Today is the start of National Parks Week, which is celebrating the UK’s 15 national parks with hundreds of events, from rangers’ walks and wildlife watching to river rafting and pony rides. You can go rafting or pony trekking in the Lake District, have a teddy bears’ picnic in the North York Moors or study the stars with an astronomer in the Brecon Beacons.

Who better to show you around the parks than the people who live, work and play in them? We’ve asked rangers from seven national parks to share their favourite beauty spots, places to eat, drink and stay – and in our local experts’ guides, kayakers, climbers, hikers and fishing enthusiasts recommend the best ways to get active in Britain’s great outdoors.

If you want to ditch the car, this two-part guide will help you explore these often remote areas by bus, train and bike – or even on horseback or by canoe. And if you really want to get away from it all and experience the tranquillity of the parks when all the day trippers have left, we’ve selected a stunning campsite within each of the 15 national parks.

If you’re visiting the Lake District, North York Moors or Yorkshire Dales national parks, you will find heaps of useful information on where to stay, cosy pubs, budget restaurants, family days out and much more in our county guides.

Finally, put your knowledge to the test – and enjoy stunning pictures of the country’s most treasured landscapes – in our national parks picture quiz.

• National Parks Week runs from 28 July to 3 August. Events are listed on the national parks website nationalparks.gov.uk