In a world increasingly dominated by screens and scrolling, it isn’t always easy to switch off. But while we all need a digital detox from time to time, don’t dismiss time spent online altogether. Because many passionate outdoor enthusiasts have harnessed channels like YouTube and TikTok to carve out a refreshing niche that reconnects millions with nature, adventure, and the spirit of exploration. Whether it's hiking through remote wilderness, wild camping under the stars, or simply soaking in the quiet beauty of an epic sunrise atop a mountain summit, these content creators bring the great outdoors right to our devices – and inspire us to step outside ourselves.
From seasoned survival experts and bushcrafters to laid-back adventurers documenting their weekend getaways, the outdoor YouTube scene is as diverse as the landscapes it showcases. These creators do more than just film their journeys – they tell stories, teach skills, and foster communities built around a shared love for the wild. Their videos offer practical know-how, plenty of humour, stunning cinematography, and often, a meditative escape from daily life.
With that in mind, we’ve shortlisted 11 of the very best outdoor YouTubers, TikTokers and vloggers out there – not just based on views or subscriber counts, but on quality of content, passion, authenticity, and their ability to inspire. Whether you're looking for practical tips, outdoor inspiration, or just a dose of vicarious adventure after a long day at the office, this list has something for every nature lover. So, lace up your boots, grab your gear (or your favourite snack and a cosy blanket), and get ready to explore the outdoors – one video at a time.
A self-described ‘one man band filming little adventures’, outdoor enthusiast Paul Messner focuses on wild camping, travel and exploring the great outdoors across the UK. What started as a personal passion project has truly snowballed though, with over 200,000 subscribers and more than 400 videos uploaded to his channel so far. His content pulls no punches, with frank and honest gear reviews, warts n’ all wild camping adventures and plenty of practical tips on everything from backcountry cooking to packing your rucksack. @PaulMessner
Bringing a refreshingly candid northern outlook and plenty of humour to the outdoor scene, Yorkshireman Hazy (real name Paul Hayes) is an avid hiker, adventurer and wild camper whose channel covers a diverse range of outdoorsy stuff from bushcraft and foraging to wild swimming, cooking over fire – and of course plenty of talk about outdoor kit, from hammock and tarp set-ups to inflatable sleeping mats. @HazeOutdoors
Welsh adventurer Sarah Leighton, aka Fit For Adventure, is a solo long -distance hiker, bikepacker and paddler with a penchant for tackling crazy challenges the length and breadth of the UK. You’ll often find her in a tent in the middle of nowhere, screaming at midges or making up a stupid song for motivational purposes. As you can probably tell from that description alone, she tries not to take herself too seriously. @FitForAdventure
Simon is an outdoors enthusiast who very much ploughs his own furrow, with a more genteel, even throwback attitude to adventure than most in this list. As the name of his channel suggests, he loves spending time in the woods, but you’ll also find him paddling, bothying and hot tenting in various out-of-the-way places. He’s also an inveterate tinkerer and inventor, which means he often makes and modifies bits of kit, both vintage and modern, to accompany him outdoors. @simonablokeinthewoods
The Solo Summiteer, or Dave to his friends, started his wild camping journey in December 2016, but since then has completed over 200 mountain wild camps in all seasons and conditions including the mountains of Eryri/Snowdonia in Wales, the Lake District in England, and the Scottish Highlands. His channel’s a great place to go if you’re keen on winter camping and want to find out to deal with challenges like blizzard conditions and biting cold. @TheSoloSummiteer
Former British Army soldier Liam Brown’s YouTube following was built off the back of a gruelling personal challenge he undertook back in 2021. Armed with a tent, a camera, a pack and an adventurous mindset, Liam backpacked solo from John O'Groats to Land’s End, averaging around 23 miles a day on an epic 49-day length of Britain adventure. Since then, he’s ranged widely throughout Europe, making his channel a great resource if you’re looking for your next adventure destination. @LiamBrown
Lovably eccentric and ever so slightly nerdy, British YouTuber and adventurer Tom Davies is GeoWizard, best known for his skill in playing the internet geography game GeoGuessr (where players attempt to identify locations in Google Street View) and his ‘straight line missions’, in which he attempts to cross countries and regions on foot in as close to a straight line as possible. It’s as madcap as it sounds, but it’s also a great watch for lovers of geography trivia, mapping, topography and outdoor navigation. @GeoWizard
WildBeare is the YouTube home of Claire, a mother, hiker, nature lover, photographer and mud-loving female who loves nothing more than wandering and sleeping wild in nature. She’s been hiking for twenty-odd years and wild camping since 2017. If you love mountains, moors, tarps, tents, mud and fresh air, it’s well worth a watch. @WildBeare
With the tagline ‘Spend More Time In The WILD!, Abbie Barnes’ YouTube channel sets out its stall pretty clearly. With a slick and polished production style combined with great presenting skills, Abbie puts her experience as a filmmaker and qualified mountain leader to good use. The channel is actually one of the longest-running nature and outdoor YouTube channels in the world, having been established back in 2012. It’s not just a great source of inspiration, but also a mine of knowledge on some of the world’s most incredible trails and habitats, a bit like a visual guidebook. @Abbie BarnesWILD
If you prefer YouTube channels where the focus stays firmly on the landscape – in other words, where the hills are the stars, not the person in front of the camera – you will love Scotland's Mountains. A beautifully shot collection of films about adventures in the Scottish Highlands, expect stunning sunsets from summit wild camps and tranquil kayaking trips along beautiful lochs, with a bit of Munro bagging, mountain biking and vanlife thrown in too. @ScotlandsMountains
Founded by Mike Pullen, TA Outdoors covers traditional outdoor skills – think bushcraft, survival, shelter building, wilderness camping trips, woodworking, fishing, hunting and basically living as close as possible to nature, just as our primal ancestors did. Which is why some of Mike’s projects have included constructing Viking, Saxon and Medieval houses, Native American wigwams, a cabin made from pallet wood and a host of different natural shelters. It’s a bit like the Grand Designs of the great outdoors. @TAOutdoors
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