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?

Hastings fits your bill . Lots of activities , good community spirit . Old town is a lot nicer than
the town centre . Some rough bits but those can be avoided .

Blackpool

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171067838

How about Nairn? Nice seaside resort with beautiful sandy beaches but not too busy. There are quaint wee cottages in the fishertown area as well as quite a bit of new builds appearing on the outskirts. Surrounded by lovely countryside and only half an hour from Inverness re work, shops, transport links etc. Has an arts/books festival and various clubs. Also near to Findhorn and Forres where there is quite a bit going on arts-wise. Here's an example of a cottage currently for sale near the beach. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/168572522#/?channel=RES_BUY

@WoolTweedArtandBooks

I’m in Dorset and our local beaches have the Blue Tits sea swimmers for women (and men swim with the Blue Balls :) )

These groups are in many coastal locations around the UK so you may want to look at their website to see if there’s a group in the locations you plan to explore:

www.thebluetits.co

Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, even appeared in a Sunday Times?(I think) or one of the big papers as a 'cool postcode' recently. Lots of cafes for all tastes, arts and crafts, traditional fry up, funky modern, art deco etc. Traditional pubs too where you regularly hear male voice choir singers breaking into song.

Fishing, sea, river and licensed lakes is available.

Cold water swimming is popular.

Lots of music festivals, carnival, and other succesful community events a plenty. You have to be involved and support events, you get out what you put in.

Massive downside; it's a million miles from anywhere (slight exaggeration) but getting anywhere from Fishguard is a mission, its an end of the line (literally) destination. At the moment house prices are cheaper than the better known Tenby, St Davids and Newport.

First thoughts were Dunoon/Inverary area, Looe in Cornwall or Hastings through to Folkestone area.

Thanks for all these ideas, places we have thought about and some we’ve visited but a couple of new spots to us as well. Pleasantly surprised to hear about prices in Gwynedd and parts of Pembrokeshire.

Love that Cromarty house!!

We are spending our holidays visiting places although when we attempted early August around the Mallaig area a few years back it was so busy we had to run away to the islands. I have said to DH a few times that we should visit Ullapool and also the Borders. I did really like the coast just north of Dundee and would definitely spend more time there, and our first holiday was to Nairn and I also loved it there.

I think we have been to Tarbert-ish, towards Kintyre, and again we really liked that area.

This is a long-term plan and in the meantime we are hoping to create income streams which can be done from home, but it’s nice to have some ideas where to go for our holidays for a while!

Will just add Kirkcudbright into the mix @WoolTweedArtandBooks

What work do you do? You may struggle to both find work in small towns unless you have a specialism. And many very small towns won’t have art galleries! Building costs also soon rack up, so suggest you buy a house. Don’t go too rural as difficult in old age.

Norfolk, Suffolk, North Yorks or Northumberland may be good options.

Everything you ask for is in Scarborough. It’s a lovely, authentic holiday resort, full of heritage and culture. Stunning beaches, loads of sea swimming, yoga and nice cafes. World famous theatre, outdoor music venue in Summer with fantastic performers. Relatively cheap properties. This is a bungalow that needs updating but us ten mins walk from the north bay beach. Some people are snooty about Scarborough, but there’s no need to be, it’s vibrant and busy in summer and moody and quiet in winter but there’s ALWAYS an ice cream shop open 🤣 www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/169685552

I lived in Port Bannatyne for a short while many, many years ago. Loved it.

Close to Rothesay so meets the needs of being near a medium sized town and Glasgow is doable as a day trip on public transport.

Isle of Wight?
Although its less trendy bars and restaurants more country pubs.
Know it like the back of my hand, my mum lived there for years and my uncle still does. Love my visits. 300k would definitely get you a 2 bed house there.

Ballycastle, North Coast of NI has everything you have listed and more! Definitely worth a visit

I was thinking the same. Also provides the ‘not too far away from towns/cities’ thinking about Alnwick & it’s good train connections and Newcastle. See if you can find the teatime series by Robson Green, he goes around some of the lovely places in Northumberland.

How close to the coast are we taking? I am currently looking in North Devon and there are plenty of properties under 300k. Some with sea views but not right on the beach (10-15 min drive) and with easy commute to Barnstaple (20-30min). Everywhere coastal is likely to be crowded in Summer but you get your sleepy village feel October to May.

Seaburn on the NE coast. You could buy a apartment overlooking the sea for your budget.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/167732774?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

I moved to Deal and really love it.

Also you could have a look at Broadstairs and Folkestone

I live on the edge of Gower peninsula in a small but thriving village. My 3 bed fully renovated end of terrace is only worth about 170000 so dont discount Gower 20 mins from my house gets me to both south and north gower beaches and Swansea about a 15 min drive for work

These suggestions are very exciting!!

Second vote for Tarbert on loch Fyne

Saltburn, lovely town with low crime rate.
Mainline trains to Newcastle.
Within budget.

Id definitely pick Scotland over Suffolk now because of erosion :( but I would have said Aldeburgh

I live in Folkestone and I'd say this meets your needs almost perfectly, lots of smaller villages nearby and fishing, activities and a a lot of arty things going on in and around the town. Come for a weekend, stay at The View 😃

So many people mentioning Kent and Sussex, is it not crazy expensive down there?