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Original poster

When people say they live “rural”, what do you envision?

187 replies

popbingo · 08/08/2025 21:31

So many posters on MN talk about living rurally. I picture a farmhouse (or something similar) in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fields and mountains. The nearest shop would be a 30 minute drive away etc.

Please share your thoughts!

OP posts:
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youreactinglikeafunmum · 08/08/2025 21:48

Those villages on the outskirts of london with winding roads that youre expected to do 60 on

Dangermoo · 08/08/2025 21:44

Hardly any neighbours, more Green land than tarmac, growing my own fruit trees, having to drive to the nearest shop, pub on doorstep. Tranquility personified.

MsFelicityLemon · 08/08/2025 21:44

I've often wondered this, im not in the UK and to me 'rural' mean a house is surrounded by farmland with no or very few neighbours that can be seen. Shops are 20min drive.

Sometimes I get the idea that on here rural means not urban; and urban mean living in a large town or a city.

Seaforme · 08/08/2025 21:43

I have a farm opposite. No pavement for a kilometre either way from my house. A pub. No shop. Another village two kilometres away with a pub, shop ans garage and a small town five kilometres away. Can only see fields and houses.

Original poster
popbingo · 08/08/2025 21:42

@MinieggyThis is exactly how I picture it! (Maybe I was being a bit dramatic with the mountains Grin) looks so peaceful!

OP posts:
YourWinter · 08/08/2025 21:39

I live in a former farm worker’s cottage. Semi detached and the two cottages have fields on each side belonging to four different farms. Village green with two ponds, a church, a tiny shop, loads of thatched cottages, there’s a bus to the city twice a day.

Hopeless for non-drivers. Waitrose is 7 mikes away and only reachable by car, other supermarkets even further.

Bryonny84 · 08/08/2025 21:39

I'm rural in a tiny cottage in a village in the Scottish Borders. We have a school, a church, a cafe and a pub. Nearest shop is 3 miles, nearest largeish town 15 miles, nearest railway station 12 miles, nearest city 40 miles. There's a bus every 2 hours to the large town but the last one back is 5.15pm. You need a car. It's lovely but it is quite isolated.

Minieggy · 08/08/2025 21:39

This is my rural - no neighbours and I love it

When people say they live “rural”, what do you envision?
SpaceRaccoon · 08/08/2025 21:38

I do live rurally. In my case it means a hamlet of houses and crofts all spread out from each other, single track road, 5 minutes drive or 1/2 hour walk to the village. Neatest city (barely a city) is nearly two hours drive away.

21ZIGGY · 08/08/2025 21:37

I live rural. Theres a cow farm "next door" and a co-op and 1 pub

JamesMacGill · 08/08/2025 21:35

I think UK rural is very different to, for example, USA rural.

Here it probably just means living in a village with just the 1 pub.

Hedgesfullofbirds · 08/08/2025 21:35

Exactly that, but substitute Quantock Hills for mountains and a cottage, rather than a farmhouse!

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