England s green and very pleasant National Parks

by Lisa Cardy

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SAY 'National Parks' to most people and they usually think of the outdoors of North America. But there are 11 outstanding National Parks right here in Britain, all within easy travelling distance.

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For more strenuous walking Pen-y-Fan is the Brecon Beacons highest point at nearly 3,000 feet and its most popular mountain.

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The Lake District is the biggest and best known of the parks and is a great place to go fell walking.

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For a top of the world feeling travel to the mountainous Snowdonia, whose high hills have an Alpine quality about them and harbour rare Artic and Alpine plants, including the Snowdon lily.

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Budding botanists might also want to make for The North York Moors in late summer to view the stunning blankets of purple heather.

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There are also some more gentle walks like the four mile route of the former Abergavenny to Merthyr railway in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Yorkshire Dales has some walks manageable for all the family, like the four mile Waterfalls Walk.

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Some of the parks also offer alternative forms of getting around them. The Breacon Beacons is Wales pony trekking centre and the schools there offer day treks for all abilities. Dartmoor, known as the last wilderness of southern Britain, offers pony trekking and this would be a good way to spot its archaeological and fossil sites.

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The National Parks also include stretches of stunning coastline. The best time to walk the 180-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail is in spring or early summer, when you'll be treated to a wild flower show. Or sail out to the small islands, which are famous for their colonies of sea birds.

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The Norfolk Broads are actually the water filled remains of medieval earth works and bird and butterfly watchers will be in their element in Britain's biggest protected wetland.

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The parks also offer a chance to see some of England's rarer wildlife species. Exmoor is the place to watch out for the famous native herds of red deer - Britain's biggest land mammal. Northumberland is the place to spot peregrine falcons and buzzards as well as red squirrels, which have been hounded out of your local park.

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You can find details of all England's National Parks at the Countryside Agency website and on the Association of National Park Authorities website. For Wales, go to the Countryside Council for Wales website.