How many National Parks in Great Britain have you visited? Each of our 15 National Parks are different and you’ll find unique landscapes, stunning scenery, an abundance of history and friendly villages in all of them.
We asked OS GetOutside Champion Sean Conway what his favourite National Park is, and like many people, he found it impossible to choose. So, here’s a brief overview of each National Park and a suggested short walk from each of Sean's marathon routes for you to enjoy.
National Parks on a map
OS GetOutside Champion Sean Conway
Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park is the largest National Park in Great Britain. It sits in central mainland Scotland and is home to five of the UK's highest mountains and three of the main ski areas in Scotland. Over a quarter of Great Britain's rare and endangered wildlife species take up residency here. It's rugged, it's remote and you can even spot a reindeer!
Sean's one word to describe this National Park: Wild Camping
Sean's ‘must visit’ in this National Park: Skiing in Glenshee
Walk start/finish: Glen Tilt Car Park, Blair Atholl
Walk distance: 12 miles
Cairngorms National Park
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
Situated in central western Scotland, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park was Scotland's first National Park. It is centred around Loch Lomond itself, which at 39km (24 miles) long and up to 8km (5 miles) wide, is the largest freshwater lake in Britain. 21 Munros (Scottish mountains) sit within this National Park making it a great spot for hill walking. There are plenty of lower level areas to visit too, as well as lochs, coastlines and forests.
Sean's one word to describe this National Park: Swimming
Sean's ‘must visit’ in this National Park: Inchmurrin Island
Walk start/finish: Glen Finglas Visitor Centre, Loch Venachar
Walk distance: 12 miles
Loch Venachar in Loch Lomond National Park
Northumberland National Park
Located in the north of England, Northumberland National Park has a huge amount of history such as Hadrian's Wall and countless stone-age forts. Here you can explore rolling hills, miles of moorland and picturesque valleys. In summer each year you'll be treated to vibrant purple heather on the moorland which covers around 70% of the park.
Sean's one word to describe this National Park: Remote
Sean's ‘must visit’ in this National Park: Hadrian's Wall
Walk start/finish: Hindhope Linn waterfall
Walk distance: 13 miles (loop only)
Hadrian's Wall
Lake District National Park
The Lake District is renowned for its 19 lakes, although interestingly it's only Bassenthwaite Lake that is officially named a 'lake'. There's only about 41,000 people living in the Lake District but it's one of the most visited with tourists enjoying year-round activities across the region. The Lake District is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and many head to the hills or the lakes, often forgetting about the 26 miles of coastline and estuaries.
Describe this National Park in one word? Peter Rabbit
Where is your ‘must visit’ in this National Park? Scarfell Pike
Walk start/finish: Moot Hall in Keswick
Walk distance: 9 miles
Lake District National Park
Yorkshire Dales National Park
The beautiful valleys of the Yorkshire Dales National Park have some of the most impressive limestone scenery in Great Britain and a number of caves to explore. There are many moors to meander and historic villages to discover. Thousands of people take on the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge every year - a popular walk that includes the summits of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.
Describe this National Park in one word? Ale
Where is your ‘must visit’ in this National Park? Ingleton Waterfalls
Walk start/finish: Bainbridge playground, Bainbridge
Walk distance: 16km (smaller loop)
Yorkshire Dales National Park
North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors is an upland area in North Yorkshire. It has one of the largest concentrations of ancient and veteran trees in northern England and over 22% of the National Park is covered in trees. Another third of the National Park is heather moorland and like in the Yorkshire Dales, turns a spectacular shade of purple in the summer. It's rich in history with hundreds of scheduled monuments and listed building, making it a great place to visit for both outdoor lovers and history buffs.
Describe this National Park in one word? Steam trains
Where is your ‘must visit’ in this National Park? Go on a steam train
Walk start/finish: White Horse on Sutton Bank
Walk distance: You choose the distance on this out and back route (up to 26 miles)
North York Moors National Park
Peak District National Park
The Peak District National Park is the oldest National Parks, created in 1951. It's split into two areas, the Dark Peak and the White Peak, named after their distinctive colours from the gritstone and limestone that make them. The Peak District actually has less peaks than the nearby Lake District despite its name. There are some fantastic hills and vast areas of moorland to explore as well as an array of underground caves.
Describe this National Park in one word? Wide
Where is your ‘must visit’ in this National Park? The
Roaches
Walk start/finish: Curbar Edge car park, Curbar
Walk distance: 9 miles
Ashopton Viaduct in the Peak District