It’s Love Parks Week 2024 from July 26th – August 4th and because of this, we’re here to celebrate our green spaces.
Organised by the charity, Keep Britain Tidy, Love Parks Week is a week-long event highlighting the importance of parks and their role in boosting the health and wellbeing of those that use them. It’s important we have these spaces as they provide places to encourage physical activity, reduce stress, assist with social interaction and forge stronger communities
In honour of the week, we’ve taken the opportunity to look at some of the biggest parks the UK has to offer, our National Parks. We know our community loves getting out and about, and enjoying the natural landscape the UK has to provide, so we’re sharing a few things about some of our favourite National Parks. Whilst to give you some inspiration on where to stay, we’ve also picked a campsite next to each park too.
Lake District National Park
Located in North West England, the Lake District National Park is a stunning destination for everyone, whether they are looking for an adventure or just a relaxing getaway.
You can explore the scenic lakes, mountains, and valleys that inspired poets like William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. You can also visit charming towns and villages like Windermere, Ambleside, and Grasmere.
Whether you want to relax with a picnic or paddleboard, hike or cycle, or admire the dark skies and festive lights later in the year, the Lake District has something for everyone. It is a perfect destination for family holidays, romantic getaways and sporty adventures. If you’re looking for something action-packed, it’s particularly well-suited for watersports and hiking.
The Lake District is well-maintained with efforts to restore habitats and conserve its cultural heritage. The National Trust plays a significant role in looking after over 20% of the park, taking care of the important natural and historical sites that the area has to offer.
It is also home to the tallest mountain in England, Scafell Pike. As one of the three mountains in the National Three Peaks Challenge, it attracts many hikers and adventure seekers looking to reach the summit, along with the summits of Ben Nevis and Snowdon within 24 hours.
Our recommended campsite:
Coniston Park Coppice Club Campsite
This Caravan and Motorhome Club site has pitches grouped in open glades and provides easy access to the fun attractions of Coniston Water.
We think you will love the site as it offers a scenic, peaceful base for an active holiday that will keep the whole family happy. This includes the smallest caravanners and campers, who are catered for with a mini adventure playground.
Set within 63 acres of beautiful National Trust woodland, the campsite is also perfect for nature lovers who like to get out for a walk.
Additional activities within the area include cycling, rock climbing, and guided pony treks around the fells. Whilst its close proximity to Coniston Water makes it the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to partake in water-based activities. Just a short walk from the campsite’s bottom exit gate is the lakeside launching point. From there you can try your hand at a range of watersports including dinghy sailing, windsurfing and canoeing.
Pitches: Suitable for caravans, motorhomes, and campervans, Coniston Park Coppice Club Campsite has 228 touring pitches available.
Prices: From £19.40 a night (member price) or £34.40 a night (non-member price).
Address: Park Gate, Coniston, United Kingdom, LA21 8LA
Eryri National Park (Snowdonia)
Eryri National Park, located in North Wales, is a stunning national park known for its rugged beauty and diverse landscapes. This upland area is famous for its slate, mountainous terrain, and epic glacially sculpted valleys and craggy peaks.
Eryri is also of course home to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the tallest mountain in Wales and one of the most visited mountains in the UK.
The whole Eryri area is perfect for hikers and adrenaline seekers who are looking for adventure outdoors.
Cymdeithas Eryri/The Snowdonia Society can take credit for much of the work undertaken to ensure Eryri remains beautiful. This conservation charity has been protecting and enhancing the area for over 50 years. Volunteers play a crucial role in clearing litter, maintaining footpaths, tackling invasive species, and improving habitats for wildlife.
Much of Eryri is designated as a National Nature Reserve due to its fantastic wildlife, geology, landscapes, and because it’s home to some of the UK’s most ancient plant species. If you get a chance, it’s somewhere we definitely recommend you visit.
Our recommended campsite:
Bala – Camping and Caravanning Club Site
The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Bala site is a pretty and secluded site offering an extensive range of facilities. These facilities include showers, flushing toilets, dishwashing, washing machines, an on-site shop, and a children’s play area.
With 45 pitches available, it’s a smaller site but is suitable for a range of vehicles, with caravans, motorhomes, campervans, and trailer tents all permitted.
Being just a short drive away from Bala Lake, the campsite offers a great base for the sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, and fishing, for which the area is known. Beyond this, there are also some fantastic walks and cycle routes in close proximity too. Whilst if you’re looking for something a little different, Bala Lake Railway and Ffestiniog Railway offer the perfect way to take in the local scenery.
Making it the ideal place to stay pre and post climbing Yr Wyddfa, all of the popular routes for climbing the mountain are less than one hour’s drive from the campsite.
Pitches: Suitable for caravans, motorhomes, campervans, and trailer tents, Bala – Camping and Caravanning Club Site has 45 pitches available. These are a mixture of grass only pitches (no electric), grass pitches with electric hook-up, hardstanding with electric hook-up, and grass pitches with electric hook-up (for larger units).
Prices: From £11.80 a night (member price)
Address: Bala Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Crynierth Caravan Park, Cefn Ddwysarn, Gwynedd, LL23 7LN
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
If you are looking for a scenic escape with a touch of adventure, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park will be the ideal place for you.
Located in mid-west Scotland, this stunning national park showcases the best of Scotland’s natural beauty. From the serene waters of Loch Lomond to the rugged peaks of the Trossachs, beauty is all around in this area.
With such a varied landscape, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park offers opportunities to explore the park in a multitude of ways. Choose to travel by boat, bike, on foot, or even on horseback, and discover the rich wildlife, history, and culture of this area for yourself.
This park is perfect for those who love natural beauty and enjoy a scenic hike. Whilst more action packed adventures can be enjoyed in the form of paddleboarding, canoeing, hiking, and cycling.
Since being established as a national park in 2002 by the Scottish Parliament, conservation teams have worked tirelessly to deliver benefits to improve conservation and the quality of the landscape. The results of this have seen native woodland cover increase, degraded upland peatland habitats have been restored, and water quality has improved in key bodies of water. In addition to this, vulnerable populations of species such as red squirrel and black grouse are being protected by coordinated action.
Our recommended campsite:
Cobleland Campsite
Sitting on the banks of the River Forth in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, just 13 miles from Ben Lomond, Cobleland Campsite offers a beautiful base for exploring Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.
A remarkable natural site, all kinds of al fresco activities await you in the area surrounding Cobleland. Whether you’re looking for fishing, golf, watersports, treetop trails, cliff jumping, or hiking to the top of Ben Lomond and marvelling at the view of Loch Lomond and the surrounding forest, you’ll find it nearby.
The pitches at Cobleland are well tended and spacious, with access to all the essential amenities including a launderette, a washing-up area and chemical disposal as well as bathrooms with toilets, showers and disabled facilities.
Pitches: Suitable for all touring vehicles, the 126 pitches on offer are a mixture of electric grass pitches, electric hardstanding, and non electric hardstanding.
Prices: From £24.75 a night (based on two adults)
Address: Cobleland Caravan & Campsite, The Trossachs, Station Road, Gartmore, FK8 3RR
What can you do to preserve the natural beauty of our parks and green spaces?
Wherever you are venturing, preserving the natural beauty of the environment should always be at the forefront of your mind. The National Parks Conservation Association suggest 6 key tips which think are particularly pertinent:
- Don’t take anything
- Don’t leave anything
- Stay on the trails
- Be mindful where you take your pets
- Give the local wildlife plenty of room
- Take safe selfies
If you’re looking to find out more, discover Love Parks Week 2024 and find out how you can get involved.
Looking to learn more about what we offer at venture caravans?
At Venture Caravans, we offer a range of caravans, motorhomes, campervans and trailer tents from leading manufacturers.
If you would like to learn more about what we offer, you can contact our Daventry branch on 01327 703371 and our Hitchin branch on 01462 452856.