A TOWN in Powys has been named as the best place to completely drop off the grid in the UK.
A new study by Uswitch analysed the best locations to disconnect based on several factors, including internet speed and connectivity, places to stay, things to do and travel time to the nearest city.
And the place in Powys that was deemed the best destination throughout the entire UK to completely drop off the grid? It’s Brecon.
From the moment we wake up, many of us are tapping at our mobile phones, swiping on smartwatches and staring at screens, connecting everything from our work to our love lives, fitness routines and food.
Sometimes it just feels tempting to turn it all off. And Uswitch says the picturesque market town, south of Builth Wells, nestled at the foot of the stunning Brecon Beacons, takes the top spot on the list. Known for its breathtaking surrounding mountains and moorlands, it is the perfect place to escape from the rest of the digital world.
You’ll be sure to put your phone away with an internet speed of just 40.8mbps, which is lower than the national average. It’s the perfect opportunity to turn on the ‘do not disturb’ feature. With over 500 places to stay and plenty of things to do, visitors won’t be itching to look at their phone or travel 53 minutes to the closest city – the capital, Cardiff.
There are three places/areas in Wales that make the top 10 – with Snowdonia fourth and Ceredigion ninth. Scotland’s Orkney Islands and Argyll and Bute are second and third. Penrith and the Border, the Shetland Islands, West Dunbartonshire, Hartlepool and Skiddaw are also in the top 10.
Meanwhile, with gorgeous landscapes and stunning climate, where better to completely drop off the grid globally than on the Mediterranean coastline in Provence, France, which tops the 10 best places in the world to drop off the grid.
Provence has over 2,000 things to do including visiting the lavender fields at Senanque Abbey or renting a boat in the Gorge du Verdon. You won’t be short of places to rest your head with 14,091 options to choose from; this little slice of paradise is the perfect place for a tech-free vacation.
The lower than average internet speed and half an hour travel to the nearest city will be the perfect opportunity for some TLC away from a screen.
Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and Halong Bay in Vietnam are second and third respectively, with Cappadocia in Turkey, Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, Pamukkale, also in Turkey, Canada’s Banff National Park, Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher, Machu Picchu, Peru, and The Pitons, in St Lucia, making the world’s top 10.
To read the full study, click here.
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