Spring has already been a bit up and down in Manchester, and although we can deal with a lot, it’s been quite hard to sit in a beer garden of late. Looking ahead to better days, though, the outdoor experts at Blacks have analysed data in UK regions to reveal the 10 best destinations to complete a sunrise hike – and you can bet our very own Peak District has done VERY well.
Natalie Wolfenden, Author and outdoor enthusiast at Blacks comments: “Sunrise hikes are becoming increasingly popular, with a 189% increase in searches in the past year alone. Spring is the perfect time to go on sunrise hikes. The sun rises later than it will in the summer, so hikers do not have to set off too early, but the skies are much clearer than they would be in the winter months.”
Blacks created a seed list of popular UK hiking areas suitable for sunrise views and rank based on average spring sunrise time (across March, April and May), the number of hiking trails, and average cloud cover in spring.
The Peak District was named the best place in the UK for a sunrise hike
Taking the top spot as the best place to watch the sun rise is the Peak District. With famous ridge walks such as The Dragon’s Back, Mam Tor & The Great Ridge, and The Roaches, hikers have plenty of choices on where to hike for beautiful sunrise views.
The gritstone edges that can be seen in a lot of Peak District walks catch the morning light, and the high peaks offer panoramic views of nearby valleys. Climbs such as Mam Tor are popular as they offer a high elevation but take less than an hour to climb, meaning hikers don’t have to wake up too early to catch a sunrise.
The North and Wales dominate the top nine
Staying in the North West (partly), the stunning Yorkshire Dales came in second, with over 560 hiking trails. Hikers can view the sunrise from trails such as Malham Cove, Ilkley Moor and Ingleborough, plus 360-degree views of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Morecambe Bay from Ingleborough on a clear day, and groups often gather for spring and summer solstice events at the peak.
Northumberland takes third place, with a score of 7.38/10. The north-eastern county has over 400 hiking trails, including The Cheviots and Simonside & Dove Crag, alongside incredible coastal hikes such as Bamburgh Castle, which offer beautiful views of golden light over the North Sea. Because the coast faces east, a Northumberland sunrise is a great opportunity to see the sun rise over the ocean and illuminate iconic landmarks such as St Mary’s Lighthouse and Holy Island.
In fact, all of the top nine spots were taken by northern English, Scottish or Welsh locations, with the South Downs coming in at number 10.
Other North West spots with the best sunrise hikes
The Lake District and North Pennines came in fourth and fifth place respectively, repping the North West even more. With relatively easy access to the fells of Cumbria, and the tops of the Pennines, sunrise hikes seem to be more accessible for us in Greater Manchester than ever before.
The 10 best UK regions for sunrise hikes
- Peak District
- Yorkshire Dales
- Northumberland
- Lake District
- (=) North Pennines
- (=) Scottish Highlands
- North York Moors
- Brecon Beacons
- Snowdonia
- South Downs
