I've Lived in the U.K. for TK Years and This Is Its Best National Park-With Moorlands, Stargazing, and Stunning Waterfalls

"Best known for its heather-strewn moorlands and misty green hills, Yorkshire Dales National Park is named for its deep valleys that have charmed travelers for centuries. Here, visitors will also find archaeological sites, more than 1,000 working farms, and a species of moss that doesn't grow anywhere else on earth. But perhaps one of the most unique things about this park is that 95 percent of it is privately owned."

"Established in 1954, this park has some of England's best hiking spots, mountain bike trails, countless waterfalls, and the U.K.'s most extensive cave system. It's also Britain's largest Dark Sky Reserve, which means you probably won't find better stargazing anywhere else in the country. But though the scenery is stunning, it's truly the land's human history that makes the park so special."

Yorkshire Dales National Park features heather-strewn moorlands, misty green hills, and deep limestone valleys shaped over centuries. Archaeological sites and more than 1,000 working farms coexist with a rare endemic moss. Ninety-five percent of the land remains privately owned by local residents and workers. Established in 1954, the park offers top hiking routes, mountain biking, numerous waterfalls, and the U.K.'s most extensive cave system. The park is Britain's largest Dark Sky Reserve, offering exceptional stargazing. Anglo-Saxon and Viking settlements, medieval castles, ruined abbeys, and wildlife along the River Ure highlight a strong human history and cultural landscape.

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