We’re very lucky here in the North that we have such beautiful scenery, making walks, runs and drives so gorgeous. Now, outdoor experts have revealed the best sunrise and sunset spots in the UK, and four are in the Peak District, just on Manchester’s doorstep.
Experts at Blacks analysed social media data – including hashtags for each place that mentioned ‘sunrise’ and ‘sunset’ – to determine the best UK nature spots for sunrises and sunsets, and the Peak District really ran away with it.
In second place is the beautiful Mam Tor, a hill located in Castleton, Derbyshire. Standing at 517m tall, its elevated position and open landscape make it a great spot for anyone looking to capture a great picture of the sunrise or sunset. With views of the White Peak and the Winnats Pass, it’s no surprise this spot boasts 1,350 Instagram posts.
Pipping our Peaks to the post was the incredible Mount Snowdon, also known as Yr Wyddfa, the hugely popular mountain located in North Wales. Snowdon is the most popular mountain in the UK and is climbed by an estimated half a million people every year due to its impressive views. With nearly 3,000 Instagram posts under ‘#SnowdonSunset’ and ‘#SnowdonSunrise’, Snowdon is a top UK destination for breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
Bamford Edge, Curbar Edge and Baslow Edge in the Peak District also all fall in the top 10 places to watch the sunrise and sunset, and with the Lake District‘s beautiful Catbells appearing too, Northern spots that are all reachable from Manchester officially make up half of the top 10! When you see these sunrises and sunsets, it’s pretty unsurprising that these areas would be acclaimed, so if you haven’t visited before now, take this as your sign.
The UK’s best sunrise and sunset nature spots (with total Instagram posts):
- Snowdon, Wales: 2,924
- Mam Tor, Peak District: 1,350
- Sandbanks, Dorset: 895
- Perranporth, Cornwall: 887
- Bamford Edge, Peak District: 143
- Watergate Bay, Cornwall: 91
- Curbar Edge, Peak District: 61
- Rhossili Bay, Gower: 46
- Catbells, Lake District: 33
- Baslow Edge, Peak District: 24
Calum Jones, blog author and outdoor enthusiast at Blacks, said: “With spring finally here, there is no better time to start heading outside and enjoying your surroundings. Whether you’re an early riser looking to catch the first light of the day or like to watch the day unwind as the sun sets, there are several spots around the UK which offer spectacular scenery.”