Peak District Tops ‘Naturally Stunning’ List

The Peak District National Park’s hills have been voted number one in a survey by National Express.

A thousand people were polled by the UK’s largest coach operator to pinpoint Britain’s most naturally stunning places.

The survey was conducted to encourage travellers to explore the British countryside this Spring.

The Peak District National Park became the first national park in the United Kingdom in 1951. The National Park covers 555 square miles of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and South and West Yorkshire, including the majority of the area commonly referred to as the Peak.

Peak District National Park chief executive Sarah Fowler said: “As Britain’s first national park it is wonderful to hear we’ve been voted the most naturally beautiful area in the country. We couldn’t ask for better feedback than that.

The National Express 440 service runs from London to Manchester through Bakewell in the heart of the Peak District National Park. National Express Managing Director Tom Stables said:  “From wondrous waterfalls to incredible rock formations there’s no shortage of places in the UK to surprise and delight but it’s hard to think of anywhere more beautiful than the Peak District.

“Sometimes it can be easy to miss out on the marvels at our own front door so we hope our list will inspire people to get exploring the amazing natural sights right here in the UK”.

Naturally gorgeous – the list in full:

1 Peak District hills
2. Jurassic Coast (Dorset)
3. The White Cliffs of Dover
4. Henrhyd Falls (Brecon Beacons)
5.The Needles (Isle of Wight)
6. East Cliff (Whitby)
7. Watergate Bay (beach in Newquay)
8. Brimham Rocks (North Yorkshire)
9. Howardian Hills (Vale of Pickering)
10.  Chichester mudflats

National Express has a network of over 900 coach stops across the UK and all destinations on the list are either directly reachable by coach or readily accessible by local bus services – or bike – for cycling enthusiasts.

People travelling on a National Express Coach are welcome to store either a foldable bike or one in a bike box in the luggage hold – ideal for people planning a cycling holiday in the Peak District National Park.

For ideas of where to cycle and other great things to do in the Peak District National Park take a look at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting

Photo Credit: Jim Bell (Winding Road from Mam Torr)