Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Relocation - have we considered everywhere or do you have any other ideas?!

145 replies

nellyelloe · 29/03/2023 15:05

Hello!
So for very personal reasons, we have planned to totally relocate (away from England). It's been a very long time coming, but the right time is next year and we are so excited.

We have a few essentials to consider, mainly universal healthcare because both me and our child are T1 diabetic.

We also want somewhere very pretty, with a slower pace of life.

I want to know if we are missing other places to consider. This is our once in a life time chance. So far, we have considered (and obviously have been to) these places:

-West Wales
-North Wales
-Isle of Man
-Channel Islands
-Scottish isles (inner and outer Hebrides)

We are happy to go further or consider literally anywhere!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Original poster
nellyelloe · 30/03/2023 18:35

headingtosun · 30/03/2023 17:21

Even if they aren't your typical teenager they are going to need to study or earn a living.

Opportunities for both are very restricted on Scottish islands, particularly post high school.

I would also add that small island communities aren't particularly forgiving about differences and diversity is often a significant issue.

Don't over romanticize living on one.

I 100% agree with this, which is why we are leaning more towards rural but within east reach of facilities, especially with our health needs

OP posts:
Original poster
nellyelloe · 30/03/2023 18:37

Merchantadventurer · 30/03/2023 18:34

Oh and the IOM does have an established A&E and ICU. They have to cope with motorcyclists every year during the TT races after all!

Very true!
But yes, the universal healthcare attracted us because of our health needs. We've been to visit 4 times now and love it there.

OP posts:
Original poster
nellyelloe · 30/03/2023 18:38

gogohmm · 30/03/2023 17:51

Also bare in mind in rural/island Scotland many children have to board. Perhaps look at the Shetlands as they have a decent hospital but factor in ferry costs regularly to Aberdeen (shopping for anything other than the supermarket is limited) and flights, my friends keep a couple of thousand in an emergency travel bank account and said many islanders try to do the same thing. Another place with a hospital but rural is Inverness

Thank you - Inverness and Loch Lomund added to my list to explore!

OP posts:
S72 · 30/03/2023 18:42

Will you be impacted by the different tax rates in Scotland? Something to factor in.

snowspider · 30/03/2023 18:50

Pembrokeshire is probably not the greatest for teenagers or employment unless you want to be a care assistant or work in a minimum wage role, there are other jobs but not abundant. There are not enough gps. Prescriptions are free in Wales. Diabetes care however I think is good, appointments in my area seem well managed. Pembrokeshire is a poor area of the country so there is plenty of deprivation and associated problems. It seems particularly attractive to retired policemen, daily mail readers and evangelical church goers but other tribes must be available if you find the right location. There are good things going on in communities and arts, house prices are skewed by holiday homes and so you need to weigh up your preferences for prettiness and practicality.
There are not many banks, or towns with high street shops. The high street shops are in Haverfordwest. If you are quite resilient and make your own way then it's great, if you rely on easy access to entertainment and facilities not so much. And you will find it a lot more difficult if you don't drive although not impossible. It's lovely obviously so that is the compensation.

SmallElephants · 30/03/2023 19:02

Sorry do you have one child or 2? Will they be looking at uni /college /work or are they always going to be dependent on you? What about a social life?
it seems a challenging time in their development to move to a very rural area. If they have additional needs and might need social care input in future how will you or they manage that in a rural part of the world?
sorry if these questions are off the mark im. Just trying to get a picture of what would meet your needs. Know Scottish areas and islands quite well.
what about a small city in Scotland or a rural area within half hour drive of the city?

headingtosun · 30/03/2023 19:52

I 100% agree with this, which is why we are leaning more towards rural but within east reach of facilities, especially with our health needs

Having grown up on a Scottish Island I think that is a sensible approach.

Original poster
nellyelloe · 30/03/2023 20:22

snowspider · 30/03/2023 18:50

Pembrokeshire is probably not the greatest for teenagers or employment unless you want to be a care assistant or work in a minimum wage role, there are other jobs but not abundant. There are not enough gps. Prescriptions are free in Wales. Diabetes care however I think is good, appointments in my area seem well managed. Pembrokeshire is a poor area of the country so there is plenty of deprivation and associated problems. It seems particularly attractive to retired policemen, daily mail readers and evangelical church goers but other tribes must be available if you find the right location. There are good things going on in communities and arts, house prices are skewed by holiday homes and so you need to weigh up your preferences for prettiness and practicality.
There are not many banks, or towns with high street shops. The high street shops are in Haverfordwest. If you are quite resilient and make your own way then it's great, if you rely on easy access to entertainment and facilities not so much. And you will find it a lot more difficult if you don't drive although not impossible. It's lovely obviously so that is the compensation.

Thanks for this. Pembrokeshire has never struck me as a deprived area infact quite the opposite. We've a stayed at Tenby, Saundersfoot, Narberth and also on the Carmarthenshire border which is tempted as then you get the best of both worlds - very close to the beauty but more facilities. Let me know your thoughts!

OP posts:
Original poster
nellyelloe · 30/03/2023 20:29

@snowspider this is the deprivation map I found which looks ok to me?

Relocation - have we considered everywhere or do you have any other ideas?!
OP posts:
Original poster
nellyelloe · 30/03/2023 21:29

Yes those areas don't surprise me!
Do you know the other areas I've mentioned?

OP posts:
redyellowpinkbluegreen · 30/03/2023 21:42

I'm from south wales- I'd go there over north wales!

ilovepixie · 30/03/2023 21:45

nellyelloe · 29/03/2023 20:47

NI looks a real possibility and worthy of exploring! I've never even considered it. The benefits look huge!!

Ideally looking for village/small seaside town/rural rather than a city.

Donaghadee is lovely.

Relocation - have we considered everywhere or do you have any other ideas?!
snowspider · 30/03/2023 21:57

Tenby, Saundersfoot and Narberth all nice in ways.

Narberth is a nice town, has expensive shops and antique places used to be quite hippy back in the day. Is the kind of aspiration for other Pembrokeshire towns, why can't we be like Narberth is a local councillors cry

Tenby has managed to extend its season a bit, has about 5k or 6k residents but 10 times that in summer so a very lopsided economy eg groans in health service terms. Super attractive with an unrivalled combo of beach and town but is bursting at the seams with people in summer. Properly rammed. That's good and bad. One of the strangest side effects of cover for me was walking on Tenby beach at the height of Summer and we were the only people there.

Saundersfoot used to be the more genteel side of Tenby a bit less frenetic and popular for retirement as retired people love steep hills with bungalows. Lots of investment there in the harbour area. Again tourism. Mega busy in summer.

It very much depends what you are looking for.

snowspider · 30/03/2023 21:58

side effects of covid

ilovepixie · 30/03/2023 21:59

Hillsborough is lovely too.

PizzaPastaWine · 31/03/2023 07:35

dammiejodger · 30/03/2023 11:20

I moved from England to N Wales and don't speak Welsh. I work for the NHS. It has never been a problem with my children going to school or me working in a very rural area in the community.

Show quote history

Sorry, I should have been clearer. When I say North Wales I was thinking more Gwynedd area - I see from your post that you say you are closer to the English border and my experience is the further West you go the more Welsh speaking Wales becomes.

Considering the OP has a DC in sixth form and a younger child I think the Welsh language would be highly advantageous in their forming of friendships and feeling like they were integrating into the community if living in a place that is predominantly Welsh speaking...and Welsh is a difficult language to grasp.

I say this as someone born and living in Wales. In my visits to Gwynedd I feel like a foreigner and could see there may be some hostility towards outsiders in certain places.

I've not visited North East Wales so this sounds like a great option for the OP.

dammiejodger · 31/03/2023 07:53

@PizzaPastaWine love your username!

Yes, I live by the border but I work further into N Wales, quite rurally, and whilst a lot speak Welsh, it has never been a problem me not speaking it. I think it might be because I work with children and young families, if it were the older generation then it could be, but similarly the DN team don't have too much trouble.

I agree though, up towards Bangor etc it is more Welsh.

It's a lovely little village that isn't too cut off, just perfect really.

Good luck with your search OP.

Original poster
nellyelloe · 31/03/2023 08:59

ilovepixie · 30/03/2023 21:59

Hillsborough is lovely too.

Yes, Hillsborough and Donaghadee look lovely! And within east reach of Belfast too!
Can you think of anywhere else worth looking?
Thank you!

OP posts:
turtlemurtle1982 · 31/03/2023 11:15

@nellyelloe do you want town/country/ seaside?

turtlemurtle1982 · 01/04/2023 13:58

Beautiful house but there's a reason it's cheap- Larne is grim.

SheriffCallie · 01/04/2023 14:14

@turtlemurtle1982 , what makes you say that. What aspects do you find particularly grim?

Abyss23 · 01/04/2023 14:23

Skye is also plagued by tourists! I'm not sure it really fits the bill of quiet rural dream when you'd be in convoys of american tourists everywhere you went for half the year.

It's really not that bad. Depends where you live really. We're in a very quiet part of Skye, not that many tourists venture out here. The roads are busier in the summer but still relatively quiet compared with city traffic etc. As someone else said, the big advantage for Skye is the bridge, no dependency on ferries.

Original poster
nellyelloe · 01/04/2023 14:48

turtlemurtle1982 · 31/03/2023 11:15

@nellyelloe do you want town/country/ seaside?

As long as it's a nice seaside town and not like Grimsby or Skegness, then seaside is good. Ideally though we want countryside 😊

OP posts: