The best national parks in the UK

Encompassing 921 square miles in the North of England's county of Cumbria, Lake District National Park holds the honor of being England's biggest national park. As the birthplace of British mountaineering, the rolling green hills, gentle mountains, ancient forests, and shimmering lakes make this one of the United Kingdom's best destinations for walking and hiking tours. 

The Lake District is also home to Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England. Hikers have 48 different official hiking routes, ranging from leisurely to challenging, to choose from, as well as the opportunity to delve into the region's fascinating literary history in historic market towns like Keswick. Experience hikes including Haystacks, Cat Bells, and an ascent of Scafell Pike as part of our Walk the Lake District Tour.

One of the three national parks in Wales, along with Brecon Beacons National Park and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Snowdonia National Park — known as Eryri in Welsh — is the biggest national park in Wales at 823 square miles. With nine different mountain ranges encompassing lush glacier-carved valleys, misty peaks, and pristine lakes, the park's awe-inspiring landscapes and hundreds of miles of trails are a siren call to hikers and mountain bikers. Ascend the highest peak in Wales, Mount Snowdon, as part of our Snowdonia Short Walking Break tour, which also introduces you to Welsh culture and history in villages and local communities like Llanberis.

Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands is the most northerly and largest of the UK’s national parks and home to five of the highest peaks in the UK, including Ben Macdui, Scotland’s second-highest mountain after Ben Nevis. Covering 1,748 square miles of wild mountain ranges, forests, lochs, mighty rivers, and wetlands that are home to free-roaming wildlife, the park also encompasses small communities in numerous towns and villages. The park’s breathtaking landscapes make it popular for outdoor activities such as mountain biking, watersports, stargazing, and Walking in the Highlands.

The Peak District in the North of England is the UK’s original national park. Designated a protected area in 1951, thise 550-square-mile expanse of mountains, valleys, and lakes welcomes everyone with its many all-access trails, and designated hiking and cycling routes, as well as dramatic destinations such as Derwent Reservoir with a dam and visitor center surrounded by magnificent countryside. The Peak District is also one of the few national parks in the UK where you can venture underground, to explore the subterranean chambers of the Castleton Caverns.