Comprehensive Guide to the Best Places in the UK for Landscape Photography

The United Kingdom offers endless opportunities for landscape photographers.

From the dramatic mountains of Scotland to the lush green landscapes of Northern Ireland, and the vast array of unique counties and national parks in England and Wales, this island is truly a paradise for capturing nature’s beauty.

Each location featured in this comprehensive guide boasts its own unique character and photographic opportunities.

The insights compiled here are drawn from articles commissioned over the years, authored by UK-based photographers who know and cherish these areas deeply.

From sweeping vistas of the countryside to rugged coastlines, ancient forests, and moody mountain scenes, every moment spent in these locations presents an opportunity to capture the magic of Great Britain and Northern Ireland through your lens.

Prepare for enchanting misty mornings, breathtaking evening light, and landscapes shaped by history as we explore some of the best locations for landscape photography in the United Kingdom.

Read more: Top 10 Locations for Landscape Photography in the UK

Seasonal landscape photography

The UK experiences four distinct seasons, each offering something unique for landscape photography enthusiasts. Autumn is particularly special, with vibrant colours and atmospheric misty mornings.

Check out our seasonal landscape photography guides for more guidance on the best season-specific spots.

• Autumn Landscape Photography in the UK
• Lake District in Autumn
• Autumn in the Peak District
• Photographing the Seasons
• Top Winter Landscape Photography Locations

The best places for landscape photography in England: County-based photography guides

The UK comprises 92 counties – 6 in Northern Ireland, 34 in Scotland, 13 in Wales, and 39 in England. Each county offers unique habitats, scenery, and photography opportunities.

To help you plan your travels, we’ve compiled county-based guides to some of the best regions for landscape photography in England. Written by photographers who intimately know these areas, these guides are packed with insights and recommendations.

• Best Landscape Photography Locations in Cornwall
• The Cumbria Way
• 10 Best Photography Locations in Devon
• Top Photography Locations in Dorset
• Best Photography Spots in Northumberland
• Landscape Photography in Suffolk
• Photography in Sussex
• Top 10 Locations for Landscape Photography in Yorkshire

The best places for landscape photography in Northern Ireland

The diverse landscape of Northern Ireland, with its dramatic coastlines, verdant rolling hills, and striking mountain ranges, attracts many landscape photographers.

Take a look at our guides based in this outstanding landscape photography location, from the unmissable Causeway Coast and the magical Mourne Mountains to the epic coastal journey that is the ‘Wild Atlantic Way.’

• The Best Places for Landscape Photography in Ireland
• How to Photograph the Causeway Coast, Ireland
• How to Photograph the Wild Atlantic Way

The best places for landscape photography in Wales

The mountainous landscape of Wales makes for some of the best mountain photography in the UK, offset by rolling hills and valleys touched by history; many historic landmarks of interest can be seen and incorporated into your landscape photographs here, from Iron Age forts to medieval castles.

Its waterfalls and beaches provide excellent opportunities for long-exposure photography, and the wet climate allows for rich greenery and stormy skies.

The dark skies – some of the darkest in Europe – also make it an ideal destination for astrophotography. Bioluminescent plankton has also been found on the Welsh coastline, so keep an eye out for this incredible experience.

• 10 Best Places for Landscape Photography in South Wales
• 7 Best Places for Photography in Snowdonia National Park
• Brecon Beacons – Best Places for Landscape Photography

Skomer Island is also a highlight, particularly for puffin enthusiasts.

The best places for landscape photography in Scotland

Ask any UK-based landscape photographer and they’ll tell you that Scotland’s landscapes are truly iconic, with diverse and striking scenery making for a dreamy landscape photography destination.

Featuring the highest mountains in the British Isles, and stunning glens with glimmering lochs and dramatic light, the Scottish Highlands are not to be missed on any UK photography tour, and offer up some of the most wild, untouched land in the UK.

Sweeping moorland and thick woodland play host to abundant wildlife, and white sand beaches stretch out over the dramatic coastline, dotted by majestic, infamous islands such as the Isle of Skye, ensuring that photographers will always have somewhere to point their cameras.

• 12 Best Places for Landscape Photography in Scotland
• Top 8 Landscape Photography Locations in the Scottish Highlands
• 6 Top Spots for Glencoe Landscape Photography
• 6 Best Places for Photography on the Isle of Skye
• How to Plan a Photography Trip to Lewis and Harris
• Nature Photography Guide to Cairngorms National Park in Scotland

The UK’s national parks

The UK is home to fifteen national parks, with the largest being the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland at 4,528 sq km. These protected landscapes are free to access, and offer a place for nature to thrive.

They cover a variety of terrain across the country, and their landscape photography opportunities run abound.

The following guides showcase what some of these magnificent locations have to offer, providing helpful information for landscape photographers on the best locations, from secret spots and relevant trails to recommended equipment and tips for getting great images.

We hope they’ll help you plan your next landscape photography outing to the UK’s national parks!

• Nature Photography Guide to Cairngorms National Park in Scotland
• 10 Best Locations for Landscape Photography in the Lake District
• 10 Landscape Photography Locations in the New Forest, UK
• 7 Best Places for Photography in Dartmoor National Park
• Best Places for Autumn Landscape Photography in the Peak District
• Brecon Beacons – Best Places for Landscape Photography
• 7 Best Places for Photography in Snowdonia National Park

UK landscape photography inspiration

Over the years, we have put together inspirational articles from UK-based landscape photographer.

Whether you’re moved to get outdoors this week and pick up your camera, or find a new favourite UK-based landscape photographer to follow on social media, we hope you may find inspiration for your next landscape outing in the following pieces.

• Stunning Images of England’s ‘Most Haunted’ Forest
• Navigating the Path to Recovery with a Camera – A Soldier’s Journey
• Healing Trees – A Road to Recovery Through Woodland Photography
• Inspiration for Summer Landscape Photography
• Great Britain in a New Light
• Stuart McGlennon: From Amateur to Professional
• Jenifer Bunnett: The Art of Seascape Photography
• Drew Buckley: From Amateur to Professional
• Ross Hoddinott: From Amateur to Professional

In conclusion

The United Kingdom may occasionally slip under the radar as a destination for landscape photography, but it undoubtedly boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, offering a diverse, varied, and exciting array of landscapes just waiting to be captured on camera.

We hope that this comprehensive list of UK-based landscape photography articles has provided you with the inspiration to explore this dynamic and captivating destination.

Whether you’re already based in the UK or discovering the wonders of this region for the first time, may you feel inspired to venture outdoors, pick up your camera, and start capturing stunning images!

Who knows – you might even end up with a winning landscape image in your portfolio.