Britain becomes nation of armchair explorers as less of us visit new places - study

Britain becomes nation of armchair explorers as less of us visit new places - study Three quarters of Brits in a study said they are more likely to Google a nearby county and look at its highlights on a screen than go and visit the destination itself Britain is becoming a nation of armchair explorers, with more than three quarters of adults (77%) saying they spend more time watching other people have adventures on TV or social media than discovering new places themselves. And three quarters (75%) say they are more likely to Google a nearby county and look at its highlights on a screen than go and visit it in real life. According to a poll of 2,000 people by The Camping and Caravanning Club, nearly eight in 10 Brits (79%) have driven straight through a UK beauty spot without stopping to see what was there. The study was commissioned as part of The Camping and Caravanning Club's Race Across the County campaign, which aims to get Brits off the sofa and uncover the adventures waiting much closer to home. Despite our reputation as a nation of travellers, our knowledge of where UK counties are is shaky, with 93% unable to correctly label Shropshire and Herefordshire on a map and 88% failing to identify Northamptonshire. The average Brit has visited just 27 UK counties in their lifetime - equivalent to fewer than three in 10 of Britain's 92 historic counties. Nottinghamshire and Rutland proved difficult for 87%, while 86% failed to pinpoint Lancashire, 85% Northumberland and 83% Cumbria. More than a third (35%) did not know the UK has both historic and ceremonial counties, while 37% cannot name their own neighbouring counties. Yet three in five (61%) say they would consider a short camping trip to a neighbouring county. And more than three quarters (76%) say the UK is the most beautiful country in the world, suggesting the problem is not a lack of appreciation for what is on our doorstep. Cornwall was named the most beautiful county or local area people had visited (37%), followed by Devon (32%), the City of London (24%), Cumbria (19%) and North Yorkshire and Dorset (both 18%). Food provides another reason to cross a county border, with Yorkshire pudding (54%) and the Cornish pasty (52%) named Britain's most iconic regional foods, ahead of Bakewell tart and Cheddar cheese (both 36%). More than half (51%) believe trying local food is one of the best experiences of visiting somewhere new, while the average Brit would travel 100 miles to taste a famous regional food where it originated. Local language is part of the experience too, although more than one in four (27%) have never heard "Howay", two in five (40%) do not recognise "Gert lush" and 38% have never encountered "Bostin'". The Camping and Caravanning Club campaign sees TV travel companions Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe head into neighboring Pembrokeshire to discover the scenery, food, accents and communities waiting just across a nearby county border. 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."