Instagram: fit to burst with travel accounts, #vanlife profiles and would-be influencers. Amidst the genuinely useful and inspiring content is a sea of mediocrity, and navigating through those profiles can lead to hours of scrolling, your mind transfixed by that little blue screen rather than the big, wide world. It’s a problem we know well, which is why we created this round-up of Instagram accounts worth following.
Ranging from travel to van conversions and climbing to photography, these profiles inspire and educate, so instead of spending hours trying to find productive content, you appease your wanderlust cravings and head outdoors yourself. Because that’s where the real adventure is.
Chris Burkard
A professional photographer by trade, Burkard contributes to titles like National Geographic regularly, and it only takes one look at his feed to understand why. When it comes to landscape photography, his work is second to none — but it’s his dynamic surf shots that get us. @chrisburkard
The Girl Outdoors
Sian Lewis is an award-winning travel writer and adventure blogger behind the wildly popular blog, The Girl Outdoors. Her Instagram profile features a range of inspirational travel images, gear reviews and witty observations on outdoors culture — more than enough to whet your appetite for outdoor adventure. @sianannalewis
Travels With A Kilt
Formerly an international travel blogger, Neil Robertson — aka Travels With A Kilt — focuses on unveiling the natural beauties of his native Scotland, with trademark eloquence and wit. From remote isles and craggy munros to whisky distilleries and Game of Thrones shooting locations, he explores Scotland’s many and varied treasures. @travelswithakilt
Travis Burke Photography
With over 700k followers, Travis Burke is the epitomy of the #vanlife, #wanderlust sensation, and that’s no bad thing. His images — from epic landscapes to action shots in nature — have featured in National Geographic, Outside and more tourism boards than you could shake a DSLR at. @travisburkephotography
Ever Changing Horizon
Quin Schrock — the man behind the Ever Changing Horizon lens — spends his days exploring new landscapes, surfing and generally just playing around — with a camera in tow, of course. Before you curse in jealousy, check out his Insta profile — it’s given us more than a few ideas for adventures of our own. @everchanginghorizon
James Forrest – ‘Mountain Man’
Judging by his insta account, this mountain man is always out in the hills doing what he does best – taking on epic challenges. In 2017 he climbed all peaks over 2,000ft in England and Wales in just six months, while holding down his job. Fast forward two years and he’d managed to jack in his office job to become a writer, author and full time adventurer with enough time on his hands to climb all 282 Scottish munros, again just in six months. His photos show the pointy bits of the UK at their very best, but his insta stories are brutally honest about the more challenging moments during his adventures. @jamesmichaelforrest
Jimmy Chin
An acclaimed climber and skier in his own right, Jimmy Chin is one of the world’s very best adventure storytellers. Follow him and your feed will be filled with epic landscape shots, jaw dropping adventures and the stories behind them. Some of our favourite shots are the ones of Jimmy himself and the extremely precarious positions he has to get himself into to capture the most incredible action shots. @jimmychin
Sonja Saxe
If you love America’s National Parks then this is definitely an account for you. The National Parks Girl takes you along on all her adventures, from backcountry skiing, paddling in a kayak to camping in the wilds and exploring some of the most beautiful destinations we have ever seen. If a trip to America is on your bucket list, this is the perfect account to follow for inspiration. @thenationalparksgirl
Nick Weston
If you never grow tired of the crackle of a campfire or the smoky flavours of food cooked over open flames, Nick Weston’s feed is for you. Nick is the founder and director of wild food, foraging and cookery school Hunter Gather Cook. The HGC HQ is nestled in woodland on a stunning 40-acre farm near Lewes, East Sussex and incorporates a shepherd’s barn as well as a full-size treehouse. An expert forager, chef, hunter, fisherman and maker of wild cocktails, Nick’s feed will inspire all your outdoor cooking adventures. @huntergathercook
WildBounds
Shameless plug aside, our account doesn’t just post the most inspirational and beautiful images we encounter — it’s a gateway to our original content and online competitions. For motivation and practical outdoors advice on how to #stayboundless, it’s the feed to keep an eye on. @wildbounds
