You can find some amazing inspiration for hiking adventures in the UK right on your phone aka Instagram!
I follow an insane amount of UK Instagrammers who share my passion for the wonderful outdoors and are always sharing awesome hiking Instagram photos. I thought it was time I shared some of the best hiking Instagram accounts in the UK with you too.
Instagram is a great way to get ideas for new hiking adventures and trips. I’m always saving photos from my Instagram followers for new hiking locations in the UK National Parks and other stunning areas in the UK.
amazing inspiration for hiking adventures in the UK
Here are some (not all, so please don’t cry if I missed you out) of my favourite UK hiking Instagram accounts that you must follow!
Oh and I’m shamelessly including myself as a bonus extra because I want to!
Go give me a follow on Instagram and be sure to say hi in the comments too 🙂
Becky @beckytheTraveller
If you’re not already following me, you’re missing out. Check out my Instagram for my UK hiking and camping trips.
Plus a few other adventures from around the world! I will also create Insta stories of my hiking adventures when the wi-fi is behaving!
Last year, I did an epic road trip around the UK stopping and hiking in all 15 of our amazing National Parks.
Wherever you live in the UK there’s a hike near you! I love when I post photos and people say, I didn’t realise that was in the UK. Yes, I am so lucky to live in an awesome country with so many gorgeous hikes nearby.
And this summer, I did an 800+ mile hike across the UK. You can read more about it here.
Who made it my best hiking Instagram accounts list? Keep scrolling to find out!
My top 23 best hiking Instagram accounts
Zahrah M @the_hillwalking_hijabi
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Zahrah’s favourite hike – If you had asked me this over 6 months ago I would have said Ben Vrackie which is a Corbett in Perthshire. But at the end of last year, I did Buchaille Etive Beag and had the most stunning views.
Zahrah is from Glasgow, Scotland, born and raised. She only got into hillwalking a few years ago when a couple of friends took her up Ben Lomond to distract her from her professional CA exams (which she was really struggling with).
It was a tough first hike, especially as she hadn’t done any hillwalking or any (intentional) exercise up until that point, in fact, she actually said she didn’t enjoy it!
Her life took another challenging turn and her friends took her out again but this time a much smaller hill and she absolutely loved it! Zahrah realised the whole time she was out she didn’t think of anything other than putting one foot in front of the other and getting to the top of the hill.
Zahrah said, ‘It felt like such an achievement to get to that summit and funnily enough I was able to apply it to different parts of my life too. Taking the smaller steps which would lead to a positive end,’
Read next: 22 of the best hikes in the UK
James Forrest @jamesmichaelforrest
James’ favourite UK hike – Classic Newlands Horseshoe in the Lake District
James, aka ‘Mountain Man’ – as the Sunday Telegraph nicknamed him used to live in a city and work in an office but was fed up.
On his Instagram, you’ll find beautiful photos of the Lake District, where James now spends a lot of his time, including his iconic jumping photos.
Over the past few years, he’s been on a crazy mission to make his life more adventurous; to explore the great outdoors and to climb as many mountains as possible. He’s basically a hiking addict and shares all his adventures on Instagram!
In 2015, he hiked all 214 ‘Wainwrights’ in the Lake District. In 2016, he quit his job to go hiking in Australasia. And in 2017, he set a new record by climbing all 446 mountains in England and Wales in 6 months – the fastest ever time.
Want to follow more of James’ hiking adventures? You can find him on Twitter and Facebook
Lisa Wells @LisaandTheBeast
Lisa’s favourite UK hike – Y Garn in Snowdonia
Lisa and her dog (The Beast – who is super cute and regularly appears in her Instagram hiking photos) are outdoors as much as they can.
They live on the coast of North Wales and are lucky to be able to combine their love of the outdoors with coastal walks and mountain hikes, including Hadrian’s Wall and sections of the North Wales Coastal Path. All their adventures are fuelled with Hobnob biscuits!
In 2018, Lisa was chosen as a #GetOutside Champion by Ordnance Survey and also has recently become a Water-to-Go ambassador. She’ll be spreading the word on how we can all reduce our plastic waste. Yes!
Y Garn is her favourite UK hike because it’s quieter, there are many different routes to the summit and amazing history attached to the valley. It has everything from the views to one of the best wild camping spots where you can unzip your tent and experience one of the best sunrises ever.
Lisa is also a trainee Mountain Leader with her assessment at the end of the year. The ultimate dream is to encourage and equip more people with the skills and confidence to enjoy the outdoors by sharing her best hiking photos on Instagram.
You can also follow Lisa’s adventures on Twitter and Facebook
Ryan @vanilakodey
Ryan’s favourite UK hike – North face of Tryfan, on to Bristly Ridge and the Glyders in Snowdonia
Ryan is known as a ‘weekend adventurer’ on Instagram. He loves the outdoors and has a goal to summit all the mountains of England and Wales starting January 2018, no time limit but more a motivator to visit new places.
This year Ryan has met up with 35 like-minded, albeit strangers through Instagram hiking trips and has made some great friends.
This month Ryan took on the seriously challenging Welsh 3000s (I know because I attempted it with him!) Next month he plans to take on the Jurassic Coast and in October, Ryan is hiking Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Ryan’s favourite hike takes in his all-time favourite mountain Tryfan. There are so many routes to the top of this rocky beast you will never take the same route twice. It’s grade one scramble territory so lots of hands-on rock fun and fantastic views.
Read about my Welsh 3000s Challenge in Snowdonia here
Marie Cheng @mariecheng27
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Marie’s favourite hikes – The North Face of Tryfan in Snowdonia or Fairfield Horseshoe in the Lake District
Marie is a 30-something consultant by day and avid skier and hiker by night!
She was born into a culture where going outdoors ‘just for fun’ was a somewhat alien concept. She got into hiking and adventures a little by accident when on a whim she signed up to a ballot to climb Kilimanjaro.
Since then she’s been using her precious free time to travel to some of the most diverse locations across the world and is loving the fact that the outdoors is now on her doorstep.
After moving to Sheffield to be closer to the Peak District, her adventures and travels have led her to start up her own startup adventure company @threepeaksadventures that organises trips to take groups on expeditions overseas.
In setting up her company, Marie has always been keen to make her trips matter. She says, ‘I am a massive advocate of having a positive impact on the communities and environments in which we go and whom we rely on to do these amazing things’.
And having been denied the access to the mountains in earlier life, she wanted everything positive that she had subsequently experienced from being outdoors to be poured into the design of our challenges and the brand and community in which we were trying to create.
Ed Hockett @walk.hike.explore
Ed’s favourite UK hike – Pen y Fan & Cribyn via Cwm Sere on the north side in the Brecon Beacons
Ed shares very gorgeous scenic photos on Instagram and is rarely in the photos himself so I was lucky to find this photo of him, even though it is from behind haha!
He is based in the Malvern Hills and his favourite hike in the UK is the route up Pen y Fan route in the Brecon Beacons National Park. He prefers the route up via the north side because it has fewer people on the trail but also the best views (seems like a good reason to me).
Also, this way up gives you options how hard you want to make your hike, either follow animal tracks for an easier hike or scramble up the side to make it a challenge.
Who doesn’t like a good challenge?
Ed does a series of routes called ‘Hard Route Easy Peak’ which is exactly what the title suggests! Ed says any peak can be a challenge depending on how you approach it.
He also has a few other hiking challenges still in the early stages including a kayak, hike, scramble, camp route in the Lake District.
You can also follow Ed’s epic adventures on YouTube
Maggie Walley @maggiewalley
Maggie’s favourite UK hike – Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Esk Pike in the Lake District
Maggie Walley is 23 years old and in the midst of moving from North Yorkshire to South Yorkshire. Her love of the outdoors and hiking comes from being coaxed up mountains by her parents during holidays to the Hebrides as a child.
Only to discover she actually liked it when she reached her late teens and went off to university. Who else can relate to this!
Maggie joined the university hiking club and was lucky enough to be heading to the Lake District most weekends! Crinkle Crags was her first hike with the hiking club.
Since then she tried to be outdoors as often as she can, sharing hiking photos on her Instagram account as she goes. Maggie is trying to get into more long-distance hikes, which will begin with the Yorkshire Three Peaks in July!
Maggie is hoping to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise money for a great charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a male suicide prevention charity. You can donate to her JustGiving page here.
Read next: Best Long-Distance Hikes in the UK
Dave @daveadventure
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Andy Scott @my.hiking.adventures
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Andy’s favourite UK hike – Mt Snowdon horseshoe in Snowdonia National Park
Andy is 36, from Shropshire and is a true inspiration for all those who struggle with their mental health.
He spent most of my adult life living for work and wasn’t happy with his lifestyle, diet or priorities. He is open about suffering from depression and anxiety since 2004, hoping it would go away or he’d snap out of it one day.
But on his birthday in 2015, he made huge lifestyle changes including his changing his diet, drinking habits, stopping smoking and lack of exercise. Plus giving up his flash car and quitting his job. Wow, that’s some huge changes!
Andy started to focus on all the things he loved in his early twenties including nature, wildlife, photography and the beautiful outdoors. He began hill walking locally.
From here, his passion for the outdoors quickly grew, less than a year later he was taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon). He says, he remembers driving through Fort William to Ben Nevis and thinking, wow, this is just incredible! I know that feeling after finally climbing the mighty Ben Nevis last year too.
Andy shares some gorgeous hiking photos on his Instagram account but also some close-up nature and wildlife shots. You can tell how much hiking means to him, it’s a massive factor in changing his life and fighting his mental health issues.
Andy is truly in his element when it’s him, his dog, his camera hiking in the mountains.
Ellie Dickinson @elliejellyd
Ellie’s favourite UK hike – The Cobbler and its neighbours in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs
Ellie is a PhD student, working in Belfast while still trying to pursue her passion for hiking around the UK.
Last year, she did the ‘Everest Anywhere’ challenge and completed it with over 2,000 metres extra by the end of a trip to Bulgaria in August. She’s planning to do the same again this year in preparation for the West Highland Way next year.
To date, Ellie has also climbed 24 of the Lake District ‘Wainwrights’ and hoping to finish them around the same time as she finishes her PhD. Then it will be on to Scotland to continue Munro bagging, only done 9 so far, although that’s 7 more than me haha.
She loves sharing her hiking experience via Instagram, hopefully inspiring people to go on adventures, no matter how big or small.
The Cobbler is such a great hill with so much character plus very easy to get to from Glasgow. You start by the gorgeous Loch Long before winding up through the forest. Once you get into the hills the Cobbler stands out in the scenery and if you are feeling brave you can scramble to the top of the needle.
Laura Doling @lauradoling
Laura’s favourite UK hike – Red Pike from Buttermere across to Haystacks, down Fleetwith Pike in the Lake District
Laura is a 24-year-old Royal Mail postie from Essex.
She fell in love with walking thanks to my fond memories of camping and hiking holidays as a child. She says her old man was always her inspiration to get exploring the great outdoors and she’ll be forever grateful he instilled that in her.
The thing I love about Laura is that she has fallen in love with the mountains so much she is relocating from Essex, to work a postal round in Windermere and will be buying my first house in the Lake District. Now that’s true dedication to the mountains! Check out her updates on Instagram.
Laura loves the walk from Buttermere, particularly sitting on Fleetwith Pike in the sunshine and looking back at all the peaks she’s stood on that day. Plus the quick-paced walk down the crest of the pike back to the lake, with fantastic views all the way to reflect the day!
Brendan Mulvin @brendan_mulvin_adventures
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Brendan’s favourite UK hike – Mount Snowdon via Pen y pass to Crib Goch in Snowdonia
Brendan loves hiking and the outdoors, he feels most at home with his backpack on or camping. Currently, he’s exploring, the Isle of Wight! And he’s loving island life.
His next challenge will be to embark on a circa-navigation attempt of the island by Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP), this is a big first for him so watch out for that!
Brendan loves to explore on his travels, one of his favourite places in Snowdonia.
Hiking along Crib Goch to the summit of Snowdon always brings a smile to his face, no matter the weather! I agree with that after attempting it myself for the first time on the Welsh 3000s challenge. Brendan aims to do this hike at least once each year.
Follow Brendan’s adventures on his blog, Twitter or Facebook
Nicola Hardy @adventurer.nic
Nic’s favourite UK hike – Castle Crag in the Lake District
Nic, also known as the #instagramsocialsecretary has brought together almost 100 like-minded, adventurous Instagrammers for hiking, wild camping and climbing including myself.
Social media gets a hard time saying people are not outdoors enough, well Nic has really proved them wrong and she’s met an amazing group of outdoor enthusiasts.
She is really passionate about climbing mountains and loves to share her enthusiasm for the outdoors with others, which you can see from her awesome hiking Instagram photos and comical Insta Stories!
Like everyone else, Nic struggled to choose her favourite hike as there are too many to choose from. But she decided on Castle Crag, the shortest Wainwright which is a fantastic hike and proves that sometimes the best things come in small packages!
In October 2018, Nic climbed Mt Kilimanjaro with eight fellow Instagrammers.
Then in 2020, she’ll be walking 3,000 km along the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa trail. So you definitely need to be following her because New Zealand is awesome!
Sandra @sandysscenery
Sandy’s favourite UK hike – No favourite, she loves them all!
Sandy moved to Cumbria last summer and she is currently merrily working (or should that be walking?) her way through the Wainwrights, with her little four-legged fellwalking friend. You’ll spot him in some of Sandy’s photos!
For Sandy, it’s much more than a tick list; it’s about the experience, the challenge, the freedom and the achievement. She feels alive in the mountains and the ‘wow’ factor never leaves her. I know that feeling!
She loves being outside in the fabulous countryside, feeling at one with nature and being present in the moment. Sandy loves to explore and rarely does the same route twice.
She tries to create circular routes rather than ‘there and back again’ although on occasion she has been beaten by the weather or cows. Sandy admits that she has been known to do ridiculous detours to avoid cows! I’m with her on that one, I much prefer them at a safe distance!
Sandy’s next plans include a road trip in a campervan to explore Scotland further.
Saul Darlington @summits_with_saul
Saul’s favourite UK hike – the Glyders in Snowdonia
Saul is 20 years old and loves to explore, camp and walk with like-minded people. He can regularly be found up a mountain with his friends and family. Since starting Instagram last September he’s walked up 65 different mountains, that is impressive!
But his biggest challenge to date will be in October when he is going up Kilimanjaro with seven fellow Instagrammers. Saul is going to be raising money for Nightingale Hospice, as they have helped people close to him in their time of need.
You can donate here via his JustGiving page
Saul loves hiking for many reasons the social side, the challenge the views and new places, although the Glyders are his favourite go-to hiking spot. He loves their character, features, exposure and size. It’s also where he’d discovered scrambling and where his hiking addiction started from.
Read next: Hiking Cadair Idris in South Snowdonia
Craig Adams @craig_adamz
Craig’s favourite UK hike – Scafell Pike from Seathewaite in the Lake District
Craig is 33 and lives in London but that doesn’t stop him from getting out to the mountains! He says the Lake District is his favourite place in the world, at the moment and I totally understand why it’s gorgeous!
He’s always looking for adventures and new activities to try, although long-distance hiking is his thing! For Craig, the best thing about being outdoors is the people you meet along the way and the way it takes you away from the stresses of life, great for the mind.
This year Craig has walked around 80 km along the south coast and been on more long-distance hikes all over the country than you’ve all had hot dinners!
His favourite being Scafell Pike from Seathewaite, a custom route he made summiting five other fells, from #osmaps. Mainly because he loves that feeling of being the highest person in the country!
Read next: Helvellyn versus Scafell Pike walk in the Lake District
Jessica Mather @jessicamather91
Jessica’s favourite UK hike – Coledale Horseshoe in the Lake District
Jessica is 26 and lives in the North West of England, close to some of the most beautiful national parks, the Lake District, Peak District, Snowdonia and Yorkshire Dales.
She was never really an outdoorsy person until 4 years ago when she entered and won a competition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. In 6 months she has to get outside and train to climb the mountain. That’s where her love for the mountains grew and continues to grow today.
Jessica summited Kilimanjaro in June 2014. On her return, she booked Everest Base Camp with her best friend Vicky, due to go in November 2015. But in mid-2015, her life got turned upside down when Vicky had a tragic accident on a Lake District fell and lost her life.
Jessica completed Everest Base Camp in memory of her.
Ever since she is always looking for her next adventure, with Vicky always remaining her inspiration. Now Jessica has completed the Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary trek in Nepal and Mount Toubkal in Morocco.
And next, it will be her first 6000m+ mountain Stok Kangri. I can’t wait to see the photos. (Update – Check out her Instagram for awesome hiking photos!)
Jessica loves Coledale Horseshoe as the views you get from it are incredible and you get to see a lot of different parts of the lakes from this hike.
Mitchell Graham @_ mitchgraham_
Mitchell’s favourite UK hike – Newlands Horseshoe in the Lake District
Mitchell, 29 from Cumbria, feels lucky to have the Lake District on his doorstep. He first got into the outdoors at 6 years old and from there hiking and the outdoors grew into the passion he has today.
Some other of his favourites hikes include Helvellyn and Catstycam from Glenridding, Bowfell from Great Langdale and Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag, Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike, starting and finishing in Buttermere.
As you can see there is a Lake District theme here!
Last year, Mitchell also completed all the 214 Wainwright Fells. An awesome achievement!
Kelly Jones @country_girl_at_heart1
Kelly’s favourite UK hike – Crib Goch and Bristly Ridge in Snowdonia
A mum of two daughters she works full time as a support worker for vulnerable teenage girls. She has always had a love for the outdoors, even as a child, going on walks and picnics, and paddles in the river.
Over the years, as life became more challenging she began going out for walks more and more. Kelly says she found after a short while, any stresses, and emotional upset, or worries that were burdening her, seemed to drift away.
For Kelly, the outdoors is her therapy and the one constant that has kept her sane. She says, it definitely helps with our emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. I totally agree!
She wants to inspire everyone around her to get outside and enjoy and appreciate their surroundings. She loves it when people tell her they have been inspired by her Instagram hiking photos to go and visit places or explore somewhere new.
One of her favourite things to do is get out an OS map of an area. Decide what I’d like to go looking for, maybe a cool waterfall she’s never seen before and off she goes on an adventure!
Harry Baker @harry.t.baker
Harry’s favourite UK hike – Buttermere Edge, from Red Pike in the Lake District
You can find Harry out in the Lake District in all weathers and since he got his camera last year he’s rarely ever in! He sounds a bit like me!
Harry’s Instagram hiking photos are stunning, you only have to look at his profile to see for yourself. One of my favourites was his night photo from Lakeland Festival of Light for Nepal.
Harry is planning on doing the North Coast 500 (yes that stands for 500 miles) later in the year in a campervan. He used to work in film special effects but since moving up north from London his passion for the outdoors has taken over!
Harry’s loves hiking Buttermere Edge because it is close to his home, it’s a long walk up high with views over the coast, Lake District and lots of lakes!
Plus it includes Haystacks/Scarths Gap looking over Ennerdale which is his favourite place!
Adam Dodsworth @adamdodsworth
Adam’s favourite UK hike – Scafell Pike from Langdale in the Lake District
Adam makes my best hiking Instagram accounts in the UK.
He is a 30 something Accountant from sunny Sunderland, currently doing another professional qualification which seriously curtails his adventuring needs!
Being office based for anything up to 60 hours a week, he jumps at the chance to spend time outdoors, whether it be cycling, walking, running or generally getting lost (via a pub normally).
He has lots of gorgeous Instagram photos of the UK National Parks but also sneaks in a few photos of Jim his dog, who is super cute 🙂
Adam picked Scafell Pike from Langdale as his best UK hike. He says ‘it is simply 14 miles of the best the Lake District has to offer!
With stunning views into Borrowdale, Eskdale and Wasdale on the route, as well as Scafell Pike being elusive until the latter stages, it takes some beating!’
Rory Southworth @rorysouthworth
Rory’s favourite UK hike – St Sunday Crag via Pinnacle Ridge from Patterdale in the Lake District
Rory is a hiker, runner and climber based in the North West of England. Be sure to check out his Instagram Stories of his hiking adventures too as you really get to know him and his famous cap haha!
Having crossed the UK by foot three times he is now focusing his time specifically in Wales, who doesn’t love Wales! Rory loves challenges, he cycled the length of the Wales, England and Scotland last summer.
He is also currently close to completing all of the three-star scrambles in the Lake District (that make for some scary Instagram photos!) and has recently hiked up his last Wainwright completing the 214 hills that make up the Wainwright hill bagging list.
You can also follow Rory on Twitter
Do you know some awesome UK hikers on Instagram that you think I would love to follow?
Add any hiking Instagram account handle in the comments and I will check them out (or maybe your own hehe). Happy hiking 🙂
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Not only have you made me want to jump on a plane and head back to the UK for some serious hiking but you’ve introduced me to some great hikers to follow! Thanks!!!
haha it’s all go here in the UK, this is where all the action happens!! 🙂 I’m organising a hike this weekend, jump on a plane and join us 🙂
Are there any southern England ie Dorset or Hampshire Instagrammers? Would love to follow anyone closer to home.
Hi Elizabeth, I can’t think of any off the top of my head, but I will ask my followers for you. What’s your Instagram handle?