Get to know the UK's national parks

There are 15 magnificent national parks covering 10% of the UK's land mass. Each one is a distinctive collection of landscapes, wildlife, histories and people. Here, we share everything from weather information to national park trivia, plus a map to help you get your bearings.

The Brecon Beacons at Llyn Fan Fach, Wales — The Brecon Beacons at Llyn Fan Fach, Wales © SNappa2006 - Flickr CC BY 2.0

There's a world of activities and adventures for all ages and abilities sandwiched between the largest and most northerly park of the Cairngorms in Scotland and the low-lying New Forest on England's south coast.

About
England
Scotland
Wales

Whether you're looking to scale the high peak in Snowdonia, kayak the calm waters of the Lake District, ramble among the ruins of Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland or cruise through the reeds of the Broads, it's never been easier to enjoy the wonder of the great outdoors when you visit any of the UK's national parks.

Did you know? All of the UK's national parks are free to enter and enjoy.

About UK national parks

The formation of the UK's national parks did not happen overnight. In the late 19th century, following decades of industrialisation throughout England, interest in accessing the countryside grew. A concerted campaign began to allow the public to enjoy the many benefits and splendours of fresh air and exercise.

Summer on Derwentwater in the Lake District National Park — Summer on Derwentwater in the Lake District National Park © David Young 11111 - Adobe Stock Image

While this demand increased through the first half of the 20th century, it wasn't until 1949 that an Act of Parliament ensured the creation of national parks to both preserve the landscapes and offer recreational ground. The first national park, the Peak District, was inscribed in 1951 and the list has kept on growing.

Did you know? The national parks have more than 1,300 km of accessible routes and trails.

Curiously, Scotland's national parks are relatively new, with the creation of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park in 2002 and the Cairngorms National Park as recently as 2003. However, the South Downs National Park in southern England is the most recent addition, established in 2009.

Did you know? There are no national parks in Northern Ireland - not yet, anyway!

Today, the national parks remain living, breathing natural landscapes where people not only visit and explore but live and work. Each serves up its own slice of natural and social history for anyone willing to look beyond the sheer beauty and thrilling activities on offer.

England

There are 10 national parks dotted across England. They offer a huge variety of landscapes from rugged moorland and rolling countryside to the glorious Lakes, waterways of the Broads and roaming ponies of Dartmoor.

Discover more about the conditions you can expect to experience all year round at each of England's national parks below.

Dartmoor
Exmoor
Lake District
New Forest
North York Moors
Northumberland
Peak District
South Downs
The Broads
Yorkshire Dales

Norfolk Broads National Park, England, UK — Norfolk Broads National Park, England, UK © Yackers1 - Dreamstime.com

Dartmoor

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	43	43	45	50	55	61	64	64	59	54	48	45
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	6	6	7	7	6	5	3	2	2
Days with some rainfall	20	15	17	15	15	13	12	14	14	17	19	19

Exmoor

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	45	45	48	54	59	64	68	68	64	59	50	46
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	5	6	7	6	6	5	3	2	2
Days with some rainfall	19	14	17	14	14	13	12	14	14	17	18	18
Sea temperature °F	46	46	46	48	54	57	63	64	63	57	54	50

Lake District

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	41	41	45	50	55	61	63	63	57	54	45	41
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	5	6	6	5	5	4	3	2	1
Days with some rainfall	20	15	18	15	16	15	15	17	18	20	19	19

New Forest

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	45	45	50	55	61	66	70	70	66	59	52	46
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	6	7	7	7	6	5	4	3	2
Days with some rainfall	17	13	15	12	13	11	9	11	12	15	15	16

North York Moors

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	41	41	45	48	55	61	64	64	61	54	46	43
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	2	3	4	6	6	5	5	4	3	2	1
Days with some rainfall	18	14	16	14	14	13	13	14	14	16	18	18

Northumberland

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	39	39	43	48	55	61	63	63	57	52	45	41
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	4	5	6	5	5	4	3	2	1
Days with some rainfall	20	16	19	16	16	15	15	16	17	18	19	19

Peak District

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	41	41	45	50	57	63	66	64	61	54	46	43
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	4	5	6	5	5	4	3	2	1
Days with some rainfall	21	16	18	16	16	14	14	15	15	17	19	19

South Downs

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	45	45	48	54	61	66	70	70	64	59	50	46
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	6	7	7	7	7	5	4	3	2
Days with some rainfall	17	13	15	12	13	10	9	11	11	14	15	16

The Broads

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	43	43	48	52	59	64	68	68	64	59	50	45
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	2	4	5	6	7	6	6	5	3	2	2
Days with some rainfall	20	15	18	15	15	14	14	14	16	17	19	19

Yorkshire Dales

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	37	37	41	46	54	59	61	61	57	50	43	39
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	4	5	5	5	5	4	3	2	1
Days with some rainfall	22	16	19	16	16	16	16	17	18	19	20	20

Scotland

There are two national parks in Scotland - Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which is located just north of Glasgow, and the mountainous Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands.

Whether you're planning to go for a hike in summer or to hit the ski slopes in winter, you'll find all the information you need about what to expect weather-wise below.

Cairngorms
Loch Lomond
The Trossachs

Autumn on Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK — Autumn on Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK © Martynas - Adobe Stock Image

Cairngorms

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	36	36	39	45	52	57	59	59	54	48	39	37
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	4	5	5	5	4	3	2	1	1
Days with some rainfall	22	17	21	18	17	16	17	18	19	20	21	21

Loch Lomond

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	41	41	45	52	57	63	64	64	59	54	46	43
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	5	5	6	5	4	3	2	2	1
Days with some rainfall	24	19	22	18	18	18	19	20	22	23	23	24

The Trossachs

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	39	39	43	50	55	61	63	63	57	52	43	41
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	5	5	5	5	4	3	2	2	1
Days with some rainfall	23	18	21	17	18	17	18	19	21	22	21	22

Wales

Wales has three beautiful, contrasting national parks that tempt. The dramatic scenery and sunsets on offer along the Pembrokeshire Coast are rivalled only by famous Snowdonia and the more gentle hills of the Brecon Beacons. Prepare for your trip by checking out the weather guides below.

Brecon Beacons
Pembrokeshire Coast
Snowdonia

St Bride's Bay, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales — St Bride's Bay, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales © Bernd Brueggemann - Adobe Stock Image

Brecon Beacons

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	41	41	45	50	57	61	64	64	59	54	46	43
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	5	5	6	5	5	4	3	2	1
Days with some rainfall	21	16	19	16	17	16	14	16	17	20	20	20

Pembrokeshire Coast

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	46	45	48	54	57	63	66	66	63	57	52	48
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	6	7	7	7	6	5	3	2	2
Days with some rainfall	20	15	17	13	14	13	12	14	15	18	19	20

Snowdonia

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °F	43	43	46	50	57	61	64	64	59	55	48	45
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	5	6	6	5	5	4	3	2	1
Days with some rainfall	21	16	18	15	16	15	14	16	16	19	20	20

Location map of UK national parks

The national parks are spread from north to south, coast to coast. Below you'll see where they're located across England, Scotland and Wales.

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