Discover the UK National Parks

Your guide to Britain’s most treasured landscapes

www.nationalparks.uk Welcome, Croeso, Fàilte.

The beauty of the untamed British countryside has been celebrated for centuries. In his 1810 guide to the landscape, Wordsworth famously declared the Lake District “A sort of national property, in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy”. He was, of course, describing a future National Park.

The poet’s definition remains More than that, the parks also So explore to your heart’s true to this day. There are now play a vital role in the health, content – entry is completely 15 National Parks on our shores, wellbeing and prosperity of free. Experience quintessential once fought for by countryside those who live in and around rural life, discover extraordinary revolutionaries, since established them. They are full of life in every and unique landscapes and to steward our most valuable sense. Thousands of people live breathe thousands of years natural assets, and now providing and work within National Park of human history. Welcome access to open country for all. boundaries, and farms, villages to the UK National Parks. They harbour our most precious and towns are also protected for wildlife, protect our beloved their important cultural heritage. countryside landscapes and are a source of immeasurable pleasurefor the millions who visit each year.

WHAT’S INSIDE

04 14 28 National Parks at a Glance Dartmoor National Park Peak District National Park

05 16 30 Find Your National Park Exmoor National Park Pembrokeshire Coast National Park 06 18 Getting There and Around Lake District National Park 32 Snowdonia National Park 07 20 Meet the Rangers Loch Lomond & The Trossachs 34 National Park South Downs National Park 08 Brecon Beacons 22 36 National Park New Forest National Park Yorkshire Dales National Park

10 24 38 Broads National Park Northumberland National Park Discover England’s Photo: Rambler taking National Parks in the view from Haytor, 12 26 Dartmoor National Park ©Dan Cook Cairngorms National Park North York Moors National Park 04 National Parks at a Glance Find Your Park 05

National Parks at a Glance Find Your National Park Look out for these icons to help you find your perfect National Park.

Cairngorms National Park From red squirrels and grey Embrace the darkness. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Evidence of thousands of years National Park seals to swallowtail butterflies; of human occupation can be National Parks remain some these National Parks are great discovered in these National of the darkest places in Britain and these are some of the best Northumberland National Park for wildlife spotting. Parks, from the Neolithic period to the Industrial Age. locations to be awed by the constellations above. Lake District National Park North York Moors National Park Yorkshire Dales National Park

Peak District National Park Packed with stately homes, Get your blood pumping. Discover England’s National Parks Snowdonia National Park crumbling castles, hunting forests Climbing, mountain biking, by taking a guided trip to explore Broads National Park and medieval market towns, these caving and kayaking await, these precious landscapes and National Park landscapes have amongst an endless supply meet the people that live and work Pembrokeshire Coast National Park shaped our cultural identity of other extreme activities to in them. Find out more about Brecon Beacon National Park over centuries. provide your adrenaline fix. these experiences on page 38.

Exmoor National Park South Downs National Park New Forest National Park Dartmoor National Park

Key Facts NATIONAL Parks for All We work hard to make sure our inspiring National Parks are available There are 15 National Parks in 2010 for its hundreds of The Broads is the smallest ● ● to all, no matter their access needs. All National Parks offer accessible in the UK, spanning the length square kilometres of woodland, National Park at around 305 trails and many routes have accessible facilities. and breadth of the country. 10 bustling market towns, rolling square kilometres, with almost in England, three in Wales and chalk uplands and river valleys. 200 kilometres of navigable, Search ‘accessible National Parks’ online for easy access routes and two in Scotland. National Parks meandering waterways information on activities including guided Tramper walks, health hikes ● The Lake District National Park protect almost 10 percent of to explore. and buggy rambles. is a designated UNESCO World England, 20 percent of Wales Heritage Site and is part of a ● The largest National Park in the ©Dan Cook and eight percent of Scotland. special family of iconic places UK is the Cairngorms. At 4,528 ● Almost half a million people live across the planet, such as square kilometres, it’s bigger within National Parks in thriving, Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland than the whole of Luxembourg. welcoming communities. National Park, the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, Easter Island and ● The oldest National Park is Miles without Stiles the Great Barrier Reef. Follow the UK National Parks the Peak District, founded in The Miles without Stiles scheme is mapping National Park routes that @uknationalparks 1951 and protected because ● The Pembrokeshire Coast are well surfaced and free from stiles, steps and narrow gates. Suitable of its impressive gritstone National Park is the only National /uknationalparks for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, families edges, steep limestone dales, Park to be designated primarily with pushchairs, and the visually impaired, as well as dog walkers with moorland, farmland and caverns for its coastline, the whole of @nationalparksuk less active dogs, the Lake District, Peak District, South Downs and famed for rare Blue John stone. which can be walked via the Yorkshire Dales National Parks all have routes to explore. 300-kilometre Pembrokeshire www.nationalparks.uk ● The South Downs is the newest Search ‘Miles without Stiles’ online to discover more. Coast Path National Trail. ©Dan Cook National Park, established 06 Getting There Meet the Rangers 07

GETTING there MEET THE RANGERS and around

You don’t always need a car to visit the National Parks. Most are easily accessible by train from key transport hubs such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow. And lots of National Parks have special-service bus routes, connecting you to some of the UK’s most fascinating local landmarks.

Top tips for getting around ● For a thoroughly Welsh ©Nick Turner ©Dan Cook the UK National Parks on adventure, the Snowdon public transport Sherpa buses carry people and bikes on circular routes around ● Visiting the Lake District Snowdonia National Park National Park? Take the from Porthmadog and from number 800 summer bike bus Caernarfon to Pen-y-Pass for from Windermere rail station the Snowdon ascent. north to Whinlatter Forest for mountain bike trails (via ● For those with young families Ambleside, Grasmere, Rydal, or limited mobility, the Malham Keswick and Braithwaite), or Tarn shuttle bus allows helps to Thirlspot for family-friendly visitors explore the Yorkshire routes around Thirlmere. Dales without having to tramp ©Dan Cook ©Nick Turner ©Columbia up hillsides. It runs from Skipton ● For fantastic family bike rides, rail station to the popular village There is a good chance you will see our rangers the Monsal Trail in the Peak of Malham, and up to England’s out and about in the UK National Parks. District National Park is an highest lake, Malham Tarn. 14-kilometre scenic cycle You’ll find them working on the The role of rangers varies park by provide local communities with way along an old railway ● It is easy to plan rail travel front line in National Parks and park. But most carry out practical technical advice on everything line between Bakewell and around the UK on the National protected areas all around the work, making sure National Parks from land management to Blackwell Mill, part of over 100 Rail website – nationalrail.co.uk. world. This dedicated taskforce are accessible by maintaining protecting heritage buildings. kilometres of traffic-free cycle For international visitors, the works year-round to protect, public footpaths, trails, bridleways You can often find our rangers routes in the National Park. BritRail pass provides unlimited conserve, enhance and and byways and that visitors are in National Park information and rail travel throughout your stay champion some of the country’s safe by assisting emergency visitor centres, ready to lend a at a great value price. Search best-loved landscapes. services such as mountain rescue friendly hand or insightful advice ‘BritRail Pass’ online to buy. and the coastguard. Photo: Steam Train passing In the UK, National Park rangers to anyone who needs it. through the North York Further details are given for each – or wardens as they’re known Rangers are key in environmental Rangers are the eyes and ears Moors National Park National Park later in this guide. in some Welsh National Parks – education programmes, working of the National Parks and most work across all habitats from the with local or visiting schools have an unparalleled knowledge mountains of the wild rugged to connect young people with of the local history, ecology and uplands to the waterways of the nature. They also lead our culture of the area. Look out for sublime southern wetlands. They thousands of volunteers on a ranger led walks and events to play a key role in linking both local variety of tasks from repairing experience some of the best communities and visitors to the footpaths to monitoring and local insight. National Parks. surveying wildlife, and they Search ‘Meet the Rangers’ online for more information. 08 Brecon Beacons National Park Brecon Beacons National Park 09

Photo: Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in southern Britain. Deservedly popular with walkers, the views from the summit are truly spectacular.

Getting there BRECON BEACONS There are hourly direct trains to Abergavenny on the Cardiff-Manchester National Park line, and good connections A bubbling cauldron of mountainous landscape, from other cities. National rich heritage and Welsh legendary adventure. This coach services operate from designated European Geopark hosts vast sandstone various UK destinations to Abergavenny, Cardiff and cliffs and broad valleys peppered with quirky villages. Swansea. Local buses will ● This is a land sown with and burial chambers, in Iron Age take you into Brecon. Welsh myths and legends, hillforts and the Roman cavalry Getting around haunted castles and camps dotted in the hills in the Local bus services run mysterious lakes. Once home west of the National Park. throughout the National to a Victorian opera diva; ● Now millions visit each year, Park and the famous Taff magic, music and miracles hiking, cycling, mountain cycle trail runs from the are in evident existence. biking, exploring underground centre of Cardiff to Brecon. ● Home to some of the most or adventuring on the water. Follow the National Park important cave systems in The Beacons have almost Europe, formation of the 2,000 kilometres of rights @BreconBeaconsNP National Park’s limestone of way to be enjoyed. underworld began over /BreconBeaconsNationalPark ● Coined by Bill Clinton as ‘the 300 million years ago. @visitbreconbeacons Woodstock of the mind’, the L BA Did You Know? O N Guided trips are available H N T A world famous Hay Festival of E U

A to visit the famous caves. breconbeacons.org B L The name Brecon Beacons

Y Literature and Arts takes place

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● T races of early inhabitants annually at the edge of the

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P practice of lighting signal fires can be found in the remains National Park. BRECON BEACONS (beacons) on the mountains to of prehistoric stone circles NATIONAL PARK warn of enemy attacks. 10 Broads National Park Broads National Park 11

Broads National Park A watery wonderland, the Getting there Broads is Britain’s largest Greater Anglia operates a protected wetland. half-hourly train service between Norwich and London Liverpool ● Its shallow lakes were dug out Street with local connecting in medieval times – the peat services within East Anglia. removed and used for fuel. Average journey time from For centuries afterwards it London is 1 hour 50 minutes. was assumed that the broads There are connecting services had been formed by natural from the Midlands, the north processes – their true origins of England and Scotland via not being rediscovered Peterborough. Norwich Airport until 1952. has worldwide connections through Amsterdam. ● A haven for wildlife; despite comprising only 0.1% of the Getting around UK, the area boasts more than The National Park is very a quarter of its rarest species. well-serviced by local trains, The swallowtail, Britain’s with multiple stations within largest butterfly, calls the the park boundaries. First Broads – and only the buses go from Norwich (Castle Broads – home. Meadow) to Hoveton/Wroxham and then on to Stalham. From ● Pleasur e boating has been Norwich Bus Station they go part of the way of life here to Loddon, Beccles and then since the 19th century and Lowestoft, for connections the National Park is still one to Oulton Broad. of Europe’s most popular inland waterways. Hire a day Follow the National Park boat to explore the wetlands and winding waterways. @BroadsNP Did You Know?

● Look out for the distinctive /VisitTheBroads The Broads windmills dotting the National Park @broadsnationalpark landscape. Once used to contains over drain the land, with a few visitthebroads.co.uk 200 kilometres Photo: River Ant at How serving to grind corn, many of navigable Hill. The “Electric Eel” is have been lovingly restored an electric passenger boat waterways, seven on which visitors can take to their former glory. rivers and 60 areas a trip through the maze of reed-fringed dykes. of open water. ©Tom Mackie 12 Cairngorms National Park Cairngorms National Park 13

Cairngorms National Park Welcome to the roof of Scotland. Goliath granite mountains dominate the natural and cultural heritage of the UK’s largest National Park

● The Cairngorm plateau is the Getting there highest and most extensive There are good train links range of arctic-alpine mountain to Inverness, Glasgow and landscape in Britain and the Edinburgh and a direct service lofty Scottish National Park is from London and the south home to four of the five highest to Aviemore and Aberdeen. mountains in the UK. Express coaches from London Victoria, and all over the country ● A hillwalkers dream, there are make the journey up through 55 Munros – mountains above Scotland to the west of the 3,000ft in height – in the park. National Park and to nearby Climb them to become a Aberdeen in the east. ‘Munro bagger’.

● The National Park has Getting around some of the country’s most Cycle touring on and off-road is spectacular driving routes. a great way to get to and around The Snow Roads Scenic Route the National Park. National Cycle is a 145 kilometre journey from Route seven runs from Glasgow Blairgowrie to Grantown-on- to Inverness passing through the Spey traversing the highest west of the Cairngorms National public road in Britain. Park. There are also a number of long distance walking routes; ● A stronghold for British the Deeside, Speyside and wildlife, the National Park Dava Ways connect many is home to rare and park communities. endangered species – including the majestic golden eagle Follow the National Park and quirky capercaillie. @cairngormsnews ● People of the National Park Did You Know? /cairngormsNationalPark also have a distinct identity. Local legend tells This is a place of ‘mountain @cairngormsnationalpark that An Lochan folk’ and ‘forest folk’. Uaine, the Green Separated by the great bulk of cairngorms.co.uk Loch, gets its vivid the mountains, different areas Photo: Loch Morlich – home to a colour because the have their own unique customs watersports centre with kayaking, and cultural traditions. sailing and windsurfing among the fairy folk wash their activities available. clothes in it. 14 Dartmoor National Park Dartmoor National Park 15

Photo: Haytor has the form of a typical “avenue” tor, where the granite between the two main outcrops has been eroded away. Its characteristic shape is a notable landmark visible on the skyline from many places in south Devon between Exeter and Totnes. © Dan Cook

Getting there Dartmoor The Great Western Mainline train service runs through national park Devon, linking Exeter, Newton Abbot, Ivybridge (just on the A land of mist and mystery – steeped in folklore and southern edge of the National a place of great literary inspiration, with a history of Park), Totnes and Plymouth human settlement dating back over 4,000 years. with Bristol, London, and the rest of the country. ● ‘It’s a wonderful place, the ● Centuries on and life thrives moor. You cannot think of here. Dartmoor’s blanket bog, Getting around the wonderful secrets which upland oakwood, caves and From May to September: it contains.’ Sir Arthur Conan mines are among habitats Every Saturday you can get Doyle’s descriptions of of international importance, the Haytor Hoppa bus from Dartmoor have captured the supporting fascinating and Newton Abbot to Widecombe. public imagination for over rare wildlife. Every Sunday you can get the a century. The author was Dartmoor Sunday Rover train ● The world’s largest land slug inspired to write his most from Exeter to Okehampton. is regularly found in famous novel The Hound of The best ways to explore Dartmoor’s woodlands and the Baskervilles whilst staying Dartmoor are by bike, the blue ground beetle, one at The Duchy Hotel, now the horseback or on foot, see the of the rarest ground beetles National Park Visitor website for the best trails. found in the UK, is mainly Centre, Princetown. restricted to Dartmoor. Follow the National Park ● Bear witness to millennia of ● Dartmoor is home to some @dartmoornpa human existence. Prehistoric 34,000 people and the former stone circles and standing /enjoydartmoor1 tin mining town of Chagford stones are scattered across was voted by the Sunday Did You Know? the high moor and the remains @lovedartmoor Times newspaper as the best of Iron Age hillforts, medieval Dartmoor is one of the most place to live in rural Britain. dartmoor.gov.uk settlements and imposing important places in western granite crosses stand Europe for Bronze Age testament to Dartmoor’s archaeology – including the long history. longest stone row in the world – a massive 3.4 km in length. 16 Exmoor National Park Exmoor National Park 17

Did You Know? Exmoor was Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve in recognition of its exceptional starry skies and commitment to protect them.

Getting there First Great Western and Cross Exmoor national park Country rail services from Wild open heather moorland and shady coastal across the country serve woodlands perch atop the highest sea cliffs in the both Taunton and Tiverton country, and have provided inspiration to William Parkway stations, around a 60-minute bus journey from Wordsworth and other poetic greats. the National Park. The Tarka ● With its high sea cliffs and ● The National Park’s most Line connects Exeter to jutting rock formations, the famous landmark is Tarr Barnstaple – a 30 minute bus Valley of Rocks, creates a Steps – a stone clapper bridge ride from Exmoor. It is approx. true sense of drama within shaded by ancient woodland. 1.5hrs car journey from Bristol the National Park’s 55km of You can hike there from the or 3.5hrs from London. coastline. Every summer, the town of Dulverton, along the Getting around surrounding acres of western banks of the River Barle. 1,300 kilometres of trails are gorse, ling and bell heather ● Ancient wooded valleys available for those exploring come alive with blooming on Exmoor along with wild on foot, bike or horse, including amethyst-hued flora. romantic moorlands are several long distance routes. ● E xmoor’s bays are a treasure home to a host of fascinating The Westcountry Way – a trove for fossil fiends. wildlife, including majestic national cycle way – crosses Keen eyes can discover Red Deer, elusive otters, the moor and provides links reptile remains, ammonites, over 250 species of bird with rail stations at Barnstaple, belemnites and extraordinary and some of the UK’s rarest Tiverton Parkway and Taunton. shells amongst the Jurassic bats and butterflies. There are also local bus and Triassic rocks. services – ask at one of ● Exmoor is renowned for its the National Park Centres fantastic local food producers. for the latest timetables. Oysters from the sea, venison from the moors and red ruby Follow the National Park Devon beef from its rich @ExmoorNP farmland are all on offer. /ExmoorNP

@exmoor_national_park

exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

Photo: The Valley of Rocks, noted for its herd of feral goats, and for its geology. © Nigel Stone ENPA 18 Lake District National Park Lake District National Park 19

Did You Know? The Lake District has its own local dialects and distinctive sports such as hound trailing, fell running, and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.

Getting there Lake district The West Coast mainline runs to the east of the Lake District, connecting Oxenholme, national park Penrith and Carlisle with A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Park of London and Glasgow. A direct epic proportions, The Lake District is home to Scafell train runs from Manchester Pike – England’s highest mountain – and Wastwater, to Windermere. Local trains call at Kendal, Staveley its deepest lake. and Windermere. ● The Lake District’s geology ● Long revered by the creative Getting around provides a dramatic record community, the region Towns and villages such as of nearly 500 million years of experienced a ‘revival’ from Ambleside, Windermere, history. Its complex landscape the 18th century onwards. Coniston and Keswick are tells a story of colliding Artists and writers such as linked by bus, with extra continents, deep oceans, Turner, Coleridge and De services in the summer. tropical seas, and kilometre- Quincey were inspired by A number of cycle routes link thick ice sheets. the area’s astounding into the National Park from natural beauty. ● There’s a tradition of further afield including the unrestricted access to ● Centuries on and children’s famous C2C and the recently the fells, plus an extensive author Beatrix Potter remains opened Lakes and Dales Loop. network of public rights of an iconic Lake District literary way. Recreational walking figure. Potter spent many Follow the National Park can be traced back to childhood holidays in the @lakedistrictnpa Wordsworth’s ‘Guide District and these influenced to the Lakes’. her work; you can follow in the /lakedistrictnationalpark author’s footsteps around the @lakedistrictnpa Lake District with the National Photo: Ullswater, the second largest lake in the English Lake Trust’s Beatrix Potter Trail. lakedistrict.gov.uk District, being approximately 14.5 km long and 1.2 km wide. © Andrew-Locking 20 Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park 21

Loch lomond & the trossachs national park Tranquil lochs, lofty mountains and rushing glens. The topography of Scotland’s first National Park is as unique as its thrilling history.

● This is a place of two Getting there geographical halves. The ScotRail operate a direct line Highland Boundary Fault – from Glasgow Queen Street a fracture in the Earth’s crust to Balloch, on the banks of Loch – runs straight through the Lomond. The operator’s West National Park and separates Highlands route is considered one the gently rolling Lowlands of the most scenic in the country from the dramatic, mountainous and provides stops in and close to Highlands to the north. the National Park. Coaches travel through the park and stop at ● Scotland’s most popular Crianlarich and Tyndrum. walking route, the world famous West Highland Way, Getting around traverses the fault. Stretching The National Park is serviced 155 kilometers from Milngavie by local bus routes. Cruises to Fort William, it takes in a and waterbus services provide huge variety of scenery along regular ferry services between the way, from countryside both shores of Loch Lomond at parks to loch-shores and open numerous disembarkation points. moorlands to steep mountains. If you prefer travelling under your ● No visit to the National Park own steam, a network of foot and would be complete without cycle routes span almost every a trip out on a loch. Peaceful nook and cranny of the park. cruises across the waters Follow the National Park provide visitors with unique views of the surrounding @lomondtrossachs mountains and wildlife. /lomondtrossachs Swimming deer, eagles fishing and the iconic red squirrel can all @lomondtrossachs be spotted around the National Park’s 22 lochs and forests. lochlomond-trossachs.org

● Home to 21 Munros (mountains Did You Know? over 3,000ft), the National Park is a hill walker’s paradise with Open water epic views waiting for everyone swimming is a from novices to experts. popular activity in the National Park, ● But Loch Lomond’s history has Photo: Conic Hill is a sharp little seldom remained as tranquil as summit rising above Balmaha. with thousands of its landscape. Viking warriors Right on the Highland Boundary people taking the Fault, this short hillwalk offers truly plunge each year visited from the west in 1263 fantastic views over Loch Lomond to wreak havoc. and its many islands. © Paul Barr during the Great Scottish Swim. 22 New Forest National Park New Forest National Park 23

new forest national park A mosaic of precious habitats where heaths, mires and bogs are nestled within ancient pasture woodland and farm land, this world capital for wildlife has survived in the busy south of England.

● Salt marshes, seabirds and Getting there spies. Not what you would Regular trains and buses run expect from a primeval forest… to the New Forest, which is only about 90 minutes from London. ● but the New Forest has seen Brockenhurst is the National 500 years of military coastal Did You Know? Park’s main rail centre. Trains defence. The shipbuilding village also run to Ashurst, Beaulieu The annual autumnal of Buckler’s Hard also played a Road, and Sway. New Forest tradition crucial part in World War II. of pannage sees ● Almost 900 years earlier, in Getting around domestic pigs 1079, William the Conqueror The New Forest National Park released to feast on visited the area and proclaimed is well-served by a public bus the acorns, beech it his ‘new hunting forest’. network. There are also three mast and other nuts Today, his ‘Nova Foresta’ still New Forest Tour open top bus that are poisonous to routes that operate during the retains the same mystery cattle and ponies. and romance as it did for the summer season and connect Norman King. to local rail stations.

● The Forest is home to an Follow the National Park ancient livestock grazing @newforestnpa commoning system. This is how the iconic and hardy New /newforestNPA Forest pony has come to be. @newforestnpa ● Many visitors come to the Forest for its outstanding newforestnpa.gov.uk local food. Look out for the New Forest Marque, a sign of authentic New Forest fare of the highest quality.

Photo: New Forest ponies are one of the most recognised mountain and moorland or native breeds on the British Isles. They are valued for hardiness, strength, and sure-footedness. © Nick Lucas 24 Northumberland National Park Northumberland National Park 25

Photo: The mighty Hadrian’s Wall, spanning 135 km in length from Wallsend on the east coast of England to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast. © DTayleo NN

northumberland national park Northumberland National Park, known as the ‘land of far horizons’, is home to England’s cleanest rivers, purest air and darkest skies.

● Sitting within the Getting there Northumberland International Newcastle is the gateway to Dark Sky Park – the largest the National Park and is very area of protected night sky in well connected by rail from Europe – here, on a clear night, most cities. From Newcastle, you can see thousands of stars, the Tyne Valley Line takes the Milky Way and even the you into the southern part of Andromeda Galaxy (2.5 million Northumberland National Park. light years away). If you’re Coaches service Newcastle and lucky you might even spot the Carlisle from throughout the UK aurora borealis. and multiple local bus companies connect Newcastle to the Park. ● The landscape under these stars is ancient. Hadrian’s Getting around Wall snakes along the In the summer months, the Northumberland’s stunning Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus crags and escarpments. AD122 (after the date of the A fixed frontier of the Roman Emperor’s visit) links major sites Empire from coast to coast, along the Hadrian’s Wall World it was once occupied by both Heritage Site. 900 kilometres soldiers and civilians. of waymarked footpaths and ● The landscape is just as bridleways cover the National Park, or let the experts lead wild today, and as the least Did You Know? populated of all the National on the many guided walks that Parks, nature thrives. run throughout the year. Tales of ancient Tranquillity, discovery and giants, monsters Follow the National Park exploration belay the park’s and supernatural bloody history of wild border @NlandNP shapeshifters abound reivers and roman army camps. /NlandNP here. The duergers, ● A good starting point to a race of trolls from @northumberlandnationalpark explore is The Sill, the park’s the Simonside Hills National Landscape Discovery northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk were feared as the Centre, which has an excellent most malicious exhibition of the history, and were thought culture and heritage to snatch weary of Northumberland. travellers from the moors. 26 North York Moors National Park North York Moors National Park 27

north york moors national park

The childhood home of one of the world’s most successful explorers, the North York Moors National Park is steeped in history.

● There’s a cacophony of life in Getting there the seas around the National There are rail links from all Park. White-beaked dolphins over the country to stations and minke whales follow shoals in the towns surrounding the of fish swimming south from National Park – York, Malton, the Arctic, and seal colonies Scarborough, Middlesbrough, loll beneath the coastal cliffs. Whitby and Northallerton – and good bus links from the stations. ● Some older natural National coaches also serve the residents have long-since region with drops at York, Thirsk, left their fossilised mark, Northallerton, Scarborough and with 160-million-year-old Middlesbrough, with excellent ammonites and even preserved local connections. dinosaur footprints common on the seashore. Getting around ● Further inland, centuries of There’s a good network of rail history lay beneath your feet and bus services, serving many and before your eyes in abbey of the main towns and villages. ruins, gothic churches, But if you’d rather get around medieval chapels and ancient under your own two feet, the 175 stone crosses. kilometre Cleveland Way National Trail follows the edge of the ● The National Park’s moors National Park, from Helmsley to and woodlands are alive with Filey and if you prefer two wheels, Did You Know? birdsong; the North Yorkshire the Moor to Sea Cycle Network South of Whitby Moors Railway is one of the connects 240 kilometres of the is the old fishing world’s greatest heritage North York Moors. railways and traverses 39 village of Robin kilometers of National Park Follow the National Park Hood’s Bay. By the countryside. @northyorkmoors 18th century, Bay had gained a well- ● The famous pacific oyagerv /northyorkmoorsnationalpark Captain James Cook grew up earned reputation in the North York Moors and @northyorkmoors as a smuggler’s began his seafaring career in haunt. The origin of the nearby town of Whitby in northyorkmoors.org.uk the village’s name, 1746 as an apprentice seaman. and its link to the Photo: Robin Hood’s Bay, a small former fishing village famous outlaw and a bay located eight kilometres south of Whitby and 24 km north of Scarborough. Taken from Ravenscar. remains a mystery. © Mike Kipling 28 Peak District National Park Peak District National Park 29

Getting there peak district The neighbouring cities – Sheffield, Manchester and Derby, all have regular intercity national park rail services and onward Britain’s original National Park, the Peak District connections to Matlock, is a land of countryside revolution, stately homes, Buxton and Hope Valley where plateaus and valleys, right in the heart of England. regular bus services will take you into the heart of the Peak ● There’s a Tolkienesque ● Tight-knit communities thrive District National Park. landscape divide here. The in the National Park, honouring Getting around northerly Dark Peak is wilder, distinctive customs. Well There’s a comprehensive bus famed for its wild and exposed dressing – originally a pagan network around the National tracts of moorland top. Further ceremonial pledge of flowers, Park, and with over 100 south in the White Peak, gently seeds, twigs, nuts and berries kilometres of off-road cycling rolling limestone plateaus to the water gods – is now a trails and a network of quiet are dissected by dales and summer tradition in dozens country roads, huge amounts colourful hay meadows. of villages. of the park are also easily ● The landed gentry of the ● The rebellious ramblers accessible on two wheels. Peak District built some of of the 1932 Kinder Mass Good train services operate the most resplendent historic Trespass were imprisoned to some of the National Park’s houses and stately homes in for protesting on the moors for iconic locations including the country here. Chatsworth the right to have open access, Edale, on the doorstep of House has been handed down eventually leading to legislation the Pennine Way. through 16 generations of the establishing the UK National Did You Know? Cavendish family and is open Parks we have today. Follow the National Park The name ‘Peak’ to visitors. @peakdistrict does not relate to /peakdistrictnationalpark mountains (there are none in the National @peakdistrictnationalpark Park) – it is thought

Photo: Winnats Pass, Hope Valley. peakdistrict.gov.uk to derive from the A local legend is that the pass is Pecsaetan, an haunted after a young couple were Anglo-Saxon tribe murdered by miners in 1758. who settled the area. 30 Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Pembrokeshire Coast National Park 31

Photo: Skrinkle Haven and Church Doors are two neighbouring small coves separated by a limestone headland, and are best visited around low tide.

Getting there pembrokeshire Swansea has regular mainline services from a range of destinations across the coast national park country, including Cardiff and A true seaside National Park, in one of the most London. From there connect to the major stations at Tenby, ecologically rich and diverse landscapes in Wales. Haverfordwest, and Fishguard ● Within the only UK National ● Almost all of the and pick up local services to Park designated primarily for Pembrokeshire Coast is Whitland, Pembroke Dock, its spectacular coastline, the covered by the National Park, and Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire Coast Path has along with every offshore Getting around been voted among the best island, the Daugleddau Estuary The park has an excellent hiking routes in the world. It and large areas of the Preseli network of buses that skirts passes by 80 beaches, many Hills and the Gwaun Valley. beach and cliff to connect the of them award-winning, and ● In true maritime style, beaches, villages and towns offers the chance to see pirates and smugglers once along the coast. stunning wildflowers and sea prowled the seas around birds in spring and spot seal Pembrokeshire and thousands Follow the National Park pups in autumn and winter. of shipwrecks lie off the coast. @Pembscoast Did You Know? ● The National Park also One of the most famous and includes one of only three prolific pirates ever to sail /PembrokeshireCoast Almost half of the world’s population of Manx Marine Nature Reserves in the seven seas, Bartholomew @pembscoast the UK. Skomer Island’s cliff ‘Black Bart’ Roberts was born Shearwater – a cousin of tops are well known for their in Little Newcastle, a few pembrokeshirecoast.wales the wandering albatross colonies of colourful puffin, kilometres inland. – breeds on the island of Manx shearwaters, razorbills, Skomer. The colony size gannets and fulmars. is estimated at around 120,000 pairs of birds. 32 Snowdonia National Park Snowdonia National Park 33

snowdonia national park A land of lakes and a heaven for hikers, Snowdonia is brimming with natural treasures including the unique Snowdon lily and the rainbow beetle.

● Nine mountain ranges cover Getting there over half the National Park. North Wales is well connected Its biggest, Snowdon, is the by rail from most parts of Britain. highest mountain in Wales. Trains run as far as Bangor, on the north-western edge of ● The park sits in the ancient Snowdonia. From the mainline Kingdom of Gwynedd and station in the resort town of is a stronghold of ‘Cymraeg’, Llandudno, the Conwy Valley the Welsh language. The local line provides connections down name for the National Park is into Snowdonia National Park. Eryri and the Welsh language The Cambrian Coast Railway is the mother tongue of also provides connections along 65 per cent of the proud Snowdonia’s western coast. population here. Coaches run to Llandudno, ● A Welsh tradition of Bangor, Caernarfon and storytelling has ensured that Porthmadog, from London, the folkloric tales associated Manchester, Chester and with almost every lake, hill, other major hubs. mountain of the National Park are still as vibrant Getting around today as they were in A dedicated visitor bus network, their early beginnings. the Snowdon Sherpa, operates on five different routes within ● The most famous of all legends the National Park. There are also are the Mabinogion, a series seven heritage railways in and of medieval stories. Several around Snowdonia and Snowdon places bear King Arthur’s name Mountain Railway links the and tales associated with village Llanberis to the summit. caves across the region tell of a sleeping Arthur who awaits Follow the National Park the call to return with his @visitsnowdonia

men to rescue Wales.

Did You Know? I

A R

/visitsnowdonia R Y

In Welsh, the formidable E C E L snowdonia.gov.wales N Photo: Llynnau Mymbyr are two lakes mountain’s name is Yr E O DLAE T H located in Dyffryn Mymbyr, a valley Wyddfa, shortened from running from the village of Capel SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK Curig to the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel. Yr Wyddfa Fawr, meaning Great Tomb or Great Throne. 34 South Downs National Park South Downs National Park 35

south downs national park Known as the ‘gateway to England’, this landscape of rolling hills, ancient woodland and picture perfect villages holds the secrets of thousands of years of settlement from prehistory to Caesar’s conquering forces.

● Clues to the people who Getting there have lived in and shaped the The South Downs is unique in South Downs can be found having the largest market towns everywhere from Bronze Age of any UK National Park – Lewes burial mounds to Iron Age hill and Petersfield, which have rail forts; Roman villas, historic routes to London. From these stately homes and imposing gateways connect to the heart of Noman castles. the South Downs in Amberley in the Arun Valley, Southease in the ● Arundel Castle has been home Ouse Valley or Liss in Hampshire. to the Duke of Norfolk, the most senior peer in the realm Getting around for over 850 years, while the Walking is a great way to see 1000-year-old Lewes Castle the South Downs and there are provides views over this 3,300 kilometres of footpaths historic market town and the and the iconic South Downs chalk slopes that surround it. Way National Trail to enjoy. ● The South Downs has Brighton’s open topped Breeze captivated some of Britain’s Buses connect you directly to greatest literary and artistic the downland. Stretching from figures, from Jane Austen, ancient Winchester, through to Rudyard Kipling to the to the white chalky cliffs of the Bloomsbury Group and Virginia Seven Sisters and Beachy Head Did You Know? at Eastbourne, almost all of the Woolf, who said in her diaries South Downs stunning 160 kilometre South “The Downs… too much for one sparkling wine pair of eyes, enough to float a Downs Way is blissfully off-road is gaining an whole population in happiness, and is the only UK National Trail if only they would look.” fully accessible to cyclists. award-winning reputation across ● Scientists have also been Follow the National Park the world and drawn to the area for its @sdnpa has been served extraordinarily rich wildlife. by the Queen The home of pioneering /sdnpa naturalist Gilbert White’s at Buckingham can still be visited in Selborne. @southdownsnp Palace. These chalk hills are made of southdowns.gov.uk the same rock that Photo: The Seven runs through Sisters is a series of world-famous chalk the French cliffs overlooking the Champagne region. English channel. 36 Yorkshire Dales National Park Yorkshire Dales National Park 37

Photo: Hay meadows near Muker, Swaledale

yorkshire dales national park Spectacular limestone scenery and traditional farming landscapes meet expansive heather moorland tops.

● Snaking for thousands of Getting there kilometres across the National Cities and towns close to the Park is an unmistakable National Park including York, patchwork of dry stone walls. Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Over 8,000 kilometres of Skipton, Lancaster, Penrith, these ancient land boundaries Darlington, Northallerton and traverse the Dales, along Ripon are well-linked by national with around 6,000 traditional rail and coaches. The Dales can farm buildings. then be reached by a range of local bus services. ●The area’s long history of livestock farming has given Getting around rise to its own sheep breeds. Two national rail services serve Livestock sales and agricultural the Yorkshire Dales, the Leeds- shows play an important part in Morecambe line and the famous the lives of local communities. Leeds-Settle-Carlisle railway. ●Today’s burgeoning cheese Bus services within the National scene in the Dales is thanks in Park run throughout the year part to the Cistercian monks linking the main towns, villages, who brought their fromage- and attractions, with additional making skills over from services running during the Normandy in the 11th century. summer months. Walking routes span the park and include the ●The world-famous Settle- famous Three Peaks Challenge Carlisle railway runs through of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough Did You Know? the National Park from and Whernside. north to south. Renowned Before Malham for its evocative Victorian Follow the National Park Cove was used as architecture, the line passes @yorkshire_dales a filming set for over huge stone viaducts, ‘Harry Potter and through long tunnels and /yorkshiredales the Deathly Hallows’, past remote wayside the majestic cliff station buildings. @yorkshiredales is also thought to ●Thirsty? Try the 17th yorkshiredales.org.uk have inspired J.R.R. century Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s Tolkien’s fort of highest pub at 1,732 feet Helm’s Deep in ‘The above sea level. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’. 38 Discover England’s National Parks

DISCOVER ENGLAND’S NATIONAL PARKS © Dan Cook © Dan Cook © Dan Cook Wherever we travel, we seek out those places in which we can experience more than just the usual tourist traps – we want to absorb the landscapes and cultures of the land we are travelling through. TO BE PURCHASED

The new English National Park the environment and from our iconic landscapes. Experience Collection will give make their living. These easily This collection will be available travellers the opportunity to accessible and bookable in 2019 to overseas tour experience first-hand these living experiences, teamed with quality operators and agents to landscapes, where residents and accommodation and transport, sell to their customers. communities work the land, shape will create lifetime memories

Visit nationalparkexperiences.co.uk to discover more.

The World’s National Parks © Ebor Images/NYMNPA © Dan Cook The UK National Parks are part of a worldwide family of hundreds of thousands of protected areas covering over 6% of the Earth’s land surface.

The history of the world’s National attractions including the Great in them. In our National Parks, the Parks begins in the USA in 1872, Barrier Reef in Australia, the interaction of people and nature when an area of the Rocky Grand Canyon in the USA, the over time has produced areas of Mountains called Yellowstone Serengeti in Tanzania and the distinct character with significant, was the first to be protected as Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. ecological, biological, cultural and a National Park. scenic value. UK National Parks differ from Today, the 15 UK National Parks some others because of the © Dan Cook are in the company of some significance and importance of the world’s greatest natural of the people who live and work

Photos top to bottom: • Shop view, Castleton – Peak District National Park • Seal, Horsey Gap – Broads National Park • Daffoldils & Boats, Thurne – Broads National Park • Singleton Cricket Club – South Downs National Park • Strumble Head Lighthouse – Pembrokeshire Coast National Park • Pony, Haytor – Dartmoor National Park • Staithes, evening lights – North York Moors National Park • Dent village – Yorkshire Dales National Park • Osprey – Loch Lomond & The Trossarchs National Park • Red Squirrel, Loch an Eilein – Cairngorms National Park • Red Deer, Cairngorms National Park • Goat, Valley of Rocks – Exmoor National Park • Lake Ogwen – Snowdonia National Park • Wensleydale Creamery – Visit www.nationalparks.uk Yorkshire Dales National Park • Sheepdog, East Bog Farm – Nothumberland National Park. © Dan Cook © Dan Cook to discover more. Cover image: • The Great Ridge – Peak District National Park © Jay Birmingham National Parks at a Glance

Cairngorms National Park

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

Northumberland National Park Lake District National Park North York Moors National Park Yorkshire Dales National Park Peak District National Park Snowdonia National Park Broads National Park Pembrokeshire Brecon Beacons Coast National Park National Park Exmoor South Downs National Park National Park

Dartmoor National Park New Forest National Park

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