10 of the best national parks to visit

Ride across the northern-most countryside in England, from the east coast to the west. Starting in the Lake District National Park, often seen as one of the most beautiful parks in Britain, take on the quiet roads with sweeping views of green valleys and rolling hills. The great thing about this route is the cafés and tea-rooms that punctuate the route, seemingly at just the point when you're thinking about your next slice of cake for refuelling!

This National Park offers so much in the way of natural beauty and fascinating history. Cabrits National Park's forest is slowly reclaiming the land where once fortifications and ramparts stood tall and imposing. The fascinating history of this area adds an extra dimension. It was the site of many battles between France and Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries, including a revolt from the 'British' slave soldiers which saw them earn their freedom.

Tanzania's Serengeti National Park offers some of the richest diversity of wildlife in the world. Whether you want to spot wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and other grazers among the grasses, lion and leopard packs hunting among these herds or perhaps gentle giants such as elephant and giraffe... You're in with a great chance of seeing these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.

Whether gazing up at the near vertical cliffs of the Grand Canyon from its floor, or looking down and across at the mile-deep and, at points, 10-mile wide chasm, this is an iconic US national park that no words or pictures can do justice. The sheer scale of the landscape is simply breathtaking; whether you're watching the sunrise light up the Colorado River or the sunset accentuate the red hues of the rocks. Looking for more US National Park inspiration? Check out our ultimate guide to US National Parks.

Discover the tropical beaches and rainforest lined beaches of Colombia's Tayrona National Park. Perfectly-placed on the Caribbean coastline, this park has some of the best of Colombia's landscapes in one area. Only accessible on foot, you can wander the hilly rainforests taking in all the wildlife there until you reach the golden-sand beaches. Paradise if ever there were one!