Pen y Fan ranked as the most picturesque rural walk in the UK, according to new study

PICTURESQUE PATHWAYS: RESEARCH REVEALS THE UK’S MOST INSTAGRAMMED WALKS PER KILOMETRE

• A new study of the UK’s most picturesque walks reveals that Parkland Walk in London is the most Instagrammed urban walk, with 2,131 hashtags per kilometre of the route
• The Pen Y Fan Walk in the Brecon Beacons ranks as the most beautiful rural walk with 22,437 hashtags per kilometre
• London is revealed as having some of the most picturesque urban walks, with four of the top five Instagrammed urban walks being located in the nation’s capital

September 2021: New research from Premier Inn has revealed where in the UK has the most picturesque walks, by analysing the walks with the most Instagram photos per kilometre.

Ramblers love using photo sharing platform Instagram to snap fantastic images of their walks, capturing and sharing the scenery, weather and landmarks seen on their journey. With Brits enjoying walks more than ever, the UK’s biggest hotel brand wanted to find out which scenic routes up and down the country were getting shared the most online.

By looking at the number of hashtags relating to popular UK walks, Premier Inn found the routes that have been shared on the photography platform the most, and cross-referenced this data with the length of that particular route, to reveal which walks have been inspiring the most photos across the UK.

London is home to the most Instagrammable urban walks

The most Instagrammed city walk in the UK was revealed as London’s Parkland Walk, which stretches from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, and measures just under five kilometres in length. The route follows an old course of a railway line and has several points of photographic interest along the way, including sculptures and graffiti artworks. So, it’s no surprise that this stunning walk ranks in position one, with 2,131 hashtags per kilometre of the route.

Following the Parkland Walk were several other London walks including: The Queen’s Walk in Southbank in second place with over 850 hashtags per kilometre, and Regent’s Canal Walk ranking in fourth place with 447 hashtags per kilometre of its 14.5km route.

Though walks in the south of the UK dominate the top five, plenty of northern urban routes rank in the top ten. The 56km Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath in Scotland ranks in 8^th place with 193 hashtags per kilometre, whilst routes in Durham and Leeds rank in 9^th and 10^th places respectively.

The Top 10 Most Instagrammed Urban UK Walks Per Kilometre

Parkland Walk, London

Brecon Beacons walk ‘Pen Y Fan’ ranks as most Instagrammable rural walk

Welsh route Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons takes the top spot of the UK’s most Instagrammable countryside walk, with an incredible 22,437 hashtags per kilometre of the 6.4km route (144,424 overall). The gentle 4-mile ‘Motor Way’ route takes you right to the top of the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons, providing stunning views of the wild open moorland.

Following the Brecon Beacons in first place is the Mam Tor and Great Ridge walk in the Peak District, with 8,669 hashtags per kilometre of the 10.4km route which goes through the national park’s valleys.

Slightly further north of the country, the Lake District is home to several Insta-worthy walks, with the Scafell Pike walk ranking in third place with 7,955 hashtags per kilometre. The Old Man of Coniston walk in the Lake District, which has 2,975 hashtags per kilometre, also ranks in the top 10 most Instagrammed rural walks (5^th).

While most of the top 10 most Instagrammable rural walks can be found in the country’s stunning national parks, and well-known peaks, the Fife Coastal Path takes ramblers 101 kilometres across the Scottish coast, meaning those walking along the route can breathe in the sea air while snapping their latest Instagram posts.

The Top 10 Most Instagrammed Rural UK Walks Per Kilometre

A spokesperson for Premier Inn said:

“With many of us remaining unsure on whether we can travel abroad or not, taking a long walk in your staycation destination – or even your home town – can feel like a nice escape from the mundanity of the everyday life, and a great way to explore the area.

“That’s why we were curious to find out which routes were being shared the most online. Our research shows that popular walks are not just reserved for those lucky enough to live near to long stretches of countryside. There are many urban walking routes that can be enjoyed by beginners and experienced ramblers alike, with some routes measuring up to 294km in length.

“It’s great to see such a mix of different routes up and down the country, proving that you can go on a beautiful walk and get your steps in, wherever you might be visiting this autumn.”

For the full rankings of the most Instagrammable walks for both urban and rural routes, and for the nearest Premier Inn hotels for each, visit: https://www.premierinn.com/instagram-walking-routes