Survey reveals UK’s top 100 off-the-beaten-track locations
Britain’s top 100 breathtaking, “off-the-beaten-track” locations have been revealed – but how many have you visited? You may not have heard of the likes of Berrow Beach in Somerset, or Talybont Reservoir in Wales, but they’re considered by those in the know to be among the most stunning places in the British Isles.
Other beautiful, but little-known, locations include Wistman’s Wood in Devon, Finnich Gorge in Stirlingshire, and Symonds Yat Rock, in Gloucestershire.
These places feature on an interactive, “Get Lost with Jeep Compass” digital map, and were identified by the car maker and a team of experts from Ordnance Survey.
By clicking on any location on the map, users will discover activities to do or things to see there, and find details of nearby walking or cycling routes, which can be accessed through the OS Maps app.
It follows a study of 2,000 adults, which found 31 percent have seen little of Britain. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) have never visited Scotland, while 17 percent have not ventured to Wales – and 20 percent haven’t even been to London.
Kris Cholmondeley, managing director for the car maker – which commissioned the research, and will also be releasing limited physical copies of the map via its UK social media channels – said: “There is so much of the Great British outdoors people have yet to experience.
“And, together with Ordnance Survey, we want to enable people this Christmas period and beyond to travel off the beaten track, in the Jeep spirit. These spots showcase the best of Britain’s stunning landscapes, yet those that are lesser-known to the wider public.”
The study also found 80 percent are keen to see more of Britain – with 57 percent of those especially eager to visit “unexpected places”.
Other reasons for wanting to travel more widely include wanting to get away from “the same old surroundings” (43 percent), and a desire to “go on an adventure” (35 percent).
However, 85 percent have, to date, been hindered in their attempts to explore as much as they’d like, because it’s too expensive (39 percent), and due to a lack of free time (29 percent).
It also emerged 34 percent are now more likely to holiday in Britain than they were pre-pandemic – with over half of those who feel this way (53 percent) believing overseas travel is too expensive, while 38 percent reckon travelling domestically is less time-consuming.
And 54 percent think there is more to discover in Britain than they had realised pre-Covid – which might explain why 49 percent, of all those polled, believe it has the best outdoor spaces in Europe.
However, it’s the lesser-known places which seem to particularly appeal – and especially locations which won’t break the bank to visit.
The research, carried out through OnePoll, found 52 percent try to avoid the more popular tourist hotspots Britain has to offer. And 57 percent revealed they’re looking for places which they can visit for free, or at a low cost – largely due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Nick Giles OBE, managing director of Ordnance Survey Leisure, said: “It’s heartening to know that eight out of 10 people in Britain today would love to explore more of our wonderful country. As the survey results show, so much of Britain remains unexplored for so many of us.
“We are delighted to work with Jeep to map the 100 “Off-The-Beaten-Track” locations, and hope that this will inspire people up and down the land to get outside and have new mini adventures, away from the more obvious hot spots.”
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