The best UK parks combine fresh outdoor air, stunning scenery and engaging activities into an enjoyable day trip experience. No matter your interests – from exploring nature to taking on challenging hikes – or just spending some quality time outdoors; these parks are worth a visit!
National parks across the nation offer visitors a diverse landscape spanning from rugged coastlines to magnificent mountain ranges, offering unforgettable experiences that keep people coming back for more.
1. Yorkshire Dales National Park
The Yorkshire Dales National Park boasts some of the most remarkable natural features in England, from limestone cliffs and valleys to moorlands and waterfalls – it provides an unforgettable experience of nature!
With more than 840 square miles of breathtaking countryside and protected wildlife, the Dales offer an unmatched sense of tranquility. Explore their rolling hills, lush dales and moss-covered moorlands while hiking along bridleways or cycling down meandering valley roads.
As well as being an ideal spot for hiking and sightseeing, Whernside Park is also an ideal location for stargazing – there are several dark sky areas within its boundaries for visitors looking for that extra magical feeling of stargazing! Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent offer exceptional stargazing opportunities.
UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Dales offers some of the finest examples of traditional British limestone scenery. Due to their karst nature, potholes and cave systems have formed throughout this area – including Gaping Gill – the highest unbroken underground waterfall in Britain.
There’s so much to do in the Dales, including hiking and walking, biking and taking the train. Additionally, there are plenty of cosy B&Bs and cottages offering relaxation after an active day outdoors.
For something a bit more physically challenging, climbing is also available throughout the area. Climbers of all levels can enjoy guided climbs in some of the National Park’s most striking crags such as Malham Cove and Gordale Scar.
Dales offer visitors an abundance of caving opportunities, boasting over 2,500 caves – the longest system in the UK! Popular show caves feature lighting and metal grid flooring to make navigation simpler for visitors.
Yorkshire Dales National Park boasts more than its fair share of natural beauty; it is also home to numerous historical landmarks and attractions – Bolton Abbey sits atop an estate covering 133,000 acres in Wharfedale owned by Cavendish Family.
Those planning a trip to the Dales should book their accommodations as early as possible. You have many choices when selecting your stay – adults-only glamping sites, campsites with stunning views and accommodations that welcome pets are just some of your options.
2. North York Moors National Park
From rolling moorland to rugged coast, ancient woods to timeless villages – the North York Moors National Park has long been revered as an oasis of legends and endless horizons. Visitors have long come for its beauty and natural wonders.
North York Moors is one of England’s largest areas of heather moorland and home to an array of wildlife including red squirrels and otters.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of adventure in North York Moors for hiking and cycling. Their popular long-distance trail, Cleveland Way National Trail, provides ample walking routes while cyclists can discover cycle hubs, bridleways, and trail centres throughout.
The North York Moors is a designated Dark Sky Reserve, making it the perfect location for stargazing. There are also plenty of shorter walks available if stargazing isn’t your cup of tea.
Visits to the North York Moors during spring will offer visitors an ideal opportunity for seeing curlew, lapwings and golden plover. In autumn, minke whales and white-beaked dolphins can be spotted along its coastline.
North York Moors offers plenty of attractions and amenities to make for a fantastic family vacation destination. Additionally, you will find accommodations and hotels to meet every budget.
For an immersive North York Moors experience, book a campsite or hotel near its boundaries. Middlesbrough provides an ideal starting point for hiking trips and exploration of this expansive region.
Make the most of your stay by booking a hotel that provides on-site dining facilities. This will allow you to avoid additional restaurant expenses while still benefitting from a full breakfast experience.
Be sure to inquire if your hotel of choice provides free parking, which can be an important asset if hiking through a park is in your plans.
North York Moors is renowned for being an idyllic spot for hiking and other outdoor activities, but also known for its rich history. Home to Helmsley Castle and Osmotherley Abbey as well as some impressive abbeys and churches – as well as several museums and exhibitions dedicated to this heritage – it offers something for everyone in this park!
3. Norfolk Broads National Park
The Norfolk Broads is one of the UK’s most beloved inland waterways, boasting more than 125 miles of navigable lock-free rivers and broads spanning 125 miles in total. As one of the country’s largest nationally protected wetland areas, they also host 25% of rare wildlife found throughout Britain.
The Broads is a national park unto themselves, boasting an extraordinary collection of rivers and lakes in their own right. Originating during medieval times when peat was dug out for fuel use and its empty pits filled up, creating lakes known as broads that still remain today.
Discovering the Broads by boat provides ample opportunity, while Broadland area boasts a unique network of waterside paths and cycle ways that provide another means for exploring this vast and varied region.
The Broads are an internationally significant conservation area, receiving international designation for their biodiversity and hosting over one-fourth of it as international sites of special scientific interest and nine national nature reserves.
As well as offering visitors an incredible journey through fascinating scenery, the Broads play an integral role in managing the delicate balance between humans and nature in this vast interlinked landscape. This task is undertaken by the Broads Authority who are charged with striking a balance between conservation efforts and navigation interests of those wishing to take to the water in their own boats.
Norfolk Broads have earned themselves the nickname ‘Venice of the East’ due to their expansive waterway system and are an incredible place for relaxation and unwinding. Plus, there are charming countryside villages and towns dotting its landscape where visitors can stop for refreshments or grab something tasty at one of many independent stores!
There are also plenty of walking routes that will allow you to experience the Norfolk Broads at your own pace, perfect for families on an outing, dog walkers exploring wetlands, or serious walkers looking to appreciate this area’s natural beauty.
4. Cairngorm National Park
Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, Britain’s largest national park, covers mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs, wildlife hotspots and friendly villages – as well as five of the UK’s six highest mountains (five of them have 5 Munros or mountains over 3000 feet).
The Cairngorms offer incredible hiking and climbing experiences. There is something to suit all hiking abilities here – from easy, short strolls through scenic countryside to challenging mountain routes; for the truly daring there are high altitude climbs of some of their munros such as Cairn Gorm (4,084 feet) or Ben Macdui (the second tallest UK peak at 4,259 feet).
Skiing and mountain biking offer some wonderful wintertime recreation, but these activities should always be undertaken under careful guidance due to potential safety issues. Always check trail conditions and weather forecasts prior to heading out!
If hiking isn’t your cup of tea, why not give one of the many guided walking tours a try instead? Led by experienced guides, these walks provide a great opportunity to discover all that this park has to offer while exercising at the same time?
Cairngorm Mountain Railway runs from Aviemore to Grantown on Spey and offers breathtaking views of its mountains and lochs.
Cairngorm Mountain near Aviemore, Lecht near Tomintoul and Glenshee near Braemar are home to three ski resorts during winter: CairnGorm Mountain near Aviemore; Lecht near Tomintoul; and Glenshee near Braemar. These three ski resorts each provide various runs that cater for skiers and snowboarders of various abilities; there’s sure to be something perfect here for everyone!
Monadhliath Mountains provide another opportunity for exploration within the park. You’ll find four upland areas here that encompass Carn Dearg, A’Chailleach, Geal Charn and Carn Sgulain — each considered Munros!
Cairngorms National Park offers breathtaking natural beauty as well as historical and cultural landmarks that are worth seeing, such as Carrbridge and Newtonmore – famous for their old packhorse bridge and military humpbacked bridge respectively.