My wife and I are visiting the Lake District with our three children (11, 9, 7) and plan to spend most days out and about hiking. Our kiids are adventurous and physically capable, so we plan to do some more strenuous trails that are still wise for young children. My question is: do we need proper hiking boots or would trail running shoes with solid grip be sufficient? We're packing super light so can't bring both.
Also, I know the weather is variable and we need to plan for it changing on a dime. Would goretex shoes be good or bad? I tend to wear waterproof shoes when hiking on wet ground but avoid it with rain because when they get wet inside, you're stuck being wet.
I'd appreciate some insight into the best footwear for what we're planning to do.
Thanks!