Four National Parks You Can Explore With Just a Weekend and a Tent

With a reliable car and some shelter, you can escape everyday life at the weekend and immerse yourself in the UK’s natural landscapes. There are 15 National Parks to explore, offering a range of lakes and rugged peaks to hike up.

We’ve picked four of the best parks to help you plan your next weekend getaway to take the stress out of researching.

The Lake District

As England’s largest National Park, the Lake District has long been a favourite for good reason. With 16 or 17 lakes, depending on whether you count the disputed tarn Brothers Water, it offers an abundance of opportunities for boat trips and water sports like kayaking and canoeing. For a weekend trip, set up base at Keswick or Ambleside for easy access to walking trails and cosy pubs.

If you’re up for a challenge, tackle Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak, or enjoy a gentler walk around Lake Buttermere. Many campsites here cater to both first-time campers in used cars and seasoned veterans, with facilities ranging from simple fields to fully equipped holiday parks. On warm days, you can brave Derwentwater or Ullswater for a bracing wild swim.

The Peak District

The Peak District is easily accessible via rail or road from Manchester, Sheffield, and Nottingham. It’s known for its rolling moorlands and winding rivers dotted with traditional villages like Bakewell (the namesake for the tart) and Castleton.

On your trip, you can explore Winnats Pass, a hill pass and limestone gorge, and the Blue John Cavern, a cave home to a rare form of fluorite. For some of the best views in the area, head to campsites in the Hope Valley and enjoy breakfast at one of the local cafes before starting your day.

The Brecon Beacons

In South Wales, you’ll find the Pen y Fan, one of the country’s highest peaks, with an elevation of 886 metres. Brecon Beacons National Park, or Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, is a designated International Dark Sky Reserve, making it perfect for stargazing. If the weather cooperates, you’ll be treated to a dazzling view of the Milky Way, a rare experience for visitors coming from light-polluted cities and towns.

Cycling enthusiasts should explore the Taff Trail or enjoy the scenic routes around Talybont-on- Usk for views of the River Usk and Talybont Reservoir. On foot, you can stand behind the falls at Sgwd Yr Eira, a popular spot on the Four Waterfalls Walk, after tackling the 170-step descent.

The Cairngorms

The Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands have a sense of wilderness that’s hard to replicate. It’s the UK’s largest National Park, home to ancient pine forests and rare wildlife such as golden eagles and red squirrels.

There are plenty of accessible spots in this vast park for a short trip. Stay on the park’s fringes near Aviemore or Braemar for good campsites within walking distance to hiking trails. You can spend a day rambling around Loch an Eilein and admire the ruins of a 14th-century castle on an island in the middle of the water, before spotting deer in Glenmore Forest the next day.