Stunning UK nature reserve named ‘Wonder of the World’ and ‘must visit’ | UK | Travel
It’s a nature lover’s paradise (Image: visitbradford.com)
A nature reserve in West Yorkshire, famed for inspiring the Brontë sisters, is being touted as a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.
The reserve has recently been spotlighted by esteemed travel publication Condé Nast Traveller, which named it one of the seven wonders of the world to visit in 2026.
Established in May 2025, this scenic reserve forms part of King Charles’ initiative to create 25 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) across the UK.
The scheme aims to safeguard wildlife and celebrate the country’s diverse landscapes by offering enhanced protection to unique geographical features within these designated areas.
Covering an expansive 3,148 acres (1,274 hectares) – approximately double the size of Ilkley Moor – the reserve connects eight natural sites within the Bradford and South Pennines region.
This includes the renowned Penistone Country Park in Haworth, once home to literary legends Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë.
The Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve encompasses Trench Meadows, Ilkley Moor, Bingley Bog North, St Ives Estate, Baildon Moor, Shipley Glen, Harden Moor and Penistone Country Park, reports Yorkshire Live.
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It’s been named a ‘2026 Wonder of the World’ (Image: visitbradford.com)
A staggering 90% of the protected area within the Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve consists of priority UK habitats such as wetlands, peat bogs, and heathland. Furthermore, 42% of the reserve is newly protected, with around 58% (738 hectares) of the land recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The pioneering nature reserve is a sanctuary for endangered wildlife species such as curlews, adders, and golden plovers, providing them with interconnected habitats and enhanced protection.
Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve, the only UK site to feature on Condé Nast Traveller’s list, finds itself in esteemed company alongside breathtaking destinations like the Faroe Islands and El Salvador’s El Imposible National Park.
The publication lauded the nature reserve, saying: “One of the reigning monarch’s ongoing Kings Series of nature reserves, the Bradford Pennines Gateway is part of a nationwide initiative to protect and celebrate the UK’s natural heritage, enhance biodiversity, and give local communities better access to nature.”
The scenic nature reserve was created in May 2025 (Image: visitbradford.com)
Rather like King Charles himself, there’s something stoic and un-showy about this 1,272-hectare region, resided in, and beloved by, the Brontë sisters and encompassing Ilkley Moor, Penistone Hill Country Park, Harden Moor and Bingley North Bog.”
The reserve was described as “landscapes of unhurried drama”, with the publication heaping praise on its “undulating moors, wind-polished gritstone tors and views that collapse into long, moody distances broken only by the slow, stately flap of a marsh harrier”. It added: “If Britain ever needed proof that the everyday could still surprise, the Bradford Pennines Gateway delivers with quiet aplomb.”
The Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve, a magnificent collaboration between Bradford Council and Natural England, is a treasure trove of biodiversity set against a backdrop of breathtaking vistas.
Dubbed a ‘2026 Wonder of the World’, this haven is a perfect escape for those with a passion for nature and adventure, offering an exhilarating day out discovering the reserve’s diverse wildlife.
