Location- on the coast, but where?

[WoolTweedArtandBooks]

I wasn’t sure where to put this so I thought I’d go for the high traffic area.

DH and I would like to move to the coast, probably in about 10 years. We want to buy outright a small 2-bed (or land to build a tiny home on). We won’t have huge amounts of cash so it will have to be somewhere lower cost. We’ll probably need a medium-large town nearby for work, but in an ideal world we would be a little way out in a peaceful location- or possibly a small house in a town, if the town were right (somewhere like Tobermory for example, not too big, independent and has interest but easy to escape from and get some solitude).

He’d like there to be sea fishing (cod, bass, etc) and I’d like things like art galleries/classes, yoga, nice cafes and pubs. I love the beach and sea swimming. I’d like to become part of the local community, offering classes or working in schools- I hope we would bring something to offer the community rather than moving in and expecting to just slot in with no effort, or to isolate ourselves. We are self sufficient and independent but I also value my friends and would like to meet some like minded people in the new place.

We have become very fond of some of the Scottish islands, but we’re wary of too many people in summer. We suspect that the Welsh coast and south-west corners of England would be out of our price range.

Can Mumsnet suggest any areas we might explore, please?

What’s your budget? May influence locations.

Hastings - some bits are a bit tough but other boards are better

Folkstone - on the way up

Herne bay - nice seafront, not sure what’s its line to live there , but it’s near Whistable (pricey)

Worthing

or the villages near these places

Tasech chi'n symud i Gymru, gallech chi ddysgu cymraeg!

You could start now :) You'd get a much bigger welcome from your new community - especially if you moved to Gwynedd

What kind of budget do you have?

Tarbert (the Loch Fyne one)

The Northumberland coastline is stunning. I’d start there!

I think the whole southeast corner would be both too crowded and too expensive for us. We won’t have huge sums, probably not more than about 300K.

@Clychaugog the land of my fathers, but aren’t most of Wales’s coasts expensive and second-home-heavy? DH is from Gwynedd and thinks it’s out of our price range. And the Gower and places would be so far out of reach, sadly.

The Angus coast might work for you? I live in Arbroath and it has a small town feel while being a nice town size but there are also many smaller communities along the coast too.

Property prices aren’t too bad here. I’ve seen plenty of people fishing both on the harbour wall but also going out on boats, lots of cafes and pubs and there is a lovely community around here although you do get some people who moan about it too but IMO they want stuff the cities have and don’t always see what we do have.

I’m involved in local am dram theatre, go to Pilates classes and I’m on a darts team and I love all the friendships I have from all those things.

Housing market has stalled since the introduction of article 4 and beefed up council tax for second homes in Gwynedd. Houses aren't moving as fast as they were and lots of second homers are selling up.

Sounds like the East Neuk in Fife might suit.

St Andrew’s, Dundee, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes for work options.
Avoid Elie it’s overpriced and empty in winter. Anstruther is the biggest town. Pittenweem and Crail are villages with good pubs, shops and community. St Monans and Kingsbarns are quieter with less amenities.

If swimming is your thing it’s all the rage here. Pittenweem, St Monans and Cellardyke all have outdoor pools that are community run and free. In Crail and Elie they swim in the sea and do yoga and Pilates on the beach. Cellardyke Kingsbarns and Elie also have sauna huts on the beach.

I second the nothumberland coast or one of the north east seaside towns

Also in southwest, plymouth has everything, coast, beaches and moorland a short drive away. Cornwall just over the bridge.

Maybe now they're taxing second homes there will be more coming up for sale?

Personally I think the North to mid East Coast is fabulous, low prices, and definitely seem to be on the up, Cleethorpes, Mabelthorpe, all down that coast.

Port Bannatyne, Bute. You probably won't get better value for money house price-wise, community owned pub and quite a few local community initiatives which newer residents seem to slot into fairly well. Some sea swimmers swim the bay there, but not sure that there is an organised initiative there. May be too quiet for you though!

I think you'd need to visit any place you are interested in for a week or so to really get a feeling of how your life might look there.

Cawsand in Cornwall is exactly what you describe (half hour or so to Plymouth by ferry). Not sure what you could get for £300k but worth a look for sure.

St Leonards/Hastings/Bexhill area ticks all your boxes. That’s where I live and my smallish but very lovely 2 bedroom Victorian terrace house with lots of lovely features is worth around £250K. So I don’t think south east is out of your budget. It’s a bit busier in summer but not overrun with tourists like Cornwall etc.

North east Scotland coast might be good for you. Not as tourist heavy in summer as the west coast, better weather, still cheap enough places, lots of sea swimming, nice foody places, lots of fishing, good artsy scene. Anywhere from fife up to stonehaven might suit.

Some of the smaller fishing villages (johnshaven, Gourdon) might be worth a look

How about the Black Isle? I think Cromarty is meant to be quite arty and you could get something like this:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162092984#/?channel=RES_BUY

Oh god, I want to do this toooooo

Barton on sea, highcliffe, Christchurch - you can find some reasonable properties a bit inland from these areas or nearby within this price range. South coast so weathers good, Bournemouth and Southampton nearby and new forest. Walkford is near highcliffe and a bit more reasonable. Nice community atmosphere, lovely cafes and restaurants.

We moved to the Northumberland coast last year and can highly recommend it.

Try Pembrokeshire, not Tenby or Newport sands. I lived in Fishguard, up and coming and has the best NYE party in the whole of Wales.

Saltburn, Whitby Huddersfield area. Really up and coming, great people and vibes. Friendly and affordable but house prices are really starting to go up

@WoolTweedArtandBooks northumberland is stunning . Or just over the border into the east coast.
Have you looked at isle of Lewis sounds like it would be the place for you .
I researched it and it has enough going on that you ask for . you can find loads of YouTube videos , plus the tourist information are helpful for you give them a call
What you have described is Skye (however too busy for you?
north west coast of Scotland has great community .