🎃 October half term is creeping up! See what’s on across the Lake District.
Tracing the western shore of Windermere, the route from Red Nab to Wray Castle offers one of the Lake District’s most scenic, accessible walks. Built in the 1840s as an extravagant, Victorian Gothic Revival mansion, the National Trust’s Wray Castle is rich in history, most famously serving as the summer home where Beatrix Potter first fell in love with the countryside, and as you walk this route to its approach, it’s easy to see why.
Highlights along this gentle trail include frame-worthy views across the water toward Red Screes and Wansfell, peaceful gravel paths through the native trees of Arthur Wood, and water-side picnic spots throughout. Best of all, thanks to well-surfaced paths, this is one of the best pram-friendly walks in the Lake District.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Should you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, but we receive a small commission.
When planning your visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs, and park your car in designated parking areas. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change.
PARKING INFORMATION: Please do not rely solely on the postcode for parking directions. In the National Park, a postcode can cover a large area. Postcodes are only provided as guidance. Please either use the Google Maps point or what3words, which are provided on every walk guide.
Red Nab to Wray Castle walk map
On all Lake District family walks it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map with you, even if you have your phone on you. For this walk you need the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL7 (English Lakes South-eastern Area). It’s also a good opportunity to show young kids the map features and get them started with map reading.
Need to know
DISTANCE OF WALK: 5km / 1.8 miles (each way 2.5km / 1.6 mile)
TERRAIN: Flat, gravelled paths for the entirety of the route, bar a section of tarmac road. Pram-friendly in all areas.
PARKING: Red Nab National Trust Car Park. Click here for Google Map location. Postcode: LA22 0JH. Parking is free. Please note that parking is very limited (around 15 spaces) and the car park often fills early in the day.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Lakeside access for the vast majority of the route, opportunity to explore Wray Castle’s grounds and paths for free, and the chance for a mid-way point sweet treat at Joey’s Cafè.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Allow 1.5 – 2 hours to complete.
TOTAL ASCENT: 65 metres
FACILITIES: Toilets and baby changing are available at the walk’s midway point, Wray Castle. The castle’s plant-based cafè, Joey’s Cafè, is open Monday-Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm, serving a broad menu of sweet and savoury bakes, light lunches, drinks and ice creams. Picnics can also be enjoyed on Wray Castle’s grounds.
The route
START: Red Nab National Trust Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SD 3855 9942
Post code: LA22 0JH
what3words: ///looked.houseboat.haggle
Route follows a linear route.
1. Exit the car park to pass by the National Trust ‘Red Nab’ sign on your left, joining a well-maintained gravel path. This easy-to-follow trail then remains clear, hugging Lake Windermere’s shore under the shade of woodland for around 1.5km, providing numerous beach spots for paddling, picnics and photo opportunities.
2. After approximately 1.5km from the car park, the path emerges from woodland. Continue onward as it leads you through a gap in a dry stone wall, signposted ‘Wray Castle ¼ mile; Wray Church ¼ mile’ to reveal one of the walk’s most impressive vistas and beach spots. For those wanting to avoid the slightly more crowd-heavy picnic areas at Wray Castle, pausing here is highly recommended!
3. After continuing along the path for around 100m, walkers are given the choice of two routes to Wray Castle, both of which are pram friendly. A wooden gate to the right, signposted ‘Wray Castle & Ferry ¼ mile’ leads directly into the grounds of Wray Castle along winding gravel paths and up slightly steeper slopes. Our suggested route continues ahead, following the sign for ‘Wray Church ¼ mile, Wray Castle ¾ mile’ until it intersects with the road after 400m.
4. Turn right onto the tarmac road and almost immediately (after 30m) turn right again to enter the grounds of Wray Castle through the impressive stone gateway. Follow the tarmac drive as it winds towards the castle, unveiling magnificent views of the Langdale Pikes and Red Screes in the distance.
5. Mark the mid-way point of the walk by pausing at the castle and taking the opportunity to explore Wray’s grounds with a hot drink from Joey’s cafè. One of the highlights is the large shingle beach which can be accessed by pram by following the gravelled paths down to the shore.
6. The walk now returns back on itself, leading back down the castle’s drive to the road, and turning left and left again to re-join the gravelled path which follows the water’s edge back to Red Nab Car Park.
Lake District Kids is a free online resource. If you have found this website useful for planning your family adventures, you can show your support by buying us a coffee. Thanks so much!
Also, feel free to share your walk photos in our Lake District Kids Facebook Group or on Instagram using by tagging @lakedistrictkidsuk in your caption so we can share with our wider community.
Want more ideas for family walks? Use the search walks page to find the perfect family walk.
And if you’re hiking with little ones, check out our tips for hiking with kids under 5 to help you get a extra mile or two out of those little legs.