On 16 December 1949, the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act passed into law.  

It was a massive stride forward, forming the basis for today’s National Parks and legally protecting tens of thousands of public paths that had been walked for decades.  

Since then, they’ve become some of our most treasured landscapes.  

And their number could be about to grow, with exciting plans for new National Parks in North East Wales and Galloway in Scotland, which, if delivered well, could be a wonderful addition.  

So to mark this milestone anniversary, we’ve put together ten of the very best introductory walks to help you explore some wonderful paths in National Parks across England, Scotland and Wales. 

 

Peak District 

With 2025 being a year of anniversaries, it was only right we made sure to give Kinder Scout a mention. 93 years ago, the Kinder Scout Trespass kicked off our fight for better access and helped bring about the rights we enjoy today. 

Mark the anniversary by setting off from the old mill village of Rowarth up to Lantern Pike, a medieval beacon site and enjoy the commanding views of the Dark Peak, centred on the massive plateau of Kinder Scout.  

Rowarth to Lantern Pike route  

 

Bannau Brycheiniog

  

Spanning the mountain range of the same name in South Wales, the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, formlerly known as the Brecon Beacons, stretches from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the northeast. And for those wishing to get to grips with this awe-inspiring landscape for the first time, there’s no better starting place than YHA Danywenallt.  

Starting off at the youth hostel, the name of which means “Under the fair wooded hill”, a short climb will reward you with stunning views of the nearby reservoir and Wuan Rydd, an outpost of the Central Beacons range of hills.  

YHA Danywenallt Onto The Fair Wooded Hill route

 

Cairngorms 

From Wales to Scotland and to the largest National Park in Britain: the Cairngorms. Our route takes you around Loch Muick, hemmed in on three sides by towering mountains, offering magnificent views and, for the keen eyed, a huge variety of wildlife to spot while wandering.    

A route around Loch Muick 

 

Dartmoor 

It’s not difficult to see why Arthur Conan Doyle chose Dartmoor as the setting for The Hound of the Baskervilles. A wild, open moorland studded with craggy tors, Dartmoor also holds the special status of being the only place in England and Wales where it is legal to wild camp (for now…). But Dartmoor is not just a place of natural beauty: it’s also home to the remnants of long-forgotten industry.  

Our route plunges headfirst into that industrial heritage, exploring hidden Haytor and its quarries and Granite Tramway, still leaving plenty of opportunities to explore the dramatic moorland.  

The Haytor Granite Tramway and Haytor quarries route

 

Eyri 

Wales’s second national park, Eyri (or Snowdonia), contains all 15 mountains in Wales over 3,000 metres, including Snowdon, the tallest in England and Wales. But off the beaten track, you’ll find something even rarer: an Atlantic rainforest. Exploring the Rhaeadr Du falls in Ceunant Llennyrch, our circular walk guides you through a Welsh rainforest, covered in mosses, lichens and rare wildlife, to a hidden wooden gorge and a cascading waterfall.  

Rhaeadr Ddu falls route

 

Lake District 

Inspiration to the Romantic poets, the Lake District certainly lives up to its grand poetic billing. But there’s no need to brave Striding Edge to experience it in its full glory. Dubbed the “family fell” by Alfred Wainwright, Catbells is the perfect family-friendly introduction to the Lake District.  

A short but steep climb will reward you and your family with excellent views over Derwent Water to Skiddaw, keeping the vertigo-inducing ridge walks for another day.  

Cat Bell’s fell route 

 

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs (car free) 

Centred around Loch Lomond and the hills and glens of the Trossachs, this national park is just a stone’s throw away from Glasgow. And for those looking to explore it for the very first time, it only makes sense to start at the loch that gives it its name.  

Set out on a delightful stroll around Balloch Castle Country Park, exploring the sheltered oasis of its walled garden and the parkland and woods that surround the loch.  

Balloch Castle Country Park route 

 

South Downs (car free) 

Arundel sits at the edge of the South Downs National Park, England’s newest. Defined by rolling hills, river valleys and iconic white cliffs, the South Downs is not short of spectacular sights. But Arundel has yet another up its sleeve: a gigantic medieval castle dating back to the 11th century.  

Starting just a few minutes away from the station, our route takes you up past the iconic castle into open parkland before meandering back along the River Arun. 

South Downs National Park route  

 

Yorkshire Dales (car free)

 

One of the two Yorkshire national parks, the Yorkshire Dales is home to dark caves, rushing rivers and giant limestone amphitheatres, of which Malham Cove is perhaps the most iconic, not least for its appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. To avoid the potential crowds of Potterheads, our picturesque route climbs from Settle station to the trig point on Great High Hill before ambling gently back along the Dales High Way, passing caves and panoramic views of the nearby Yorkshire moors.  

A picturesque short walk from Settle  

 

New Forest (car free) 

Proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, the New Forest is one of the largest remaining unenclosed forests in southern England. A habitat for many rare birds and mammals, it is perhaps most iconic for its wandering wild ponies. 

Our route, beginning at Beaulieu Road station, encapsulates many of the unique features of the park, from open heathland to tranquil woodland and makes sure to take in plenty of free-roaming ponies and donkeys. 

New Forest: Shatterford and Denny Wood route