Where would you live?

[Ylfa]

50+ chronically single (with chronically undertreated mental illness but occasionally sort of functional with it). 100% unemployable. Daydreaming about selling my house and leaving east anglia for somewhere mountainous, multicultural and cheap.

Forgot I posted this, might as well bump anyway.

Derbyshire? Wales? Scotland?

Is Derbyshire cheap? I like it there (geologically)!

I can't think of anywhere in the UK that's particularly mountainous and multicultural! The more rural you go the less multicultural things tend to get but they are often cheaper, particularly if you avoid the tourist hotspot areas.
West Cumbria (between the national park and the coast) - a blooming long drive from anywhere though!
Dunoon is quite affordable - not particularly mountainous but stunning coastal views and easy access to Glasgow for amenities.
Scottish Highlands - places like Kingussie and Grantown on Spey are a bit cheaper than Aviemore which is very touristy.
Again, hilly rather than mountainous but the Scottish Borders are quite cheap if you stay away from the towns that are on the railway line and would put you within striking distance of Edinburgh or Glasgow for cultural stuff.

Also, what do you define as cheap? expectations vary depending on what sort of property prices you're used to or want to get for your money.

Thanks for replies - yeah cheap is v subjective isn’t it, I’ve been looking at Dunoon and Derbyshire and they both seem affordable. I especially love the idea of moving to Scotland but I am highly romanticising the landscape and not thinking coherently about any possible pitfalls!

What’s your budget OP, and we can search online for some homes you might like.

I don’t know if I want to buy a place or just rent and be a bit transient - having been here for decades to provide continuity for my children - I’m thinking cheap as in cost of living as a whole rather than real estate. Objectively houses are ‘cheap’ here in suffolk compared with the south east but it costs a lot to live here. Probably because it’s too sparsely populated?

But if I was daydreaming about buying somewhere it would be small and under £200k and well insulated!

The Highlands. Just being there only is therapy in itself. My mental health was so much better when I lived up there compared to being in the central England rat race!
Enjoy, see it as an adventure!

Leaving East Anglia would cheer anyone up - but I don't think mountainous/multi-cultural exists.
Do you really want to be single, getting on in years and stuck up a mountain? I'd far prefer a city with plenty of entertainment.

I do want to be single but with views of mountains 😀

If you don't buy this I might! www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77722912#/

[quote emmathedilemma]If you don't buy this I might! www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77722912#/[/quote]
😯 that’s a lot of house! I could start a commune!

Surely lots of cities are near mountains tho?

@peachcherries

The Highlands. Just being there only is therapy in itself. My mental health was so much better when I lived up there compared to being in the central England rat race! Enjoy, see it as an adventure!

😊😊😊

Argyll and Bute is beautiful but not much in until way of cities, in fact there are none!

Inverness area is lovely and Fort William. It's quiet but lots going on if you want to be outdoors.
Dunkeld, Aberfeldy and Crieff are lovely areas too.

Or there's East Lothian and Berwickshire which are also nice!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106648112#/

On the edge of the Peak District!

How about Llangollen? Mountains and hills, but decent town and close to big cities such as Chester and Liverpool. It would be crap to be too rural and have to nip out for food/medicine/medical appt and it's too far.

Edinburgh is a hilly city with lots of green space, hills to the south and sea to the north. Personally I think it’s hard to beat as a (small) major city location BUT you don’t get much for under £200k unless you go further out of the city but then you’ve not got the advantages of being in Edinburgh.
The north “outskirts” of Glasgow such as Balfron and Drymen might suit your location needs but probably not sure budget.

I live in a small town near Sheffield.. very close to miles and miles of fields and farmland. Small terraced houses in a nice area can be found for under 200k .. some for much less

If you are seriously considering moving somewhere rural in the highlands of Scotland I would seriously suggest renting first to see how to find it. We have many people who move here imagining a dream lifestyle but then a couple of years down the line, after the honeymoon period has worn off, the reality of rural living hits and they want to leave again. I've known a couple of people who this has happened to but have then been unable to sell for quite a while and eventually lost money by having to sell for less. In all honesty at the moment there is also some animosity in certain areas to 'outsiders' moving in as currently many locals are being priced out of the areas they have grown up in my people moving up here. There are also plenty of friendly welcoming people but the negative vibe certainly seems to be increasing lately and it's creating some tension in parts.
Just something to be aware of.

Oh no I’ve had more than enough of rural life, I want to be in a large town or a small city somewhere with a bit of geological diversity around it 😀 imagine having shops and stuff within walking distance.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and links so far, it’s really absorbing looking at all these different places. Hopefully can visit some this summer. Looks like Scotland, Peak District, Wales in that order.

This one is sold, but gives you the idea of what your money can buy you.

Half hour ferry to the mainland and direct train route to Glasgow.

Plenty of shops and restaurants on the island too.

Rosebeg Cottage, 69 Ardbeg Road, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, PA20
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/89764186

Ah, just missed the “had enough of rural” - sorry.