A new report by The Camping and Caravanning Club reveals that most people have no idea where famous UK counties are, yet many want to visit them. The study, part of the club's Race Across the County campaign, aims to get Brits off the sofa and exploring.
Shaky knowledge of UK counties
According to the report, 93% of people cannot correctly label Shropshire and Herefordshire on a map, and 88% fail to identify Northamptonshire. Nottinghamshire and Rutland proved difficult for 87%, while 86% failed to pinpoint Lancashire, 85% Northumberland and 83% Cumbria. The average Brit has visited 27 of the UK's 92 counties.
More than three-quarters of adults say they spend more time watching other people have adventures on TV or social media than discovering new places themselves. Three-quarters are more likely to Google a nearby county than go and visit in real life, and nearly eight in 10 have driven straight through a UK beauty spot without stopping.
Cornwall named most beautiful
Cornwall was named the most beautiful county or local area people had visited, followed by Devon, the City of London, Cumbria and North Yorkshire and Dorset. Food provides another reason to cross a county border, with Yorkshire pudding and the Cornish pasty named Britain's most iconic regional foods, ahead of Bakewell tart and Cheddar cheese. More than half believe trying local food is one of the best experiences of visiting somewhere new.
More than a third did not know the UK has both historic and ceremonial counties, while 37% cannot name their own neighbouring counties.
Campaign encourages local adventures
The campaign sees TV travel companions Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe head into neighbouring Pembrokeshire to discover the scenery, food, accents and communities. It aims to encourage people to treat a neighbouring county as somewhere new to discover, showing how even a local camping trip can bring a completely different landscape, cuisine and culture.
Sabina Voysey, Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: "We tend to think of adventure as something that requires a long journey, a plane ticket or weeks of planning, but Britain can change dramatically within a short distance. There are different landscapes, foods, accents, traditions and communities sitting on our doorstep, and camping gives people the chance to really connect with an area of the UK they might otherwise only drive through. When you camp somewhere, you're spending time in the incredible outdoors, meeting people and experiencing the sights, sounds and flavours that give that place its identity."
Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe said: "We're both embarrassed to admit there are parts of the UK even we haven't explored. We recently took a trip to Pembrokeshire and despite it being just a short drive, it's somewhere where you feel a million miles away from everyday life." They added: "This experience has made us realise that real adventure doesn't have to be on the other side of the world - it's right on our doorstep. We've now made a commitment to making time for more local trips in future and we can't wait to see where we end up next."
