08:58:18, 17/12/20
2 for the price of one.
Start in Castleton and head up Cave Dale where they can easily spend a couple of hours falling off rocks and scraping their knees.
At the top of Cave Dale you can cut sharp right back to Castleton, making a walk of about 3.5 miles. If some or all of you are feeling fit you can take the farm track (Daaaad, this is boring) to cross the road above Winnats Pass and head to Windy Knoll. Cross another road and then up to Mam Tor. Down the ridge to Hollins Cross and then back to Castleton passing close to, but not going to, Woodseats Farm and Dunscar Farm. About 5.75 miles.
As for tips, these things worked with my kids but may not with yours.
We always had 2 types of walk. Going 'for a walk' meant the local woods, falling out of trees and getting muddy. On these walks there was a rule that we didn't go home until we were dirty. Going 'proper walking' meant striding out across the countryside with purpose.
I always oversold, rather than undersold, the challenge. 'It's quite hard, can you make it?' rather than 'We're nearly there'
I always made sure that my kids had OK gear. Not expensive, though you can pass it down, but you see too many parents in the latest boots and waterproofs with their kids in trainers and school coats. They also get very cold very quickly, have plenty of layers and be prepared to share yours if necessary.
Always give then a small rucksack, even if they only has a packet of crisps in it, and get them involved in the map reading. This makes then feel like 'proper walkers' and gives them something to do. It also means that by the time they are in their teens they are carrying all their own gear and you don't have to map read any more.
Have a thing to achieve, the top of a 'mountain' being the most motivating.
A lot of us boys have the trainspotting gene. So how far is it, how high is is, is it a Wainwright, were all important to my son. If you are walking in the area a lot you could get an old map and mark on the paths and hills that they have done.
My son on Skiddaw, wearing my fleece, age 8