A National Park in the UK is an area of protected landscape. Each National Park is managed by it's own authority, however, none of them are actually owned by the government as is the case in other countries.
Of the 15 National Parks in the United Kingdom, 3 of them are in Wales. In this short guide, I'll share some information about each of these and reveal plans for a new National Park in Wales.
What are the three National Parks in Wales?
Wales currently has three national parks; Eryri (Snowdonia), Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. In total, the National Parks cover about 20% of the total land and are home to an estimated 80,000 residents.
Here is some more information about each of these:
1. Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park
Eryri National Park, previously known by its English name, Snowdonia, is Wales' largest and oldest National Park, located in North Wales.
The park covers a total area of 2,130 km2, (823 sq miles) and is home to all of the Welsh 3000's, the mountain peaks in Wales that are over 3000ft (914m) tall, including Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) which is the highest mountain in England and Wales.
Popular activities in the park include hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and wildlife spotting.
My full guide shares more interesting facts about Eryri (Snowdonia).
2. Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park
Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, more commonly known by its English name, the Brecon Beacons, is Wales' second largest national park that covers the mountainous region south of Brecon.
It's home to Pen Y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, and is best known for an area towards the south of the National Park called Waterfall County which has a high concentration of waterfalls where three rivers run through a series of gorges.
You can learn more in my article with facts about the Brecon Beacons.
3. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only National Park in the UK that's predominately along the coastlines. It's mostly made up of rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, as well as woodland areas inland.
It contains some of Wales' most interesting coastal features such as the Green Bridge of Wales, Stack Rocks, and the Huntsman's Leap.
See my full guide to facts about the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for more information.
Are there plans for a fourth National Park in Wales?
Yes, since 2010, there have been campaigns to designate the Clwydian Range as a fourth national park in Wales. The range is currently an Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) but campaigners say making it into an official national park will unlock the area's potential.
The designation of the new National Park was part of the manifesto of the current Welsh Government. In 2023, the Welsh Government officially commissioned Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to evaluate the case for creating the Clwydian Range National Park with a decision to be confirmed by 2026.
However, there is some opposition to the plan with locals arguing that it will bring over-tourism to the area.
Published: 4 December 2022 · Last updated: 25 June 2023