Half of Brits reckon the UK has the best outdoor spaces in Europe, study finds
Nearly half of Brits (49%) reckon the UK has the best outdoor spaces in Europe – with eight in 10 keen to visit more destinations on home soil, research has found.
A poll of 2,000 adults found that almost a third (31%) admit they have not seen much of Britain – with 24% never having ventured to Scotland, while one in five have never even made it to London.
But those who are keen to travel more widely within the UK are particularly eager to visit “unexpected places” (57%) – in order to “go on an adventure” (35%), or to escape “the same old surroundings” (43%).
And over half (52%) simply want to avoid the country's tourist hotspots – with 54% believing there is more to discover in Britain than they had realised prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In light of the findings, car manufacturer, Jeep, has teamed up with Ordnance Survey to create a digital, interactive, “Get Lost with Jeep Compass” map, highlighting the top 100 breathtaking, “off-the-beaten-track” locations in Britain.
Spots such as Berrow Beach, or Wimbleball Lake, both in Somerset, England, are among the top 10 locations that Brits may not have heard of – but that are considered by those in the know to be among the most stunning places in the British Isles.
And other places that ranked high on the list include The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, in Northumberland, Talisker Bay on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland, and Symonds Yat Rock, in Gloucestershire.
By clicking on any location on the new online 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.
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 OnePoll research also revealed that 34% are now more likely to holiday in Britain than they were pre-pandemic – with over half of those who feel this way (53%) believing overseas travel is too expensive, while 38% reckon travelling domestically is less time-consuming.
However, 85% have, to date, been hindered in their attempts to explore as much as they’d like, because it’s too expensive (39%), and due to a lack of free time (29%).
And it emerged that it is the lesser-known places which seem to particularly appeal – and especially locations which won’t break the bank to visit. In fact, 57% 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.”
TOP 10 “OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK” LOCATIONS IN BRITAIN:
- Berrow Beach, Somerset, England
- Talybont Reservoir, Brecon, Wales
- The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Northumberland, England
- Roche Rock, Cornwall, England
- Stiperstones, Shropshire, England
- Wistman's Wood, Princetown, Devon, England
- Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland
- Symonds Yat Rock, Ross-on-Wye, England
- Wimbleball Lake, Somerset, England
- Finnich Gorge, aka “The Devil’s Pulpit”, Stirlingshire, Scotland
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