Kampinos Forest

Immediately North West of Warsaw, heading to Łomianki, Kampinos National Park is the most accessible of Poland’s national parks. The entire area of the national park is 385km2, which is interspersed with dense woodland, dunes and marshland, with the forest itself being home to 81 endangered species, and criss-crossed with biking, hiking and horse-riding trails. The past decades have witnessed successful attempts to reintroduce beaver, elk and lynxes back to the wild. Equally famous for its association with the battle for Polish independence, Kampinos’ proximity to the capital has made it a favourite camp for partisans throughout the course of history; today mass graves dating from national uprisings in 1863 and 1944 can be visited, and a sombre visit to Palmiry National Memorial & Museum (a site of mass execution during World War II) is a must.