17 Best Activity Centres In Cumbria

Often, yes. Instructors work in conditions that would send most families home, and rain alone rarely cancels anything. Wind, water levels and safety on the day are a different matter, and providers such as Crags Adventures and Live For Today Adventures Kendal make that call themselves. Ask what their weather policy is when you book, and pack for being wet rather than for staying dry.

Move the same activity indoors or change it completely. King Kong Climbing Centre keeps the climbing going with a roof overhead, which suits a family who came for that specifically. If everyone needs a quieter afternoon, Pandemonium Pots and Crafty Monkeys are the pottery answer. Half of the county's activity listings record indoor space, so a washout does not have to end the plan.

It varies by activity and by provider, and the honest answer is that you have to ask. Climbing, canoeing and gorge sessions each set their own minimums, and family versions often exist alongside the standard ones. Mobile Adventure and Climb 365 publish their own age guidance. Book on the basis of your youngest child rather than your oldest, and check whether a parent needs to take part alongside them.

It is a good introduction because the structure does the work: a set route, a harness and staff watching. Go Ape Grizedale is the entry here. A child who is nervous about heights will still be nervous about heights, so it is not a cure for that, and there are height requirements to meet. For a family testing whether outdoor activities suit them, it is a reasonable first try.