Five-day experience tour: North of England National Parks

Home to an international airport and railway hub, the North Parks tour kicks off in Manchester, just one hour from the Peak District National Park. Famed for its contrasting landscapes, stately homes and tight-knit communities, the Peak District offers an instant injection of rural invigoration.

Jump into the action by journeying underground to the Treak Cliff Cavern caves in Castleton, Derbyshire for a Blue John Stone experience. 330 million years in the making, the caves offer a tantalising glimpse into the Peak District’s incredible history and showcase the unique qualities of this beautiful landscape. Discover Blue John Stone, a rare, semi-precious mineral found nowhere else in the world.

Make your way to the Yorkshire Dales National Park to spend the day with your sleeves rolled up on the Swinithwaite Estate.

Step into the life of a local by throwing yourself into the Wensleydale Farmer’s Experience. Feed the animals, gather the sheep and find out how the traditional drystone walls that crisscross the landscape are made.

It’s time to get back to nature and test your survival skills in the wilds of the Lake District National Park where it’s easy to be blown away by the vast open spaces, soaring mountains and breathtaking lakes. Head to the shores of Lake Windermere on the private Graythwaite Estate and with a hunter gatherer expert as your guide, learn the skills you need to survive a night in the Lake District. By the end of the Lake District Bushcraft experience you’ll know how to light a fire, build a shelter, source water and how to whip up a basic meal on a camp fire - and of course, there will be lots of marshmallows to toast!

With its huge, clear skies and untouched landscapes, Northumberland National Park is your next destination. Spend the day at its most famous landmark, Hadrian’s Wall, and travel back 2,000 years to experience what it was like to live like a Roman. As you walk along a stretch of the wall, an expert guide will fill your mind with stories of fierce warriors and colliding cultures and catapult you into the life of a soldier. Pitch a Roman tent and fill up on a Roman-themed lunch.

End your North Parks tour by travelling to the North York Moors National Park where a Captain Cook experience awaits. Take in the sights and locations that shaped the celebrated explorer, including where he was born, where he grew up and where he trained in the merchant navy.

Short on time or fancy extending the North Parks Experience Collection tour? Check out our three-day South West Parks and London Plus Parks itinerary suggestions.