Despite its small size, the U.K. is one of the best spots in Europe for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. It might not boast the vast wildernesses of the Wild Taiga in Finland, the dark, Old World forests of Bavaria, or even the breathtaking peaks of the Alps in Italy and Switzerland, but it is a stunning country full of greenery, charming landscapes, and interesting outdoor experiences.
Whether it is untamed nature and weird ruins on an island known as “Britain’s Area 51” or glittering lakes surrounded by rugged fell mountains in the Lake District, there’s no shortage of weird and wonderful nature in the U.K. One of the best destinations for adventurers to base themselves for an outdoor vacation exploring some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country is Sheffield, South Yorkshire, one of the greenest cities in Europe.
Located just on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Sheffield deserves its nickname “The Outdoor City.” It is a fabulous combination of urban charm, lively culture, and wonderful green spaces. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from the moors, limestone valleys, and towering peaks of one of the U.K.’s best national parks. It is about 160 miles from London, reachable by car in around three and a half hours, and by train in two hours. It is also just over an hour’s drive from Leeds Bradford International Airport, which serves destinations across Europe as well as Turkey and Morocco.
Stunning peaks, wonderful wildlife, and literary history
Sheffield doesn’t always get the acclaim that it deserves, overlooked in favor of more famous U.K. cities like London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and even Manchester, Glasgow, and York. But this South Yorkshire gem is a city that inspires, a vibrant, adventurous, fun-loving little spot that is large enough to offer excitement, culture, and plenty of life, while small enough to remain accessible, friendly, and charming.
Most people visiting Sheffield come for the Peak District, and it is easy to see why. This glorious national park is over 550 square miles of wild moors, peaceful dales, and sky-splitting rocky peaks, with some of the best hiking and wild camping in the country. The Pennine Way is one of the best and most famous walking trails in England, and the Peaks provide some truly breathtaking bouldering and rock climbing. Wildlife abounds in the national park, from red deer in the autumn and mountain hares in the winter to the rare and protected ring ouzel thrush in the summer.
It is also a place that comes with a rich and fascinating history. The Peak District is the U.K.’s original national park, and the “spiritual home of free access to nature,” thanks to a group of working class pioneers who protested for the right of public access to the land, per the National Parks U.K. website. The area around Sheffield is also famous as Brontë Country, where the famous 19th-century authors lived, wrote, and took inspiration from.
Industrial heritage, culture, and more trees than people
