The New Forest has been named the most expensive national park to live in.

Data from Nationwide, the Office for National Statistics, and National Parks UK indicates that the average property price in the New Forest is £576,000.

This is significantly higher than the average price in the South Downs, which stands at £400,000.

In comparison, the Peak District has an average house price of £375,000, while the Yorkshire Dales is at £353,000. Homes in the Lake District average £333,000, and Dartmoor averages £310,000.

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) properties average £274,000, and Eryri (Snowdonia) is the least expensive, with an average price of £173,000.

The South Downs, partly in Hampshire, is the most populated national park, with 115,100 people living within its 1,624 square kilometre area.

Commenting on the figures, Andrew Harvey, Nationwide's senior economist, said: "The New Forest remains the most expensive National Park in which to purchase a property, with an average price of £576,000. Villages within the park include Ashurst, Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.

"The South Downs has the highest resident population of any of the National Parks at 115,100. The park includes a number of sought-after towns in Hampshire and Sussex such as Petersfield, Liss, Midhurst and Petworth.

"The Lake District is the UK’s most visited National Park, with an estimated 18.1 million visitors per year, and is also the largest of the 13 National Parks in England Wales. The main towns include tourist hotspots such as Ambleside, Bowness-on-Windermere and Keswick.

"National Parks cover 20% of the land area in Wales, the highest proportion of the home nations, with the largest, Eryri (Snowdonia), covering 2,176km2.

"Meanwhile in Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are the most visited National Park, with 50% of Scotland’s population living within an hour’s drive."

The UK is home to several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), each with unique landscapes and a range of average property prices. Surrey Hills has an average house price of £610,000.

House prices in the Chilterns average £570,000. The North Wessex Downs has an average house price of £415,000. The Cotswolds, the largest AONB, has an average property price of £401,000.