England National Parks Road Trip + Map: Wild Moorlands, Big Lakes, Dark Skies 🚗
England’s national parks are the good stuff in one epic loop: tors and ponies on Dartmoor, sea views on Exmoor, chalky highs on the South Downs, slow-boat days on the Broads, and big-lake drama in the Lakes. Throw in dark skies up in Northumberland, purple heather over the North York Moors, limestone lanes in the Dales, and a golden sunset on a Peak District edge. Keep the pace relaxed, chase the best weather windows, and leave room for bakery detours. Pack boots, a flask and offline maps. The rest is pure road trip joy. 🚗🌿✨
England National Parks Road Trip
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
- Total distance: ~960 miles
- Suggested length: 10–14 days
- Start/End: Exeter to Manchester, or loop back to Exeter
- Driving style: A-roads and scenic B-roads, a few single-track lanes, animal crossings at dusk
- Best time: May to September for long days, late summer for heather, winter for stargazing
- Maps to have: OS Explorer sheets for each park or a reliable offline map
- Parking vibe: Popular trailheads fill early, carry a small stash of coins and have the pay-by-phone app ready
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Phone signal can be patchy on the tops, download maps and trail notes before you roll
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: DiscoverCars
🗺️ Itinerary
Stop 1 — Dartmoor National Park: Tors, ponies, bronze age vibes
Granite tors pop out of rolling moorland, ponies graze the verges, and weather can flip from sunny picnic to moody mist in a heartbeat.
📍 Things to do:
- Short clamber up Haytor or Hound Tor for instant views
- Wander the twisted oaks of Wistman’s Wood
- Paddle at Cadover Bridge on a warm day
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: The ground gets boggy fast after rain, waterproof boots beat trainers.
Stop 2 — Exmoor National Park: Cliffs, combes, cream teas
Expect deep river valleys that locals call combes, sea views from high cliffs, and some of the darkest skies in England.
📍 Things to do:
- Coast drive around Porlock, Lynton and Valley of Rocks
- Walk to Tarr Steps and along the River Barle
- Sunset from Dunkery Beacon, highest point on Exmoor
👉 Good to know: Night sky here is unreal, pack a small tripod.
Stop 3 — New Forest National Park: Ancient woods and free-roaming ponies
A calm, green world of oak and beech, wild ponies, and easy family cycle paths.
📍 Things to do:
- Hire bikes for a Brockenhurst–Beaulieu loop
- Bolderwood deer watch and picnic
- Coffee and a mooch around Lyndhurst
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Ponies own the road, give them space and slow right down.
Stop 4 — South Downs National Park: Chalk highs and sea air
Rolling hills, ridge walks, and white-cliff drama above turquoise water.
📍 Things to do:
- Seven Sisters cliff walk from Birling Gap or Seaford
- Ridge ramble at Devil’s Dyke or Ditchling Beacon
- Vineyard tasting in Sussex if you are not driving after
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Clifftops are windy, layers help keep the picnic fun.
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
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Stop 5 — The Broads National Park: Reeds, rivers, slow travel
A peaceful web of rivers and shallow lakes made for messing about in boats.
📍 Things to do:
- Hire a day boat around Wroxham or Horning
- Canoe a quiet backwater for kingfisher spotting
- Riverside pub lunch then a dusk stroll by the reedbeds
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Stick to speed limits on the water, wake damages banks.
Stop 6 — North York Moors National Park: Heather waves and heritage steam
Moor-top roads with big horizons, purple heather in late summer, and a coastline dotted with storybook villages.
📍 Things to do:
- Walk Roseberry Topping for a short, steep view fest
- Ride the heritage steam railway between moorland towns
- Explore Robin Hood’s Bay or Staithes for cobbled charm
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: August heather season is prime time for photos.
Stop 7 — Northumberland National Park: Wall country and dark skies
Remote hills, star-filled nights, and Roman history stitched across the skyline.
📍 Things to do:
- Walk a classic Hadrian’s Wall stretch near Steel Rigg
- Drive the quiet lanes towards the Cheviots for a short hill walk
- Stargaze from a dark lay-by or observatory night
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: A head torch and hot flask level up any starry stop.
Stop 8 — Lake District National Park: Peaks, passes, paddles
Glacial valleys, mirror-calm lakes at golden hour, and England’s highest tops for those chasing summits.
📍 Things to do:
- Buttermere loop for a short, beautiful leg stretch
- Kayak or SUP session on Derwentwater or Windermere
- Hike to Stickle Tarn in Great Langdale for big crags and views
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Car parks fill at sunrise in summer, arrive early and go straight to your first trail.
Stop 9 — Yorkshire Dales National Park: Limestone, waterfalls, wide open lanes
Karst pavements, dry-stone walls, cheese, and some of the most satisfying driving in England.
📍 Things to do:
- Malham Cove and Gordale Scar in one neat loop
- Ingleton Waterfalls Trail for a half-day circuit
- Buttertubs Pass drive for grin-inducing bends
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Grab a Wensleydale wedge for the glovebox picnic.
Stop 10 — Peak District National Park: Edges and dales to finish strong
Gritstone edges for sunsets, green dales for gentle miles, and a tart you can justify after any walk.
📍 Things to do:
- Stanage Edge or Curbar Edge for easy mega views
- Mam Tor ridge walk above Castleton
- Cycle a chunk of the Monsal Trail
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Sample day looks like Mam Tor at sunrise, Bakewell tart by lunch, golden hour on an edge.
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
🛑 Pit Stops & Side Detours
- Jurassic Coast views near the South Downs leg
- Norfolk coast beaches after The Broads for wide open sands
- Durham Cathedral as a cultural stop between Moors and Northumberland
- Kielder Water for forest trails in Northumberland
- Settle–Carlisle viewpoints while crossing the Dales
- Chatsworth gardens on your Peak District finale
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
- Devon cream tea, jam first
- Exmoor ale and a doorstep sandwich
- New Forest ice cream after a ride
- Sussex sparkling wine with a picnic
- Norfolk crab sandwich by the water
- Yorkshire pudding and gravy at a moorland pub
- Wensleydale cheese in the Dales
- Cumberland sausage in the Lakes
- Bakewell tart for your Peak District victory lap
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Stock the boot with picnic bits before moorland days, options thin out once you hit the high lanes.
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
Arctic Monkeys, London Grammar, Elbow, The 1975, Wolf Alice, Sam Fender, Aurora, Ben Howard, Alt-J, Daughter
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Download offline – signal can drop out.
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
Ramblings with Clare Balding, Countryfile Magazine, The Rest Is History, National Trust Podcast, Out Of Office: The Travel Podcast
🎒 Road Trip Essentials
- Waterproofs, warm layer, hat and gloves
- Proper boots or sturdy trainers
- Offline maps, portable charger, head torch
- Coins for smaller car parks
- Flask, picnic kit, rubbish bag
- Binoculars for birds and distant tors
Rent a Car
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
Is this doable in a week?
You can, but it will feel rushed. Ten to fourteen days is the sweet spot.
Do I need a 4×4?
No in normal weather, just drive gently on single-track lanes.
Can I wild camp?
Not as a general rule. Seek landowner permission, follow local bylaws, leave no trace.
Best places for stargazing?
Northumberland and Exmoor are standouts, clear winter nights are gold.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes with care, use leads around livestock and during ground-nesting bird season.
Travel Planning Resources
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Nick Harvey
Hi, I am Nick! Thank you for reading! The Travel Tinker is a resource designed to help you navigate the beauty of travel! Tinkering your plans as you browse!
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