Top National Park Images And Locations

Here in the UK we are lucky to have so many National Parks and green spaces to just escape from it all, and take great photos at the same time. Here are some great images taken in National Parks as well as a few words on what makes these places so great for photography.

'Idyllic Dawn' - dathersmith

Lake District - The Lake District is perhaps one of the best known National Parks. It is full of stunning lakes and mountains that make for some truly epic photography. There is such a wide variety of locations for you to explore. Highlights include Keswick, with the beautiful Derwentwater and Catbells in the background, and Windermere, where spring and autumn really make for some special photos. A polarising filter will be a must and make use of your tripod when shooting in this idyllic location.

'Bolton Abbey' - Westroyd08

Yorkshire Dales - The Dales consist of several different locations all grouped together to form one collective National Park. The dales are great for rustic photos of farming and livestock, as well as rugged scenery and locations. Gnarled lonely trees exposed to the elements and old fachioned houses make the dales a step back into the past at times. Stand out locations include Wensleydale famed for its cheese of the same name, and Wharfedale, home to the lovely town of Skipton and Bolton Abbey, which is a brilliant location for some riverside photography in the Strid Wood as well as snapping the abbey itself. Get there early, though, otherwise you'll not get a clear shot as it can get really busy.

Peak District - The Peak District is just a little further down from the Yorkshire Dales, yet it has a completely different feel. Slightly less desolate and rugged, the Peak District features some lovely towns, including Bakewell and Castleton. The Peak district is home to multiple blue John caves, which are great for something a little different to photograph. Also in the Peak District is Ladybower reservoir, on the Pennines. The Peak district provides opportunity for many different types of photography, including landscape and candid town shots.

'New Forest Deer' - rvoller

New Forest - The New Forset is home to some of the oldest trees in Europe. These make for some great abstract shots due to their twisted and weathered bark. The New Forest is also home to an abundance of wildlife, the most notable being the deer. You can see six species of deer if you're lucky, from the more common fallow and roe varieties, through to the more rare breeds like the muntjac and Chinese water deer. The New Forset is a great choice if you can't get enough of woodland and wildlife galore.

Cairngorms - The Cairngorms is a relatively new National Park and is celebrating 10 years with the title. The Cairngorms is in the heart of Scotland, and has some stunning locations for photography. It is one of the few places here you can still see red squirrels in the wild, as well as an abundance of birds of prey, including the Osprey. You'll need a telephoto lens for good photos of shy wildlife, and it may be worth investing in a hide when you've found a location that you know the animal will appear in.  

Snowdonia - Snowdonia is home to the highest mountain in Wales - mount Snowdon. This epic structure makes for some brilliant photos, whether you're up for climbing up it or not. Craggy and sweeping slate hills make Snowdonia an ideal place for unique landscape photography. Things to visit include slate caverns and copper mines, giving you an insight into the heritage of the valleys. A great place to go for photos is Portmerion, an Italian themed village in Wales, to give your shots with a more European feel.

For more information on the National Parks of Britain, take a look at the National Parks website