The UK’s Best Sunrise Hikes & Walks

Ahead of the brighter spring days, here at Blacks, we have analysed data looking at the average sunrise times, cloud coverage and the number of hiking trails in UK regions to reveal the 10 best destinations to complete a sunrise hike.

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 does 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.

The 10 Best UK Regions For Sunrise Hikes

1. Peak District

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.

2. Yorkshire Dales

In second place is the Yorkshire Dales, which has over 560 hiking trails. Hikers can view the sunrise from trails such as ‘Malham Cove’, ‘Ilkley Moor’ and ‘Ingleborough’. Visitors can see 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.

3. Northumberland

Northumberland takes third place, with a score of 7.38/10. The northeastern county has over 400 hiking trails, including ‘The Cheviots’ and ‘Simonside & Dove Crag’. Northumberland boasts incredible coastal hikes, such as ‘Bamburgh Castle’. Coastal routes 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. 

4. Lake District

Coming in at fourth is the gorgeous Lake District, scoring 7.14/10. With over 1,943 walking trails and just 37% cloud cover, the Lake District is full to the brim with incredible Wainwrights to bag at sunrise. The 'Rydal Water and Rydal Mount Circular' provides spectacular reflections, close to the idyllic village of Ambleside. The 'Buttermere Circular', 'Hawes End, Cat Bells, and Derwent Circular' also offer stunning opportunities to catch the sunrise, with the Catbells peak offering rewarding panoramic early morning views. 'Helvellyn' is another spectacular early morning, albeit challenging hike that provides a stunning reward. (See image above).

5. The North Pennines

Tips for Sunrise Hikes 

It is important to pack correctly for a sunrise hike. Whilst the weather forecast may predict clear, sunny skies, hikers starting their journey before sunrise will likely face cold, bitter weather. It is good practice to wear layers of clothing that can be removed and adjusted as the sun rises and the temperature changes. Alongside this, always check the forecast before you leave for any unsettled conditions; if heavy rain is forecast, you may also want to consider adding waterproof layers.

Before the sun rises, you’ll likely have minimal natural light. Therefore, you must bring a torch or headtorch and ensure that it is well-charged. It can be easy to stray from routes, lose your footing, or encounter wild animals. Alongside this, when choosing a spot to view the sun, make sure you’re careful to inspect where you stand or sit and don’t get too close to exposed edges when at a height. Always wear appropriate footwear when heading out on a walk or hike to prevent injury and ensure comfort.

Methodology

We created a seed list of popular UK hiking areas that are suitable for sunrise views and ranked them based on the following factors:

1. Average spring sunrise time

We calculated the average sunrise time for each location across the spring months (15th March, 15th April, 15th May), using https://www.timeandate.com/astronomy/uk. An earlier average sunrise will rank as better.

2. Number of hiking trails

We took the number of hiking routes from https://www.alltrails.com/. 

3. Cloud Cover

We calculated the average cloud cover (%) across spring months (1st March, 1st April, 1st May), using https://weatherspark.com/. 

We combined this into a normalised score, giving each factor a score out of 10, before taking an average of these scores to rank our areas.  

Natalie Wolfenden

Author and Outdoor Enthusiast An outreach and content marketing specialist with over a decade’s experience in related marketing roles, Natalie is lucky enough to work with outdoor specialists, ambassadors, charities and brands on exciting projects around inspiring and equipping people for life outdoors.

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