I want to live in the countryside........scared of moving away again

[micramummy]

I live in a city, moved away when younger and came back 2 years ago to be closer to family. I like being by my mum and sisters but I want to be in a village or countryside loacation. I really like Gloucestershire and Wye valley but scared of moving away AGAIN. If I'm only around an hour away it should be okay, will it be as lovely as I think? anyone moved out to the countryside and made it work?

[saggyhairyarse]

I grew up in Gloucestershire, moved to Bristol and now live in a village on the outskirts.

We are near enough that civilisation is on the doorstep but far enough away to benefit from better schools etc.

I would LOVE to live in the Wye Valley, it is a beautiful area and I would move there tomorrow if only my husband would agree.

[micramummy]

where do you live now? on the outskirts of Gloucestersire or Bristol?
what are the best areas around the Wye Valley then and why wont your husband agree if its so lovely-which it is!

[saggyhairyarse]

Sorry, that wasn't clear, we are in the outskirts of Bristol. DH won't agree because of the commute to work and he is self-employed and has established customer base so cannot just move.

I really like Monmouth, I have a friend who lives in Usk and they really like it there. They do commute to Bristol as it goes, but DH not keen. Tintern and surrounds are really pretty. I am less keen on the tail end around the M4 area (Newport/Caldicot/Chepstow).

[makingamove]

excuse my manners butting in...

Saggy, interested in your moves - we're thinking of a move to bristol but worry that it might just feel like another big city and that we'd want to move out eventually. Do many people end up moving out of bristol to the local villages - which ones are good?
Where I am in London there's sort of an endless flow of people moving on elsewhere and there always seem to be lots of people leaving as their kids approach secondary. Don't tell me Bristol is like that too?

Micra - I can understand your dilemma - I read something recently about decision making and they were saying brave is best! I'm trying to tell myself that. It's hard when you see your kids happy where they are but you think there might be something better for you all as a family elsewhere. Good luck with your decision/search. I'm boring myself with my indecision.

[micramummy]

Yes we love Monmouth too and cinderford and the area around forest of dean, its gorgeous, and quite competatively priced houses so we should be quiet on here about it lol!

[saggyhairyarse]

I don't think Bristol is like that really. Most areas that I can think of do have established communities. The one area that does strike me as having a more transient community is Clifton because of the amount of students.

If you want to live between Bristol and Bath then Keynsham has good schools, if between Bristol and Gloucester then Thornbury. There are lots of nice villages to the south of the city. Portishead where my kids go to school is a nice town with cafes/bars. I really like Long Ashton but there has been loads of development there and not enough places at local schools so kids are being shipped to different areas to get to school.