Britain's National Parks

 Full of Life, Adventure and Inspiration

 We British live on a compact, beautiful group of islands, small yet with such contrast. It is as if nature intended a multitude of landscapes, and in amongst them, pockets of sheer beauty, so remarkable, so picturesque where different ways of life spill out to enchant and cast their spell.  

 England's Northern Group of National Parks 

The five national parks form a cluster of tranquility often within about sixty miles or less from each other. The Yorkshire Dales at their centre, is bounded in the west by the Lake District and in the east the North Yorkshire Moors. The Peak District in the south is connected by the Pennine Way to Northumberland. With a little imagination the cluster forms roughly into the Cross of St George, its horizontal axis created by Wainwright's Coast to Coast and the Hadrian's Wall Walk. 

The Ambleside Inn, Ambleside, the Lake District - Just click the image to book your winter break on the shores of Windermere

England's Southern National Parks

Our Southern Parks stretch across the width of England, in the east the Norfolk Broads, a water wonderland, quiet, undisturbed countryside and villages. The most recent of our national parks, the South Downs stretches from Eastbourne through England's green and gentle countryside to Winchester, and there, just a few miles further the New Forest, nurtured since ancient times for its wildlife, its calm.  In the west the dramatic landscape of Dartmoor, riven with folklore and legend. Lapping the shores of the Bristol Channel Exmoor has spectacular hill top views across Dartmoor, the Quantock Hills, out in the channel spot porpoise and dolphins.  Exmoor's cliffs are home to some of the most important seabird colonies. 

National Parks of Scotland and Wales

The Welsh and Scottish National Parks form the largest group in terms of area, in excess of 15,500 km2 and the least populated with around just 10 people per km2, mainly in the small towns and settlements in each region.  The five parks are rugged and remote, certainly the two Scottish National Parks with the least number of visitors per year.  The Welsh National Parks are favoured for their mountains, lakes and coastal walks. If cycling, hiking and trekking are for you, then head to Scotland or Wales.  Wildlife in these remote areas are an experience to remember.