Somerset beach tops list of UK's 100 best 'off-the-beaten-track' spots

12 December 2023 , 16:56

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Berrow Beach in Somerset, and Talybont Reservoir over the border in Brecon, Wales, have topped a list – of the 100 most stunning “off-the-beaten-track” locations in the UK.

Other breathtaking places that Brits are unlikely to have heard of include The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, in Northumberland, Roche Rock in Cornwall, and Stiperstones, in Shropshire.

Meanwhile, north of the border, in Scotland, Talisker Bay on the Isle of Skye, and Finnich Gorge – or “The Devil's Pulpit” – in Stirlingshire, also made the top 10 list.

And it comes as three in 10 adults (31 per cent) admit they have seen little of the British Isles – but eight in 10 are keen to explore more of these hidden gems closer to home.

To help them plan their next adventures, Jeep has teamed up with experts from Ordnance Survey to plot the top 100 UK beauty spots on a new, interactive map, dubbed the “Get Lost With Jeep Compass”.

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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.

Somerset beach tops list of UK's 100 best 'off-the-beaten-track' spots

Eight in 10 Brits are keen to see more of the UK - with over half wanting to visit more hidden gems (Jeep)

The research, of 2,000 adults, found that almost one in four (24%) have never visited Scotland, while 17% have not ventured to Wales – and 20% haven't even been to London.

Kris Cholmondeley, managing director for Jeep – 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 that, of those keen to see more of Britain, 57% are especially eager to visit “unexpected places”. And other reasons for wanting to travel more widely include wanting to get away from “the same old surroundings” (43%), and a desire to “go on an adventure” (35%).

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%).

It also emerged 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.

And 54% think there is more to discover in Britain than they had realised pre-Covid – which might explain why 49%, 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% try to avoid the more popular tourist hotspots Britain has to offer. And 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.

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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: