If you’re looking to fly less and do your bit with learning how to be eco-friendly, why not test the waters closer to home? Despite the fact that the UK is home to a surprisingly diverse range of landscapes, its natural beauty has traditionally been overlooked in favour of holidays abroad – especially in warmer climates.
With a plethora of environmentally friendly attractions, sustainable places to stay and zero-waste restaurants on our doorstep, the UK has everything you need for a wonderful getaway, with much reduced carbon footprint.
The UK boast fifteen national parks around the country: from world-class beaches and snow-capped mountains to rolling green hills. Its wide variety of terrain, historic locations and cultural events are bound to capture your imagination and spark inspiration! I can guarantee you will find the holiday of your dreams in the UK, whether you are looking for somewhere scenic to simply chill out or something more adventurous.
Staycations have many other benefits. As well as reducing the stress and expense of travel, cutting flights out of your holiday immediately makes them more eco-friendly.
If you can resist the urge to drive long distances, a combination of trains and cycling will make sure you can discover the local area safe in the knowledge that your trip is causing the minimum amount of damage to the environment.
UK National Parks
The UK’s National Parks are a good place to begin your search for your next holiday:
England
- Brecon Beacons
Blaenau Gwent, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Caerphilly - The Broads
Norfolk, Suffolk - Dartmoor
Devon - Exmoor
Somerset, Devon - Lake District
Cumbria - New Forest
Hampshire, Wiltshire - North York Moors
North Yorkshire - Northumberland
- Peak District
Derbyshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire - South Downs
East Sussex, Hampshire, West Sussex - Yorkshire Dales
North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire
Wales
- Pembrokeshire Coast
Pembrokeshire - Snowdonia
Gwynedd, Conwy
Scotland
- Cairngorms
Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross - Lock Lomond & The Trossachs
West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, Stirling
If you want to read more about my own holidays and adventures in the UK, just search for the category “Travel & Tourism” on this site, or follow my blog for more 😉
