Clare Balding

Two thirds of Brits consider a nearby pub essential for the perfect staycation – with a cosy interior, traditional pub grub and a scenic beer garden topping the wishlist

A survey of 2,000 adults who have taken holidays in the UK revealed 61% regard a pub as vital for the ideal getaway. Preferably it should serve traditional pub food, feature a cosy interior

and a beer garden with scenic views. Local ales, a roaring fire and live music or entertainment are also desirable – as is being dog friendly. And 42% prefer a ‘proper local’ over a more touristy option.

The study was commissioned by cottages.com, which has teamed up with broadcaster and countryside champion Clare Balding to launch its Pub Walk Collection.

The collection features a carefully curated selection of pub walks, including lesser-known routes. Clare said: “A proper pub walk is a much-loved British tradition. For me, the perfect route is four to six miles with dramatic scenery, ending at a great local pub.

“It’s fantastic to see that our appetite for adventure has grown and we want to help people discover the lesser-known corners of the UK that make a staycation truly special.

“Some of the most memorable parts of a break can come from taking a different turn, chatting to locals and discovering places which aren’t on every itinerary.”

The research revealed that 46% of people believe their sense of adventure has grown considerably over the last 10 years, while 51% would prefer to uncover lesser-known destinations rather than flock to well-known tourist hotspots.

Furthermore, 32% of 18 to 34-year-olds favour what might be described as a ‘hidden gem’ over popular destinations – with nearly a quarter actively seeking out places that haven’t been swamped by tourists.

When questioned about their top holiday priorities, value for money came out on top with 49%, followed by good weather (34%), ease of travel (31%), great local walks (28%) and peaceful, crowd-free surroundings (28%).

As many as 70% said peace and relaxation matter more than how a destination looks on social media when choosing where to go.

However, 34% had visited a restaurant, beach or landmark specifically because they saw it on social media, according to OnePoll.com figures.

A spokesperson for cottages.com, which features a collection to help holidaymakers uncover some of Britain’s finest pub walk routes, including exploring some less well-known trails, added: “Britain’s best holidays aren’t always about travelling further, they’re about discovering more.

“Whether it’s finding a beautiful new walking route, stumbling across a fantastic village pub or exploring somewhere you’ve never visited before, those moments are often what people remember most.

“Our research shows people are looking for experiences that feel authentic and help them connect with the places they’re visiting.”

TOP 9 PUB WALK COLLECTION ROUTES:.

1. Peak District – e.g. Bamford Edge, Goyt Valley Heritage Walk, Youlgreave: Land of the Druids.
2. Yorkshire (Dales or Moors) – e.g. Settle: to the top and round, Richmond and Easby Abbey, The Coast Path & Larpool Viaduct.
3. Lake District – e.g. Walla Crag and Derwentwater, Cockermouth to Papcastle and the River Derwent, Kendal to Sizergh Castle.
4. Northumberland – e.g. Corbridge, Tyne River and hills, Morpeth and the River Wansbeck, Castles and Kippers, Embleton Bay.
5. Wales and Welsh Borders – e.g. Conwy Valley views, Wintour’s Leap, Mumbles and Langland Bay.
6. Cornwall – e.g. Boscastle Discovery, Looe to Polperro and back, Kynance Cove and Lizard Point.
7. Scottish Borders – e.g. Kelso Abbey and the Teviot, Melrose and the Eildon Hill.
8. Scottish Highlands – e.g. Pitlochry, Killiecrankie and the River Garry, Fort William and Inverlochy Castle.
9. Norfolk – Aldborough Three Churches, Salthouse and Cley Marches, Norfolk Broads Waterways and Woodlands.

Wimbledon was rocked by a stunning upset on Saturday as defending champion Iga Świątek was knocked out in the third round

There were tears on Centre Court as one Champion was knocked out of the tennis competition.

Wimbledon entered its sixth day of intense action on Saturday (July 4) as competitors battled to secure their place in the fourth round. The compelling order of play featured Emma Navarro (USA) going up against Marta Kostyuk (UKR) on Court Two, while Arthur Fery flew the flag for Great Britain on Court 18 against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, amongst numerous other fixtures.

Yet it was Centre Court that left spectators utterly stunned as the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala squared off against Poland’s Iga Świątek. Presently sitting third in the global women’s singles rankings, Świątek, 25, is a six-time Grand Slam winner and was competing to retain her title.

Świątek secured her maiden Wimbledon crown last summer when she delivered a devastating 6-0, 6-0 final triumph over Amanda Anisimova. However, she has now been eliminated from this year’s tournament.

Throughout the gripping third-round encounter with 29th seed Eala, Świątek surrendered the opening set in an extraordinary tie-break, 21-19, before collapsing in the second set, going down 7-6 (11-9) 6-2.

While BBC One was broadcasting the Arthur Fery fixture, presenter Clare Balding broke in to confirm that Eala has created history as the first Filipino player to advance to the fourth round of a major championship, reports the Express.

Speaking live from the BBC studios at Wimbledon, in London, Clare announced: “Let us bring you up to date with a major shock. The defending champion, Iga Świątek, is out of Wimbledon, and Alex Eala is the first player from the Philippines ever to reach the fourth round here.

“A huge result, she is immensely popular all around the world, and gets really big crowds following her. Eala is only 21, and this is a massive moment for her, and indeed for the Philippines.”

Having clinched her winning point, Eala collapsed to the ground before swiftly rising to her feet to pay tribute to her opponent, Świątek.

Visibly overcome with emotion during her on-court interview, Eala reflected on her childhood, when such an achievement could only have been the stuff of dreams.

“I’m really emotional. For someone like Iga, who has won so many Grand Slams, or maybe like Serena or Venus, this achievement may seem small but for someone who grew up in the Philippines it is huge,” she said as the crowd cheered.

“I went to train with my brother and my grandfather every day after school with my ruffled socks, light-up shoes, and chubby cheeks, so to younger me, this is everything. But, obviously, just because I’m emotional does not mean I’m satisfied, so next round let’s go!”

All the latest action from Wimbledon is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Wimbledon favourite Clare Balding once shared a very personal story from her school years

BBC Wimbledon presenter Clare Balding has revealed an “absolutely horrifying” incident from her youth, long before her illustrious broadcasting career took off.

Speaking back in 2024 on the Rosebud Podcast with Gyles Brandreth, the 55 year old reflected on the “awful” experience.

BBC star Clare said: “I got into a lot of trouble when I was young. When I first went off to boarding school, I think I felt an enormous pressure to be one of the crowd.

“So I think I was very susceptible to peer pressure, so getting in with the ‘in-gang’ required doing quite daring things, one of which was shoplifting.

“And of course, I got caught, and I got suspended at only the beginning of my second year at school.”

The broadcaster continued: “And I remember that being so shameful, because also when I rang home my parents weren’t there. So Vicky, who was my father’s terrifying secretary – the scariest woman…

“Think of all those films. She came to get me. That was absolutely horrifying and the shame of it… I thought I was going to be expelled. So that was awful.”

Yet Clare – daughter of racehorse trainer Ian and Emma Balding – managed to turn things around following this setback, reports the Express.

She subsequently flourished at Downe House School near Thatcham, Berkshire, securing a place in the first team for lacrosse and being elected as Head Girl.

Clare described being named Head Girl as a “big deal”, explaining that the coveted role was awarded by a teacher vote rather than a pupil election.

The podcast episode was recorded as a Valentine’s Day special, and also featured Clare’s wife, radio host and journalist Alice Arnold.

The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2006 before tying the knot in a private ceremony in 2015.

Clare has been a familiar face on British television for more than 30 years, building an impressive career spanning BBC Sport, Channel 4 and BT Sport.

She will be taking the helm at Wimbledon today (July 3) on the BBC, as she fronts coverage of the nation’s most cherished annual tennis tournament.