We were watching Saturday night telly at couple of weeks ago (rock ‘n roll!), and the following question came up in a quiz show:
How many officially designated National Parks are there in the UK?
Just like the contestants, we didn’t know the exact answer. They took the money instead; the answer was revealed to be 15. I had to look them up to check how many I’ve crossed off – over half! And ticking the rest off the list is now a must-do bucket list item… A great excuse to get out campervanning across the UK!
There are 10 National Parks in England, three in Wales and two in Scotland, they are:
England – Broads, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, South Downs and Yorkshire Dales.
Wales – Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast, and Snowdonia
Scotland – Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.
Camping is the perfect way to explore the UK’s beautiful coast and countryside, and our National Parks are packed with stunning scenery, woodlands, moorlands, cliffs, beaches, lakes, fields… Plenty of space to clear our minds, connect with nature and opportunities to explore, to hike, bike, climb, swim, stargaze, whatever floats your boat.
Here are a few National Park snippets to whet your appetite – going anti clockwise from Shore Campers HQ…
The New Forest
Distance from Shore Campers: 7 miles +
Just a stone’s throw away from our campervan HQ, the New Forest is not new, nor solely made up of forest! Its unique mix of landscapes including ancient woodlands, wetlands and bogs, and open heathlands means it is home to many rare species of plants and wildlife. It has some of the oldest trees in the country – around 1,000 ancient trees, some thought to be over 1,000 years old.
South Downs
Distance from Shore Campers: 74 miles
Rolling green hills, globally important chalk grassland, ancient woodland, dark night skies, wildlife-rich heathland and windswept cliffs – the South Downs is full of inspiring views. You can hike, cycle or horse ride along the 100 mile South Downs Way from Winchester all the way to Beachy Head.
Broads
Distance from Shore Campers:230 miles
The Broads National Park is Britain’s largest protected wetland, made up of shallow lakes, coastline and windmill-lined waterways. Get out of the campervan and onto the water! A haven for paddleboarders, canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts. Check out all the wildlife – from birds and butterflies to water voles and seals.
North York Moors
Distance from Shore Campers: 295 miles
In the north east of Yorkshire, the North York Moors is home to heather moorland, pine forests, rolling hills and a 26 mile coastline. Drive through the desolate heather capped moors, lush green valleys, fishing towns and chocolate box villages. You may recognise the picturesque village of Goathland either as ‘Aidensfield’ in the television series ‘Heartbeat’ or for its role in the ‘Harry Potter’ films as ‘Hogsmeade Station’.
Northumberland
Distance from Shore Campers: 369 miles
Northumberland National Park is the northernmost National Park in England and it is one of the least populated and least visited of the National Parks. A section of the Unesco-heritage listed Hadrian’s Wall runs thought the south of the park. It includes the largest protected Dark Sky Park in Europe, on a clear evening you might be able to see the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy!
Cairngorms
Distance from Shore Campers: 563 miles
The largest of Britain’s National Parks – at 1,748 sq miles, it’s twice the size of the Lake District National Park and it is home to one in four of the UK’s endangered species, such as the golden eagle. Visit for snow-capped mountains, Caledonian forests, shimmering lochs, wild landscapes, and all types of outdoor activities you can imagine.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Distance from Shore Campers: 492 miles
Holiday in the heart of Scotland’s first National Park. With rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands, there are outdoor activities for everyone and plenty of adventures to be had.
Lake District
Distance from Shore Campers: 312 miles
Home to the highest mountain in England and 12 of the largest lakes, the Lake District is known for wonderful hill walks and water-based activities. Its awesome landscapes have inspired many writers and artists – you can be like Wordsworth and ‘wander lonely as a cloud”. Our campers always come back with amazing photos from the Lake District!
Yorkshire Dales
Distance from Shore Campers: 287 miles
Walking, walls and waterfalls! Great for walking, hiking and cycling, with trails lined with drystone walls leading through scenic valleys and picture postcard villages. It includes some of the finest limestone scenery in the UK – features including limestone pavements, scars, coves and caves. The Dales also have dozens of waterfalls, including Hardraw Force with the longest unbroken drop in England, and Aysgarth Falls which featured in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves!
Peak District
Distance from Shore Campers: 210 miles
In the heart of England, the Peak District was the UK’s first National Park, it forms the southern end of the pennines. Enjoy its dramatic landscapes and quaint medieval villages, stop off for a Bakewell pudding in Bakewell, visit film-star stately homes from Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, have an outdoor adventure climbing, caving, hiking, cycling – or simply get out and immerse yourself in nature.
Snowdonia
Distance from Shore Campers: 257 miles
Wales’ first and biggest National Park. Every year more than 400,000 people walk, climb or take the train to the 1085m summit of Snowdon. You will also find stunning coastline, forests, valleys, rivers, bird-filled estuaries and Wales’ biggest natural lake all waiting to be explored.
Pembrokeshire Coast
Distance from Shore Campers: 217 miles
It’s one of the smallest of the UK’s National Parks but don’t let that fool you, it has 420km of coastline. Nowhere in the National park is more than ten miles from the sea – right up Team Shore Campers street! It is ecologically one of the richest and most diverse parts of Wales, perfect for wildlife watching and exploring.
Brecon Beacons
Distance from Shore Campers: 150 miles
Not far from Cardiff, the Brecon Beacons National Park has mountains and moorland, standing stones and castles, lively waterfalls and vibrant communities. It gets its name from the central Beacons, the mountain range including Pen y Fan 886m (the highest peak) – don’t forget your hiking boots!
Dartmoor
Distance from Shore Campers: 112 miles
Dartmoor has vast moorland dotted with striking granite tors (outcrops or stacks of rocks, usually on a hill), deep wooded river valleys, and tucked away villages and hamlets. It is an outdoor activities hot spot for hiking, cycling, riding, climbing, white-water kayaking, not forgetting letterboxing and geocaching.
Exmoor
Distance from Shore Campers: 92 miles
Straddling Devon and Somerset, Exmoor National Park is made up of moorland, ancient wooded valleys, rivers and stunning Heritage Coast – including England’s highest sea cliffs. It has exceptional stargazing opportunities, and was Europe’s first designated Dark Sky Reserve. The annual Exmoor Dark Skies Festival in October is an ideal time to experience them.