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| A walk in the park |
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| For an escape from city life there is nothing better than a trip
to one of our national parks. Jim Griffin fills his lungs with
fresh air and takes a whirlwind tour of some of the UK’s most
stunning landscapes |
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| The national parks of England, Wales and Scotland bring
together the most stunning and unique scenery the UK has to
offer. As areas of outstanding natural beauty, wildlife and
heritage, the parks are shaped by thousands of years of
natural processes. They have been designated for the purpose
of conservation and to provide enjoyment for present
and future generations. Unlike national parks in other
countries, UK national parks are living, working landscapes.
Publicly funded, they are owned by the nation as a whole.
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| Did you know? |
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The Peak District National
Park is the second most visited
park in the world. It is second
only to Mount Fuji in Shizuoka
Prefecture, Japan.
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Approximately 500,000 people
visit Snowdon every year,
either by climbing, walking
or taking the Snowdon
Mountain Railway.
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The cliffs along the coastline
of Exmoor's northern boundary
are the highest in England,
with Great Hangman being the
highest sheer cliff at 244m.
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The great poet, William
Wordsworth, lived, wrote and
found inspiration in the centre
of the Lake District in 'Dove
Cottage', from 1799 to 1808.
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The windswept land of the
Yorkshire Moors became the
inspiration for the classic
works of the Brontë sisters,
Charlotte, Emily and Anne.
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Twelve of the best |
| The first national park was designated in 1951 and since then a
further 11 areas have been given national park status. The 12
Parks (the Peak District, Lake District, Snowdonia, Dartmoor,
Pembrokeshire Coast, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales,
Exmoor, Northumberland, Brecon Beacons, the Broads, and
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs), cover almost 10 per cent of
the land area of the UK and attract approximately 100 million
visitors per year. The Cairngorms in Scotland are hoping to
become the next area to be given the status of National Park.
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| The majesty of the UK |
| Based predominantly in the north of England and Wales, the
parks capture the majesty and character of the UK's best
landscapes. From the lowlands of the Broads and the
Pembrokeshire Coast, through the moorlands of the Peak
District to the breathtaking upland and mountainous areas
of the Lake District, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
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