Cinderbarrow Miniature Railway

The Cinderbarrow Miniature Railway near Milnthorpe is one of those wonderfully British attractions that appeals to railway enthusiasts and families with young children in equal measure. It's a working miniature railway where you can actually ride the trains - proper little locomotives that take passengers on a gentle circuit through the Lancashire countryside. The scale and detail are impressive if you're into that sort of thing, and watching kids' faces light up when the engine starts moving never gets old.

You'll want to allow a couple of hours maximum here, possibly less if your crew gets restless. It's the kind of place that's brilliant for a half-day outing rather than an all-day mission. Check ahead for opening times and whether admission is charged, as details aren't widely published online - a quick phone call before you go will save a wasted journey.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Fell End is just a mile and a half away, and Holgates is under four miles off - this makes a decent rainy-day alternative or a gentle morning activity before heading out for a proper walk. The Lake District proper isn't far, so you could easily combine a short spell here with exploring the bigger attractions the region offers. It works best as part of a wider itinerary rather than a destination in its own right, but for railway-mad kids it's well worth the detour.