To want a house with walks 'from the door'?

[VanityWitch]

Not through busy roads?

DH thinks this is a wild expectation. I think it's common in lots of areas.

We are considering moving further out from London. We are in the Home Counties having moved out once already. I want proper countryside. He thinks this is some crazy and impossible dream , city boy !

Budget is £400k-ish to be comfortable. Up to £500k if we were feeling a bit more daring. Anywhere in the south half of England really.

AIBU?

YANBU. We have walks from the house here in Cumbria, but also did where we previously lived (Oxfordshire). It doesn't seem like a ridiculous thing to want, and you wouldn't necessarily need to be properly rural to achieve it.

It's on my list.

Nope. Moving to a place like that in 2 weeks. Village in a larger conurbation that has at least 5 or 6 different (some wild and some managed) green spaces in walking distance.
Also next to a train line that connects to proper wild outdoors in under an hour.

It’s the reason we’re moving.

Got it from our house. Nice village, safe walks, close to shops and schools in next village which is walkable along a safe path. Easy commute to several cities for jobs.

Aha! I knew I wasn't being completely unrealistic! Thanks all.

Interesting that it's high on other peoples lists too.

Not unreasonable at all. It makes a big difference! I can choose here to walk from home or to drive a short distance to more challenging walks. Sometimes I just don't feel like driving, though.

Not in the least unreasonable. We lived in east Leicestershire for several years, and while I didn’t care for it in general, the one big positive from my POV was our location on the edge of a village with numerous field paths through pretty (if undramatic) rolling countryside starting from our lane — one crossed the bottom of our garden.

Totally achievable. I live in a London borough and can walk along footpaths across fields, through woodland and the occasional country lane all from within 100 yards of my home.

I reckon you’re more likely to find it in villages than in rural areas.

In England you’re going to need footpaths or very quiet roads. Ideally a decent network of them. I grew up on a farm and there was actually only one walk we could easily do that wasn’t on private land.

Villages tend to have networks of paths in all directions. Or choose a house near a public wood or moorland. A subscription to OS maps might be a good help with house hunting.

We had this, a chocolate box cottage, spring lambs, and alpacas everywhere.

Now moved to suburbia because I felt isolated after DS.

I wonder if there is a happy medium?

I have it and I’m only 8 miles north from Manchester. I also have the Saddleworth moors 15 mins drive away and the Lakes and Peak District an hour’s drive away. Without it I would have gone mad in lockdown.

YANBU, I became disabled after suffering a brain injury and having safe traffic free walking yards from my front door is a life saver and great for rehab.

South West.

We have about 4-5 different options direct from our front door including a canal walk, river walk, wood walk & one through a public footpath that starts 50m from my front door up to a stately home with beautiful gardens.

We often get deer grazing in our front garden, but are also a 10 min drive/40 min walk from the town centre & have shops & pubs close by.

We’ve got a large 4 bed detached house for £425k.

I love where we live.

I have it, although the very best walks involve a few minute drive as there’s no path along the main road. You can walk through the fields, but it’s a long way round.

You could get a lovely house in a village near where I live in the south west for your budget. The village we lived in prior to moving to the edge of the near by town (couldn’t afford to buy anything bigger in the village) would be just what you’re looking for.

We've got it, we live right on the edge of the South Manchester suburbs so not even in a proper village. A quick walk across our estate and you're heading over the fields on a network of footpaths that can take you straight up into the Peak District. It's a huge plus point to living here.

That budget in Suffolk would get you a lovely place. I'm an hour from London and can be out in the country and coast with a 20 minute walk from my front door.

Forgot to say, we’re 30 mins by train from the biggest SW city & about 1hr 40 direct to London, so well connected.

I used to live round the corner from here - www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94563383?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard

It's walking distance - 25 minutes - from Norwich City Centre, and an easy stroll to the Broad. More attractive houses in the village proper, but the turnover is low.

Can't say too much on here but we live a couple of minutes from various scenic locations, all accessible within minutes on foot from front door. Wouldn't have it any other way raising a family. Need to be out in the wilderness 😂

We are just outside worthing and the south downs access is at the top of my road, I can also walk to the beach in twenty five minutes. £400-£500k gets a pretty lovely house around here.

@Bromeliad

We've got it, we live right on the edge of the South Manchester suburbs so not even in a proper village. A quick walk across our estate and you're heading over the fields on a network of footpaths that can take you straight up into the Peak District. It's a huge plus point to living here.

I'm currently in Altrincham and looking to move somewhere like the OP, your location sounds ideal! Can you give me a clue to the general area you're talking about, I'm not too familiar with that side of Manc.

I have this. 20 minutes fast train to London only a 5 minute drive from my house - Kent boarder, tiny village location. Surrounded by fields of sheep. Lovely village pub 30 seconds walk away. 3 bed semi-detached house - worth just under £400k.

It is definitely achievable.

@LobsterRavioli

We had this, a chocolate box cottage, spring lambs, and alpacas everywhere.

Now moved to suburbia because I felt isolated after DS.

I wonder if there is a happy medium?

For me the happy medium is a coastal town.

Yanbu - go on homes under the hammer!!

YANBU

For me, being able to walk to shop / restaurant / pub was more important than nice walks. We are 50min train out of London and can walk along the seafront and round woods as well as shops n stuff.