Ingleton Waterfalls was recommended by family and it was one of those places that made me realise how easy it is to default to the same outdoor spaces.

Most weekends we tend to head to North Wales or the Lakes when we want to get some nature therapy so this was our first proper hike in North Yorkshire in a long time.

We drove up the M6 and as soon as we parked up and stepped outside the car we could hear the streams.

It costs £11 to enter the trail although parking is free. We also paid a little extra for a trail scratch card which turned out to be a great buy. Rather than having to carry our daughter for sections of the walk she was excited about finding the different points along the trail and being awarded her medal at the end.

It made the whole walk feel like an adventure for her rather than a hike she (and we) had to get through.

The route itself is a perfect family stroll. There are some steep inclines but in season there’s a cafe before you reach the halfway point, and around three quarters of the way through you come to a small village with toilets & coffee.

As there is a clear route to take it meant we never felt like we were rushing. We could walk, stop, explore and let our daughter set the pace. And that’s probably what we enjoyed most about the day.

I’ve never drank alcohol as parent so I don’t have a comparison for what it would have been like. But I do know how much I value being present and I love that our daughter has simply slotted into the lifestyle we’ve created, which is hangover-free weekends spent mostly outdoors.

There was no recovering from the night before. No wanting to rush to the pub after, and no feeling tired or rough. Just getting out of the car, hearing the waterfalls and getting on with the day.

~ Type of Trip: Waterfalls & Hiking
~ Base: Ingleton, Yorkshire
~ Best Time to Visit: Summer & Autumn

Photography & Words: Scott Woolley. Shot on Leica Q2

Outdoor activities come with some risk so please take care, check conditions and make sure the route is suitable for you and your family. This is simply our experience of the day.