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.

[Byeckythump]

The Peak District is very much not multicultural. Beautiful but very expensive and touristy.

Sheffield might be a good option, great (hilly!) city with good transport links and on the edge of the Peak District for your scenery fix.

[Jumpingintosummer]

West coast of Scotland (Prestwick, Ayr, Alloway, Doonfoot). All walking distance to shops, great cafes and restaurants, not too much of a high st anymore but good communities. Direct train or bus to Glasgow. Costal/woodland/views of Arran.

[Ylfa]

Those events in Glasgow definitely push Scotland into first place! It’s also the only part I’ve ever visited more than once and I fell in love with the coastline.

[Sarcobaleno]

Glasgow. Multicultural (see the way the community protected their neighbours being removed by immigration officials as proof) and remarkably easy access to stunning, mountainous countryside. North of Glasgow best for mountains.

[Solomonseals]

Derbyshire peaks? As it's not too far from Sheffield which is quite multicultural I think?

[Ylfa]

It has lots of houses around it though, it looks lovely!

[CormoranStrike]

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

[CormoranStrike]

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

[Ylfa]

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.

[Honeycombskl]

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.

[Shelby10]

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

[emmathedilemma]

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.

[Thelikelylass]

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.

[happywednesday]

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

On the edge of the Peak District!

[peachcherries]

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!

[Ylfa]

@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!

😊😊😊

[Ylfa]

Surely lots of cities are near mountains tho?

[Ylfa]

[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!

[emmathedilemma]

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

[Ylfa]

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

[katy1213]

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.

[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!

[Ylfa]

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

[Ylfa]

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?

[CormoranStrike]

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