Altogether there are 15 National Parks in England, Wales and Scotland and collectively, they cover around 36% of the land area. Millions of holidaymakers flock to them annually; the Lake District being the most popular with 15.8 million visitors per year.
This generates a huge amount of revenue for the local area, with £498 million being spent by visitors in Pembrokeshire Coast alone!
So as you can see, they are a worthwhile investment for the local citizens and they are brilliant hotspots for Brits looking for a great break away, that’s right on their doorstep.
South Lakeland Parks have scoured the web to find the top national parks in the UK and here is our top 5:
Lake District
Situated in North West England, this has to be number one with over 200 scheduled ancient monuments and 21 conservation areas. In terms of popularity, this region is the biggest and visitors spend a whopping £952 million per year.
It is renowned all over the UK for its breathtaking landscapes, ancient farm houses and picturesque lakes. Visit the former home of infamous author Beatrix Potter, eat some scrumptious Kendal Mint Cake and sit back and relax whilst taking a gentle boat ride across Lake Windermere. Pure bliss!
Yorkshire Dales
Also situated in Northern England, this region is renowned for its outstanding scenery and rich cultural heritage. Around 9.5 million holidaymakers visit per year to see the 203 ancient monuments and 37 conservation areas.
Go hill walking or pony trekking, visit the Dales Countryside Museum and check out the amazing wildlife.
Snowdonia
Snowdonia was the very first National Park designated in Wales and has over 830 square miles of rugged beauty.
With over four million visitors per year, there are plenty of fun things to see and do; not to mention climbing Mount Snowdon which is the highest mountain peak in Wales.
Northumberland
Northumberland may not be the biggest in terms of population size but it has a wealth of attractions to visit. There are 196 scheduled ancient monuments to explore, including one World Heritage Site; it really is England’s most tranquil place with dramatic hills and long valleys that stretch all the way to the Scottish border.
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Situated in Scotland, this national park was only designated in 2002 but it already receives around four million visitors each year. It has a gorgeous coastline of 58 km and throughout 2013 the park is celebrating the Year of Scotland.
- Lake DistrictEnnor / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Go mountain biking or canoeing, golfing or walking, and don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for buzzards, red squirrels and ospreys.
So there you have the top 5 national parks in the UK. Which one are you going to visit first this summertime? They are Britain’s best breathing spaces.
This article was written by South Lakeland Parks, the go-to-experts for holiday homes in the Lake District.
