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Photography Competition Finalists Announced

Ten stunning images shortlisted in the UK National Parks Photography Competition

01 October 2025 – The UK’s fifteen National Parks are celebrating the incredible talent of photographers across the country as the shortlist for the 2025 National Parks Photography Competition, proudly supported by Sykes Holiday Cottages, is revealed today.

This year’s competition saw an outstanding response, with over 500 entries submitted – a 150% increase on last year – highlighting the growing enthusiasm for capturing the beauty and importance of our National Parks through photography.

Now in its fourth year, the competition invites photographers of all abilities to capture the magic of these inspiring spaces, and this year’s shortlist shines a spotlight on the diversity and wonder of the UK National Parks.

From shimmering lakes to thriving wildlife and star-studded dark skies, the shortlisted images highlight the vital roles National Parks play in supporting nature. These landscapes are living systems – places where habitats are restored, species are protected, and the conditions for a healthier future for people and nature are created.

Misty purple heather field under dramatic, textured clouds at sunrise or sunset, trees in the background.
@gillwilliamsphotographyandart  Cairngorms National Park
Misty sunrise over rolling hills, dense ferns, and purple heather, creating a serene natural scene.
@hang_ross76
New Forest National Park
At night, a person on a rocky hill shines a flashlight into a sky filled with stars.
@houk_weareone
Exmoor National Park
A calm lake mirrors green hills, trees, and clouds with mountains behind in a peaceful, balanced scene.
@jonny.gios
Lake District National Park
A stone cottage on a rocky hill overlooks a green valley, distant mountains, river, and lake at sunset.
@markshetherington
Lake District National Park
A windmill by a river at dusk, with a pink moon rising and a bird silhouetted. Houses and trees behind.
@mattwillimottphotography
Broads National Park
A red squirrel stretches on a wooden Public Footpath sign in a forest, blurred trees behind.
@muddybootees
Yorkshire Dales National Park
A lone tree on rocky limestone at sunset, green plants in cracks, vibrant clouds fill the sky behind.
@peopleofthepeaks
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Three brown wild horses stand close in a snowy field, thick coats dusted with snow, sparse plants ahead.
@tomdauben
Dartmoor National Park
Cloudy sky glowing above a misty valley, dense evergreen forest, and rolling hills in golden light.
@vinco_camm.photos
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

What happens next?

The shortlisted images will now go to a public vote on the UK National Parks Instagram account, with one winner chosen by the public and a second winner selected by the staff at Sykes Holiday Cottages.

To cast your vote, visit @nationalparksuk on Instagram and like your favourite of the ten shortlisted images.

Key Dates:

  • Public Voting Opens: Wednesday 1 October 2025
  • Voting Closes: Friday 10 October 2025
  • Winners Announced: Wednesday 15 October 2025

The Prize

Each of the two winners will receive:

Celebrating People, Place, Nature and Climate

Launched in 2021, the competition highlights not only the beauty of the UK National Parks but also their importance in tackling global challenges. National Parks are leading the way on landscape-scale nature restoration and nature-based solutions that benefit people, nature, place and climate.

Sykes Holiday Cottages has proudly supported the National Parks since 2021 through National Parks Partnerships, backing impactful projects from planting thousands of trees in Eryri National Park to enhancing pollinator habitats in Northumberland National Park. The partnership also champions regenerative travel, sustaining rural economies and supporting local businesses, ensuring National Parks remain vibrant, living landscapes for future generations.

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