Australia’s The Loop in Kalbarri has been ranked eighth with a total “eye-catching” score of 84/100, only 10 points away from Calanques de Marseille in France, which ranked first with 94/100, according to a new survey.
The Loop, with a total “eye-catching” score of 84/100, is Oceania’s only entry in the list. The was only 10 points away from Calanques de Marseille in France, which ranked first with 94/100. Thirteen of the top 20 hiking areas are in Europe with Germany the most represented country.
Calanques de Marseille’s route takes walkers through a landscape of white limestone cliffs dropping into turquoise Mediterranean coves, with trails ranging from easy half-day walks to multi-day treks.
Second place went to Plitvice Lakes Trail in Croatia with a score of 93/100. The location is home to 16 terraced lakes connected by 92 cascading waterfalls, with trails winding across wooden boardwalks above emerald waters.
Third place went to Lauterbrunnen Valley in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland with a score of 92/100. The valley sits beneath 72 waterfalls with the Jungfrau peaks towering above, giving walkers a dramatic view of the Alps.
“What’s interesting about these results is the sheer variety of hikes: ancient ruins, coastal paths, alpine lakes and slot canyons all feature,” SportsShoes.com trail and outdoor expert Ben Mounsey said.
“What they do have in common, however, is that the beautiful scenery is one of the primary reasons people do them and we hope our research will inspire people to put on their hiking boots and get out there.”
To obtain the results of the study and the score, SportsShoes.com put together a list of 64 hiking trails worldwide and selected a representative image from each, focusing on the most recognisable viewpoint or most photographed section of the trail.
Participants from around the world then took part in an eye-tracking study, measuring the average time each person spent looking at each image, as well as the average time taken to their first fixation. The two data points were indexed to create a score out of 100.
