Tripadvisor names the Yorkshire Dales National Park the best in Europe and 11th in the world alongside spots for Peak District and York

Tripadvisor has named the Yorkshire Dales a number one spot for travellers around the world.
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Every year, the website pulls together all the reviews, ratings and saves that travellers have shared from across the globe and uses that information to "spotlight the very best" through the Travellers' Choice Best of the Best awards.

The North Yorkshire expanse has been unveiled as the best National Park - a new category - in front of second place Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland, and Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia.

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The Dales was also named as 11th best worldwide in addition to top in Europe.

The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express steams over the Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle Carlisle line. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express steams over the Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle Carlisle line. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express steams over the Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle Carlisle line. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

The Peak District came fourth in the category and 24th in the world, while York is also named among the top trending global destinations.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chairman Neil Heseltine said: “I’d like to thank people who left good reviews on Tripadvisor of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, because it means that more people might stay here and discover it for themselves.

“For nearly 15 years now our surveys have shown that visitor satisfaction levels with the Yorkshire Dales have increased year on year, with last year no exception.

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“The Yorkshire Dales has been a fixture on national television, with the Tour de France in 2014 and, just in the past few weeks, outstanding programmes such as Channel 5’s All Creatures Great And Small, the BBC’s Winter Walks and More4’s Dales and Lakes [not full title so left italics out], increasing the prominence of the National Park.

The Yorkshire Dales, with Ingleborough in the distance.The Yorkshire Dales, with Ingleborough in the distance.
The Yorkshire Dales, with Ingleborough in the distance.

“However, people have been visiting the Yorkshire Dales in high numbers for well over a hundred years.

“The National Park is a loved and cherished place and that is down to the efforts of the people who live and work here.”

He added: “I hope that farmers, gamekeepers and other land managers who look after the landscape and make it so accessible and beautiful take credit for this Tripadvisor rating, along with people running cafes, campsites, pubs and other food, drink and accommodation businesses who make it such a welcoming place.”

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The website reads: "One visit to the Yorkshire Dales and it’s easy to understand why the unspoiled countryside is the setting of so many novels.

The Grand Opera House in York.The Grand Opera House in York.
The Grand Opera House in York.

"Must-see sights among the land’s lush woodlands and expansive moors include Hardraw Force (the longest single-drop waterfall in the North), Gordale Scar, and well-known hill range, the Three Peaks.

"Less adventurous visitors can rest easy, walking through the manicured lawns of Parcevall Hall Gardens or appreciating Skipton Castle’s medieval architecture.

"Although some prefer to take in the land’s wild beauty by foot or horse, the most popular way is via one of the park’s famed cycling routes."

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Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, Malham Cove and Ribblehead Viaduct were named among the attractions "not to miss".

Tripadvisor spokeswoman Hayley Coleman said: “With indoor activities mostly off the table in 2020, travellers headed for the great outdoors and according to a recent survey of Tripadvisor travellers, more than half say they are more likely to take an outdoor or nature trip than they were before the pandemic.

"With this in mind, it seemed timely to introduce this year’s new category, National Parks.

"While the pandemic has been incredibly tough in lots of ways, one positive that we can take away is that it has unleashed a new found love of getting back to nature for many of us.

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York ranks 22nd in the world’s top trending destinations a category that recognises destinations that saw the biggest increase in positive ratings and reviews over the last year, meaning they actually grew in popularity during the pandemic.

Elsewhere, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico tops the world list, while Corsica in France and Doha in Qatar, took second and third place respectively.