Spending hours and hours glued to your phone is the absolute antithesis of an adventurous lifestyle, but – for better or worse – there’s no escaping the influence of social media on the outdoors community. From YouTube tent pitching tutorials to ‘van life’ Instagram posts, tens of thousands of hikers, trail runners, climbers and wild campers are heading online to share their adventures with the world. Some are educational and informative, others are inspirational and quirky, a rare few are hilarious – and the cream of the crop are racking up huge numbers of followers. Here are 10 of the best up-and-coming accounts we’ve spotted online.
Sam Culley, from Derby, has taken on some epic hiking challenges in his time, including a 1,200-mile solo walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats. But his Instagram account is more about accessible adventure, with short-form videos sharing tips, tricks and advice with his followers – including how to find hidden beauty spots in the Peak District. Follow
After starring in the Channel 4 series Alone – which challenged 11 adventurers from the UK to survive in the bear-infested Canadian wilderness for the chance of winning £100,000 – Eva Outram has transformed her life since leaving the show (spoiler alert - she came fifth, by the way!) She has quit her job as an NHS manager to “pursue a life in the outdoors”, as she puts it. She now runs bushcraft and wilderness workshops through her new business the Grim Adventure Club. Follow
Edinburgh-based Joshua Adeyemi has won a series of high-profile awards for his work to promote diversity in the great outdoors. He is the co-founder of Black Scottish Adventurers, a community-interest company that aims to “show this beautiful land to everyone, no matter what their background is”. Joshua loves to climb dramatic Munros in the far flung landscapes of Scotland, but is also happy exploring the Pentland Hills on his doorstep. He is an advocate for responsible roaming and his work with Black Scottish Adventurers educates people about how their daily activities impact the environment. Follow
James’ account is all about the grandeur of the Munros – that iconic list of 282 peaks over 3,000ft across the length and breadth of Scotland. Known for his sweeping drone footage of incredible landscapes, James has bagged 229 out of the 282 mountains at the time of writing. In one of his posts he says Bla Bheinn on the Isle of Skye is one of his favourite Munros, adding “the summit view towards the main Black Cuillin ridge is fantastic”. Follow
As the founder of the Black Girls Hike group, Rhiane Fatinikun is passionate about breaking down barriers, broadening people’s horizons and empowering women to get outside their comfort zone. Black Girls Hike is a community interest company (CIC) providing a safe space for black women to explore the outdoors. The organisation challenges the status quo and encourages black women to reconnect with nature by hosting nationwide group hikes, outdoor activity days and training events. Rhiane’s personal Instagram account is @rhianesworld. Follow
With her super-quirky and hilarious videos focusing on stand-up paddle boarding, long-distance hiking and wild camping, Sarah Leighton’s personality shines through on her social media accounts. Her laugh-out-loud and relatable style has garnered her big followings across YouTube and Instagram – well worth a follow. Follow
Abbie Barnes created their Spend More Time In The WILD YouTube channel in 2016 with the aim of “inspiring and empowering individuals to don their walking boots and head outside for the benefit of mental and physical wellbeing, whilst building meaningful connections with the natural world and each other”. After a slow burn, their channel has exploded in popularity over the past few years, winning over 60,000 subscribers and amassing a whopping 10 million views. Follow
In 2018, journalist Liv Bolton thru-hiked 1,300km across New Zealand's South Island. It was a life-changing journey that sparked the idea for a new passion project – the Outdoors Fix podcast, a show dedicated to helping everyday people make outdoor adventures a bigger part of their lives. Launched in February 2019, the show has been a runaway success, with eight series, 53 episodes, hundreds of thousands of streams, and the kudos of achieving number one in the ‘GB Wilderness’ category on Apple Podcasts. Each new episode features an interview with an inspiring individual who has – in a variety of different ways – embraced an adventurous lifestyle. Follow
Something a little different here. This comedy duo – known by their stage names Durk & Ski – are popular for their hilarious Instagram skits and TikTok observational sketches. A lot of the content is focused on countryside culture and the hiking scene, hence their inclusion in this list, but whatever topic they choose to focus on, you know you’re in for some belly-laughing fun. Follow
Billed as an “inspirational ambassador for inclusivity in the outdoors” in The Great Outdoors magazine, Zahrah Mahmood shares her outdoor journey online on Instagram via her account @the_hillwalking_hijabi. From Munro-bagging hikes to the challenges of spending time outside with a young baby, Zahrah’s online profile has seen her named as President of Ramblers Scotland. Follow
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