Has hiking been ruined?

Saw a YouTube vid about how a notable peak district beauty spot went viral on tiktok and got totally ruined. I have noticed how hiking went from being a niche thing to being trendy on social media. Hence I haven't been in many years. Anyway, this is my question, and I'm not entirely sure it's in the right place, but has hiking been ruined by crowds? What is your experience?

Reply 1

anxious&paranoid

Original post

by EuropeanIAm

Yeah, I saw an Instagram reel couple days ago about some forest waterfall in Asia, and there was a loonggg line of people in bathing suits queueing to take a photo on a rock. But I do love hiking, I've gone to less popular, less crowded mountains in hills, both in the UK and in Asia, and they were stunning, like the weather was lovely, and everyone there was focused on hiking and not taking pictures for social media.

Reply 2

Gazpacho.

The Peak District was immensely popular before TIkTok came alone.

How has it suddenly been ruined?

Reply 3

EuropeanIAm

Original post

by Gazpacho.

The Peak District was immensely popular before TIkTok came alone.
How has it suddenly been ruined?

https://youtu.be/KW2XabaFRnI?si=JDiEUJM48cD2vHFM

I went to this exact place like 2010, even in early summer it was quiet. Judging by this vid it's terrible now. However maybe it just was in the time after the post went viral. I am not sure.

Reply 4

Gazpacho.

Original post

by EuropeanIAm

https://youtu.be/KW2XabaFRnI?si=JDiEUJM48cD2vHFM
I went to this exact place like 2010, even in early summer it was quiet. Judging by this vid it's terrible now. However maybe it just was in the time after the post went viral. I am not sure.

I have no intention of watching a Paul Joseph Watson video because I'm not an incel.

If you want a quiet hike, try the Cape Wrath Trail rather than one of the most popular rural tourist destinations in the UK.

Reply 5

Quady

Original post

by EuropeanIAm

https://youtu.be/KW2XabaFRnI?si=JDiEUJM48cD2vHFM
I went to this exact place like 2010, even in early summer it was quiet. Judging by this vid it's terrible now. However maybe it just was in the time after the post went viral. I am not sure.

Why are you judging by the vid?

Like who is going now that wasnt in 2010?

Is it the boat people?

Reply 6

mqb2766

Original post

by Gazpacho.

I have no intention of watching a Paul Joseph Watson video because I'm not an incel.
If you want a quiet hike, try the Cape Wrath Trail rather than one of the most popular rural tourist destinations in the UK.

Wish I hadnt bothered. The usual "wrong people" rubbish.

But the peaks, lakes, ... have long been a destination for a summer "break" and popular car parks are full and popular "walks" busy and some campsites can be noisy/kids drinking. In snowdonia, snowdon has queues to the summit but next door the glyders dont. C'est la vie.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 7

EuropeanIAm

Original post

by Gazpacho.

I have no intention of watching a Paul Joseph Watson video because I'm not an incel.
If you want a quiet hike, try the Cape Wrath Trail rather than one of the most popular rural tourist destinations in the UK.

No need to be so haughty about it. Just because it's a PJW video doesn't mean it doesn't contain a real occurrence.

Reply 8

mqb2766

Original post

by EuropeanIAm

No need to be so haughty about it. Just because it's a PJW video doesn't mean it doesn't contain a real occurrence.

For the vid, its selective and the commentary goes along with his nauseating right stuff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Joseph_Watson

Obviously there are a number of honeypots in the peaks, lakes, ... Theyve existed for years (bowness, keswick/catbells, stepping stones, ...), though some have become worse in recent years and the number of honeypots has expanded, and I guess its partially due to influencers. Personally, I have little desire to sit in one of the so called "infinity pools" in the lakes. Its v. cold most of the time and in the summer, theres little water and the run off from the hillsides isnt inviting. Similarly, if you did a walk around the stepping stones/dovedale and there are crowds, the river isnt deep to walk across and you go on your merry way. It would be a small part of a hike, if thats what youre interested in. Hiking in the hills is mostly relatively empty and the main frustration can be parking, though in snowdonia for instance, the sherpa bus is decent.