Why Visit the UK National Parks
The UK has a wealth of breathtaking scenery and countryside to be explored. But some of the best places to visit are the 15 UK National Parks.
With 10 in England, 3 in Wales and 2 in Scotland there are plenty to choose from. These are areas of natural beauty, cultural heritage and wildlife which are protected and attract over 90 million visitors every year.
These vast areas are stunning, inspirational and full of history, wildlife and adventure. And of course, they are free to visit.
Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather and the activities you are doing.
Below is information on each of the UK National Parks along with suggestions of activities and things to see.
Brecon Beacons National Park
Location: Wales
Founded: 1957
Spans: 1344 km
Best Time to Visit: April, May and September
Highest Point: Pen y Fan – 886m
Coastline: 0
Conservation Areas: 11
Main Settlements: Brecon, Crickhowell, Hay
Things to do:
- Walking
- Stargazing – Dark Skies Reserve
- Cycling
- Caving
- Find Waterfalls
- Water Activities
- Pony Trekking
- Fishing
Broads National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1989
Spans: 303km – The Smallest
Best Time to Visit: May, June and November
Highest Point: Strumpshaw Hill: 38m
Coastline: 2.7km
Conservation Areas: 18
Main Settlements: Stalham, Wroxham, Brundall, Acle, Loddon, Beccles and Oulton Broad
Things to do:
- Walking
- Boating
- Cycling
- Wildlife Watching
- Largest protected wetlands
- See the Windmills
Cairngorms National Park
Location: Scotland
Founded: 2003
Spans: 4,528 km – The Largest of the UK National Parks
Best Time to Visit: October
Highest Point: Ben Macdui – 1309m
Coast Line: 0
Conservation Area: 4
Main Settlements: Aviemore, Ballater, Braemar, Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, Newtonmore, and Tomintoul
Things to do:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Wildlife Watching
- Water Sports
- Snow Sports
- Stargazing
- Visit Castles and Gatherings
Dartmoor National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1951
Spans: 953 km
Best Time to Visit: September
Highest Point: High Willhays – 621m
Coast Line: 0
Conservation Areas: 23
Main Settlements: Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Chagford, Moretonhampstead
Things to do:
- Walking
- Cycling
- See the Neolithic Tombs
- See the Bronze Age Stone Circles
- Visit the Villages
- See the Dartmoor Ponies
Exmoor National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1954
Spans: 694km
Best Time to Visit: August to October
Highest Point: Dunkery Beacon – 519m
Coast Line: 55km
Conservation Areas: 16
Main Settlements: Lynton, Dunster, Porlock and Dulverton
Things to do:
- Walking
- Stargazing – One of the best places in the country and a Dark Skies Reserve. Exmoor’s dark skies festival is in October.
- Cycling
- Horse Riding
- Sea Kayaking
- Rock Climbing
Lake District National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1951
Spans: 2362km
Best Time to Visit: September – October
Highest Point: Scafell Pike – 978m
Coast Line: 23
Conservation Areas: 23
Main Settlements: Ambleside, Bowness, Coniston, Grasmere, Keswick
Things to do:
- Walking
- Boating – There are 16 Lakes
- Fishing
- Rock Climbing
- Cycling
- Paddleboarding
- Woodlands
- Wildlife Watching
- Geology and Archeology
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Location: Scotland
Founded: 2002
Spans: 1865km
Best Time to Visit: Summer
Highest Point: Ben More – 1174
Coast Line: 58
Conservation Areas: 7
Main Settlements – Balloch, Callander and Tarbet
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Water Activities
- Visit the Castles
- Six of Scotland’s Great Trails
New Forest National Park
Location: England
Founded: 2005
Spans: 570 km
Best Time to Visit: Spring
Highest Point: Telegraph Hill – 140
Coast Line: 42
Conservation Areas: 19
Main Settlements: Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Burley
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Visit the Coastline
- Archaeological heritage
- See the New Forest Ponies, Pigs and Cattle
North York Moors National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1952
Spans: 1434 km
Best Time to Visit: August – September
Highest Point: Urra Moor – 454m
Coast Line: 42
Conservation Areas: 42
Main Settlements: Helmsley and Thornton-le-Dale
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Jurassic Coastline
- Stargazing – Dark Skies Reserve
- Gothic Ruins
- Over 800 Monuments
- Steam Train
Northumberland National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1956
Spans: 1048 km
Best Time to Visit: Spring
Highest Point: The Cheviot – 815
Coast Line: 0
Conservation Areas: 1
Main Settlements: Hexham, Haltwhistle, Bellingham, Rothbury and Wooler
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Stargazing
- Hadrians Wall
- The Sill
- Castle Ruins
- Prehistoric Rock Art
Peak District National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1951 – The oldest
Spans: 1437km
Best Time to Visit: September
Highest Point: Kinder Scout – 636
Coast Line: 0
Conservation Areas: 159
Main Settlements: Bakewell and Tideswell
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Caving
- Rockclimbing
- Mass Trespass
- Monsal Trail
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Location: Wales
The only completely coastal national park.
Founded: 1952
Spans: 621km
Best Time to Visit: June – September
Highest Point: Foel Cwmcerwyn – 536
Coast Line: 418
Conservation Areas: 14
Main Settlements: St Davids, Tenby and Saundersfoot
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Sealife Watching
- Cycling
- Woodland
- Visit one of the 50 Golden Beaches
- 286 Ancient Monuments
Snowdonia National Park
Location: Wales
Founded: 1951
Spans: 2176
Best Time to Visit: June – August
Highest Point: Snowdon – 1085
Coast Line: 60
Conservation Areas: 14
Main Settlements: Aberdyfi, Dolgellau, Trawsfynydd and Beddgelert
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Geology
- Water Activities
- Stargazing – Dark Skies Reserve
- Castles, Abbeys and stone monuments
- Folklore
South Downs National Park
Location: England
Founded: 2010 – The Newest
Spans: 1624
Best Time to Visit: Spring – Early Summer
Highest Point: Blackdown – 280
Coast Line: 14
Conservation Areas: 165
Main Settlements: Arundel, Steyning, Lewes, Midhurst and Petersfield
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Pony Trekking
- Stargazing – Dark Skies Reserves
- Seven Sisters
- Market Towns
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Location: England
Founded: 1954
Spans: 2179
Best Time to Visit: September
Highest Point: Whernside – 736
Coast Line: 0
Conservation Areas: 37
Main Settlements: Grassington, Settle, Hawes and Sedbergh
Things to do:
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Cycling
- Waterfalls
- Stargazing – Dark Skies Reserve
- Yorkshire Three Peaks -Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent
- Caving
- Moorlands
I hope you have enjoyed this outline of the magnificent National Parks that the UK has to offer. Which will you be visiting next?
Statistics used in this post were taken from NationalParks.UK
