Wales Celebrates 75 Years of National Parks and Their Hidden Treasures 2026

Key Points

• This year, Wales will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its first National Park being founded back in 1951.
• Wales currently boasts three National Parks, namely Eryri (Snowdonia), Pembrokeshire Coast and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).
• The celebrations mark the protection of areas which include beautiful coasts, Britain’s highest mountains, and over 400 castles.
• Transport for Wales claims that the parks are accessible by train, TrawsCymru bus, TfW fflecsi and Sherpa bus services.
• The development of the National Parks system is a result of the “freedom to roam” movements in the 19th century, and the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949.

Wales (Wales Times ) August 22, 2026 – It is celebrating 75 years since its first National Park was established, with officials and tourism bodies highlighting the country’s three protected landscapes as accessible destinations for walkers, families and heritage visitors alike. The milestone underscores how the parks have been maintained and cared for over seven decades to preserve countryside beauty while enabling public enjoyment, according to reporting by Tenby Today.

Why are Wales’ three National Parks significant in 2026?

Wales’ National Parks comprise Eryri (formerly Snowdonia), the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), together offering long stretches of coastline, some of the highest peaks in Britain, and more than 400 castles to explore. The parks were established to protect these distinctive landscapes and have since been managed to balance conservation with recreation, allowing visitors and local residents to use the spaces for leisure and community activities.

How did Britain’s National Parks movement begin?

The origins of Britain’s National Parks lie in the Romantic era of the early 1800s, when poets such as William Wordsworth celebrated the wild beauty of the countryside and described the Lake District as a kind of “national property” for those who could appreciate it. Political momentum grew in 1884 when James Bryce MP introduced the first “freedom to roam” bill; although the bill failed, it helped catalyse a longer campaign for public access to open land. As industrialisation expanded towns and cities in the early 20th century, demand for countryside access intensified, leading to a 1936 government White Paper on National Parks and, ultimately, the landmark 1949 Act that created the National Parks system, which Minister Lewis Silkin described as “the most exciting Act of the post‑war Parliament.”

Who said Wales’ parks are easy to reach without hiking?

Dylan Nicholas, Media Relations Manager at Transport for Wales, said: “Wales is known for its beautiful scenery and striking countryside. You do not have to be a hiker to go and enjoy these National Parks, and they are easy to explore using rail, TrawsCymru buses, TfW fflecsi routes, or even via the scenic Sherpa bus.” He added: “There is plenty of variety for everyone, with small towns to explore, some of Britain’s best beaches, over 400 castles to see, and more.” The remarks, as reported by Tenby Today, position public transport as a practical option for visitors seeking to experience the parks without relying solely on private cars or strenuous walking.

What landscapes and heritage can visitors expect?

The three parks collectively feature dramatic coastlines, upland terrain with some of the UK’s highest summits, and a dense concentration of historic castles that draw heritage tourism alongside outdoor recreation. Eryri is recognised for its mountainous landscapes and has been the subject of name changes in official communications, with Snowdonia National Park Authority adopting Eryri for the park and Yr Wyddfa for the peak in recent years. Bannau Brycheiniog is noted for its dark‑sky status, having been designated a Dark Sky Reserve in 2013, while Pembrokeshire Coast protects a nationally important marine and coastal environment.

How are the parks managed and named today?

Park authorities have updated official names to reflect Welsh language usage, with Eryri and Bannau Brycheiniog now used in place of Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons in many contexts. Management priorities include nature recovery, visitor access, and protection of historic and environmental assets, as reflected in recent authority announcements and cross‑park initiatives on heritage protection. These changes aim to align public communications with local identity while maintaining the conservation and access objectives set out in the 1949 legislation.

Background: how the 75‑year development unfolded

The 75‑year milestone traces back to 1951, when Eryri became the first National Park in Wales, followed by the designation of Pembrokeshire Coast and later Bannau Brycheiniog, which was founded in 1957 and remains the most recently designated Welsh National Park. The broader UK framework emerged from the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, which created the legal basis for designating protected landscapes and establishing park authorities to manage them. Over subsequent decades, the parks evolved from primarily conservation‑focused reserves into multi‑use landscapes supporting tourism, community events, and environmental programmes, including dark‑sky initiatives and nature‑recovery projects. The 2026 anniversary sits within a wider context of UK‑wide National Parks collaboration, with authorities across England, Scotland and Wales issuing joint statements on protecting the historic environment.

Prediction: how this anniversary could affect visitors, residents and tourism businesses

The 75‑year anniversary is likely to increase public awareness of Wales’ National Parks among domestic and international visitors, potentially raising visitor numbers during peak seasons and encouraging off‑peak travel linked to anniversary promotions. For residents, heightened attention may bring both opportunities, such as greater support for local businesses and community events, and pressures, including increased demand on parking, public transport and footpaths. Tourism operators and hospitality providers in gateway towns could benefit from targeted marketing around the anniversary, particularly if transport partnerships emphasise rail and bus access as promoted by Transport for Wales. Over the longer term, sustained interest may influence park authorities to prioritise capacity management, investment in sustainable transport links, and conservation measures to ensure that increased visitation does not compromise the landscapes the anniversary seeks to celebrate.