Well I never, that’s where that town is!

[CormoranStrike]

I have spent fifty years - okay, cumulatively probably just fifty minutes - being utterly convinced Exeter was near Cambridge.

Today I had to check it in a map! Who knew? It’s kind of a Torquay/Plymouth way.

My world is tilting in its axel.

Anyone have other random finds like this?

I know where Exeter is because it's my nearest city, but I know what you mean. I have a problem grasping the fact that the island of Ireland is north of me. In my mind it's to the south. Weird.

Who knew?

😂😂😂 Me.

I have to say that my geography knowledge is pretty shit though, both in and out of the U.K.

In my head, the Lake District is more central/over to the east. I'm always surprised that it's over on the west. Even though I know where it is, it's always a surprise. Which is really odd 😂

utterly convinced Exeter was near Cambridge.
I blame Saint Ives, which is both near(ish) to Exeter and Cambridge.

I always, always thought Dunkirk was in Scotland. I’m still not 100% it is in France tbh.

And that’s terrible because of WW2, so I’m doubly idiotic.

Exeter sounds north to me (and I'm in the Midlands). My UK geography is worse than my European geography - it's ridiculous!

Dunkirk for me too!

I only clicked when I met people from Dunkirk. And I'm Scottish! I suppose I assumed it was named by the allies i.e. Omaha Beach and so on.

Usually I read threads like this and roll my eyes at the ignorance displayed (yes of course I know where Exeter is!) But yesterday ideas surprised to see Bangor on the top left hand corner of Wale, opposite Anglesey. Even though I know Aberystwyth is halfway down the coast of Wales, I have always assumed Bangor is too.

I'm pretty confident on English locations. Wales and Scotland fare less well, although Wales probably has the edge.

I can find Belfast on a map, but the rest of Northern Ireland is a complete mystery to me.

I've got a geography degree It was more physical than human though....

I was not ideas.

Pontefract - should be in Wales in my mind. Not near Leeds!

I spent my childhood thinking that Coventry was a posh town somewhere near London. A school friend had moved from there and they sounded posh compared to everyone else.
Was quite shocked when I actually went there!

Dunkirk is also in Nottingham, just to confuse matters.

Sheerness is near Inverness in my mind.

I struggle with the concept that you can travel to France from the south coast of England. In my mind France is east of England.

My geography is usually ok but I always catch myself out on Ben Rhydding. In my head it's in Scotland or Wales. not Yorkshire!

Could have sworn that Dunstable was up north somewhere, possibly near Chester. Nope, Bedfordshire.

I also remember being shocked as a teen to discover that County Durham wasn't in Ireland...

I always assumed Hartlepool was in the NW (I think I associated it with Blackpool).

I'm ashamed to admit I once got on a plane with a gang of uni mates to go on holiday to Tenerife and after an hour asking why it was taking so long. I thought it was off the coast of Spain like Menorca 😣.

Dungeness is on the north facing Kent coast (near whitstable) OR on the Suffolk coast around beccles. Absolutely no way is it on the south coast !

To be fair @TeddyIsaHe Dunkirk does sound as though it is a Scottish place name!

Retired geography teacher here 🙋🏻‍♀️ I still regularly get taken by surprise. Mental maps are a bit skewed for everyone I think!

Kiddieminster - don't know where i thought it was but never thought it would be by Birmingham.
Jaywick always sounded like it was in Norway.
Also as a northerner find it hard to get my head around how far it is between Essex and the West country.

I was surprised that Edinburgh is further west than Carlisle .