Am I being unreasonable/lazy to not want to move to a very hilly town?

[Amandette]

We (myself, dh + one dc) are moving to a different part of the country.

Dh and I will both be working in a particular city, and have been looking at towns a commutable distance away.

We’ve narrowed it down to 3.

Town A is dh’s favourite by far - in all fairness, it is a lovely town, with a beautiful high street, great schools, low crime etc etc, seems to tick all the boxes. But the high street is at the bottom of a valley and all the houses are on the really steep valley sides above it. I’ve heard that you can’t really park on the high street, so any trip to town to go the shops or anything else would end in this massive climb home.

I would prefer Town B or Town C which aren’t quite as picturesque/upper middle class but are far flatter.

Dh thinks I’m being lazy. AIBU to discount a town for this reason?

forbidding massif... of Hertfordshire.

Why on earth not move to the actual city itself? Stop polluting the world with your stupid commutes, and LIVE NEAR WORK.

Yeah, because it definitely works like that. Especially in the south east.

Wait a minute, this is bloody Hertfordshire. Fuck yes, you are being lazy! Get fit!

My Aunt lives up a very steep hill, in a Welsh Town. It amazes me how all the really old people still manage it, they seem to live longer as well.

Likewise when we go camping, the difference in older people and mobility.

downcasteyes, not everyone can afford to live in the city that they work in.

Just think of it as a free gym! My DBro lives in a very hilly town. He and DSiL got superfit really quickly. The views are gorgeous.

Wait for a house to come up right in the town - they do come up fairly regularly - the hills in Berko only kick in once you get back one street all around from the High Street

ie. there's a LOT of houses a flat walk from the town

Consider Tring? And St Albans over Hemel.

If you do pick Hemel there's only half a dozen streets (plus Felden) that's right next to the main train station that are nice enough to live - and you will still end up driving to berko to meet friends for coffee

Hemel town centre is really horrible - after a decade they still keep commercial rents too high to let most of the shops in the Riverside complex - which is a disgrace

Berko is lovely but have you thought about St Albans ?

Hills are good for you

Neither of these are huge but they are well positioned for the town centre. I like the one on the river, it's a lovely walk

I miss living up a big hill. I used to walk up a steep and long hill twice a day and it kept me really fit. I now live in a flat village and I’ve put 2 stone on. I still walk as far and for as long but I’ve lost my fitness so much. Hills are great! Plus think of the views!

@downcasteyes I'm a self employed cleaner so walking for miles between clients isn't possible, it would add hours to an already long day.

Oh and you do get used to them. I could power walk straight up with hardly any effort.

Berko is lovely

I'd go for it. Flooding will never be an issue, which is reassuring in view of the global warming thing.

I'd check that at least one retailer delivered online shopping locally, then go for it.

Depends whether you have a buggy or not. I have fucked my wrists pushing a buggy up hills on the school run everyday, and I love walking, but unfortunately I underestimated the toll it would take.

Just to reassure you, ALL of the supermarkets deliver to Berko

I don't know the area....how "massive" is this climb home from the High Street?

I'm googling but it just looks like where my mum lives - a hilly area, yes, but not hugely steep hills. Not San Francisco!

I'm guessing the OP would love to live in St Albans but it is ridiculously expensive. Mind you I can't imagine Berkhamstead is cheap. Are you commuting to London or somewhere else? If London there are so many places you could consider.

YABU. We moved to the top of a hill some years ago. It used to get me very out of breath me walking up it and I sometimes had to stop for a rest but now me, DH and DCs don’t even notice it (unless we have very heavy bags, in which case we might get a cab). It’s done wonders for our fitness.

I googled images of Berkhamstead. A tourist map came up with a DM comment 'the tourist map of Berkhamstead is shaped like a penis....' 😂😂

Yanbu I had to walk a hill everyday was scared to death in winter of falling over . Was thin though

Are you kidding me? Hills? I was expecting this to be about a place with actual hills!!
Park at Waitrose and you'll be fine.
Gorgeous place OP even if the map suggests otherwise!

just to add....that "live near work" comment is mad.

A) couldn't afford it

B) wouldn't want to live in such a hellish crowded place

C) planning to freelance and work all over

D) does said poster also think people have jobs for life now?! Imagine if I'd had to buy a new flat every time I changed jobs over the last 20 years!

I live in the area you're talking about. Berko is definitely nicer than Hemel but don't discount Hemel completely! The areas around the two train stations (Boxmoor, for Hemel station, and Apsley which has its own station) are the nicest, and more affordable than Berko or St Albans.
How about something like this? Lovely Victorian house near station in Boxmoor