It’s official – Cornwall is the most Instagrammable AONB in the UK

21st April 2022

To help visitors plan the most memorable trips and well, because we love adventures too, BravoVoucher has researched all Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Scenic Areas (NSAs) up and down the country to reveal the most Instagrammable, as well as the least Instagrammed, off the beaten path locations.

We’ve sifted through hundreds of hashtags from all of these locations to uncover which of the areas are the most and least popular with Instagrammers across the country.

From the dramatic chalk cliffs of the Isle of Wight all the way across the country to the northernmost part, the rugged Shetland Islands, the UK is packed full of beautiful nature to explore – but it is Cornwall that tops them all!

The South of England shines bright in top 3

Cornwall, the Isle of Wight & Isles of Scilly sit in gold, silver, and bronze medal positions respectively with over 11 million hashtagged posts between them. According to the data, that’s almost double the total number of hashtagged posts belonging to AONBs in the rest of the top 10.

1.    Cornwall, England
2.    Isle of Wight, England 
3.    Isles of Scilly, England 
4.    Shetland Islands, Scotland
5.    Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
6.    Dorset, England
7.    Anglesey (Ynys Môn), Wales
8.    Cannock Chase, England
9.    Hoy and West Mainland, Scotland
10.  Gower (Gŵyr), Wales

Cornwall takes the crown as most popular beauty spot in the UK

However, it is Cornwall that takes top spot as most Instagrammable AONB in the UK, with more hashtagged posts than all other top 10 contenders combined.

It’s no big surprise that Cornwall, the Cornish Riviera, takes the crown as the most Instagrammable AONB in the UK. Boasting a very Mediterranean feel, you might want to pack your swimsuit because not only is Cornwall stunning, it is also usually two degrees warmer than the rest of England.

Cornwall is by far the go-to destination when it comes to Instagram worthy holiday spots, with the top Cornwall related hashtags amassing over 10M posts, three times more than the runner up Dorset. When adjusted to the size of the AONB area, Cornwall remains the top most popular area in the UK, followed by the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.

A beautiful neighbourhood

Not only does Cornwall outshine all other AONBs, it also benefits from being the gateway to The Isles of Scilly, another top contender on the list.

Nestled only a few hours off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are an oasis of calm and unspoilt nature. With sparkling sandy bays, granite cliffs, saline lagoons and rich wildlife, the Isles are not just popular for people but provide a haven for Atlantic grey seals, dolphins, and other colourful marine life.

The Isles of Scilly might be the smallest AONB in the UK, but their natural wonders have helped secure them a strong third place in popularity on Instagram, with over 100,000 posts under their respective hashtags.

The choice is yours!

Our top 10 list offers a lot to choose from – a variety of climates, scenery, wildlife and locations from up and down the country. But if you’re looking for the best, we would recommend planning a road trip that takes you on a journey through some of Cornwall’s most charming locations – the fishing villages of Boscastle and Coverack, the chilled-out surfing beaches around Newquay and Padstow, the famous sunsets at Land’s End and the forgotten gems on The Hartland Heritage Coast (to name but a few!) – before moving on to explore The Isles of Scilly from Land’s End, Newquay or Penzance.