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Going for explorations with my family along the lakeshores and fells of our homeland of Cumbria (or out in the beautiful countryside of Northumberland and Scotland when on holiday) is my favourite pass time. There are so many reasons why I love being outside, from how good it is for my mental health to having family time that works as a way to stop the children being quite so feral. Being outdoors means you need to be well prepared, however. So read on to discover my top tips and essentials for safe outdoor explorations.

The four children are sat on the lakeshore of Brothers Water looking out over the water with the lakeland fells beyond and a blue, cloudless sky above.

Essential apparel

Invest in a good quality waterproof jacket

Everyone knows you can't trust the weather forecast. Even the sunniest of days can bring showers (or full on thunderstorms in some places!) and a good quality waterproof jacket will help protect you from the elements. In the height of summer we leave the warm waterproofs at home; but we never leave the house without at least a pac-a-mac in our rucksacks, you know - just in case.

Squidgy, Pickle and Munchkin are all wearing wellies and raincoats and are smiling at the camera while standing on a log and rope bridge in an adventure playground at Silloth.

Don't forget safe and supportive footwear

Whether you opt for walking boots or shoes, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Walking boots are great for anyone looking for stable footing and ankle support.
Walking shoes are great for anyone looking for a more durable option than trainers, but a lighter option that walking boots.
My family prefer walking boots, however the choice is personal preference. Ultimately you want something that will fit you properly, support your adventures and ensure you're comfortable from the first hour to the tenth.

Munchkin is bending down on a pebble beach, playing with the stones with Coniston Water and the lakeland fells in the background. He is wearing a green jacket, shorts and space themed walking boots.

All-weather essentials

Do you need a summer cap, or a winter hat, scarf and gloves?

From the height of summer to the depths of winter, hats and other accessories are a great additional layer of protection for your hair, skin and appendages. A cap or bucket hat in the summer will ensure you hair, face and ears are protected from the sun's harmful UV rays. A warm beanie or cosy hat in the winter will prevent frostbite or frostnip while you're outside exploring.

Don't forget: To prevent sun damage you still need suncream, and appropriate clothing. In addition, to protect yourself from the cold you still need to wrap up warm with other layers too!

Sunscreen - even if it's not sunny!

Don't be fooled by brooding cloud cover, up to 80% of the sun's UV rays break through¹ and can cause damage to your skin. Whether it's sunny and hot, or cold and windy, it's essential to not only wear the correct clothing but also lather up in sunscreen. It should be applied at least 30 minutes before you leave using SPF30 or higher for the best protection during your outdoor explorations.

The image is of green an yellowing summer grass on the hillsides surrounding Harknott Pass. The fells can be seen in the background and a brooding, cloudy sky above. In the distance running away from the camera are two girls.

Essential gear

Carriers for tired legs

Whether you're looking for a way to hike with your littlest ones who are not yet walking, or you are planning a journey too far for your toddler to make it, a carrier is a great option. These days Munchkin (despite being only two years old!) will do three to five miles in his own walking boots, but he is probably an anomaly for his age. Our LittleLife Cross Country child carrier† was a life saver when he didn't walk quite so far, and now we'll be using it for little Peanut too!

Munchkin in the LittleLife carrier at Harknott Roman Fort

Munchkin in the LittleLife carrier at Elterwater

A comfortable rucksack

From first aid kits to snack, and water to maps, a rucksack is a must when it comes to heading out for outdoor adventures. Of course you also want them to be comfy as you will have to carry it whilst out and about! We went for mid-range options from Regatta including the Survivor III 20L for the adults; a similar, smaller, version for the two older girls (the Kids’ Jaxon III 10L) and of course a Peppa Pig mini bag for our son who always wants to be included and treated the same.

Pickle is walking along the right side of the image, along a path between rows of trees away from the camera. To the left side of the image are two cows, one is looking at Pickle.

A mini first aid kit

From a lip balm for wind-chapped lips hiking up the fells to on-the-go skin protection from My Little Sudocrem* and even antiseptic wipes and plasters for little scrapes; a little first aid kit is always handy to carry with you when you're heading out to explore. In particular when you have children with you! Thankfully although we have a full kit with us at all times we've never actually needed it. We have given a plaster to another family for their sobbing daughter however... it always pays to be safe rather than sorry!

Three small, round, grey tubs are stood up against a wooden background on a wooden surface. They have bright red, white and black patterned stickers on the front with My Little Sudocrem branding.

Essential foodstuffs

Make a picnic

Use WaxWraps for your loose fresh food.

To reduce your waste and keep your sandwiches and other food fresh and preserved, tuck them inside some WaxWraps*… from sheets to food bags there are plenty of options to suit your picnic needs. Plus, when you're not out exploring these make a great, eco-friendly alternative to clingfilm so you can wrap up leftovers and more at home.

Pack plenty of drinks.

Obviously the amount you will need to drink will be dependent on a number of factors including how vigorous the hike is, the altitude and of course the temperature. When faced with higher temperatures and / or altitudes an adult requires around one litre of water per hour. However, if you are heading out to lower temperatures and / or altitudes, you can reduce this by half.²

Naomi has the baby on her lap and is taking a selfie. The three older children are next to her. They are sat on a picnic blanket and smiling at the camera with a grassy hill and blue sky behind them.

We always make sure to have plenty in our rucksacks, stopping often to sip from our individual bottles. Our leakproof, lead-free, eco-friendly Ohelo stainless steel bottles* are my favourite... I may have worked with them but we have invested in more for the rest of the family as they really are the best! In addition we ensure we have a stash of snacks and drinks back at the car - so we're never in danger of running out (and don't have to spend money we hadn't factored into our days out buying drinks.)

Two pink Ohelo blossom bottles are stood on the ground beneath a cherry blossom branch.

Think about the time of day and pack appropriate food.

We mostly set out for our walks and explorations early in the morning to ensure we get a parking space and avoid the busier times later in the day. Others prefer to head out with after lunch, have an evening wander to watch the sunset, camp over night or even get up early to see the sunrise. Planning your food around the time of your hike will make sure you only take what you need. Whether it's a quick snack for a mid-afternoon stroll on a lakeshore or a healthy, super easy to whip-up instant porridge pot from The Great British Porridge Co.* for breakfast watching the sunrise over the mountain tops always plan ahead.

A pot of blueberry and banana instant porridge from The Great British Porridge Co. is in the centre of the image on a person's hand being held out in front of them.

Bring snacks

I'm not going to lie, the amount of times we have popped a pack of biscuits and even chocolate(!) in our bags for snacks doesn't bear thinking about but there are other options too. Firstly, consider the weather. Melting chocolate in your bag isn't the best. Secondly, consider what will give you energy for your explorations. Our latest go-to are the natural, tasty, healthy snacks from The Protein Ball Co.*. Not only do they boost energy, they are packed full of goodness such as protein, fibre and vitamins. In addition they come in a number of flavours and taste amazing too. My favourite is the raspberry brownie!

In the centre of the image is a line of six protein balls. At the top are an orange, turquoise and red The Protein Ball Co. pack. At the bottom are a lime, red and purple The Protein Ball Co. pack.

Always take your rubbish away with you

No matter how many times I write about routes we've done and days out we've had in the Lake District, Northumberland and more I will never stop ‘harping’ on about this. It's estimated more than a quarter of visitors to the Lake District leave litter behind³, and with around 15.8 million visitors a year⁴, that is a lot of rubbish.

John is sat on a bench with Baby Peanut on his lap. Squidgy and Munchkin are to his left and Pickle is to his right. They are all facing the camera with their picnics on their laps.

Essential safety tips

Always check what the weather forecast is for the area you're planning to visit. Checking in advance is obviously a good idea, but more importantly check on the day as the weather here in the UK can be fickle and change on a dime.

Always be prepared to turn back if the weather makes your onward journey hazardous.

Make sure you have full charge on your phone… the last thing you want is to need it in an emergency and have the battery give out on you.

In an emergency, stay where you are. Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the police and mountain rescue.

If you have speech or hearing issues, register for emergency SMS by sending ‘register’ to 999.
Know the risks. For example the most experienced hiker may discover different hazards up here in Cumbria, beyond the obvious rough terrain and steep slopes. Cattle, ticks and adders are just three things you should be aware of when heading out to into the Lake District… and other areas may have different hazards too.

John, Squidgy and Pickle can be seen in the distance on a rocky path walking towards the camera. They are surrounded by grass, ferns, trees and more on the path hiking up Ilgill Head. Behind are Lakeland fells, a blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

With that, I conclude my list of essentials for your outdoor explorations. I hope you have safe travels to this beautiful area of the English countryside and with this list are able to enjoy safe and happy moments on the Lakeland fells and lakeshore beaches.

For more blog posts about travel, including posts about exploring local Cumbrian walks with my children check out the category here. Do you love to get outdoors with your children? Feel free to share additional top tips in the comments below.