We often head to Instagram to find and follow wonderful photographers up and down the country to help us showcase the beautiful places the UK has to offer.
It's so much fun to get caught up scrolling through Instagram, getting lost in amazing images of adventurers and explorers who capture beautiful places across the United Kingdom, and we wanted to share some of our favourite hiking Instagram accounts and hiking influencers that we've found.
These outdoor influencers spend lots of time getting to know the wild parts of the UK and their feeds are full of incredible landscapes and unparalleled views. The UK has bags of natural beauty. From National Parks through to designated coast paths, there are plenty of areas covering the width and breadth of the country which offer up fantastic natural photographic opportunities. Get walking recommendations, hiking tips and ideas, and travel inspiration from what we consider to be some of the best outdoor Instagram accounts out there.
From mountainside hideaways to coastal retreats, we have a wide range of UK cottages - click the button below to explore our collection. Or if you're still planning your walking holiday, take a look through our selection of top mountain walks in national parks or discover these Instagrammable hidden gems from across the UK.
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Below, we’ve collated a list of the UK’s best hiking Instagram accounts, all of whom capture the pure beauty of their local area. Get inspired by peering through their epic feeds.
Image credit: @mikehodgson From the Yorkshire Dales down to the Jurassic Coast; Mike Hodgson takes some stunning shots all around the UK. We particularly like the viewpoints and angles of his shots, giving us the feeling we’re right there alongside him. With so many shots taken across the land, we were intrigued to find out where his favourite trek was…
“The walk up to Bamford Edge has to be one of my favourites of the Peak District,” he said. “Starting the walk next to the Ladybower plug holes and then walking up through Priddock Woods, past some of the most enchanting trees. As you reach the top you can stand on the edge of the incredible rock formations of gritstone and be greeted with a hugely rewarding view of almost all of Hope Valley, with Ladybower Reservoir dominating the view of upper Derwent valley being complimented by Ashopton bridge in the distance.
“The sun sets behind Mam Tor and to the left of Win Hill in the winter and drifting to the right-hand side and setting behind Snake Pass in the summer and if you’re lucky, casting some of the most beautiful light across the valley and flooding it with colour. Whilst you admire the wonderful view you can ponder on how it may have looked when it was once a working village.”
Ready to set off on a hiking adventure? For more fantastic walking routes, read through our favourite national park walks to add to your bucket list.
Image credit: @weekend_hiker
Discover the incredible UK landscape with Tom, the hiker behind the @weekend_hiker account where he posts photos, stories and reels of mountaintops and countryside. You'll also find a range of walking tips, challenges to get you inspired, giveaways and route suggestions too. He travels all over the country but his favourite is a Lake District walking route up the mighty Helvellyn.
“One of the best walking routes in the UK has to be from Glenridding in the Lake District. Heading up to Birkhouse Moor, along the knife-edged arête, Striding Edge and then up to Helvellyn, will give you beautiful views as far as Ullswater and, on a clear day, beyond. Being England’s 3rd highest mountain, it’s a popular one with plenty of photo opportunities!"
"Carry on via Swirral Edge up to the pyramid peak of Catstye Cam for a closer look at Ullswater, before closing the loop and heading back to Glenridding."
"Guaranteed to be an epic day out!”
Image credit: @melgarside
We know that North Wales has glorious scenery in abundance – but not many people can capture its rugged beauty like Mel. Her dramatic shots are taken on her forays out into Snowdonia/Eryri, where she said there are many fantastic places to walk and explore.
“Whether it’s an amble, ramble, scramble or hike we have it all and you won’t be disappointed,” she continued. “I’d personally recommend the Rhyd Ddu, Beddgelert or Llanberis areas for forest walks, hillside wonders or taking on a couple of the paths up the majestic Snowdon.”
Image credit: @matt.rushton
Mountain-tops, tree-tops, silhouettes seemingly standing on top of the world… Matt Rushton really is one of the “top” hiking Instagrammers. The Lake District-based photographer’s shots change with the seasons, and include a wide range of landscapes, showcasing how dramatic the National Park can be.
Matt’s favourite Lake District route starts by parking at Honister Slate Mine and heading across Haystacks before reaching Innonimate Tarn.
He added: “After the climb from the car you’ll pass Dubs Hut, which provides a great focal point looking west towards the face of Haystacks. Once you’ve descended from the mine workings you can take a short detour down to Warnscale Bothy. That shot looks down into Buttermere and it’s banker for me, it looks great in any weather.
“The walk from there is fairly steady and once you hit Innonimate Tarn there’s shots to be had looking south toward Great Gable and north-west down Ennerdale valley.”
Image credit: @_sarahwilks_
Sarah Wilks is another Lake District photographer, whose landscape shots capture the calmness of the beautiful region. Expect mirroring lakes, vacant benches looking out for miles, and the occasional Highland cow!
She said: “One of my favourite walks is Walla Crag from my home town Keswick. There are beautiful views of the town, Derwent Water and the surrounding mountains.”
If you're feeling inspired to get out on foot in this spectacular region, read through our pick of the best walks in the Lake District.
Image credit: @walk.hike.explore
This Instagram feed is full of amazing views across misty mountains, glassy lakes and epic skies, providing plenty of walking inspiration for the keen adventurer. Although Ed who runs the account travels all over the UK for walking, he also recommends a special Lake District spot.
"One of my favourite hikes has to be Great Gable, from the Borrowdale valley at Seathwaite. It’s longer but you get lots of different views and terrains. Different peaks, hidden tarns, glimpses into other valleys. From the Wasdale side it is a bit harder but shorter. From either side the views are amazing and on top you get to see one of the best views in the Lakes, looking down over Wasdale with its patchwork stone wall fields."
Image credit: @nicolinaiacob
Although her photography covers a lot of the UK, Nicolina lives in the South of England and finds herself exploring the Jurassic Coast on a regular basis. Her favourite walking route is between Worbarrow Bay and Durdle Door, a location she said “is by far the best place to shoot on the coast”.
She added: “It doesn’t matter how many times you have visited, you will still find new angles or different weather conditions to take incredible photos. My favourite view towards Durdle Door is from Swyre Head. I have loads of photos from the same spot and I always end up taking another one just because it’s too beautiful and I want to capture the moment again and again.”
Image credit: @katherine.livesey
Katy lives in Lancashire, and so is surrounded by natural wonders. The countryside, moorland and extensive waterways make it perfect for outdoor explorers and adrenaline seekers to attain perfect #landscape_captures.
Her Instagram feed is comprised of a wide range of shots; from poignant woodland to rugged stretches of coast.
“For the best walking route in Lancashire, and for good views as well, I’d recommend Beacon Fell,” she explained. “There are lots of gorgeous, easy walks there, fantastic views over Lancashire and there’s a small café and plenty of parking – so it’s a win/win. Definitely one of my go-to locations!”
Image credit: @alex.davies Staggering shots of Snowdonia/Eryri and wonderful Welsh coastlines make up the bulk of Alex Davies’ Insta feed. Indeed, Alex gave us two options when asked to suggest two hikes in his region.
He said: “My favourites would be Moel Eilio for a mountain walk, and Llanddwyn Island (Newborough Beach) for a coastal walk.”
The photo shown above is the viewpoint from Moel Eilio which, when shared on Visit Wales’ Instagram account, became their most popular image!
Of that particular walk, Alex added: “The route starts in Llanberis and is around seven miles in total.”
Image credit: @hikingtoheels
Asa and Emma are the two behind the account @hikinginheels and discovered the world of rambling during lockdown. They've already been to some fantastic locations and their feed is full of stunning views providing some true walking inspiration.
"We have so many routes we love. Some of our favourites which we think offer the best-elevated spots from where you can get some cracking pictures (most of which you can see on our grid) include: The Jurassic Coast - this includes Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove - you can see some of our pics on our grid there from some really good elevated spots! Bamford Edge is a lesser-known but beautiful area. With the likes of Snowdon, of course it’s an excellent place to get some of the most stunning pics but it can be very weather dependent. And we recently completed Sugar Loaf mountain which allowed us to see the Brecon Beacons surrounding us - just breathtaking!"
Image credit: @_my_kind_of_therapy_
When we need to find a photo of the delightful Yorkshire countryside, Helen’s account is one of our first ports of call. Her lovely shots take in the area’s coastline, countryside and wildlife, with gorgeous tones ensuring they’re pleasing on the eye.
Helen, who loves getting out and about with her camera, says that the Cleveland Way (which covers 109 scenic miles) is her favourite walk – starting at Helmsley and finishing at Filey Brigg.
She said: “The Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay stretch of the walk is amazing and has some of the best coastal views. You can also see Saltwick Bay which is near Whitby; sunsets are beautiful there. Whitby is a really interesting place to visit, especially Whitby Abbey which is on the Cleveland Way coastal path route.”
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Plan your walking holiday
After browsing through some of the UK's best outdoor hiking Instagram accounts, we've no doubt you're feeling inspired to head off on your own adventure!
Climb the heady heights of the Peak District or navigate around the lakes of Cumbria. Check out our range of holiday cottages across the UK and find your own walker's retreat to use as a base during your travels.
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