Where do you want to retire to? What about climate change ruining it?

[ZenNudist]

So I'm sat in the garden idly searching rightmove for Norfolk properties to buy that I could "summer" in and retire to. Sadly much of the fens will be underwater by 2050 so NOT a good investment. Its more of a dream anyway but something I could maybe afford to do. The reason for looking at Norfolk is I love it there.

So it makes me wonder where in the UK could we move to that would still be OK to live in in 20 years time? I've always loved the new forest. DH isn't keen on retiring to the lakes but so far has suggested the peak district but its not somewhere I'm bothered about living but we would have friends there and there are pretty properties.

I live in Manchester so want somewhere l can get to easily so not really thinking about the scottish highlands.

Would like to hear where other mumsnetters would retire to.

I love Norfolk too, it makes me sad to think of the north coast under water.

As well as flooding there’s also the drought issue, heatwaves, and food security, and being far enough from the rampaging hordes once the climate crisis world wars really kick in. Don’t rule out the highlands yet!

North of Scotland

I'd head back to Aberdeenshire, where I was brought up. Beautiful countryside and coast. I'd choose somewhere more rural than where I grew up though.

i was thinking of starting the same thread 😊

I’m currently in central Scotland but I want to go further north. Ideally somewhere remote with views of water (sea or Loch).

I'd retire to somewhere in the very heart of London if only I could afford it. Can't imagine how it will be affected by climate change? Is there a place I can look at the predictions?

To answer the second part .. I think if I’m on a hillside in Scotland I should be safe from flooding 😊

This site is quite good.
www.climatejust.org.uk/map

@A580Hojas further south and cities not good for access to water.

It seems that along with the usual worries about affordability, and making new friends etc we will have to a) find a place that isn't going to flood or fall into the sea and b) have access to water.

Scotland does seem to be a good bet but not very practical for me yo buy now.

I want to retire to the coast... maybe Wales would be a good idea. I'm near to North Wales now and I love it.

Ive been looking at the Peak District. Bit cooler , and away from the most popular areas, reasonably quiet.

That's very vague.

Inverness is projected to be underwater by 2050, for example. Its a myth all of the Highlands would not be affected by rising sea levels. Hebridies would be underwater too.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/19183447.areas-scotland-underwater-2050/

@DownNative parts of Inverness and parts of Na h-Eileanan Siar. Not the whole lot.

One of the other concerns with regards to retiring to the Scottish Highlands is outward youth migration and inward migration of retirees. The infrastructure isn’t there to cope with the impact this currently has on the healthcare system. I think that’s something folk often overlook when relocating for retirement purposes.

If large areas do go under water the remaining land pressure may mean once quiet area becomes a building site for climate refugees

And you need to think about the infrastructure of what’s underwater: is the place you’ve chosen now cut off, is the main train station underwater, how is food getting to you?

My DH and I retired about 6 months ago, we retired very early and have stayed in the same area but travel once a month. The plan is to do the for five years and then change areas, I fancy an apartment with a balcony somewhere on the South coast but I worry about my cat.

This is tricky. If this does come to pass, quiet areas will no longer be quiet, people will have to migrate inland, prices will go up, services will be strained. I quite fancy the Derbyshire Dales or Shropshire, but who knows?

I think some people have badly misunderstood the predicted sea-level increases over the rest of this century.

Anyway, funds allowing we’re planning to split our time three ways, between Northumberland, the Pyrenees and central London.

Well, did I say all of the Highlands would be underwater?

No, I didn't. The person I responded to gave a vague "north of Scotland" answer which suggests they think the entirety would be untouched.

I refer to Inverness as being like a giant retirement home. A lot of young people do leave and a lot of older people relocate there upon retirement, especially folk from London.

@TinySophie can you explain more about misunderstanding?

@DownNative you said “Inverness is projected to be underwater by 2050, for example” I’ve said “parts of Inverness and Na h-Eileanan Siar. Not the whole lot” I meant not the whole of Inverness, and not the whole of Na h-Eileanan Siar - I wasn’t clear with what I’d written.

It is not exactly incorrect vis a vis Inverness. Merkinch aka the Ferry and the Longman areas ard projected to be underwater.

That is both a lot of people displaced (poorest in Inverness) and businesses displaced. The roundabout at bottom of Academy Street would be gone.

That would be huge in Inverness - it's just over a quarter of it by 2050.

Then the settlements down from Inverness to the Beauly area are projected to be underwater too.

As for the Hebrides, the parts where people live in settlements is projected to be underwater by 2050. They'll likely have to move to the mainland.

So the poster who said "north of Scotland" is going to have to be more specific! 🤔

The interactive risk level in the link I posted above will show you anywhere in Europe. I didn't look past Europe though.

No train stations are going to be underwater in my lifetime. Get a grip!