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Lake District named ‘most Instagrammable location’ sparking safety warning
The Lake District has been unveiled as the UK’s most Instagrammable location according to social media users.
After trawling through thousands of Instagram posts and hashtags Blue Light Card and Mountain Warehouse have found that the Lake District is by far the UK’s most Instagrammable National Park, with visitors sharing over 5.3 million photos with trending hashtags including #lakedistrictnationalpark, #lakedistricthikers and #lakedistrictadventures.
With an average of 173,000 photos per associated hashtag, the Peak District is the second most shared National Park on Instagram, with #peakdistrict, #peakdistrictnationalpark and #peakdistrictproud ranking as the most used hashtags.
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In Wales, the UK’s largest National Park reigns supreme, with Snowdonia visitors clocking up an average of 138,000 posts per location-related hashtag. And in Scotland, the UK’s highest and most northerly National Park ranks the highest, with 73,000 visitors sharing their scenic photos of Cairngorm.
From novices to highly experienced walkers, the UK’s National Parks attract millions of visitors each year. And, despite proper preparation and planning, even the most knowledgeable adventurers can find themselves in dangerous situations in these unique and challenging environments.
Providing a crucial service for England and Wales, Mountain Rescue volunteers responded to 3629 call-out in 2022, resulting in 2881 deployments.
Accidents can happen to anyone but a bit of planning and preparation can make a big difference and ensure that you have a great day out. Mountain Rescue volunteers have been involved in developing the #BeAdventureSmart campaign, which is all about asking yourself three simple questions:
- Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day?
- Do I know what the weather will be like?
- Do I have the right gear?
Even if a location is hugely popular for Instagram posts and likes, it’s still worth anticipating any changes in the weather, especially if you’re heading to high ground. Basic orienteering skills, such as being able to use a map and compass can save lives. Navigation apps such as OS Maps are great but can’t always be relied upon without an internet signal and battery power. Make sure your phone has plenty of charge and carry a backup power supply if you can.
Highlighting the importance of safety, Mike Park, Mountain Rescue England and Wales CEO, said: “It’s not much fun sitting in the cold and damp waiting for a rescue team so it’s worth investing a bit of time and effort in planning your adventure so that everyone in your party can thoroughly enjoy their day out. Those #BeAdventureSmart questions could make all the difference.
“Mountain Rescue volunteers, who are on call 24/7, will be busy across the National Parks at this time of year so anything you can do to avoid the avoidable mishaps will really help us out.”
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