Swathes of rare lowland heath blanket the undulating landscape, alive with bees and butterflies and grazed by wild horses. Photo / Getty Images New Forest National Park, HampshireĬontrary to its name, the forest here was first recorded by William the Conqueror in the year 1079, when it was highlighted as a valuable hunting ground. The Lake District is arguably the UK's most traditionally picturesque national park. The Broads are famous for birds, and home to some of the country’s rarest species - including the bittern, an icon of the British countryside, whose booming calls are the stuff of legend.

The network is largely accessible by boat alone, and it’s this virtue that brings peace to the communities of wildlife that inhabit the surrounding marshes and mudflats. Situated in East Anglia, the 200km of serene waterways at this national park are a paradise for boaters and birdwatchers. Whether it’s natural drama, adventure sports, local culture or historic clout you seek, you’ll find it all in this selection of national parks. Even in the winter, a certain bleakness bewitches those who dare to hike the windswept wilderness, with snow often blanketing horizons in the north.

Spring’s frothy clouds of pink shake candyfloss on rolling hills, which slowly burn to deepest bronze after summer’s heat carries the landscape into autumn. The UK’s national parks spill their natural bounty in every season. Photo / Getty ImagesĪs the inspiration behind Alice in Wonderland, home of a Sherlock Holmes whodunnit and locale for SAS selection training, the UK’s national parks always incite an adventure, writes Nora Wallaya The UK’s national parks are paradise for the pursuer of outdoor exertion.

Outward guide