Page 227 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

expansive, other-worldly the park’s highest peak;
landscape of tawny TRIP HIGHLIGHT and the rolling heath-
grasses and huge skies. land ridges of the Black
Exmoor supports one 6 Brecon Beacons Mountains (Y Myny-
of England’s largest National Park ddoedd Duon) – not to be
wild red deer popula- Brecon Beacons National confused with the Black
tions, best experienced Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Mountain (singular) in
in autumn when the Bannau Brycheiniog) rip- the west. The park’s main
annual ‘rutting’ season ples for 45 miles from the visitor centre (%01874-
sees stags bellowing, English border to near 623366; www.breconbeacons.
charging at each other Llandeilo in the west. org; Libanus; h9.30am-5pm
and clashing horns in High mountain plateaus Easter-Sep) has details of
an attempt to impress of grass and heather, walks, hiking and biking
prospective mates. The their northern rims trails, outdoor activities,
Exmoor National Park scalloped with glacier- wildlife and geology (call
Authority (ENPA; www. scoured hollows, rise first to check it’s open).
exmoor-nationalpark.gov. above wooded, waterfall- GREAT BRITAIN 16 BRITAIN’S WILD SIDE
uk) runs regular wildlife- splashed valleys and 4 p233
themed guided walks green, rural landscapes. The Drive » Drive north along
(free), which include Within the park there the A470 to reach the southern
evening deer-spotting are four distinct regions: boundary of Snowdonia National
hikes. Or head out on an the wild, lonely Black Park at Mallwyd (79 miles
organised jeep safari. Mountain (Mynydd Du) altogether).
The open moors and in the west, with its high
a profusion of marked moors and glacial lakes;
bridleways offer excellent Fforest Fawr (Great 7 Snowdonia
hiking. Cycling is also Forest), whose rushing National Park
popular here; Exmoor streams and spectacu- Wales’ best-known and
Adventures (%07976- lar waterfalls form the most-visited slice of na-
208279; www.exmoor headwaters of the Rivers ture, Snowdonia National
adventures.co.uk) runs a Tawe and Neath; the Park (Parc Cenedla-
five-hour mountain- Brecon Beacons (Bannau ethol Eryri) became the
biking skills course (£50) Brycheiniog) proper, a country’s first national
and also hires bikes (per group of very distinctive, park in 1951. Every year
day £25). more than 350,000
flat-topped hills that in-
The Drive » From Lynmouth cludes Pen-y-Fan (886m), people walk, climb or
to Libanus in the Brecon
Beacons National Park it’s
143 miles. Take the A39 east TOP TIP:
along the coast to join the WARNING: DARTMOOR
M5 at Bridgwater. Take the
Second Severn Crossing bridge MILITARY RANGES
(westbound bridge traffic incurs Live ammunition is used on Dartmoor’s training
a £6.60 toll, payable by cash,
debit card or credit card) and ranges. Check locations with the Firing Information
head west towards Cardiff to join Service (%0800 458 4868; www.mod.uk/access) or
the northwest-bound A470. tourist offices. Red flags fly at the edges of in-use
ranges by day; red flares burn at night. Beware
unidentified metal objects lying in the grass. Don’t
touch anything; report finds to the Commandant
(%01837-650010).

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