1. Snowdonia National Park (from USD 75.0)

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If you’re an outdoorsman, then Snowdonia National Park is the place for you. The stunning and sprawling space is mostly known for its hiking and trekking opportunities, which include the iconic Tryfan mountain deep in the heart of Ogwen Valley. However, this trek is not for the fraidy-cats, for this is the mountain that Edmund Hillary and Co. trained on before climbing Mount Everest. For the more intrepid ones, there’s the magnificent Cader Idris farther south that lies around a glacial lake. However, there is so much more to Snowdonia. It houses some of the best medieval castles in the world, which include Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech, and Beaumaris—all of which are part of a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Snowdonia & The 3 Castles Tour

Duration: 9 hours

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2. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Britain’s only coastal national park is a haven for water lovers and home to infinite estuaries, lily ponds, and beaches. The coastline of the national park is an elaborate ribbon of jewelled rock pools, secret coves, dazzling sandy beaches, and weather-worn cliffs. In fact, the Pembrokeshire coastline is even on the list of top 10 beaches to visit in the world. Plus, culture and history buffs will love exploring the cathedrals, castles, and heritage sites in the area, like the open-air Castell Henllys and the neolithic Pentre Ifan.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Address: Pembrokeshire, Wales SA62 6NW, United Kingdom

Website: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 9am - 5pm (closed Sun - Tue)

3. Brecon Beacons National Park

Brecon Beacons National Park is where Wales’ very first international dark-sky reserve is located. The community at the reserve works towards reducing light pollution, allowing one to see far into space when the night sky is absolutely clear. The national park is known to host many stargazing events, where visitors can see everything from close-ups of the Milky Way to meteor showers and nebulas. Apart from this, Brecon Beacons is chock-full of exhilarating and thrilling activities and gorgeous landmarks. What’s more, the site is home to more than 100 miles (160 km) of the best walking trails in the entirety of Wales.

Brecon Beacons National Park

Address: Brecon CF48 2HY, United kingdom

Website: Brecon Beacons National Park

Nearby national parks

4. South Downs National Park

If you’re a lover of everything outdoors and have at least a week dedicated to exploring, then South Downs National Park is perfect for you. Sandwiched between the South Coast and London, the national park is home to some gorgeous landscapes, rolling hills, and remarkably pretty villages. South Downs Way runs through the entire length of South Downs and is home to lovely market towns, the meandering River Adur, and stunning settlements like Devil’s Dyke and Ditchling Beacon. For history and culture buffs, there’s the incredible Arundel Castle, which towers over the whole region. If you have a lot of dough to spare, consider booking your very own royal room at Amberley Castle.

South Downs National Park

Address: North St, Midhurst GU29 9DH, United Kingdom

Website: South Downs National Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

5. Exmoor National Park

In earlier times, Exmoor National Park was an upscale, royal hunting grounds for the kings and queens of the United Kingdom. South West’s lesser-known moorland lying right next to Dartmoor National Park, the breathtaking, dramatic, and understated Exmoor sees much fewer visitors as compared to other national parks. Huge dark skies glitter with stars in the absence of pollution. Spring sees carpets of bluebells dot the entire region, while the landscape changes from the sea to the plateaus to barren moors in a matter of miles. Outdoorsmen should keep their eyes peeled for amazing fauna that roams the region.

Exmoor National Park

Address: Dulverton TA22 9HL, United Kingdom

Website: Exmoor National Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

6. Yorkshire Dales National Park

Yorkshire Dales National Park covers most of Yorkshire Dales and is home to some of the most gorgeous attractions and sceneries in the county. It boasts historic, age-old castles, villages that look straight out of watercolour paintings, and magnificent limestone valleys. What’s more, the site has a wide range of activities to suit every kind of intrepid visitor. It is extremely popular among walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Culture buffs, on the other hand, will love exploring Dales Country Museum, which reveals the stories of the people of Yorkshire Dales for more than 1,000 years.

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Address: Bainbridge, Leyburn DL8 3EL, United Kingdom

Website: Yorkshire Dales National Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

7. Peak District National Park

Founded in the year 1951, Peak District National Park is the first national park in the United Kingdom. It is also Europe’s busiest national park. Made of escarpments, wild moorland, lakes, gorges, valleys, hills, and ancient stone villages, Peak District National Park is said to have gotten its name from the Anglo-Saxon Pecsaetan tribe that lived here once upon a time. Some of the most common activities in the park are walking, camping, caving, climbing, and visiting the wonderful old-world villages around. Some places to visit in the area include Hope Valley, Heage Windmill, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Standedge Tunnel, Haddon Hall, and Poole’s Cavern, among others.

Peak District National Park

Address: Bakewell DE4 1AA, United Kingdom

Website: Peak District National Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

8. Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park is something of a walker’s paradise with its jagged, windswept tors and purple heather-covered moorland peppered with some lovely traditional British pubs. Dartmoor has been opened since 1951, and its oldest leisure activity is perhaps hill walking. Another popular hobby that has gained traction in recent times is letterboxing, which involves letterboxes (watertight containers) containing a rubber stamp and a logbook hidden across the moor. Participants use the rubber stamp to imprint their personal notebooks and also imprint the logbook with their personal stamps as a testament to having found the box. Geocaching is another similar recreation that makes use of GPS coordinates. Other outdoorsy pursuits you can indulge in include canoeing and whitewater kayaking on River Dart. Rock climbing is popular in areas like Dewerstone.

Dartmoor National Park

Address: Devon EX20 1QL, United Kingdom

Website: Dartmoor National Park

9. New Forest National Park

Contrary to what its name suggests, New Forest National Park’s history goes back to the Saxon era. In the 11th century, it was proclaimed a royal forest and was used for hunting. The place is filled with mudflats, lagoons, saltmarsh, and shingle along the coast, as well as open moorland and gorgeous ancient trees. There is no dearth of things to do in New Forest National Park. Walkers and runners can explore the heathland and the woods, while cyclists and riders can indulge in a spot of adventure around the terrain. What’s more, there are historical places of interest in the park too, like the village of Beaulieu, Burley Manor, and the hamlet of Buckler’s Hard.

New Forest National Park

Address: New Forest SO43 7NY, United Kingdom

Website: New Forest National Park

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:45am - 5pm (closed on Sat - Sun)

Marvel at the wealth of natural and cultural beauty in Wales

What makes national parks so amazing is that they are sanctuaries for not just flora and fauna but also culture and heritage. These places allow people who’re interested in the lovely landscapes to explore the sights and find the perfect balance between enjoyment and conservation. For those heading out to Wales, do your research before visiting these stunning national parks and make your Welsh holiday a memorable one.