The Peak District National Park England, nestled between the big cities of Manchester, Sheffield, and Derby, is a place I have been visiting since I was a young girl and now take my two young boys whenever I can. There’s nothing better than a long walk through the green rolling hills and over dry stone walls to a cozy old pub serving real ale in front of a roaring fire.
Britain’s first National Park is dotted with heritage farmyards and quaint villages, amongst some of England’s finest countryside, and you are guaranteed to stumble across many farmyard animals (just be wary of those lonesome bulls and avoid wear red!) If you visit during lambing season (early Spring) be sure to visit Blaze Farm to watch lambs being born – it’s incredible to witness.
With the kids dressed in puddle suits and wellies, we love nothing better than a long
family walk in the Peak District. Our favourites are the Nine Ladies Circle through Stanton Moor Peak or the walk starting next to The Robin Hood pub in Baslow, with spectacular views from Birchen Edge. Alternatively, hire some bikes and ride the Monsal Trail or Tissington Trail.
Reward your physical activity in one of the many cosy local pubs with a pint of Black Sheep and a hearty roast dinner or chip butty. Allow at least a week to absorb the charm of the Peak District and stay in one of the charming Peak District holiday cottages. Our favourite place to stay is Bluebird Cottage near Parwich.
Peak District Cottages
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Peak District Facts
First National Park UK, established 1951
Area: 1’440 km²
Location: England, mostly northern Derbyshire
Proximity to the cities: Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Sheffield
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Chris and Heather, A Brit And A Southerner
When you think about idyllic British countryside, there are not many places more magical than the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Full of historic, stone-built villages, breathtaking natural landscapes and a myriad of vibrant communities, this UK national park is one that immediately captures the imagination.
Whether you are intrigued by the thought of hiking around Yorkshire National Park fells and stumbling across ancient ruins, such as Bolton Abbey near Skipton, or perhaps you prefer the thought of visiting the iconic city of York, this part of the UK is full of endless possibilities.
Villages such as Askrigg in Wensleydale, famously used as a location in “All Creatures Great and Small,” and Grassington are fascinating spots you won’t want to miss but for those of you looking for urban environments with a little more hustle and bustle, consider visiting the likes of Settle, Ripon or Kirkby Lonsdale.
If you are looking to just get away from life in the city, perhaps the real reason you will want to visit the Yorkshire Dales is to allow yourselves to get lost in amazing natural landscapes that will surround you. Discover gorgeous lakes, caves and much more and realize that this is the place you will want to return to time and time again. For the waterfall aficionados out there, well the Yorkshire Dales don’t disappoint with falls such as Cotter Force, Ingleton Waterfalls and the dramatic Aysgarth Falls providing some of the best in the UK.
One of our favorite spots is Haworth, infamously known as being the home of the Brontë sisters. Not only will you immediately appreciate why they found this to be such an attractive spot to create many of their masterpieces, you will quickly fall in love with the quirky yet charming architecture, plethora of local cafes and abundance of panoramic scenes fit for any painting.
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Yorkshire Dales Facts
Established in 1954
Area: 2’179 km²
Location: northern England
The Lake District National Park
Anisa, Two Traveling Texans
Several people had told me that England’s Lake District was lovely, but it still far exceeded my expectations. In addition to the stunning scenery, I just loved the tranquil atmosphere. The Lake District is Britain’s largest national park and has been recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Click on the map above to scroll into details of the lake district national park map.
There is plenty to do in the Lake District. Of course, it’s nice to get out on the water. Windermere Lake Cruises offer several different boat tours. We decided to take the cruise from Bowness to Ambleside, do some exploring, then return back to Bowness. If you prefer you can also rent a self-drive or rowboat to explore the lake on your own.
The water is calm and the scenery is picturesque. On our boat ride, there was narration so you could learn more about the area. I thought it was interesting that the children’s author, Beatrix Potter was instrumental in preserving the Lake District. You can learn more at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction.
The Lake District belongs to the UK’s most popular national parks. Avoid peak season if possible.
In Ambleside, we explored the town and then did a hike where we passed a few waterfalls and then got amazing views of Windermere. Everything was so green and I loved that parts of the hike went through fields of sheep. The Lake District is a great area for hiking, there are many options for various distances and ability levels.
Whether you decide to go boating, do some hiking, or just explore the pretty towns, I am sure you will love the Lake District as much as I do.
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Lake District Facts
Established: 1951
Area: 2’362 km²
Location: England, Cumbria
Northumberland National Park
Tracy, Tracy’s Travels in Time
I was born in Northumberland which is in my view one of the most beautiful counties in England to visit. Northumberland National Park situated in the north of England on the border with Scotland offers so many wonderful experiences to the visitor.
Begin your adventure by visiting the Sill which is a brand new landscape discovery centre. This will inspire you to explore further and discover more of the land around. From there visit Hadrian’s Wall a UNESCO World Heritage Site which spans the park from east to west. Stop and walk the ancient Roman wall and visit some of the larger sites such as Chesters Roman fort or the remains of a third-century Roman temple Bocolitia.
Northumberland National Park offers amazing stargazing opportunities and forms part of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park. The park is also Europe’s largest area of the protected night sky and is officially the best place In England to enjoy the heavens.
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A number of sites have been identified as perfect Dark Skies Discover Sites such as Cawfields, Stonehaugh, and Harbottle.
While walking the park keep an eye out for wildlife including roe deer, wild goats, and the beautiful native red squirrel.
And finally, a visit to Northumberland National Park would not be complete without a visit to the Sycamore Gap tree. This tree is one of the most photographed in the country and stands in a dip in Hadrian’s Wall in the park. It has (in 2016) won the award for English Tree of the Year from the Woodland Trust.
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Northumberland National Park Facts
Northumberland was established in 1956
Area: 1’030 km²
Location: England, Northumberland between Hadrian’s Wall and Scotland
Self Drive Holidays in Wales and South West England
Brecon Beacons National Park
Rhiannon, walestowherever.com
One of only three National Parks in Wales, the Brecon Beacons National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog in Welsh) is certainly most renowned for its impressive mountain range of the same name.
Comprising of six different mountains, keen hikers come from all over Europe and sometimes beyond just to take in the natural splendour and breath-taking views from the mountain range. The most commonly summitted peak in the Park is Pen Y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, and although it’s almost 3000ft above sea level, some of its four main trails are so easily manageable that you’ll often see families with very young children making the hike on the weekends.
Locally, hiking Pen Y Fan is something everyone has done. Despite growing up just 40 minutes down the road I’ve always had more of a yearning for adventure in foreign lands and so it took me the better part of twenty-five years to finally lace up my hiking boots and get hiking up that hunk of Welsh loveliness. And wow, is it stunning! Pen Y Fan, though one of the most frequented hiking routes in the Brecon Beacons National Park, is definitely one of the main highlights you simply cannot miss.
Aside from hiking, Brecon Beacons National Park also has an array of other outdoor adventures to participate in, from kayaking to rafting, fishing to underground exploration, and even golf, there’s plenty of activities to enjoy for the whole family! Even an afternoon stroll in the area can be an exciting affair, as you may find yourself meeting the entire cast of Wind in the Willows and Watership Down, as Brecon Beacons is home to a vast array of native British species such as brown hares, water voles and, of course, dormice.
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Brecon Beacons Facts
Established in 1957
Area: 1’344 km²
Location: Wales
Snowdonia National Park
I hadn’t expected to find a place similar to my home country Switzerland in the UK like Snowdonia National Park. Wales National Park with the highest Peaks of almost 3’000 feet (a bit more than 900m) and bare mountain ranges, is a rugged place where water finds its way over breathtaking waterfalls into green, fertile valleys. Clear streams meander through mixed pine- and hardwood forest. The towns are built from the rocks which were found around the settlements. The coastline dunes and beaches of Snowdonia National Park add to the variety of the landscape.
The mountainous Park is a paradise for climbers and other adrenaline junkies who like whitewater rafting or mountain biking. But also moderate sport enthusiastic people find here wonderful walks and enjoy the scenery while visiting historic sites or traveling with the Narrow Gauge Railways.
This is one of the best places in UK for train journeys!
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Snowdonia Facts
Established in 1951
Area: 2’132 km²
Location: Wales
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales
David Angel, Travel With Little One
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only coastal National Park in the UK, 186 miles (299 km) of stunning coastline in the south west of Wales park facing the prevailing Atlantic south-westerly winds.
It’s one of the most diverse coastal areas of the UK, with everything from massive, wide open beaches to hidden secret coves, with some amazing cliffs and offshore islands.
The best place to start is Tenby, a gorgeous traditional seaside resort huddled around one of the most beautiful harbours you’ll find anywhere and three beaches. The southern part of Pembrokeshire is more Anglicised than the north, as it was colonised by the Normans from the 11th century onwards, whereas the northern part of the county remained Welsh-speaking.
The northern coast has a wilder, more remote feel, and the long hike from Newport to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path’s northern terminus at St Dogmaels is one of the wildest, most exhilarating coastal walks on the east side of the Atlantic. It’s also home to St David’s Cathedral, the spiritual home of Welsh Christianity and Wales’ patron saint – my personal highlight in the National Park.
There is wildlife in abundance in Pembrokeshire, especially between May and July when thousands of seabirds nest in cliffs along the coast and on the various islands. Of these, Skomer is a hugely popular destination, with nesting puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes returning year after year – neighbouring Skokholm also has many nesters. Some boats venture further to remote Grassholm, the third largest colony of gannets in the world.
On the mainland, the best place to go birdwatching is Elegug Stacks, or Stack Rocks, near Bosherston where thousands of guillemots congregate every year – the cacophony of them squawking louder than the crashing Atlantic waves below is something you shouldn’t miss if you’re in this area of Britain at the right time of year.
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Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Facts
Established: 1952
Area: 629 km²
Location: West Wales, Pembrokeshire
Exmoor National Park, England
Emily, Kids and Compass – Social: @kidsandcompass
Exmoor is one of two national parks in Devon, in the South West of the UK. It’s a fairly uninhabited place, with only a few small towns and hamlets peppering the bleak moor. While you might think that Exmoor is untamed and a natural landscape, it was actually created over centuries by controlled burning of the land for livestock grazing. Visit Exmoor at any time of the year and you’ll see that the land is covered in sheep.
Exmoor’s most famous inhabitants are its wild Exmoor ponies. You can sometimes see them grazing by the roadside, or perhaps come across them while you’re walking across the moor. A good place to do this from is Tarr Steps, an ancient bridge across the River Barle which is surrounded by good walking trails. Other animals to see include otters (Devon is home to the famous Tarka the Otter) and red deer.
If you visit Exmoor in summer then you’ll be treated to purple moors from all the heather that grows here.
But Exmoor isn’t all about moorland and animals. Its seascape is some of the most dramatic coastline in the UK. My favourite part of Exmoor National Park, England, has to be the walk down to the sea from the Valley of the Rocks, which is fringed by towering rock stacks.
Start at the clifftop town of Lynton which is a pretty place to spend a day or two, and walk towards the Valley of the Rocks. From here you can take a coastal path down the cliffs towards Lynmouth, a small village nestled at the base of the cliff, directly underneath Lynton. You can get great views across the Bristol channel from this path. After you’ve looked around Lynmouth, take the cliff railway, the highest water-powered funicular in the world, back up to the top of the cliff to the town of Lynton.
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Exmoor National Park Facts
Established in 1954
Area: 692 km²
Location: England, Somerset and Devon
Dartmoor National Park
Famous for its granite tors and dark night skies, Dartmoor National Park boasts of steep wooded river valleys and heather-covered moorland, where poneys, cattle, and sheep roam freely between isolated villages.
Dartmoor lends itself to walking enthusiasts for independent or guided walks. Paths lead through the wild place with spectacular views. Cycling routes with over 350km offer to see large parts of the beautiful national park and are mapped on a designated cyclists map of Dartmoor and surrounding area. With a horse, it’s a unique experience to ride through the open moors, trot along woodland trails and bridleways, much different from walking.
Military uses the northern part of Dartmoor for its live firing practice. The boundaries are marked by a series of red and white posts. You have access to these moorlands except when the range is in use (red flag is flying by day or red lamps at night).
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Dartmoor Facts
Established in 1951
Area: 954 km²
Location: England, Devon
Scotland National Parks Self Drive Holidays
The weather is often moody and wet, but that shouldn’t stop you from planning a trip to Scotland. In the stunning, unruly north of Great Britain, you’ll find wild and most beautiful national parks. Touring Scotland by car or even better by camper van is a great idea and will open an entirely new world to you!
There are uncountable places to camp in Scotland, where you can find yourself sipping your morning coffee with stunning views over the ocean, sometimes without paying a cent! I’d prefer Scotland to any other place for my UK self-drive tours.
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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Scotland
Eniko, Travel Hacker Girl
On our road trip through Scotland, we spent a few exciting days in the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. It is a great place for nature and wildlife lovers. There are a lot of
things to do in Loch Lomond, whether you are a couple, family with kids, retired or solo traveller.
For families, I highly recommend visiting TreeZone or Loch Lomond Sea Life Aquarium. If you like wildlife you will enjoy seeing different types of birds at the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre.
There are several walks in the area. My highlight was hiking up to Duncryne hill or Dumpling as the locals call it. It is an easy walk about 1-hour return hike, with taking pictures on the top. You will be amazed by the views, as you can see Loch Lomond and some of the islands as well. If you are looking for a more challenging hike, you can conquer the Cobbler. It is 11 km and should take 4-6 hours.
Unfortunately, when we were there we didn’t get very nice views, because of the fog and rain. One more reason to return one day, as on a nice day, you could take some epic pictures. Loch Lomond is also a good place for cycling and water sports. Jetskiing, kayaking, and canoeing are very popular in the area.
If you are less mobile or active you can go on one of the many boat trips that companies offer. If you love adventure you can even wild camp, but you must obtain a permit first. As you can see there is a lot to do in Loch Lomond and you can easily spend a week here without running out of activities.
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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Facts
Established in 2002
Area: 1’865 km²
Location: Scotland
The Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Sherrie, Travel By A Sherrie Affair
In the eastern Highlands of Scotland is the Cairngorms National Park. The park is pretty extensive covering 1,748 square miles. Filled with mountains, plateau’s, streams, rivers, lochs, towns, castles, forts, preserves- makes this area of Scotland an adventurer’s dream vacation!
One of the most popular must’s of going to the National Park is visiting Balmoral Castle, the Queens home. The grounds are exquisite, colorful perfect gardens and you can even go inside. But don’t forget to check out the Range Rover collection! One thing we wished we had signed up for was the Range Rover safari – it requires an early booking.
The wildlife you may see on this tour and when exploring the Park are red squirrels, red deer, salmon, black grouse, red grouse, snow bunting and many birds of prey. From all the singing we heard, I am sure Bird watching can be fun too, bring your binoculars!
There is so much more to do in the Park for the adventurer; camp, ski, fish, hike. You can ride a funicular that will bring you up to the top of the plateau of the Cairngorm Mountain. There is an old fashion steam railway system too for rides. Blair Castle is located only 10 minutes from Balmoral Castle and deserves exploring too. Especially if you are able to attend The Highland Games held at the end of May. Other areas of the park have Highland games also at different times of the year.
My highlight of spending 5 days at the edge of the park in the Dalmunzie Hotel Castle was the driving and exploring of the area. It is so beautiful to see the tall trees, the running streams and listening to the birds. Peaceful and serene. Loved every minute!
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Cairngorms National Park Facts
Established 2003
Area: 4’530 km²
Location: Scotland
National Parks Near London
New Forest National Park
It’s one of my favorite National Parks in Britain which you shouldn’t miss on your UK self-drive tours around Britain. Although quite busy at times because it lies in the densely populated south-east of England, the New Forest National Park authority manages to keep this part of the country wild and beautiful, with a remarkable range of plants and animals, foremost the free-roaming wild New Forest ponies and donkeys.
On New Forest breaks you’ll find yourself enjoying wonderful patchwork of grassland, bogs, heaths, mires, and as by the name ancient pasture woodland lead to the magnificent coast with its own natural habitat. It’s a place for nature lovers which love to observe wildlife. Feel free to explore the network of paths by foot or by bicycle. It also suggests itself to riding on horseback. Of course, you can do some golfing, visit historically interesting sites and plenty of great restaurants to pop in for refreshment, too.
Driving through the lovely village of Beaulieu, we found donkeys walking in the middle of the road. They enjoy the right of way as do the New Forest ponies in the national park. If you visit Beauville you’ll not only enjoy the quaint little town at the romantic lake with a view of the Palace House, but you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the outstanding British National Motor Museum. By chance, we hit the right day to see a get-together of most impressive oldtimers, cared for by their dedicated owners from all over England!
If you want to stay on one of the New Forest Caravan Sites, in a New Forest caravan, in luxury camping pods, self-catering New Forest accommodation log cabins, New Forest log cabins with hot tub or simply in forest lodges, UK ‘s most wooded park offers suitable accommodation for any gusto. But book early if you’re planning for peak season because you’ll find so many people with the same idea to spent their holiday!
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New Forest Facts
Established in 1956
Area: 566 km²
Location: England, Hampshire
The South Downs National Park
Emily, Kids and Compass
The South Downs National Park is Englands newest national park. It covers an area in the far south-east of England and stretches from the cathedral city of Winchester to the famous white cliffs at the seaside town of Eastbourne.
The South Downs themselves are a chalk ridge formed millions of years ago from a tropical sea – difficult to picture now! The far-reaching views that you can get from the top of the ridge are stunning. You’re able to walk along the South Downs Way which covers the entire length of the National Park, or just pick and choose a small part of the trail if you don’t want to walk the whole 160km – the choices are endless.
Keep an eye out for rare wildlife along the way. You might be lucky enough to see some otters or dragonflies near rivers and streams, and the region is also home to the carnivorous sundew plant. There is plenty of deer grazing in parks and after dark keep an eye and an ear out for owls and bats.
As well as walking and cycling opportunities, you can also visit some of the region’s towns and cities. City-wise, Winchester is a lovely, traditional cathedral city, whereas Brighton is much more bohemian with a party vibe and a wide pebble beach.
Some of the best towns and villages include the lovely Arundel with its magnificent castle, Petworth’s grand stately home has an extensive collection of artworks and a deer park, and the little villages dotted around Lurgashall are very quaint and very English. Near the village of Singleton you’ll find the Weald and Downland Living museum which is a collection of restored historic houses and farm buildings from the region. There’s enough to keep you occupied in the South Downs National Park for plenty of visits!
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South Downs Facts
Englands newest National Park, established 2010
Area: 1’627 km²
Location: South East England
Proximity to the cities: Brighton, Worthing, Shoreham-by-Sea, Winchester, Burgess Hill, Chichester, Seaford
The Broads National Park
UK self-drive tours should certainly contain the Broads National Park, too. It is home to a few of the rarest plant species and animals in the UK. The wide countryside is dotted with quaint villages and mills along the widest spread network of shallow lakes in UK ‘s largest protected wetland. The history of the mostly man-made landscape goes back to medieval times in search for peat for fuel. The extended waterways invite nowadays for explorations on the boat, and recreation.
Fish is abundant, as is birdlife. As by the Broads National Park authorities, these wetlands are home to more than a quarter of the rarest wildlife in the UK.
If on land or water, the Broads offer plenty for visitors. Historically interesting villages and the beautiful town of Norwich at the doorstep, with plenty of cultural activities and shopping opportunities to choose from.
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Broads Facts
Established in 1989
Area: 303 km²
Location: England, Norfolk, and Suffolk
United Kingdom National Parks Website: Find a list of all National Parks in the UK and best national parks for kids on your UK self-drive tours
here.