Road trips are wonderful things. The feel of the open road, the family crammed in the back seats, the luggage and goodies crammed even tighter in the boot and footwell… All of it comes together to create a unique memory all the more memorable than your average budget weekend in the sun. And road trips are becoming more popular, too, partially on account of their own budget-friendliness in the face of tightening coin-purses across the UK.
Road tripping doesn’t come naturally to everyone, though. You might be considering your first road adventure across the UK, and struggling for inspiration. Thankfully, the UK is a deeply inspiring place to explore, with amazing locales amazingly well-suited to car travel. What follow are just some tips on seeing the best of Britain, by exploring its national parks.
The UK’s National Parks
Where to start? The UK is home to fifteen stunning national parks, ten of which can be found in England alone. In Wales, three national parks account for a fifth of its landmass, while the two parks in Scotland together constitute 7.3% of Scotland’s total area. This is a lot of space to explore, and space that changes significantly in climate and geography as you move across the country.
One of the more notable national parks in England is the Lake District, which lives to the north of Manchester and encompasses a stunning range of mountains and glacier lakes. The rocky terrain and brisk woodland form an impeccable backdrop for the beautiful bodies of water that stipple the area, and the roads that wind between it all are nothing short of picturesque.
Snowdonia National Park gives the Lake District a run for its money, though, with the clear and beautiful landscape of the Welsh plains interrupted by that towering edificial mountain.
Perfect Road-Trip Routes
For serene trips through sublime mountain landscapes, you can do little better than the Lake District. The roads here are well-maintained and easy to navigate; a used Toyota will find no difficulty in circumventing the great Lake Windermere, making it an accessible and enjoyable destination for first-time road-trippers.
As for the Peak District, Mam Tor is an undeniably strong destination to plan a trip around; the drive could take you through Hope Valley and out towards Castleton, giving you a wide range of Yorkshire flavours as you go. For something a little more remote – or even a little less sedate – look no further than the deep ancient forests and mountain terrain of the Cairngorms National Park.
Planning Your Trip
Regardless the ‘difficulty’ of your planned road trip, careful thought is required. National parks are extremely expansive tracts of land, not all of which is regularly monitored. It is very easy to get lost, and even easier to find yourself far from nearby assistance. With this in mind, a careful approach to route planning and emergency packing will go a long way. Still, this caution should not get in the way of you enjoying your utterly unique driving holiday!
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