On the Water
Blue Adventures
Whether hiking through smooth glacial carved valleys or relaxing riverside with a picnic, you’ll see how water has shaped the surrounding iconic landscape over thousands of years. The National Parks are a source of high quality drinking water for millions of people and havens for wildlife. They’re also packed with places to learn new skills or to simply be near the water to unwind and feel calmer.
If you want to chill out or make a splash, the lovely lakes, wonderful waterways, picturesque waterfalls and stunning coastlines offer something magical for everyone to enjoy. Hoist the ropes and set sail. Paddle out for a new perspective. Stroll by the canal. Learn to surf. Picnic by a lake.
Try these ideas to dip your toe into the blue
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Surrounded by a patchwork of green hills, fields, meadows and hedgerows, Llangorse Lake is a beautiful spot to get out on the water. Launch your own craft from the boat hire centre or sailing club on Llangorse Common on the northwest shore. Hire a dinghy, windsurfer, canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, pedalo or rowing boat and get afloat.
Broads , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Home to more than a quarter of Britain's rarest animals and plants the Broads is a paradise for boaters. Its 125 miles of lock free waterways make it perfect for first time skippers and seasoned navigators. Take the helm and learn to sail, hire a boat or hop on board an electric boat trip. Eight paddle trail maps give kayakers plenty of choice too, from an hours paddle out to a full day excursion.
North York Moors , Discover (opens in a new tab)
The Yorkshire Coast is particularly good for beach breaks - the best type of wave to learn to surf on. It’s becoming a surf mecca. Good beach breaks for beginners are found in Saltburn, either side of the pier and best at high tide, and at Sandsend. West Cliff beach in Whitby is an ideal place to learn or progress your skills in surfing or SUP.
Northumberland , Discover (opens in a new tab)
With its high, rolling hills and stunning river is the perfect picnic spot to explore the the haugh land (pronounced ‘hoff’) alongside the River Breamish. This area has a significant concentration of prehistoric hillforts built by ancient Britons 2,300 years ago. You can download a trail to help you explore as you walk up to the hillforts and imagine what life was like.
Eryri (Snowdonia) , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Canolfan Tryweryn - The National Whitewater Centre is situated on the bank of the river Tryweryn near Bala. Adrenaline seekers will love white water rafting, kayaking and canoeing. The Centre caters for visitors of all experience levels with activities for the whole family. Afon Tryweryn is a dam released river from Llyn Celyn reservoir. This means water is often flowing when other British rivers are dry creating a unique year round whitewater venue.
Yorkshire Dales , Discover (opens in a new tab)
As well as offering an array of watersports, Semerwater Lake high above Bainbridge in Wensleydale also inspires artists and photographers. Painted by JM Turner on one of his tours, the annual spectacular display of thousands of flowering yellow water-lilies in July is captivating. The water-lilies used to be known as 'brandy bottles' because of their shape and smell.
Did you know?
Did you know?
National Park Experiences Collection
Get afloat with the National Park Experiences. Hoist the sails and take the helm as you learn to sail a classic boat in the Norfolk Broads. Pick up a paddle and enjoy different countryside views as you explore the waterways of the South Downs. Explore Hickling Broad – the largest of all the Norfolk Broads by kayak on a guided wildlife spotting adventure.
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
