Your essential family guide to all 15 National Parks in the UK

What is the best UK National Park for your family? We take a look at what to see and do in all 15 National Parks across the UK from the north of Scotland right down to Devon.

Gairnshiel Bridge, Cairngorm National Park

Cairngorms: the biggest UK National Park

Enormous Cairngorms National Park is just as wild as you’d expect, but that only makes it more appealing, even in the depths of winter. In fact, winter is one of the best times to go on a Highland Coo Safari – you won’t find those anywhere else. Cairngorms is also home to the world’s most northerly Dark Sky Park, as well as some of the best mountain biking in Scotland, for all ages.

Reindeer, Cairngorms National Park

What you’ll like about Cairngorms National Park

• Just 30 minutes’ drive south of Inverness Airport
• Home to the UK’s only free roaming herd of reindeer – over 150 at the last count
• International Dark Sky Park, the most northerly one in the world
• Habitat to a quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered wildlife species
• Heaps of family activities from mountain biking and canoeing to high rope courses

Where to stay in Cairngorms National Park

Kayaking, Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond & Trossachs: where lowlands meet Highlands

People can never believe that somewhere as big on spectacular scenic grandeur as Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is just an hour’s drive from the centre of Glasgow – or Edinburgh. But believe it, because this is one of the must-do days out with kids, although staying longer is also a good plan. It’s a great park for camping, not short on swanky hotels at the edge of Loch Lomond and does a nice line in holiday lodges too.

Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Why Loch Lomond & Trossachs is unmissable

• Beaches, islands, forests, 22 big lochs and lots of little ones, plus 21 Munros, including mighty Ben Lomond
• Six of Scotland’s Great Trails network in and around Loch Lomond & Trossachs
• Packed with history and fantastic stories – this is the land of Rob Roy MacGregor
• One of the top places in Scotland for water sports from wakeboarding and Canadian canoeing to SUP and sailing
• Over 30 official campsites, or you can also try wild camping here

Where to stay in Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

Harlech Castle, Eryri National Park ©Visit Wales

Eryri: the UK National Park that dupes the Himalayas

Eryri in Wales is wild and satisfyingly remote-feeling, yet also one of the liveliest UK national parks: more than 26,000 people live in the park’s 30-plus towns and villages, so there’s always something going on.

It also doubles as a homegrown Himalayas for Everest teams putting in some practice.  And, as well as encompassing nine mountain ranges, Eryri is where  you’ll find the tallest peak in England and Wales: if climbing isn’t your thing you can take the Snowdon Mountain Railway right to the top.

Lakes are big here too, so it’s a good choice for water sports. Or you can head to the beach: the park’s coastline stretches for 23 miles.

Velocity Zip World, Eryri National Park ©Visit Wales/Keith Freeburn

Why choose Eryri with your kids

• Just over an hour’s drive west of Liverpool
• Snowdon Mountain Railway: climbs Snowdonia without the legwork
• Kayaking on Lake Bala
• Panning for gold at Sygun Copper Mine
• Electric Mountain – one of the world’s largest manmade caverns

Where to stay with kids in Eryri

Book a holiday home in Eryri National Park

Cycling the Brecon Canal ©Visit Wales

Bannau Brycheiniog: the best park for mountain biking

Another International Dark Sky Reserve, catch Brecon Beacons National Park on a clear night and the stargazing potential is immense. During the day it’s famously up for mountain biking – BikePark Wales is here – or you can go horse riding, canoeing, kayaking, abseiling and even white water rafting (a long list but far from exhaustive).

Blaenavon, home to the Big Pit National Coal Museum, holds UNESCO World Heritage Status, and the park is also a European and Global Geopark.

National Show Caves, Brecon Beacons ©Visit Wales/Wales News Service

Why Brecon Beacons should be on your list

• Less than an hour’s drive north of Cardiff
• Home of the incredible National Showcaves Centre
• Another spectacular International Dark Sky Reserve
• The vintage Brecon Mountain Railway
• Great park for hiking with dozens of well marked trails graded in order of difficulty

Book a family hotel in Brecon Beacons

Book a holiday home in Brecon Beacons National Park

Church Door Cove, Pembrokeshire ©Visit Wales

Pembrokeshire Coast: the little UK National Park that does it all

Pembrokeshire Coast in South Wales might be one of the smallest parks in the UK, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in sheer wonder.

Walking even a little of the 186 mile long Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail is one of the best ways to see some of the loveliest beaches in the UK. But you’ll also find colourful towns and villages here, astonishing historic monuments, hills, valleys and a remarkable amount of wildlife. If you want to go island hopping, you’re in the right place for that too. Although, no one would judge you for just taking a drive, it’s a great area of Wales for a family road trip.

Learning to surf, Pembrokeshire coast ©Visit Wales/Preseli Venture

Why your kids will like Pembrokeshire Coast

• Over 600 miles of walking routs, including the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail
• More Blue Flag beaches than anywhere else in Wales
• Famously good for surfing and a great place to learn at local surf schools
• One of the best places in the UK for sea kayaking and SUP tours
• Home to gorgeous harbour towns like Tenby and Saundersfoot

Where to stay with kids on the Pembrokeshire Coast

Northumberland: for Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Forest

Northumberland is the least populated National Park in the UK, so one thing you’ll never find here is a crowd. That’s part of the appeal: wide open spaces with hardly any human habitation and vast, starry skies at night. The stargazing here is next level, as it’s not only the largest Dark Sky Park in Europe, you can also visit Kielder Observatory.

All that’s before we even talk about the biggest ticket, Hadrian’s Wall; stretching for over 73 miles, coast-to-coast, and designed to keep the Picts, who liked a spot of marauding, safely tucked up in the north. Built in 122AD, ‘wall’ is a bit of an understatement, as it’s more of a vast, strategic complex of forts and barracks, as well as the wall itself. Today, the best place to start making like an Ancient Roman is the excellent Sill visitor centre.

Kielder Forest, Northumberland National Park

Why families love Northumberland

• Just over half an hour’s drive west of Newcastle
• Hadrian’s Wall for ancient Roman ruins and great guided walks
• The largest Dark Sky Park in Europe and home to the Kielder Observatory
• Networked all over with well-marked cycling trails
• Also the park to explore Kielder Forest, and hike The Cheviots with older kids

Book a family hotel in Northumberland

Book a holiday home in Northumberland National Park

Buttermere, Lake District National Park ©Visit Britain/James Green

Lake District: England’s largest National Park

Lake District National Park is where you’ll find the highest mountain in England, as well as the largest lake: Scafell Pike and Lake Windermere. It’s also the park for Beatrix Potter, family sailing, the gingerbread village of Grasmere and more outdoor activity centres than anywhere else in the UK.

Tree top adventure park, Lake District National Park ©Visit Britain/Rod Edwards

Why kids love the Lake District

• Just over an hour’s drive north of Manchester
• Great for kayaking, sailing, SUP, tree top parks and pretty villages
• Vast network of walking trails, well-marked and graded in order of difficulty
• Place to introduce kids to fell walking with local guides
• Hill Top: Beatrix Potter’s home close to Ambleside

Where to stay in the Lake District

Book a holiday home in Lake District National Park

Whitby, North York Moors National Park

North York Moors: the National Park for whale watching

Atmospheric Whitby alone makes North York Moors our all time favourite UK National Park. Between its vampire legends, endless prettiness and stunning Whitby Abbey (if you ask us, the stories of St. Hild are even better than the Dracula tales), Whitby is reason enough to visit. But it’s just a very small part of this enchanting coast and countryside park.

Here, the coastline stretches for 26 miles and not only does it give the UK’s more famous Jurassic parks a run for their money on the fossil front, it’s also dotted with quaint fishing villages like Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay.

When you’re up for a cycle, this is the park to pick for rights of way covering over 1,390 miles and giving you sweet rural tracks, peaceful roads, coastal and forest routes, as well as the Cleveland Way National Trail. Walkers have right of way too, so if the moors are calling you, listen up! Alternatively, take it easy and catch the North Yorkshire Moors Railway vintage steam train, sit back and gaze at the gorgeousness.

Why you should visit North York Moors

• Wildlife cruises from Whitby with a high chance of Minke Whales
• Over 800 historic sites ranging from ancient abbeys to cute fishing villages and stately homes
• More than 44,000ha of heather moorland for hiking and wildlife spotting
• An accessible Jurassic coastline over 26 miles long for fossil hunting and beach days
• More than 1,390 miles of safe walking and cycling routes

Where to stay with kids in North York Moors

Ribblehead, Yorkshire Dales National Park ©National Parks UK

Yorkshire Dales: for cute villages and legendary landscapes

There are 17 Dales in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Quite a few of them you’ll recognise instantly, like Wensleydale and Swaledale, but plenty you’ll never have heard of which makes exploring all the more interesting.

Fortunately the park is very accessible, even by road, although you might want to swap four wheels for two: the home of Le Tour de Yorkshire has cycling for 100s of miles, from flat and easy family routes to challenging MTB trails. It’s also a geological wonderland, with more limestone pavements than anywhere else in the UK (a few of them have even starred in Harry Potter movies). Mighty waterfalls are another local feature, you’ll find them above and, oddly enough, below ground, here; Hardraw Force is the one not to miss, it has the longest unbroken drop in England and that’s just as impressive as it sounds.

Mixed in with the scenic grandeur are fairy tale villages and lively market towns, if you like high drama with your prettiness make Malham your first stop.

Thornton-le-Dale, Yorkshire Dales

Why families love the Yorkshire Dales

• Just under an hour’s drive north of Leeds.
• Waterfall walks – don’t miss Aysgarth Falls.
• Explore Pendragon Castle and Fountains Abbey.
• Adventuring the Gaping Gill show caves.
• Taking the Settle to Carlisle train over astonishing Ribblehead Viaduct.

Book a family hotel in the Yorkshire Dales

Book a holiday home in Yorkshire Dales National Park

Ladybower Reservoir, Peak District National Park

Peak District: the original UK national park

The Peak District National Park is over 70 years old, and the original UK national park. It’s also one of our favourites for walking and cycling with younger kids, climbing with teens, and time-stood-still villages that enchant everyone.

Stanage Edge, Derbyshire ©Visit Britain/Tomo Brejc

Why you should pick the Peak District

• Less than an hour’s drive east of Manchester
• Over 30 miles of historic railway lines levelled for traffic-free walking and cycling
• Exploring Monsal Trail tunnels
• More than 1500 miles of walking trails – The Pennine Way starts here
• The sensationally wild and dramatic landscape – hint’s in the name

Book a family hotel in the Peak District

Book a holiday home in Peak District National Park

Turf fen windpump, River Ant, The Broads

The Broads National Park: the UK’s largest protected wetland

The Broads National Park is the largest protected wetland in the UK, and it’s manmade. Looking at their otherworldly beauty today, that might be hard to believe, but this seemingly all-natural place was in fact created from medieval peat pits originally dug to build and fuel homes during the Middle Ages. The pits were eventually flooded in the 1300s, and down the centuries it was assumed they were the work of nature, until archaeological studies in the 1950s proved otherwise.

The fact that The Broads are technically artificial doesn’t diminish their unearthly beauty one bit. If anything, their origin story only makes them all the more fascinating to explore, by boat, bike or on foot, and it’s a great park to try gentle sailing for the first time: hire a boat for a day, or a week, or longer.

Norwich historic centre, The Broads National Park

Why families like The Broads

• Just over 2 hours’ drive northeast of London
• Norwich is in The Broads: the only UK National Park with a city
• Pretty beach towns and traditional seaside towns, like Great Yarmouth
• Easy to explore on boat trips, sailing holidays or by kayak or even SUP
• Networked all over with family-friendly walking trails and cycling routes

Where to stay in The Broads National Park

Cuckmere Haven, Seaford

South Downs: AKA the gateway to England

South Downs National Park is one of the closest to London, and one of the most visited and heavily populated in the UK. That shouldn’t put you off, because it’s also where you can explore the stunning Sussex Heritage Coast – the one with the cliffs; walk on rights of way covering 1000s of miles; get lost for hours on apparently endless heath and downs, then just as easily find a cosy pub (one of the benefits of not being remote).

Arundel Castle, South Downs National Park

What you’ll like about South Downs

• Less than 90 minutes drive south of London
• Home to the dramatic Sussex Heritage Coast
• Rights of way cover over 2,000 miles for walking, cycling and horse riding
• More than 40 towns and villages including Brighton and Winchester
• Over 5,000 listed buildings and historic sites including Arundel Castle, Bignor Roman Villa and Lewes Priory

Where to stay with kids in South Downs

Free roaming donkeys, New Forest

New Forest: one of the most magical for kids

Originally a Royal Hunting Ground established by William the Conqueror in 1079, New Forest National Park is more about protecting animals than pursuing them these days. It’s famous for free roaming horses, donkeys, deer and pigs, so you really don’t have to do much to enchant your kids here.

Although if you were up for going beyond the stopping and staring there’s plenty to do. Dozens of walking and cycling routes take you through charming villages, down to the coast, into dense and mysterious forest and over immense wetlands. There are six train stations across the park so it’s a good choice for responsible family breaks. And on that note, older kids will be fascinated to learn about the tradition of New Forest commoning: conservation that’s been going on in this part of the world since before conservation was a thing.

Village houses, New Forest

Why your kids will like the New Forest

• Easy to reach by train, the park has six stations
• Over 40 towns and villages from historic Lyndhurst to coastal Lymington
• Free roaming horses, cattle, pigs, donkeys and deer
• A millennia of history to explore from salt-making and ship building to military coastal defences
• The ancient tradition of commoning introduces kids to living conservation

Where to stay in the New Forest

Lynmouth harbour, Exmoor National Park

Exmoor: for one of the world’s rarest rainforests

Although Exmoor National Park is one of the smallest in the UK, it is astonishingly diverse. The fact that it contains a Celtic (or Atlantic) rainforest is reason enough to go and explore: these rainforests are so rare now that they’re considered more endangered than their tropical counterparts.

Aside from that marvel, the park is also where you’ll find the dramatic South West Coast Path which snakes along the top of England’s highest cliffs. If you can’t resist a pretty fishing village (never fails on TikTok or Instagram) Exmoor is home to the likes of Porlock and Lynmouth. You can also walk the famous Tarka Trail here – a substantial part of its 180 miles runs through Exmoor National Park. Or, you can always take the train: The Tarka Line is a lovely way to see the local countryside without too much legwork.

Valley of the Rocks, Exmoor

Why to choose Exmoor National Park

• Rights of way cover over 600 miles for walking, cycling and horse riding
• Dozens of historic towns and villages, including Dunster, the best preserved medieval town in England
• The 630 mile long South West Coast path runs through Exmoor National Park
• An International Dark Sky Reserve, and hosts the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival every October
• Home to the Valley of the Rocks where you can see wild goats, roaming free

Find somewhere to stay in Exmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Dartmoor: the park where ponies roam free

The most southerly UK national park, Dartmoor also has a reputation for being one of England’s most mysterious and atmospheric.

No surprise to find a lot of Steven Spielberg’s War Horse was filmed here, and that he said, “I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.”

This is also the park for wild ponies as well as backpack camping (wild camping) if you play by the rules; family-friendly off-road cycling routes like the Granite & Gears Princetown Railway; canoeing; climbing; horse riding and walking – look out for accessible Miles Without Stiles routes, made for buggies and wheelchairs.

Dartmoor ponies, Devon

Why you need to discover Dartmoor

• Half an hour’s drive west of Exeter
• Lustleigh village for thatched cottages and Devon cream teas
• Castle Drogo – the last castle built in England
• Haytor Tramway walk for wild pony spotting
• The fairy-tale Venford Falls

Where to stay in Dartmoor National Park

Book a holiday home in Dartmoor National Park