Enjoying our National Parks

Why should YOU visit a National Park?

 

Activity & Adventure

Photo credit: Brecon Beacons National Park AuthorityWalking is one of the best ways to experience the variety of landscapes on offer. From strolling around the ancient beauty of Dartmoor, to walking the coastline of Pembrokeshire Coast, each National Park has a series of accessible routes and walkways for everyone to enjoy.  For those with restricted mobility most of the Parks also have pathways suitable for wheelchair and buggy access. And for those who prefer to escape the well trodden paths there are plenty of wild experiences to enjoy in each of the Parks.

Water sports are a fantastic way to encounter wildlife and explore the Parks, take a river trip in the Broads? Or kayak in the Lake District? Using two wheels is a great alternative, with plenty of cycling routes available to help you to navigate the Parks or enjoy the thrills of mountain biking. If climbing is more your thing, then the Peak District and Snowdonia have a range of challenging mountains, to conquer. 

 

Nature & Wildlife

The National Parks are home to some of Britain’s finest habitats and rarest species.  You can enjoy wildlife spotting with a Park Ranger in all of the National Parks, where you will be rewarded with a rich and varied encounter with birds, insects, plants and mammals.  Watch red deer at dawn on Exmoor  or enjoy mingling with the ponies in the New Forest. See beautiful dark skies in many of the parks including the secluded Northumberland National Park. You can also help to protect habitats and monitor wildlife by volunteering with the conservation teams in each of the National Parks.

 

 

 

Heritage & Culture

National Parks are a result ofPhoto credit: North York Moors National Park Authority a living heritage which is brought to life through the architecture, archaeology and cultural traditions of the communities that live in harmony with the National Parks. Explore the picturesque villages and hamlets of the South Downs and learn about Britain’s rural past by visiting a museum in the Yorkshire Dales.  Discover ancient castles, ruins and stone circles such as the paleolithic Pentre Ifan of Pembrokeshire. Or feed your appetite by trying the local produce at a farmers’ market in the Brecon Beacons or enjoy the locally brewed tipple in the North York Moors.