The idea
Somewhere out there is the best bench in the world. Nobody has agreed on which one it is, so we are settling it properly: one bench at a time, one short video at a time, with a Bench Score from the people who made the walk.
The video
- 1. Film the approach if you can — the last stretch of path as the bench comes into view.
- 2. Keep filming as you sit down properly, like you mean to stay a while.
- 3. Then pan slowly upwards, from your feet to the view in front of you.
- 4. Hold your phone vertically. Twenty seconds is plenty — keep it steady, and let the place speak for itself.
- 5. Post it on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, then paste the link into your submission here.
The ground rules
- Leave no trace. Nothing nailed, screwed, carved or stuck onto a bench.
- Respect private land, memorial benches and the people who maintain them. If in doubt, do not submit it.
- Tell someone where you are going. Mountain benches deserve mountain preparation.
- Biodegradable trail markers are on the way — when they arrive, they will be the only thing we ever ask you to leave behind, and only where it is permitted.
Where this goes next
- Country and region leaderboards, so every area has a bench to beat.
- Bakeries, cafés and pubs listed as start points on the walk to a bench.
- A bench of the month, and a shareable Bench Score card for every bench.
- A personal bucket list you can tick off, family-friendly and solo routes included.