are the kings and queens that previously inhabited it. To really wear those little legs out, take a walk up Arthur’s Seat to witness the incredible views of Edinburgh. Many people are unaware that Arthur’s Seat is actually an ancient volcano, which should definitely provide some entertainment for youthful imaginations!

Edinburgh is also home to the world’s largest indoor climbing centre – the International Climbing Arena (aka Ratho). Built into a disused quarry, the centre boasts lead, speed and bouldering walls, perfect for any budding climbers.