Although the weather often takes a turn for the worse around Christmas time, sometimes there’s nothing quite like a lovely winter walk. If it’s raining cats and dogs – as it often is in Scotland – then no one will blame you for staying cosy at home.
But winter also throws up lots of less extreme weather that makes a simple stroll much more picturesque and pleasant than at any other time of the year. Seeing cities and towns dusted with snow or frost gives them a magical glow.
And although no one enjoys how quickly it gets dark in December, lots of streets are brightened up by Christmas lights that really lift the mood. It is also the perfect opportunity to look out your favourite coat, hat, and scarf and get wrapped up to get the steps in.
With all this in mind, the experts at Leeds Locksmiths have pulled together a selection of the most stunning streets in the UK for a winter walk. Unsurpirsingly, given how beautiful our country is, several Scottish sites have been ranked highly in the list of Instagrammable locations.
There are four Scottish streets in the top 15, which is ordered by Instagram hashtag count. Read on to see where you should be heading to find the perfect wintry backdrop to your pics.
Victoria Street, Edinburgh
Unsurprisingly, Victoria Street in the capital is Scotland’s best performer with 127,600 hashtags. The winding cobblestone street is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic locations.
Designed in the early 1800s by architect Thomas Hamilton, who helped transform the capital into the city we know today, the street is part of Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage site and is lined with a vast array of boutiques, bars, cafes, and restaurants.
The colourful, curved, cobbled lane is beautiful all year round but looks especially beautiful at Christmas, either blanketed in white snow or with its festive decorations keeping it bright in the dark nights.
Ashton Lane, Glasgow
One of the jewels in the crown of Glasgow’s west end, Ashton Lane’s popular pubs and bars are packed every weekend of the year. But once the nights grow darker and the bright fairy lights above the lane are lit, it becomes even more magical – and possibly even busier.
Locals and visitors alike flock to Ashton Lane during the festive period, with the street racking up 33,000 hashtags. With a variety of different bars, there is something for everyone – and you can get right into the Christmas spirit at the legendary Grosvenor Picture Theatre, which shows classic movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Die Hard during the holiday season.
Royal Mile, Edinburgh
Possibly the most famous street in Edinburgh – and maybe even Scotland – The Royal Mile is a beautiful spot for a stroll and, like Victoria Street, is part of the capital’s Old Town section of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cobbled slope leads you up to Edinburgh Castle, passing hundreds of shops, pubs, and cafes along the way.
Iconic buildings like the castle and the stunning St Giles’ Cathedral rise out of the white-grey mist on cold winter mornings, making this the perfect place for an atmospheric walk. And at night, you get an incredible view up the hill to the illuminated castle. These amazing vistas have helped The Royal Mile rack up 22,600 Instagram hashtags.
Circus Lane, Edinburgh
The final Scottish street on the list is also in the capital, but it is in Edinburgh’s New Town. Circus Lane is one of the northernmost streets within the World Heritage Site and, like the others above, it is a beautifully cobbled thoroughfare.
The picturesque lane has become a popular picture spot in recent years thanks in part to its flower-covered, terraced mews houses, which make it a very Instagrammable street. It is overlooked by the tower of the incredible St Stephens Church and theatre and boasts 20,000 hashtags.
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