Planning a visit
We want you and your students to get the most out of a trip to a UK National Park. If you plan a safe, achievable trip with clear objectives your trip will be fun, stimulating and worthwhile.
Always follow the advice and guidance of your local education authority or governing body. The tips on these pages give basic sound practice for trips in the outdoors.
- Group safety should be the top priority in planning your trip and in each activity. Have clear objectives for the trip and for each activity. Tell the other teaching and support staff what your objectives are. Tell your students enough about the objectives so they know what they are meant to accomplish by the end of the trip.
- In your planning, act to conserve the environment and minimise your impact
- Think about local people and visitors and your effect on them
Guidance on planning your visit
Tips on how to make your adventure in National Parks unforgettable
Get in touch for help and advice
Even if you’re just planning a day visit to run yourself, we can give you up-to-date advice on where to go, weather and road conditions, safety and access advice, and the most suitable activities to do. Or you can book our teams to deliver teaching sessions for you.
Pre-visit the site
If possible visit the site before your field trip.
Assess the facilities like toilets and car parks.
Check the terrain is suitable for your activity and your group.
Note any potential hazards.
Think about transport
Could you use public transport for your trip to be really sustainable? If not, we recommend minibuses, large coaches are not very manoeuvrable on rural roads and might not be able to reach all the locations you want to get to – or turn around once there!
Remember that your group will each have a backpack with them, as well as any teaching equipment you are taking, so make sure your vehicle has enough room.
Take the right kit
Take the right clothing, the right food and the right equipment to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Check out our Kit list article at the bottom of this page.
Health and Safety
Our education teams have health and safety procedures and risk assessments. If you book with us make sure you are aware of these procedures.
If you are planning a visit on your own, we can send you risk assessments and helpful information to make your visit safer.
Insurance
Check with your local education authority and / or governing body that you have the necessary insurance cover needed for your trip, including transportation, activities and any residential stays.
If you book an activity with us, we can give you details of our insurance cover.
Know where you can go
Most land in the UK National Parks is privately owned. Check that access and your activity are allowed.
We can help with checking access and advice on the most suitable places, so get in touch.
Give yourself time
It can take longer than you think for a group to walk a route. Sloping or boggy ground, rain, wind, hot sun, and fatigue can slow you down.
Make sure you allow plenty of time to return to your vehicle or accommodation before it gets dark.
Don’t count on the weather
Check the weather forecast in the days before your visit, but don’t rely on it being right! The weather changes rapidly, especially in upland areas, and is different at low levels and on higher ground.
Working by water
Rivers that rise quickly after rain, currents, slippery surfaces and underwater hazards all create new risks when working near water.
Educational articles
Fieldwork and education in the Broads , Article
Discover how the national treasure can be used to explore the curriculum and children’s imaginations in so many inspirational ways.
Are children in tune with the Nature Pyramid? , Article
An Education Officer at the South Downs National Parks explains why making connections with “big” landscapes is an important part of our relationship with nature.
Kit list for students and teachers , Article
Having the right kit is important to keep everyone safe. Here's a basic list of kit for your students, and extra things a group leader should have too.
🎉 Happy Exmoor Day, @exmoornp!
Today, Exmoor National Park celebrates years of connecting people with nature, wildlife and the great outdoors.
From England’s largest wild red deer herd and native ponies to Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve and dramatic landscapes, Exmoor is a place full of life, history and discovery.
Its landscapes, wildlife and historic villages bring people closer to nature and create opportunities to explore, connect and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.
Here’s to Exmoor – and many more adventures to come! 💚
#Exmoor #ExmoorNationalPark #NationalParksUK
Happy birthday @parc_eryri 🎂
From its towering peaks and sweeping valleys to its rich heritage, Eryri (Snowdonia) is a place that means so much to so many people.
It`s a landscape full of stories, shaped by generations of people and home to some of Wales` most treasured places, from the summit of Yr Wyddfa to the quieter corners.
Today, we`re celebrating everything that makes Eryri unique, from the people and traditions that give it its character to the ongoing work to protect its landscapes and wildlife.
Share your favourite memories of Eryri in the comments! 💬
📸Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia @cinqueportsphotography
#Eryri #EryriNationalPark #TheAnswerIsNationalParks
Autumn is a chance to give nature a helping hand. 🍂
From leaving fallen leaves to providing food for birds, small actions can make a big difference to the world around us.
Here are some of the ways to help nature this season.
#NatureRecovery #Autumn #NationalParks
An ancient wall almost 2,000 years old, and a catch-up with your mate? ✅
Historic landmarks like Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park have been connecting people for centuries.
While that connection looks very different today from the wall’s original role as a Roman defensive fortification, it’s still a place where people come together and explore history.
Because our National Parks are about so much more than great places for a day out. They’re places to connect with friends, clear your head, get active and learn about history, all in one place.
#Northumberland #HadriansWall #NationalParksUK
They’re more than just pretty places. 🌳
Our National Parks are home to some incredible trees, from ancient giants to England’s tallest tree.
Swipe through for a few #WildFacts about the trees growing across our 15 National Parks.
#NationalParksUK #Trees #Woodland
National Parks are places where animals make their homes, people catch up over coffee, and we pause to marvel at the dark skies above.
Places to connect, discover and look a little closer.
We’d love to see your images of autumn in action in a National Park. Tag us or use the hashtag #AutumnInAction 🧡
#NationalParks #Autumn
What if Middle-earth’s Rangers had more in common with National Park Rangers than we might think?
Of course, our National Park Rangers have a little less to worry about than Aragorn and his fellow Rangers.
But they do both know their landscapes well, protect the places they love and guide others to find their way.
Across the UK’s 15 National Parks, our Rangers are taking action every day. They may not be defending the Shire from the forces of darkness, but they certainly do an incredibly important job. 💚
#MiddleEarth #Rangers #NationalParksUK
15 National Parks. One shared challenge. Our climate is changing, and with it comes an increased risk of wildfire across our landscapes.
That’s why we’ve committed to taking action through our new Wildfire Management Position Statement. Together, the National Parks will work to support nature recovery to help manage wildfire risk, plan for and strengthen wildfire response and coordination, improve risk management and preparedness, and share clear, consistent public messaging.
But we can’t do it alone.
Communities, organisations, land managers and visitors all have a role to play in reducing wildfire risk. By working together, we can help protect our National Parks and prepare for a future where hotter, drier weather may increase the risk of wildfire.
Read the full statement by clicking on the link in our bio 🔗
Photos:
Slide 1 - Fighting the Glenmore wildfire, © Ed Smith. Slide 2 - Fighting the Glenmore wildfire, © Malcolm Smith. Slide 3 - View across Loch Morlich during Glenmore wildfire, July 2026, © Brenna Jessie. Slide 4 - Fighting the Glenmore wildfire, © Malcolm Smith. Slide 5 - View from the cab of a tractor aiding in fighting the wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park, CPNA. Slide 5 - Firefighting vehicles at the Glenmore wildfire, © Malcolm Smith.
#Wildfires #NationalParksUK
