You probably already have a favourite walking spot. Maybe it’s nearby, maybe it’s got a world-class cafe at the end of the trail – but it’s always worth branching out and finding new spots for a gander. If you’re looking for a new route to fall in love with, you’re in luck: Cewe has got you covered.
Yes, Cewe the photo printing company. You may not think that it knows about hiking, but Cewe certainly knows what makes a gorgeous view, so it compiled a list of what it says are the most beautiful walks in the UK.
In order to create the ranking, Cewe measured several popular walking routes against different metrics including amount of times they were hashtagged in Instagram, amount of Google reviews, and the number of reviews which specifically mentioned the word ‘beautiful’. Once all of this data was collected, some serious number crunching took place, leaving each walk with a final position in the chart.
Mount Stewart, a 200-year-old estate in Northern Ireland, came out on top with 259 reviews referencing its beauty. According to Cewe, ‘the grounds feature a grand mansion with a notable collection of paintings, beautifully landscaped gardens, and 10 miles of walking trails that wind through farmland and woodland’, so it’s a very versatile area. Whether you fancy freshly-trimmed hedges or towering trees, Mount Stewart’s got you covered.
In joint second place were Powis Castle, in central Wales, and Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire – both of which had 254 reviews which contained ‘beautiful’ or similar words. Powis, which was built in the 1200s, was noted as having brilliant views all the way down into the Severn Valley, and Dunnottar was described as a ‘national treasure’ by the listmakers.
There’s something irresistible about a castle it seems, as three out of the top ten walks in the list featured a historic fortress including the aforementioned two and Belfast Castle, which came in ninth.
If you’re not a castle-type, then Whitesands Bay, which was third, might be more your thing. It’s a popular surf-spot, but it’s also ideal for anyone who wants a waterside stroll in the sun this summer.
You can have a look at all of Cewe’s recommended walks, as well as advice on how to best capture them on camera, on their website here. If nothing jumps out at you, don’t fear. We’ve got an equally brilliant list of the 13 most breathtaking hikes in the UK right here.
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