The northern parts of England are famous amongst hikers and nature lovers for being home to dramatic landscapes and incredible views. Unless you live in the area though, planning a trip to exploring northern England can be a little overwhelming; where do you begin and how do you plan an itinerary that makes the best use of your time?

Well you’re in luck, because London-based photographer and travel enthusiast Salman Shamsuddin (AKA @SalmanWanders) recently explored the region and captured some breathtaking shots.

So like any good travel guide, we got in touch and asked him if he would share his itinerary so that you too can explore some of the best of the UK countryside the north of England has to offer. 

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6 day itinerary to exploring the North of England

Day 1 – Morecambe 📍

You might be surprised to be starting off your trip at a sandy beach, but the sunset views at Morecambe Bay are well worth the trip.

Capturing golden sunset hues at Morecambe Bay. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin

• Explore Bolton-le-sands coastline: Great for that golden hour stroll by the long shoreline.
• Sunset in Morecambe Bay: being on the West Coast of England you are bound to get a cracking sunset with a relatively clear sky. The cool thing about Morecambe Bay is the abandoned boats on the shoreline which creates a nice photo opportunity.

Day 2 – Yorkshire Dales 📍

With thousands of square miles of moors, valleys, hills and villages, there’s so much to see and do in the Yorkshire Dales.

Watching the free climbers dscend over the ridge is incredible. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin.

• Hike Malham Cove trail followed by a visit to Janet’s Foss waterfall. The hike is around 12 km and takes you on rugged terrain, so make sure you’re well-equipped for the walk. The cove is a lot more attractive up close than on photos. I would recommend watching the free climbers make their way along the vertical face of the cove, praying no one falls.

Potterheads: this is where filming took place when Harry and Hermione set up camp in the Deathly Hallows!

Day 3 – Yorkshire Dales 📍

Pictured: Ingleton Waterfalls. Yep, the UK has its very own waterfalls. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin.

• Ingleton Waterfalls Trail (4 -5 hours): One of the best hikes we did, such a well structured route with many waterfalls to see along the way (up close and personal).

Top tip: Would definitely recommend taking some lunch with you!

• Ribblehead Viaduct: a short drive away from Ingleton, worth the trip!

Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin

• Dent Head viaduct for sunset (Google maps coordinates 54.252169,-2.338505).

Travel tip: Time your visit to coincide with golden hour or even sunset; the view of the viaduct from the top of the roadside is spectacular.

Day 4 – Lake District 📍

You don’t need any prior experience to kayak, and you’ll be supplied with life-vests. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin.

• Kayaking in Lake Windermere, booked via www.windermerecanoekayak.com

The best way to enjoy the lakes is actually getting into it, via kayak. We did a 2 hour kayak which took us quite a far distance. You can stop off and jump onto the islands in the lake along the way to really feel like an explorer.

Day 5 – Lake District 📍

Sunrise at Crook O’Lune in Lancashire. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin.

• Crook O’Lune sunrise from the bridge: Prayed Fajr salaat and then we headed straight out, quite a safe location to view the sunrise with the wind turbines in the distance.
• Loughrigg Fell hike overlooking Grasmere, Rydal Water & Windermere: One of the best hikes for beginners/amateur hikers. The views are breathtaking and you pass three lakes along the way, with each lake looking more stunning than the last.

Grasmere Lake, just one of the serene lakes we came across during the relatively easy hike at Loughrigg Fell. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin.

Day 6 – Lake District 📍

You can enjoy your own picnic at the exact same location. Just pop the coordinates 54.5648296, -3.1625249 into Google Maps! Photo: Salman Shamsuddin.

• Picnic at Lake Derwentwater: I don’t think there’s a more thrilling picnic to be had at the Lakes. Our exact cliffside location was 54.5648296, -3.1625249 (pop that into Google Maps!).
• Catbells hike for sunset: Quite an easy hike for beginners, great for catching the sunset and making that quick escape back to you car! There are plenty of sheep along the way to chase too :).

Managed to get a cracking sunset behind the mountain peak at Catbells. Photo: Salman Shamsuddin.

Thank you to Salman for sharing his personal itinerary – get in touch if you found this useful!

Don’t think we’ve captured all of the best of the UK countryside the north of England has to offer, or maybe you’d like to share your own travel guide with the Muslim community? Drop us a line at hello@halaltravelguide.net.

Interested in exploring this region and want to know more about how you can hike safely? We spoke to a local Muslim mountain guide to find out exactly what you need to know.