Best Bench in the World

Official Bench Score · worldwide

The best bench in the world is out there. Go and sit on it.

Built by the community, for the community. Find a bench worth the walk, then film the full moment: the approach, the sit-down, and the pan up to the view. Together we're documenting the world's great viewpoints — and making them accessible to everyone.

Submit a benchOpen the world map

Current bench to beat

Trolltunga Fjord Bench

Odda, Vestland, Norway

Ten hours of walking for a seat above a fjord. Nobody who has done it complains about the score.

Or see what people are actually walking to this month →

Trolltunga Fjord Bench

Odda, Vestland, Norway

Ten hours of walking for a seat above a fjord. Nobody who has done it complains about the score.

Expedition8 hr walk

Glacier Point Bench

Yosemite Village, California, United States

Half Dome fills the whole sky from this seat. Best just before sunset when the granite turns pink.

Easy stroll12 min walk

Roys Peak Bench

Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand

The queue for the photo spot is long. The bench a little further up is empty and better.

Hard hike3.5 hr walk

Crib Goch Lookout Bench

Llanberis, Eryri, Wales

A weathered slab of a bench with the whole Snowdon horseshoe laid out in front of you. Not one for windy days.

Hard hike2.4 hr walk

Col Pilaz Big Bench

Chamois, Aosta Valley, Italy

The giant red bench above car-free Chamois faces the Matterhorn one way and the Gran Paradiso massif the other. A rare seat that is itself part of the adventure.

Moderate walk2 hr walk

Malin Head Atlantic Bench

Malin, Donegal, Ireland

Northernmost bench on the island. Look up and there is nothing between you and Iceland but weather.

Easy stroll20 min walk

Catbells Skyline Bench

Keswick, Cumbria, England

A short sharp climb from Derwentwater and then the whole lake below you. Ideal family first bench.

Moderate walk1 hr walk

Munt da la Bês-cha Bench

Samedan, Graubünden, Switzerland

A small documented bench on the high-alpine ascent, opening onto Piz Bernina and the broad Engadin valley. The bench coordinate is approximate.

Hard hike2.9 hr walk

Tarn Hows Viewpoint Benches

Hawkshead, Cumbria, England

Several documented benches and rest places frame Wetherlam, the Coniston Fells and Langdale Pikes reflected in the tarn.

Easy stroll1.5 hr walk

Broomhill Point Bench

Keswick, Cumbria, England

A lakeshore seat looking across Derwent Water to Cat Bells and Causey Pike. The National Trust accessible trail records the route and viewpoint; the bench pin is approximate.

Easy stroll1.3 hr walk

Grandfather’s Chair

Schmilka, Saxony, Germany

A carved sandstone seat on a historic terrace-path network above Schmilka, surrounded by the fantastical rock towers of Saxon Switzerland.

Hard hike3.3 hr walk

Snapes Point Bench

Salcombe, Devon, England

Viewpoint seating above Salcombe and the Kingsbridge Estuary, reached through South Hams farmland on a short National Trust walk.

Easy stroll35 min walk

Salomons Memorial Viewpoint

Dorking, Surrey, England

Historic memorial seating above the Surrey countryside, with long views towards the South Downs. Bench and grid reference are documented; compare this restrained 7-range score against truly global views.

Moderate walk50 min walk

Middle Bench Trail Viewpoint

Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada

Viewpoint seating along Mount Geoffrey’s escarpment above Lambert Channel, Denman Island and the Beaufort Range. Exact viewpoint pin is approximate.

Moderate walk1.8 hr walk

The Kymin Viewpoint

Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales

Historic hilltop seating around the Round House and Naval Temple, looking over Monmouth, the Wye Valley and the English–Welsh borderlands.

Moderate walk30 min walk

Toad’s Mouth Memorial Bench

Hathersage, Peak District, Derbyshire, England

A documented memorial bench in a lovely gritstone setting near Over Owler Tor, looking across the Hope Valley and Peak District moors.

Moderate walk2 hr walk

Brownsea Island Viewpoint Benches

Poole, Dorset, England

Rest points on Brownsea’s viewpoint trail open onto Poole Harbour, neighbouring islands and the Purbeck Hills, with red squirrels in the woodland behind.

Moderate walk2 hr walk

Joseph R. Sweany Bench

Laguna Beach, California, United States

A named memorial bench above Laguna Coast’s chaparral, with a Pacific panorama stretching from Newport Beach towards South Laguna. Exact bench pin is approximate.

Moderate walk1.2 hr walk

Seefeld Panorama Bench

Reith bei Seefeld, Tyrol, Austria

A documented forest-road bench looking across the Seefeld plateau and Tyrolean mountains, with a rustic alpine hut farther up the route.

Moderate walk2 hr walk

Cullen Point Lookout Bench

Havelock, Marlborough, New Zealand

A documented bench beside a short native-bush lookout track over Mahau Sound and the Kaituna and Pelorus estuaries.

Easy stroll10 min walk

Surprise View Seat

Hathersage, Peak District, Derbyshire, England

Roadside viewpoint seating over the Hope Valley and Longshaw Estate, especially atmospheric at sunset. The viewpoint coordinate is approximate.

Easy stroll25 min walk