The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2026 are the UK’s biggest democratic celebration of the best of outdoor culture. Fourteen years ago, we launched our first annual awards and you have been championing the people, places and businesses that make our outdoor lives better ever since. Here are your nominees across 15 categories including the Open Outdoors award, pub of the year, campaigner of the year, brand of the year, and many more.
Main image: Walking towards Pen y Fan, Bannau Brycheiniog | Credit: Paul Maguire / Shutterstock
What makes these Reader Awards different – and gives extra kudos to the nominees – is that it’s you, the outdoor going public, who decide the results. Only those who win the most of your votes will walk away with a top accolade! Please take the time to get acquainted with those nominees with whom you are not familiar – every vote counts!
The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2026: the categories
- The Extra Mile award
- Outdoor personality of the year
- Campaign or campaigner of the year
- The Open Outdoors award
- Walkers’ pub of the year
- Walkers’ café of the year
- Hostel or bunkhouse of the year
- Campsite of the year
- Walker’s app of the year
- Outdoor film or filmmaker of the year
- Outdoor book of the year
- Independent retailer of the year
- Chain retailer of the year
- Online retailer of the year
- Outdoor clothing and equipment brand of the year
The Extra Mile award
Recognising individuals or groups who go beyond the call of duty to make a difference – from employees who have provided exceptional customer service to volunteers who contribute their time for the benefit of the countryside and other walkers.
- Adrian Trendall – author and mountain guide at All Things Cuillin
- Brendon Prince – ocean adventurer, explorer and water safety advocate
- Emma Shipley – Mountain Leader and founder of Yorkie Talkies Outdoors
- Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs
- Ian Whiteside – co-founder of Trek Therapy
- Britain’s Mountain Rescue teams (England, Wales, Scotland, plus Independent Scottish Mountain Rescue)
- RSPB volunteers
- Stump up for Trees
Outdoor personality of the year
Who has inspired you in 2025 – and who deserves to be recognised? This could be a figurehead with a longstanding commitment to the outdoors or anyone who’s achieved something extraordinary this year.
- Alex Staniforth – first person to climb 446 Nuttalls self-powered, raising £37,797 for Mountains Over Mind
- Caroline ‘SUP Lass’ Dawson – made history as the first woman to complete the 337km Amazon Challenge on a SUP
- Elsey Davis – record-setting ultrarunner who recently circumnavigated her native county, Cornwall
- Frit Tam – outdoor adventurer, filmmaker, photographer, podcaster and trans activist
- Hazel Strachan – prolific peak bagger who compleated her 13th round of Munros this year
- Jordan Wylie MBE – adventurer, author, television personality and former soldier
- Mike Raine – author and podcaster who runs workshops to train future Mountain Leaders
- Sarah Perry – Cumbrian fell runner who recently became the women’s Backyard Ultra World Record holder
Campaign or campaigner of the year
Campaigns or campaigners who who stand up, speak out and act on the issues that matter to walkers, from conservation champions to access heroes.
- Daniel Raven-Ellison, founder of Slow Ways
- Every Body Outdoors
- Friends of Crummock
- Mary-Ann Ochota, President of CPRE, the countryside charity
- Right to Roam
- Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, co-founder of Black Trail Runners
- Save Windermere, Matt Staniek
- Will Behenna, founder of the Inclusive Paddleboarding project
The Open Outdoors award
Recognising individuals or groups who have inspired people to head into the outdoors, widened participation, improved outdoor education, or encouraged diversity.
- All the Elements – a welcoming, collaborative community working to diversify the outdoors
- Black Scottish Adventurers – community of adventure-lovers celebrating diversity at events in Scotland
- Clare Millington, @outdoorsisforeveryone – sharing the experience of those with disabilities who go outdoors
- Mercian Mountaineering Club – Birmingham based climbing, hillwalking and mountaineering club hosting meets
- Active Inclusion Network – a mission to make nature accessible to all, break down barriers, and foster inclusivity
- Opening Up the Outdoors – a collective of Changemakers committed to progressing inclusion outdoors
- The Wild Path – curated space for outdoor careers, from guiding to conservation, helping you find your next step
- Wonderful Wild Women – inspiring all women no matter age, experience or ability to get into the outdoors
Walkers’ pub of the year
Your favourite place for a post-walk pint or quality pub grub
- Clachaig Inn, Glencoe
- Kirkstile Inn, Lake District
- The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge
- The Old Dungeon Ghyll, Great Langdale
- The Old Nags Head, Edale
- The Stagger Inn, Arrochar
- The Wainwright, Keswick
- Wasdale Head Inn, Wasdale
Walkers’ café of the year
Anywhere with sit-down dining, from chippies upwards
- The Fox Tor Cafe, Princetown
- Hiker Cafe, Hengistbury Head
- Lake Road Brunch, Keswick
- The Penny Pot Cafe, Edale
- The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum
- St Mocha Coffee Shop and Ice Cream Parlour, Balmaha
- Y Bistro Yn Yr Hebog, Beddgelert
- Yorkshire Cycle Hub, Whitby
Hostel or bunkhouse of the year
Casual accommodation catering for muddy boots
- Elterwater Hostel
- Glencoe Youth Hostel
- Glen Nevis Youth Hostel
- Inversnaid Bunkhouse
- Loch Ossian Youth Hostel
- The Rocks at Plas Curig Hostel
- Torridon Youth Hostel
- YHA Kettlewell
Campsite of the year
Celebrate excellent locations, friendly staff and great facilities
- Braemar Campsite
- Cannich Woodland Camping and Caravan Park, Beauly
- Draughton Heights, Dales Highway
- Great Langdale National Trust Campsite
- Housedean Farm Campsite, South Downs
- Pitch and Hike, Capel Curig
- Red Squirrel Campsite, Glen Coe
- Syke Farm Campsite, Buttermere
Walker’s app of the year
Anything you use on your mobile device to aid your outdoor adventures
Outdoor book of the year
Guidebooks, memoirs, photographic books, and even outdoor-oriented novels are all valid
- Adventures on the Water: The Power of Paddleboarding to Change Lives by Jo Moseley
- The Hidden Seasons: The Inspirational Guide to Navigating Nature’s Clues and Signs by Tristan Gooley
- Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
- One Woman Walks Europe by Ursula Martin
- The Path She Runs by Jen Benson
- Peak Bagging Munros Volume 1 by Nicola Hardy
- The Search: The Life of a Mountain Rescue Search Dog Team by Paul Besley
- Walk Britain: 90 Inspirational Car-free Walks in England, Scotland and Wales by Elise Downing
Outdoor film or filmmaker of the year
On the big screen or on YouTube, outdoor films and filmmakers help us connect with the great outdoors even when we can’t be there ourselves.
- Alastair Lee, BritRock Films
- Dear Heart – Sara Barnes and Emily Barnard
- It’s All Downhill From Here – Rachel Sarah
- George – Jacob Tonkin and James Appleton
- Kris Gleave
- The North – Bart Schrijver
- Roxanna Barry
- Skinny – Sara Barnes and Emily Cartigny
Independent retailer of the year
Retailers who operate independently, with five or fewer stores.
- Crib Goch Outdoor Shop, Llanberis
- Crickhowell Adventure
- Foothills, Sheffield
- Needle Sports, Keswick
- Outside, Hathersage
- Skedaddle, Speyside
- Tamarack Outdoors, Lancashire
- Trekitt, Hereford
Chain retailer of the year
Outdoor retailers with six or more stores.
Online retailer of the year
Your favourite places to buy gear, maps and books online.
- AlpineTrek
- Facewest
- LifeJacket
- Outdoor Action
- Ultralight Outdoor Gear
- Valley and Peak
- Vampire Outdoors
- Vertebrate Publishing
Outdoor clothing and equipment brand of the year
Gear brands with consistently high-quality, good-value kit or with commendable customer service.
There are two parts to The Great Outdoors Awards. This article announces the shortlist for the Reader Awards, which have been nominated by our readers and the outdoor public at large across 15 categories. The other part of The Great Outdoors Awards is the Gear of the Year awards which recognises the best and most innovative outdoor gear as selected by expert judges.
