Discover Northern England Through 3 Stunning National Parks
A destination still largely overlooked by many, England is packed with incredible sights beyond London! While we’ll always love the trendy vibes of Covent Garden and the shops on Oxford Street, it’s refreshing to venture past the capital’s borders to discover the many faces of the English countryside. That’s why, in August 2023, we decided to take a vacation in Northern England: a one-of-a-kind, off-the-beaten-path journey that took us through local customs, centuries-old legends, and breathtaking landscapes.
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To protect nature and preserve the cultural heritage of the region;
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To promote these natural sites and encourage the public to discover and appreciate them.
An ambitious program we couldn't wait to see with our own eyes while crossing Northern England, from the Yorkshire moors in the east to the Lake District in the west, which features, among other things, the country's highest peaks!
North York Moors National Park: From Heather Moors to the Legends of Whitby
North York Moors National Park is a nature reserve established in 1952. Its vast, purple-hued expanses bordered by the towering cliffs of Whitby captivated us at first sight!
York, Gateway to the North York Moors
Our journey began in the city of York, a historic gem in Yorkshire. Founded by the Romans in 71 AD, it served as an important Viking kingdom for a time before becoming one of the most significant cities of the Middle Ages. Remnants of this era include the sumptuous 15th-century York Minster, the largest Gothic building in Northern Europe, as well as Roman-era walls that you can still walk along for several kilometers today! While there, don't miss The Shambles, an adorable narrow street where the leaning houses look like they might topple over at any moment. This charming alley famously inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series.
From York, North York Moors National Park is just a stone's throw away, about a 45-minute drive! By train, take the Transpennine Express, which gets you to Scarborough in 50 minutes. From Scarborough, you can easily reach Whitby or Pickering, two iconic towns within the park. In the summer, the local bus network is bolstered by the Moorsbus Network, which connects many of the villages.
The Charming Villages of the North York Moors
Once you enter the park, the landscape changes drastically. The wooded fringes around Pickering give way to miles of wild plains that turn lovely shades of purple in August, a signature of the park and some of the most beautiful scenery in England. Little streams wind through the landscape, and sheep graze peacefully among the dunes or along the roadside. Be careful while driving: the roads are narrow and hilly, so drive cautiously! Numerous hiking trails crisscross the territory, allowing you to explore the North York Moors at your own pace. Cyclists will also love the 276 km of bike paths!
This Yorkshire national park is packed with cute villages. We absolutely loved Goathland, with its stone houses tucked away in the heart of nature. Goathland is also famous for its small train station, one of the oldest in the country! It’s incredibly cinematic and was used as a filming location for various Harry Potter movies to represent Hogsmeade station. The Goathland steam locomotive still runs today between Whitby and Pickering, giving you the chance to take a magnificent trip aboard the world’s most famous train, the Hogwarts Express!
Whitby: An English Fishing Port of a Thousand Legends
On the North Sea side, a true legend of British culture awaits, perched on high cliffs and nestled around the fishing port. The town is divided into two main districts: East Cliff and West Cliff. In the 18th century, Whitby was one of England's primary whaling ports!
It is also known for being the training ground of explorer James Cook, the first European to land on the Australian continent and the first navigator to circumnavigate Antarctica!
Whitby is undeniably charming for anyone who loves British Gothic architecture and bustling English docks: the latter are rumored to serve the best fish and chips in the United Kingdom, and having tasted them, we can confirm it’s no legend! Now one of England's premier seaside towns, Whitby is full of pubs, cafes, and shops, and it’s lovely to wander through its old narrow streets, which can get crowded in the summer. In good weather, its vast sandy beach attracts brave swimmers and surfers alike, as Whitby is one of the most popular surf destinations in the UK!
Finally, you can't mention Whitby without talking about its abbey, which sits atop the hill with its ruined arches seemingly watching over the town. Founded by William de Percy in 1078 after he liberated the region from the Vikings, Whitby Abbey gradually fell into ruin following the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by Henry VIII in the 16th century. Still standing today, the abbey walls stand out against the typical English countryside: to admire them up close, you’ll have to climb the region's most famous 199 steps.
Backed by the old St. Mary's Church and its eerie graveyard, the buildings on the heights of Whitby inspired one of the greatest English novels of all time, Dracula, by Bram Stoker, with many scenes set in the town.
Yorkshire Dales National Park: Between Bucolic Valleys and Mountain Peaks
Yorkshire Dales National Park truly lives up to its name! The “dales” are a series of valleys formed during the Ice Age that stretch as far as the eye can see. A land of contrasts and bucolic atmosphere blend perfectly in this iconic national park of Northern England.
The Dales: Valleys That Create Stunning English Scenery
Created in 1954, the Yorkshire Dales are defined by vast grazing landscapes where hundreds of Swaledale sheep roam, a native English breed known for their spiral horns. The Yorkshire Dales quickly set the tone for the trip: you are in the paradise of ewes, rams, and lambs! The animals roam freely, separated occasionally by lovely stone walls that create a beautiful grid across the horizon, landscapes characteristic of this region of Northern England.
Beyond their postcard-perfect setting, the Yorkshire Dales are great for hiking, though some trails are quite demanding! To make the most of the panoramas offered by this rugged terrain, the best approach is to try climbing the three highest peaks in the park, located in the south: the peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough, and Pen-y-ghent. A 24-mile circuit, nearly 40 km!, allows you to tackle them all in one day.
Another attraction in Yorkshire Dales National Park is the Ribblehead Viaduct! Sumptuously set in the middle of the moors with mountains in the background, this viaduct dominates the valley with its massive stone arches. It’s reminiscent of its more famous counterpart, the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, which also served as a backdrop for the Hogwarts Express. Harry Potter fans shouldn't miss the limestone cliff of Malham Cove: 80 meters high and overlooking a limestone pavement, it was a filming location for the camping scenes in the seventh and final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
A 5-Kilometer Walk Along the Aysgarth Falls
The Yorkshire Dales are rich in diversity, and you’ll also find wilder panoramas of winding rivers flowing through fern forests. One of the most impressive spots in the park is near the small village of Aysgarth: the Aysgarth Falls. These stunning waterfalls seem to tumble down the slope, and you’ll be impressed by the flow and power of the current. This was definitely the spot we chose for hiking in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
The Aysgarth Falls are the ideal place for a walk because many trails have been marked all around the falls. It’s best to check with the Visitor Centre next to the falls for up-to-date hiking maps. We didn't bother, and we regretted it later because we got lost in the fields pretty quickly! The hiking trails, or public footpaths, that circle the Aysgarth Falls are perfect for exploring the national park as they alternate between different types of landscapes: from waterfalls, you quickly pass through wooded paths, then onto trails that zigzag through meadows and flocks of sheep!
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is particularly well-accessible by public transport! Numerous train and bus lines cross the area and will take you to the main places to visit in this part of Northern England. Train lines depart from major cities like Leeds and pass by the Ribblehead Viaduct mentioned above.
The Lake District: Stunning Panoramas of Lakes and Mountains in Northern England
Designated a national park in 1951, the Lake District was one of the first natural areas to be protected in the country, along with the Peak District located south of Manchester. And for good reason! This extraordinary national park features 16 majestic lakes that alternate with the country's highest mountains, creating grand landscapes that have inspired many.
Visiting the Lake District: A Must-See Site in Northern England
With its 2,280 km² area, the Lake District is the largest national park in England. If you are looking for a place with wild and enchanting beauty, in both good and bad weather, this is surely the national park in Northern England for you! A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2017, the area has inspired many English poets like William Wordsworth and served as the home of the famous British children's author, Beatrix Potter.
A hiker's paradise, the Lake District features some high peaks like Scafell Pike, the highest massif in England at 978 meters, but also Helvellyn summit at 950 meters, and the 931-meter Skiddaw mountain which overlooks the town of Keswick, a bit further north. Granted, it’s still a bit far from Mont Blanc, but this abundance of hills paired with steep gradients will impress even the most experienced mountaineers among you!
One of the most picturesque parts of the park is near the isolated village of Buttermere. Buttermere Lake is, for us, the prettiest lake in the Lake District, with its pine forests that give it a decidedly Canadian feel! To access this part of the park, you’ll have to cross the Honister Pass by bus or car, a narrow and particularly steep path that leads to the summit of the pass, where one of the last active slate mines in England is located. You can tour the slate mines, and the remote location reinforces the secret and mysterious atmosphere that hangs over the Lake District.
Outdoor and Sports Activities in the Lake District
If the Lake District attracts so many travelers, it’s also thanks to the multitude of activities on offer, from water sports, climbing, via ferrata, and caving to all the events in surrounding villages like Bowness-on-Windermere or Keswick! This is actually the main criticism we have regarding the Lake District: attracting nearly 15 million tourists a year, mostly English; we didn't run into a single French person!, the park is overrun with crowds during the summer. It’s hard to find a quiet spot to enjoy the vastness of the landscapes in silence, which is a shame, because everything here invites a bit of meditation…
There are a number of must-do things in the Lake District, including:
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Taking a boat cruise on Lake Windermere
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Trying a Via Ferrata course at the Honister Mines
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Attempting a paragliding jump from the peaks of the Lake District
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Going to see the Castlerigg Stone Circle, a mini-Stonehenge, a captivating cromlech dating back to 3000 BC!
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Enjoying the restaurants and pubs in its villages, especially in Keswick, which is full of small shops and dining options
While it’s always more convenient to get around with your own vehicle, the Lake District is fairly well-served by an efficient bus network. Furthermore, you can come to Windermere by train from Manchester via the North Transpennine Express. Finally, from London, a train serves the Oxenholme Lake District station, located just a stone's throw from the national park.
Northern England never ceases to surprise its visitors! Between its sumptuous national parks and its welcoming, dynamic cities, we found that the destination was perfect for a summer vacation! Here, the weather spared us from heatwaves, and while there are occasional rainy spells, the sun is never far away and always ends up reappearing.
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