02 APR 2019: England’s National Parks are treasured for their tranquillity, traditions, heritage and unique natural habitats. Geographically dotted around England and making up 10 percent of the nation’s total land with an abundance of native wildlife-rich habitants, the parks are a deep part of the fabric of England’s national identity and provide free access to England’s open countryside.
To help travellers discover and make the most of the beloved landscapes – and leave feeling “alive, inspired and refresh” – a new program has been launched: The English National Park Experience Collection (ENPEC).
Supported by VisitEngland’s Discover England Fund, the new collection is made up of over 70 new immersive visitor experiences – all of which can be booked by the trade – across nine of England’s National Parks. Carefully curated by local experts and designed for international visitors, the collection offers truly authentic and memorable experiences to capture the distinctive countryside.
Designed to harness the growing demand for experiential tourism, the experiences partner with accommodation venues to create tailor-made, easy-to-book options for travel agents, tour operators, wholesalers and guides.
Immersing into some of the UK’s most unique living landscapes and timeless rural life, visitors will journey through history, culture and countryside to see England in a new light – “living, breathing and becoming part of the parks’ special way of life” via the tours.
Nine English National Parks are involved in the collection (Broads, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, North York Moors, Northumberland, Peak District, South Downs and Yorkshire Dales) with each park offering a selection of experiences from active outdoors to foodie heavens.
Highlights include:
Broads National Park: A watery wonderland, the Broads is Britain’s largest protected wetland:
• Broads by Kayak Experience: View the beauty of the Broads in a unique way. Enjoy the wonderful wildlife from the water and be immersed in the stunning beauty of the area of Heigham Sound & Hickling Broad – one of the jewels in the crown of the National Park. (4-hour experience, a max of 8 people, £45 p.p.)
Dartmoor National Park: A land of mist and mystery steeped in folklore and a place of great literary inspiration:
• Hound of the Baskervilles Experience: Follow in the footsteps of the great writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and discover the real story behind The Hound of the Baskervilles. Find out about the various people, locations, myths and legends that inspired this most famous of detective stories. (8.5-hour experience, for 4-6 people, £135 for groups of 4-6 people.)
Lake District National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Park of epic proportions, The Lake District is home to England’s highest mountain (Scafell Pike) and its deepest lake (Wastwater).
• Spice Trail experience: A guided tour of some of the finest culinary highlights in the region, guaranteed to tantalise tastebuds. (7-hour experience, for 3-32 people, starting from £125 for larger groups.)
Peak District National Park: Britain’s original national park, the Peak District is a land of countryside revolution, stately homes, plateaus and valleys, right in the heart of England.
• Climbing Through History Experience: The history of the Peak District National Park is etched in the unique gritstone crags that line the valley edges. Climb, scramble and abseil under the expert guidance of a local instructor. Suitable for all abilities to discover a different view of the Peak District. (8-hour experience, for 4-32 people, £85 p.p.)
The full list of experiences can be found on the new English National Park Experience Collection website: