Here are 10 great reasons I hike up big hills with my 6 year old daughter;

1. She gets to see her parents set a good healthy & active example.
2. She gets to play in the wonderful surroundings that we moved to Scotland to find.
3. It is great undisturbed family time where we learn the value of teamwork.
4. There is infinite opportunity for exploration, adventure and danger.
5. She develops an appreciation of both the majesty and fragility of the outdoors.
6. Doing this as a child I hope I hope will inspire her to do it as she gets older.
7. She learns new skills in hiking, the countryside code, navigation, safety and nature.
8. She is an excellent hill hiker (and delights in beating her parents to a summit).
9. She is a keen hill hiker (and will request going hiking as an activity).
10. She loves reaching a trig point.

Don’t get me wrong there are days when she doesn’t want to do it but there are days I don’t want to either but she has never reached a trig point or cairn and been disappointed. She is learning to respect her environment and what that environment means both locally and in bigger terms.

If you have a young adventurer in your family then get them and you started early in enjoying the outdoors., you don’t need big mountains to have a wonderful time (but they do help). Hiking with my 6 year old is a big win for child and parent – I cannot recommend it enough.