Where to consider living. Affordable but not rough.

[Bookaholic73]

Looking to move within the next few years.
I currently live in Devon. It’s beautiful but not cheap.
Children are older, so I don’t have to consider schools, but would ideally be near hiking paths.
Definitely not a city

I have family all over the U.K., so family ties aren’t a concern. I’m pretty much free to move wherever I want.

Where would you recommend?
I’ve heard that Durham is nice, also some parts of the midlands.

Lincolnshire?

What counts as affordable?

i’d go Bristol or wye valley but have never been to the latter, just seen the pictures 😄

Nice bits of Durham aren’t cheap

We're planning to move to the Durham/Newcastle area in a few years. Want to live somewhere near cities, affordable for the DCs to leave home and nice countryside. Ticks all our boxes.

I've lived in Wales, ROI and SE England so far. Time for a change!

Droitwich/Worcester? Depends if you want rural/city etc. Plenty of surrounding countryside/river/canals (Malvern hills are beautiful) plus its central so easy access to the rest of the country.

Fortrose in Scotland.

Oops I didn't read your last line...yes Worcester is a city but a small one! There are plenty of smaller surrounding towns and villages.

Herefordshire, beautiful.

I was going to suggest Lincolnshire too.

Durham is beautiful - although i am a bit biased. As PP said, there are some expensive parts, but it is a beautiful county and ideal for those who want an outdoors lifestyle

Co Durham and Northumberland. Beautiful countryside, Northumberland coast, Cheviots, Kielder, Wear and Tees Valleys and the Pennines. Not too remote, good walking country. Some areas (Durham City, Corbridge, Northumberland coast, Barnard Castle) are more expensive property wise but there are plenty of lovely villages and towns that are cheaper.

The nice bits of anywhere aren't cheap.

Cheap bits of Durham aren't nice!

@Bookaholic73, what's your budget?
I'd recommend Penistone/Holmfirth and the surrounding HD8/HD9 villages.

With a username like that, you should move to Alnwick and set up home next to Barter Books! We love living in the North East.

Peak District? Some areas cheaper than others but you can be on the doorstep if in Buxton/Dove Holes/Chapel en Le Frith. Very easy to get to a Manchester and Sheffield on the train. So many beautiful places to walk. I would also suggest some of the areas near Leek/Cheddleton very affordable and have the Staffordshire Moorlands on your doorstep, more isolated from big cities though.

Nice parts of Durham are pricey but there are actually some nice pets of Sunderland that are more affordable. Eg Ashbrooke, Barnes, Roker, Seaburn, and then parts of South Shields. The city centre is dire but the beaches are lovely and you can go to Newcastle on the metro for better shopping.

*parts

What would the actual budget be and what would you want to get for that budget (size/bedrooms/garden etc). What do you consider rough?

budget??

How far from a city?

bit morbid but are you in good health? A lot of rural areas have had their local a and e’s closed, just want to point that out. Specifically in mid/ South Wales.

what’s your budget?

Brecon Beacons national park is breathtaking, quiet and incredibly safe, still that community feel where you’d be welcomed and get to know your neighbours and about an hr/ 90 mins to cardiff if you do need the city but depending on where you are hospitals could be an issue, but it’s not cheap cheap. Monmouthshire? Again v nice, probably more reliable healthcare and closer to cardiff/ Newport.

droitwich spa

leamington spa

Morecambe bay, beautiful lots of lovely walks and not too expensive