Rural or semi rural places to live in Shropshire/Staffordshire/Norfolk?

[CarinaMarina]

We would like to move somewhere quite rural, at least compared to where we are now which is just outside a city in the south.

We can save a bit of money moving further north, and we only want a smallish detached house or bungalow with a bit of garden, in a location close to good walking. But not really knowing the areas very well, I've no idea whether what Right Move is churning out is going to be right - for example, my search criteria brings up a few properties in Telford, but I believe that is quite built up. Similarly Stoke comes up a lot and the properties are decent, but what's it like?

We didn't necessarily want to go all the way over to Norfolk but wouldn't rule it out. We saw a lovely bungalow there but it was purchase by Modern Means of Auction...yikes.

Any ideas, what areas should I look out for?

I should say that we were originally looking in Dumfries and Galloway for that really rural location, but reality means I need to stay more reasonably close to London due to work. So we have adjusted our expectations somewhat.

What about Leek?

Rural market town on the edge of the Peak District but with access to Stoke and Newcastle for mail line station, theatres, cinema, hospital etc.

Stoke is a real mixed bag , nice areas , built up areas, rough areas. Telford is lots of little towns with the centre being a shopping centre . Have you thought about Cheshire ? What is your budget ?

Ah Leek, yes that's a good shout. Ta!

Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Church Stretton all worth a look. Small market towns. Also Much Wenlock. Villages around Shrewsbury nice too.

Telford itself is quite built up but places like Little Wenlock, Ironbridge, Coalport are much more villagey but technically Telford if that makes sense.

To the North near Harper Adams University is rural again. North is flatter though.

Church Stretton is great walking, straight onto Long Mynd. Much Wenlock has nice surroundings too - Wenlock Edge. Bridgnorth low town had ok walks from your door and easy (road) access to Brown Clee.

Ludlow has High Vinnals/Mortimer Forest on the doorstep and not at all far from Titterston Clee.

Not as experienced with Shrewsbury walking options but not far from the Lawley, Long Mynd, Stiperstones etc

Norfolk is a beautiful county. It is, on the whole, very isolated.
We live in Kings Lynn which is the end of the train line.
We have fabulous beaches 15 minutes drive and open countryside a 5 minute walk.
My issue is that people here are —extremely— somewhat insular

I agree that central Telford is quite urban and not what you’re looking for at all, but there are a lot of lovely villages on the outskirts which are technically Telford. Google maps satellite view is your friend.

I think it’s hard to go wrong with Shropshire as long as you don’t go somewhere so far up in the Clee Hills that you get snowed in every winter, and as long as you have quite a high level of patience for being stuck in traffic jams behind tractors.

Really helpful ideas, thanks - I knew MN would be a mine of useful information!

Budget is up to £200k (sounds very modest, it's because I'd be saving £100k on my current mortgage), but if it has a decent garden (for an office) we only need 2 bedrooms. Right Move keeps turning up huge 3 and 4 bedroom houses on pleasant estates but we'd rather a small bungalow on a bigger plot really. Can't really filter for that! Detached is preferable, and a garage, but again we're not ruling anything out. We don't mind doing a bit of work as long as the property isn't derelict, but for a bit of renovation we wouldn't want to spend more than £160k.

Ha, my Dad lives to the East of Kings Lynn and my brother lived near Norwich, so I am aware of the Norfolk quirks! It's a lovely area and it doesn't take long to get to London either...

For that budget look more at Church Stretton, Craven Arms, possibly Clun.

Where in London may make a difference and how often.

Could be anywhere in London but usually city, it varies. I might be in Moorgate one day and Farringdon another!

Equally I might have a job in Redditch one week and Leeds the next. I get about a bit. The pandemic has certainly made life more peaceful now I can do everything remotely, but unfortunately I'll have to go back to doing at least some work on site once we can travel freely again.

Won’t get much in Church Stretton for 200k.
However surrounding areas like Craven Arms or Dorrington Bishops Castle maybe.
I live in the area it’s great for walks etc but you aren’t near much else except the market towns of Shrewsbury and Ludlow.
Nice and quiet, rural.
Shrewsbury itself has a lot of choice of property it’s a lovely little town.

With that budget I’d forget South Shropshire and look at North Shropshire where you’ll get plenty more for your money.

For £200k look at Cross Houses and Cressage in Shropshire, tiny little villages, lots of lovely fields & lanes for walking but only 5/10 min drive into Shrewsbury which is a beautiful market town and lots of beautiful walks on your doorstep. Also Broseley would be in your budget, lovely community, beautiful woodland walks, very pretty little town (just avoid the Albion pub! Sorry far too localised knowledge there!) close to Bridgnorth & Ironbridge

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-85296631.html

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76135479.html

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75733518.html

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-87222556.html

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63557877.html

Staffordshire Moorlands, on the outskirts of a village a couple of mins walk to rural landscapes across the moorlands, and the peaks a 20 min drive www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87472066#/

More in Staffordshire Moorlands with easy access to the Peak District
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86508010#/

Smaller houses on bigger plots are highly sought after, so you'll need to act fast to bag yourself something, especially at that budget and you'll likely be looking at something that needs modernising too.

Stoke is not particularly nice (though there a few gems of houses, we almost bought there) - but Leek is lovely, right on the doorstep of the Peak District, good value houses, nice local independant shops/cafes/bars, not a bad arts scene (in nonral years) for its size. And close enough to Manchester if you need a dose of big city. Telford way is quite dull I find, especially countryside-wise.

You'll get a lot more for your money in the Staffordshire Moorlands/North Staffs/Leek area than just over the border in Cheshire.

Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to post links - will take a look at those.

DH seems to be being really stingy about it, we could pay £300k but he is fixated on getting the mortgage payment right down - he would only need to work part time then so could do any work needed. I'm fine with that, I like being the main breadwinner as I'm a right lazy bastard at home, he does everything.

I found a fabulous property with a HUGE garden just on the Welsh border, it's not derelict but certainly needs renovating. DH can do all that, but he skipped through the pictures and said, nah, that needs thirty grand spending on it.

Yes, and it's still in our budget and is just about habitable!

At one point we were talking about a self build and living in a caravan on site...he changes his mind a lot.

Is there a particular reason you're looking at the Shropshire or Staffordshire area (I agree there's some lovely countryside around Telford, it's probably not a bad place to be)?

Maybe lots of choice around Leeds or Manchester too? Where I am there's quite a few bungalows on decent sized plots for your budget and also good motorway access for work and on the edge of greenbelt for good local walks, or proper rural within half an hour or so.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E1544&insId=1&radius=0.0&minPrice=&maxPrice=210000&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=&displayPropertyType=bungalows&maxDaysSinceAdded=&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

Cross posted and that Welsh border property sounds great, especially as you'd be able to keep back the £30k from your sale/purchase to do the work and manage to live in the house while the work's being done as long as you can cope with a bit of mess, dust and outdated fittings and decoration.

Thanks for the link Barbara - nice house, I'd keep that trampoline as well.

I think we just thought that was a good sort of central-ish location, can still go up to the Highlands in the camper in a few hours but still visit family easily in the south (and they can visit us in under 4 hours), and get to London in 2-3 hrs.

Leeds seems a long way up, but we are open to suggestions! I am hoping to be able to work 95% remotely, but if I am required to be on site occasionally some of those will be in London. Its not a massive deal breaker, I can travel of course, but worth bearing in mind. My employer is being a little bit sniffy about me going so far north, they'd rather I was in the south for various reasons, but that's OK - there are other employers wanting to talk to me!

Leeds is actually quicker on the train to London due to East Coast Main Line and only about half an hour further away by road, plus closer to Scotland.

It's only 'so far north' if you take a very SE centric view on life and I think there will be a lot fewer people in that position going forwards.

It's up to you. I also travel all over the place for work and find Telford starting to feel a bit 'out of the way' but that might not be your experience, if your 'family in the south' are in the South West.