Things to do with Kids
Picturesque playgrounds
There’s something for all ages in our wonderful National Parks. Whether it’s exploring the natural landscapes, visiting museums and attractions or taking part in fun days and events, you can enjoy time together as a family in the great outdoors. From the depths of ancient caves to the heights of the moors and mountains, you’ll discover your perfect playground.
Our Favourites
The National Parks offer a host of activities for explorers young and old, which means there’s no excuse for children to be stuck indoors. Here are 10 of our favourite activities for family fun.
Yorkshire Dales , Discover (opens in a new tab)
The Yorkshire Dales offer plenty of ideas to develop your creative side including learning a traditional craft skill such as pottery making, woodcarving, jewellery making, stained glass making, blacksmithing, willow weaving, & spoon carving. There are also many opportunities to learn an outdoor skill such as caving or navigating. There’s something for everyone!
Peak District , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Wake up next to a tumbling stream surrounded by nature at the National Park’s own North Lees campsite or grab a torch and head deep underground in the cave networks of Castleton. Make a splash in the family favourite of Padley Gorge, or hire a bike on the many former rail trails that now offer level, surfaced and trouble-free cycling.
New Forest , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Go Wild in the New Forest at three wild play areas within the National Park at Holbury, Ashurst and Sway. You can build dens, join a scavenger hunt and even make mud pies. Leave the toys and computers at home, get your imagination in gear and start exploring.
Eryri (Snowdonia) , Discover (opens in a new tab)
There are plenty of things to do with the kids in Eryri (Snowdonia). Why not take a trip on one of the fantastic narrow gauge railways? The Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Mountain Railway opened to the public for the first time in Easter 1896. It runs for 4.5 miles from Llanberis to the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) , Discover (opens in a new tab)
The Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park has some of the most important cave systems in Europe, and you don’t need to be an experienced caver to enjoy these stunning sights. The National Showcaves Centre for Wales at Dan-yr-Ogof is a fantastic place to start with plenty to see and do for all ages. They also have one of the world’s largest collections of life-sized dinosaur models, ranging from the ever popular Tyrannosaurus Rex and Brachiosaurs, to the lesser-known Tsintaosaurus. Who needs Jurassic Park?!
Loch Lomond , Discover (opens in a new tab)
The best way to enjoy the beautiful waters of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs is surely ON the water! Canadian canoes are a great way to enjoy time outdoors as a family. With mum or dad at the back of the boat powering and steering the boat and a child at the front, groups of all ages can enjoy many hours of paddling fun.
North York Moors , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Sutton Bank National Park Centre have opened two new family-friendly cycling trails. A 330-metre pump track offering the thrills of riding a loop of banked turns and rollers; and a 2.5km family-friendly cycle trail. There’s also a fabulous outdoor adventure play area for those with plenty of energy!
Northumberland , Discover (opens in a new tab)
The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, and Walltown Country Park are just a 10-minute drive apart, and home to some fantastic activities for the whole family to enjoy. You can take part in four Seasonal Clue Trails at both locations. These fun trails focus on celebrating the special qualities of the Park including its folklore and native wildlife. You can even become Indiana Jones by joining the Young Archaeologists’ Club. Who knows what ancient treasures you might uncover?
Broads , Discover (opens in a new tab)
BeWILDerwood is an award winning wild and imaginative outdoor adventure park. With magical treehouses and hints of intriguing characters, BeWILDerwood brings a curious difference to The Broads.
Did you know?
National Park Experiences Collection
National Park Experiences are a great way to explore the great outdoors as a family. Hop onboard the Ingram Valley Farm Safari Traxter in Northumberland, see the herd of red deer, sheep and cattle and learn all about 6,000 years of farming. Experience the magic of horse whispering to call in the wild Exmoor ponies and learn about the essential conservation role of these beautiful animals. Meet the angora goats kept for their wonderful mohair fleece in the New Forest and make a small felt item to treasure. Have a go at goat heading at Horner Farm in Exmoor. Explore Pookles Farm in the South Downs, meet their flock of resident ducks including a careful duck cuddle and enjoy a locally sourced picnic. Follow in the footsteps of generations of climbers and learn to climb, scramble and abseil in the Peak District under the expert guidance of a local instructor.
National Park Experiences is a curated collection that brings the stories of our National Parks to life. Each experience offers an authentic insight into the landscape and special qualities of a National Park.
Has the rain reached you yet? 🌧️
A change in the weather is making its way across our National Parks. And with it comes a different rhythm to the landscape - changing how our surroundings look, sound and feel.
The sound of rain. The smell of wet earth. The air feeling fresher. Wildlife finding shelter.
What do you notice most when the rain arrives?
#RainyDay #BritishWeather #NationalParksUK
They may look like windmills, but in The Broads National Park, they are actually windpumps.
Rather than grinding flour, they were built to pump water from the marshes, helping to drain the land for agriculture and grazing.
Today, these distinctive structures are part of what makes the Broads landscape so recognisable.
And while this is a story from the Broads, it’s one that can be found across all 15 of our National Parks - landscapes shaped by people finding ways to adapt to live and work within their landscape. Something which still remains the case today.
Did you know that one of these mills is said to be haunted? Comment down below which one you think it is 👇
In photograph order:
📍1. St Benets Mill
📍2. Horsey Mill
📍3. Turf Fen Mill
📍4. Thurne Mill
📍5. Bograve Mill
#NorfolkBroads #NationalPark #Windpumps
✨🌙 Look up!
With a partial solar eclipse taking place tonight across the UK, we’re reminded about how important it is for our dark skies to be protected. Our National Parks are home to some of the best places in the UK to enjoy them, due to low levels of light pollution.
These incredible photos capture another recent celestial phenomenon that has been on display for stargazers and is peaking tonight - the Perseid meteor shower.
The sightings were captured in @northyorkmoors - home to one of the UK’s largest areas of protected dark sky.
🌟Tag us in your eclipse photos across our National Parks. Just be sure to follow safe viewing and photography guidance while you snap!
📷 1. Perseid meteor shower at Skelton Tower by Richard Horsman.
📷 2. Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower at Sutton Bank by Russ Norman.
📍North York Moors National Park #DarkSkies #SolarEclipse #Perseid #MeteorShower
Just goats being goats. 🐐
These incredible animals call the Valley of Rocks in @exmoornp home - scaling walls and cliffs, grazing on the rich meadows and, occasionally, blocking the roads!
They’re a wonderful reminder of why our National Parks are so important, providing a home for such a diverse range of wildlife.
Have you ever spotted one?
📷 Exmoor National Park
#ValleyOfRocks #Exmoor #Goats #NationalPark
Look out for us at the cinema. 🎬🌳
Our latest Wild Spaces episode, screening before selected films, takes you to Northumberland National Park. Their team, alongside farmers, landowners and volunteers, is working together to create healthier, more resilient landscapes through woodland creation and hedgerow planting.
It’s a story of partnership, long-term thinking, and the small actions that can have a lasting impact.
Find out more about the project and watch the episode via the link in our bio. 🔗
@northumberlandnationalpark
#WildSpaces #Northumberland #TreePlanting
💭You might have heard of peatland, but what exactly is it and why does it matter so much?
Peatlands are our natural climate allies. They store vast amounts of carbon, support rare wildlife, improve water quality, reduce flood risk and preserve thousands of years of archaeological and cultural history.
Some of the UK`s most important peatlands are found within our National Parks, making them critical places for tackling the climate and nature crises.
Across the UK`s National Parks, peatland restoration projects are helping damaged peatlands recover, benefiting both nature and people.
📍Dartmoor National Park
#NationalParks #Peatlands #NatureRecovery
Our National Parks tell the stories of the people and places that came before us.
A new Joint Statement on the Historic Environment in the National Parks of England, Scotland and Wales has launched.
Bringing together the 15 National Parks and heritage partners, the statement sets out a shared commitment to protecting the historic places and features that help shape our landscapes.
From ancient monuments and archaeological sites to historic buildings and traces of past generations, our National Parks are home to thousands of years of history.
Together, we’re working to care for these special places so their stories can continue to be discovered, valued and enjoyed for generations to come.
Read the full statement via the link in our bio 🔗
#NationalParks #UKHistory #Heritage
Hello, August. 💚
Some habits we’re holding on to this month, for our National Parks and for ourselves.
Little changes can have a lasting impact when it comes to caring for our 15 special places.
What will you be taking into August?
#UKNationalParks #UKOutdoors
