The UK's Top Walks According to Instagram

October 27, 2022

Snowdon claims peak position as the most Instagrammable walk in the UK.
Whitby's wonderful coastline is a delight for dog-walkers
Beautiful landscapes and historical stories make up the majority of the most hashtagged walks.

Whilst we are all stuck at home, dreaming about post lockdown adventures, we thought we would provide some inspiration for those armchair travellers. We dug through the data, sifted through selfies and waded our way through Instagram's hiking-related hashtags to bring you the UK's most Instagrammable and aesthetically pleasing walking routes for you to explore as soon as lockdown is lifted.

So, ready your hiking boots and prep those hashtags, here are the UK's top beauty spots for stretching the legs.

Top 10 Most Instagrammable Walks

According to Instagram, the winner of the UK's most posted about walking route is...

The Llanberis Path on Snowdon, Snowdonia.

Wales' highest mountain is packed with Instagram-prepped photo spots and the climb up is one of the toughest walks in the UK. With a little over 1.4 million hashtags posted by hikers, climbers, and walkers alike, it's no surprise that this natural wonder takes the top spot.

The cliff-top walkways of North Yorkshire's Robin Hood's Bay secured second spot with 1.2 million related hashtags praising the stunning seaside scenery and coastal views. The hashtags show that the nearby Whitby Abbey, famously the haunt of the legendary Dracula, is a perfect spot for updating your status.

Rounding out the top three with just under a million related hashtags is the historic Viking Coastal Trail in Kent.

The full route is a little over 32 miles and best broken down into smaller segments for those who don't want to work up too much of a sweat. Highlights include the seaside towns of Margate and Ramsgate and the historic Minster Abbey, which was ransacked by Viking invaders.

Most Instagrammable Walks by Number of Related Hashtags

Top Ten Instagrammable Walks

Gentle strolls for superior selfies

Surrey Hills are a magnet for selfie seekers

For many, the ideal hike is little more than an hour. Perfect for stretching the legs and enjoying the great outdoors, without things turning into a day long trek. Short, wildlife-filled walks are ideal for those with young families, or parents tired of pushing prams through the mud.

Beautiful scenery, wonderful wildlife and mysterious myths abound in the 357,000 hashtags related to the Devil's Punchbowl in Surrey Hills.

The easiest route through this sweeping woodland can be completed in just over an hour. Pack a pair of a good shoes and your camera ready for some snaps of the brilliant birdlife that calls this corner of the country home.

The most grammable yet easy walks are:

Gentle Strolls for Superior Selfies

Accessible walks for simple snaps

Canals and city centres make for local favourites

Keeping your walks local is important right now, so we dug through the data to find Instagram's favourite city centre jaunts. From riverside strolls to charming jaunts through historic colleges, our findings here were based on easily accessible routes through some of the UK's most popular location.

Leading the way with 155,000 related hashtags was spa city of Bath in Somerset. Top shots included photographs of Pulteney Bridge, while the iconic image of the Circus was a leading location tag for the city across the social media platform.

The West Yorkshire walk along Saltaire canal wasn't far behind, with 144,000 hashtags highlighting the historic nature of the stroll through old Salts' Mill and pretty pictures of the canal leading to nearby Skipton.

Top walks for those with prams:

Accessible Walks for Simple Snaps

Pooch-friendly ambles

Furry friends hit the Yorkshire coastline

Lots of cute dog snaps and pet-related hashtags meant the following routes were top of the pile when it came to dog-friendly walks. If you like to get out and about with your furry friends, these are for you.

The coastal walks and cliff-top pathways of Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay took top spot, with almost two million people posting to social media along the seven-mile route. As well as having quality time with their dogs on top of the agenda, many users' posts were packed with snaps celebrating the Yorkshire coastal views.

Dog-Friendly Walks by Hashtags

Pooch Friendly Ambles

Serious walks for serious hikers

Weekend walkers might fancy something a little more challenging and according to Instagram several of the nation's most iconic walkways fit the bill.

At 1,345m it should come as no surprise that Ben Nevis is among the most challenging walks around. Britain's tallest mountain takes some serious planning and is reserved for those who take walking seriously.

Reaching the peak is something of an achievement, as documented by the 210,842 hashtags posted from the top.

Serious walks for serious hikers

Stretch your legs locally

It's hugely important that you stay local when out walking during COVID-19 restrictions. If you've got your eye on a route that is just a little too far away, you could always save your hike for a safer and more accessible time. Get the lowdown on local stars and future favourites below.

Stretch Your Legs Locally