There are 15 National Parks in the UK. From the South Downs, the newest, in Hampshire and East and West Sussex, to the Cairngorms, the largest, spreading across four counties in north-east Scotland, these protected landscapes represent the best of the British countryside.
If you’re planning your summer caravan or park holiday, picking a spot close to a National Park is a big plus. For walkers, wildlife spotters, and bird watchers there are obvious advantages. Families too can expect good tourism facilities, from tea rooms to low impact adventure attractions.
They’re all brilliant and should all be on your to-see list, but we’ve hemmed and hawed and picked our favourite seven.
1 – Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor, a National Park since 1951, really is wild, with barren moorland, and craggy tors chief among its landscape attractions. It also has pretty villages, lots of traditional events – try Lustleigh Show in August – and excellent walking and biking amid beautiful wildlife. Sherlock fans might want to get on the trail of the Hound of the Baskerville, with a cream tea the reward for a safe return home.
Stay at Hoburne Bay for easy access to Dartmoor and the beautiful beaches and classic resorts of the English Riviera.
2 – South Downs National Park
The newest National Park finally protects one of the Britain’s most beautiful landscapes, from the iconic Channel white cliffs to the gently rolling hills of the downs themselves. The South Downs way will take you on a 160km natural adventure through beautiful grasslands and easy walking territory that’s perfect for families. In the busy south east, you’re never far from other attractions in the South Downs.
Chichester Lakes scores very highly for its facilities, and is something of a beauty spot in its own right with its 10 lakes. It has easy access to south coast beaches and the South Downs National Park.
3 – Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Britain’s only completely coastal National Park has 418km of extraordinary coastline to explore. The Wales Coastal Path now makes the whole dramatic length of Wales’ coasts easily accessible, with boat trips getting you closer to the puffins, seals, dolphins and maybe even whales who pass by this western peninsula. The beautiful little city of St David’s is worth a visit, and, this being Wales, you’re never too far from a castle to storm.
The Hoseasons site at Little Kings Park is south of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with the beautiful, busy resort of Tenby just down the road.
4 – Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia is playing a big part in the Welsh Governments new push for adventure tourism – check out the death-defying giant zip wires at Zipworld in Bethesda – but the ancient mountains have gentler attractions too, including pretty mountain resorts like Betys y Coed and the matchless beaches of the Llyn Peninsula to the west. Add in the best collection of castles in the world and the family attractions of the coastal towns like Llandudno and Rhyl and you’ll be scaling holiday heights in North Wales.
Stay at About Hafan Y Mor close to both the towering mountains around Snowdon and the long, sandy beaches of the Llyn.
5 – North York Moors National Park
From coastline to high moors, you’ll struggle to find better views than you will in the rugged North York Moors. It’s very much a landscape that’s alive though, with artisan crafts people, hill farmers, and steam railways fitting into and adding interest to the heather, woodlands and headlands. The grand old seaside resort of Scarborough and Dracula’s British home town at Whitby offer contrasting coastal attractions.
Cayton Holiday Park is set in a beautiful sandy bay south of Scarborough, the perfect gateway to the North York Moors.
6 – The Lake District National Park
When you mention National Parks, it’s a good bet that the first one to pop into your mind will be the Lake District, one of our longest-established natural holiday spots. There’s no mystery to the attractions of the lakes – great expanses of silent brooding water watched over by some of the most beautiful mountain peaks in Britain. Holiday towns like Windermere have their own attractions, and the big holiday resorts of the Lancashire coast are just a short hop to the south.
Good luck in finding a more beautifully positioned park than Falbarrow, just a short walk from the Windermere pier at Bowness, and in its own woodlands. It’s light on facilities because guests come here simply to enjoy the astonishing natural surroundings.
7 – Loch Lomond And The Trossachs National Park
Walkers, climbers, cyclists, sailors… they all head to the Loch Lomond area where they can enjoy 22 major lochs, 50 streams and 21 Munros, as Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet in height are called. Follow the West Highland Way if you want a long distance walking challenge, and, yes, there are a number of whisky distilleries you can visit in the area.
Loch Lomond Holiday Park will get you right to the heart of the park, sitting on the very banks of the Loch. If you want a city break to complete your trip, Glasgow is just an hour away from all this peace and quiet.
For a complete guide to Britain’s best caravan, park home and holiday park holidays, visit our site and pick your next holiday destination by region, operator or on our nationwide map that shows all the national park.