National parks of the United Kingdom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The United Kingdom has 14 national parks, 9 in England, 3 in Wales, and two in Scotland. National parks are managed areas of outstanding landscape where habitation and commercial activities are restricted. The first three were established in England in 1951. A 15th national park is proposed in the South Downs.

For details of the status of the national parks in the United Kingdom and for links to each individual one, please see the articles about the various parts of the UK.

Contents

[edit] National parks of England and Wales

Main article: National parks of England and Wales

Key National Park Established Area (km²)
1 Peak District 1951 1,438
2 Lake District 1951 2,292
3 Snowdonia
(Welsh: Eryri)		 1951 2,142
4 Dartmoor 1951 956
5 Pembrokeshire Coast
(Welsh: Arfordir Penfro)		 1952 620
6 North York Moors 1952 1,436
7 Yorkshire Dales 1954 1,769
8 Exmoor 1954 693
9 Northumberland 1956 1,049
10 Brecon Beacons
(Welsh: Bannau Brycheiniog)		 1957 1,351
11 The Broads 1988‡ 303
12 New Forest 2005 580
13 South Downs 2008† 1,641
  Total   14,629
  Proposed total   16,270
Twelve areas are designated as national parks in England and Wales, and a 13th (South Downs) is in the process of being designated.
Twelve areas are designated as national parks in England and Wales, and a 13th (South Downs) is in the process of being designated.
The nine national parks in England cover around 7% of the land area of England, while the three national parks in Wales cover around 20% of the land area of Wales.

[edit] National parks of Scotland

Main article: National parks of Scotland

National Park Established Area (km²)
Cairngorms 2003 3,800
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs 2002 1,865

These two national parks cover just over 7% of the land area of Scotland.

In June 2005, the Scottish Executive announced their intention to create Scotland’s first coastal & marine National Park during 2008. Five possible locations for this are being considered: Solway Firth; Argyll Islands and Coast; Ardnamurchan, Small Isles and South Skye Coast; North Skye Coast and Wester Ross; and North Uist, Sound of Harris, Harris and South Lewis.

[edit] National parks of Northern Ireland

No national parks have been designated in Northern Ireland, but there are moves to establish Northern Ireland's first national park in the Mourne Mountains.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
National parks of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
An area with ‡ has similar status to a UK National Park. Areas marked † are proposed.