A brand new study has revealed the most mindful national parks in the world - with only one UK beauty stop making it onto the list.
The stunning Lake District is the only national park in the UK to rank in the top 15 for being the most mindful.
Being largest national park in the UK, and home to one of the biggest mountains, Scafell Pike and the biggest lake, Windermere, people come to visit the Lake District every year to see the spectacular 155 different species of wildlife and to embrace the beautiful scenery.
It’s a place to wind down and relax while embracing the beauty of nature.
The Lake District comes in the top 15 for mindful activities with more than 30 hikes to explore including the Newlands Horseshoe near Keswick and Scafell Pike Walk which takes you to the highest peak in England.
If you’re looking to relax your legs after a long day of walking, the Lake District has 28 spas and wellness centers to help alleviate stress and unwind.
The coronavirus pandemic has emphasised the importance of mental health and how outdoor spaces and fresh air help better our mental wellbeing, and what better way to celebrate the easing restrictions than to look at the most mindful national parks around the globe to see which you want to visit first.
The study, by Money.co.uk, determined the most mindful national parks by analysing the mindful features each has including:
• Amount of green space
• Amount of lakes
• Species of plants and animals
• Low air pollution levels
• Low visitor numbers
• Mindful activities available such as hikes, boat tours, wellness centres and spas.
The 15 Best National Parks for mental health have been ranked out of a possible score of 100 and are as follows:
1. Swiss National Park, Switzerland (78)
2. Banff National Park, Canada (67)
3. Fiordland National Park, New Zealand (65)
4. Jasper National Park, Canada (60)
5. Goreme National Park, Turkey (59)
6. Yellowstone National Park, United States (55)
7. Kruger National Park, South Africa (53)
8. Denali National Park, United States (51)
9. Cinque Terre National Park, Italy (50)
10. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (49)
11. Lake district national park, United Kingdom (49)
12. Guilin and Lijiang River, China (47)
13. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (45)
14. Bohemian Switzerland, Czech Republic (43)
15. Ulurukata Tjuta, Australia (42)
The oldest national park in the Alps, Swiss National Park, has been crowned the most mindful in the whole world. The Park is one of the best protected areas in the Alps with only 150,000 visitors per year and one of the lowest air pollution scores of 11.
The Swiss National Park comes top for the park with the most mindful activities, offering 83 spas and wellness centres for when you’re ready to put your feet up, 75 boat tours and cruises where you can take in the scenic views of the Alps.
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