If you like to spend time in nature and explore some of the most beautiful natural spaces in the UK, you will find that a car makes this much easier. While driving allows you to reach remote areas easily, you will find that keeping a car on the road can be a major cost – UK owners spend over £3,000 annually on their vehicles. Fortunately, a car is not always necessary as there are many areas of outstanding natural beauty that you can easily reach by jumping on the train.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Some areas are designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which are protected to conserve and enhance the area’s beauty. Areas must meet criteria to become AONBs, which can include natural heritage features, relative wildness, landscape quality, scenic quality, and cultural heritage.
Benefits
It is worth noting the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. Studies show that people that spend time in nature are happier in life. Nature can help people to lower stress levels – 45% of people stated that spending time in nature helped them to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.
So, where are some AONBs that you can reach without the use of a car?
North York Moors
The North York Moors are breathtakingly beautiful and somewhere with one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the UK. This is a great place to reconnect with nature, and there are rail links from all over the UK to towns surrounding the national park, including Whitby and York.
South Downs
The South Downs stretch through Hampshire, Surrey, and Sussex offering visitors some of the finest English countrysides around with rolling hills, ancient woodland, and chalk cliffs. The South Downs is easy to reach by train, with Winchester and Lewes acting as gateways, and trains here from London take around an hour.
Gower Peninsula
Located on the south coast of Wales, Gower Peninsula is known for its dramatic coastline, beautiful beaches, and rich wildlife. You can catch the train directly to Swansea, and it is just a short journey.
Arnside & Silverdale
Located in Lancashire, Arnside and Silverdale is a small AONB covering just 29 square miles but with plenty to explore, including wild orchids and Morecambe Bay. There are also stations at both Arnside and Silverdale.
Mendip Hills
Mendip Hills offer breathtaking natural beauty in Somerset with limestone gorges, cave systems and rolling hills. There are a few nearby stations, including Weston-super-Mare, Yatton and Bristol Temple Meads.
Conclusion
While having a car can make it easier to explore remote areas of natural beauty, it is not always necessary, and there are many AONBs that can be reached by train. Not only does this save on the costs associated with owning and running a car, but it also has the added benefit of reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable travel.
Spending time in nature has numerous mental health benefits, and visiting an AONB is a great way to disconnect from the stresses of modern life and connect with the natural world. The North York Moors, South Downs, Gower Peninsula, Arnside & Silverdale, and Mendip Hills are just a few examples of the many AONBs that can be easily accessed by train, providing endless opportunities for exploring and discovering the natural beauty of the UK.
