Charlotte Ward’s online journey is beautifully straightforward. Each day, the 22-year-old from Yorkshire, England, embarks on a refreshing long walk, often through the tranquil, green woodlands near her home. Later, she enjoys a satisfying dinner. Her nightly ritual? Sharing three captivating photos from her stroll, alongside a picture of her evening meal.
Whether she’s exploring the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire Dales or navigating the bustling streets of London, her posting pattern remains consistent: three scenic snapshots from her journey, followed by a delightful food photo. This simple formula has proven incredibly popular with her rapidly expanding audience.
Since launching her account in April 2024, Charlotte has gathered over 170,000 dedicated followers. Her online community, aptly named ‘today i walked…,’ boasts nearly 200,000 members. Many who discover her posts are drawn to the promise of a more serene existence, envisioning themselves immersed in nature and enjoying simple pleasures like baking homemade cakes.
The surge in popularity has been a delightful surprise for Charlotte, who initially created the account just to share her hiking adventures with a close circle of friends.
“It’s absolutely wild,” she shared in a recent interview. “My very first post garnered a few hundred likes, which I thought was pretty neat. But then, by the third post, it exploded and went completely viral. I’m still astonished by how quickly it’s grown.”
Charlotte revealed that her daily walking habit began during the Covid-19 lockdowns, a tradition she started with her father, Sean.
“My dad was always a keen walker and hiker, and he used to coax us into hikes when we were kids, but I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about it back then,” she recalled. “However, one evening, he simply asked if I wanted to join him for a walk, and we’ve been going ever since.”
While Charlotte occasionally walks with her father when his schedule allows, she undertakes most of her serene journeys by herself, lacing up her Hoka Anacapa hiking sneakers and venturing into the peaceful woods.
In an internet often dominated by artificial intelligence and curated perfection, Charlotte’s content feels like a refreshing step back to a simpler era. It harks back to a time before ‘posting ennui’ became a common sentiment, when social platforms were filled with unpretentious photos and lighthearted updates, rather than meticulously optimized algorithms.
For Charlotte, however, her daily photo sharing is simply a genuine way to connect with friends, echoing the original spirit of social media. The immense popularity of her account clearly signals a widespread longing for an internet less governed by complex algorithms and more focused on authentic human connection.
Charlotte’s inspiring content has encouraged countless other creators to embrace the outdoors, sharing snapshots of their own walks, along with the refreshments and meals they enjoy afterward. The ‘today i walked…’ community now features posts from enthusiastic participants across the globe.
“I truly appreciate how this account motivates us to spend more time outdoors,” noted journalist Emi Eleode recently, commending Charlotte for providing a valuable escape from ‘the constant noise and distractions of daily life.’
“Many people on social media often resort to extreme or outlandish acts just for views,” Charlotte observed. “My account offers a refreshing change of pace, focusing on the simple, genuine joys that life has to offer.”
Beyond inspiring others to cherish their surroundings, Charlotte’s account has also deepened her own appreciation for the world around her.
“Before I began these walks, particularly in my local area, I honestly felt a strong desire to relocate,” she admitted. “I used to think, ‘I don’t like England; there’s nothing for me here.’ But now that I’ve started exploring my surroundings on foot, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”