Picked by Travel Experts: 7 Best Family Walking Holidays
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Christina
Family walking holidays can be one of the most rewarding ways to travel together, particularly for families with older children and teenagers. With the right routes, realistic daily distances, and flexible itineraries, walking holidays offer shared experiences, fresh air, and meaningful time together.
Drawing on decades of experience, the Celtic Trails team has selected seven of the best family walking holidays in the UK and Europe, chosen for their manageable walking days, engaging landscapes, and excellent options beyond the trail.
Successful family walking holidays balance achievable walking days with variety. Routes should be clearly waymarked, accommodation comfortable, and logistics simple.
Equally important is flexibility, allowing families to adapt plans based on weather, energy levels, or interests.
Single-Centre walking holidays allow families to stay in one location and choose walks day by day. This works well for families new to walking holidays or those wanting more downtime. These trips are also shorter, so you still get the opportunity to walk some of the UK’s iconic trails, but in bite-sized chunks.
Village-to-village walking holidays suit families ready for a sense of journey. With luggage transfers included, walking days are lighter and more enjoyable for younger walkers.
Cotswolds Way: Chipping Campden to Painswick (CW4)
This section of the Cotswolds Way is ideal for family walking holidays in the UK. Rolling countryside, short stages, and frequent villages keep walking days manageable.
Nearby attractions:
Anglesey Coast Path: Holyhead to Menai Bridge (ACP3)
This section of the Anglesey Coast Path is particularly well suited to families with teenagers. The route offers a strong sense of journey while balancing dramatic coastal scenery with gentler stages through beaches, dunes and estuary landscapes.
Walking days are varied rather than relentless, with opportunities to shorten stages or build in rest days. Beaches are frequent and rarely overcrowded, even in summer, making downtime feel like a natural part of the experience.
Nearby attractions:
• Beaumaris Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with plenty to explore
• Rhosneigr and Newborough beaches– ideal for relaxed rest days and post-walk downtime, from watersports in Rhosneigr to wide open sands and dunes at Newborough
• Boat trips and wildlife cruises along the Menai Strait
• Softer estuary and dune sections that balance the more rugged coastal walking
Causeway Coast Way (NIR-CCW2)
A dramatic and memorable coastal route, the Causeway Coast Way is packed with iconic landmarks that appeal to children aged 12+.
Short walking sections are balanced with highlights including the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and Dunluce Castle.
Nearby attractions:
Hadrian’s Wall Path (HWP4aW-E or HWP4aE-W)
One of the UK’s most engaging heritage trails, Hadrian’s Wall Path combines wide landscapes with interactive Roman history.
Sites such as Vindolanda and Housesteads Fort keep younger walkers interested throughout the journey.
Nearby attractions:
Offa’s Dyke Path: Castles and History in the Welsh Borderlands (ODP-CAS1)
The Offa’s Dyke Path, 6-night itinerary blends gentle walking with castles, market towns, and borderland scenery.
It’s an excellent choice for families who enjoy cultural discovery alongside manageable daily walks.
Nearby attractions:
For families ready to take their walking adventures beyond the UK, Europe opens up a wonderful variety of routes that combine scenery, culture and manageable distances.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi Coast works well for families thanks to its many shorter routes. Walking days can be tailored, with plenty of opportunities to shorten stages.
Boat trips, beaches, and historic towns offer easy alternatives to full walking days.
Nearby attractions:
Malta and Gozo (MLT-MGC1)
Malta is a strong choice for family walking holidays in Europe, combining coastal scenery with warm weather and short transfers.
On this itinerary, cliff walks on Days 4 and 5 can be avoided. Families can instead complete both walks from Day 6, creating a more relaxed pace while still enjoying the coastline.
Nearby attractions:
Self-guided walking holidays suit most families, offering flexibility while still providing route notes, maps, and local support.
Choosing Daily Distances for children aged 12+
For children aged 12+, daily distances of 8 – 12 miles are often comfortable on well-maintained paths.
Including shorter days and rest options helps maintain enthusiasm.
Comfortable accommodation, reliable luggage transfers, and clear route information make a big difference.
For planning advice, see How to prepare for your next walking holiday.
Families travelling together may also want to explore walking routes for beginners.
Families with pets may also enjoy dog-friendly hiking holidays.
At Celtic Trails, we’ve spent decades helping families enjoy walking holidays that feel rewarding rather than overwhelming. We focus on routes that are achievable, full of local character, and supported by thoughtful planning, so you can enjoy the experience together.
Whether you’re considering a family walking holiday in the UK or exploring walking holidays with teenagers in Europe, we’re here to help you find a route that truly suits your family. Many of the walks we suggest are ones we regularly recommend and know work well for families, based on years of experience and real feedback.
Family walking holidays are generally best suited to children aged 12 and over, when stamina and independence are greater. Our walking holidays are for years 12+ due to restrictions and policies with local accommodations we use.
Keeping days achievable, mixing in cultural or coastal highlights, and allowing choice helps maintain motivation.
Choosing flexible itineraries with alternative activities ensures the holiday remains enjoyable, whatever the weather.