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?

@WoolTweedArtandBooks , Depends on where and what you mean by crazy.

Happy to house hunt for you.

Deal
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/169756088#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/167701445#/?channel=RES_BUY

Folkstone

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166209494#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/167720372#/?channel=RES_BUY

Penclawdd is on the Gower you’d get a house for £300,000 there

Rhyl. You'd get a house in Rhyl for £170K

Worthing

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/168904262#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163140473#/?channel=RES_BUY

As a student in the eighties, we’ve used to go to Mumbles specifically to go to an ice cream parlour. Does it still exist?

We have become very fond of some of the Scottish islands, but we’re wary of too many people in summer.

If you like the islands don't rule them out. You just need to pick your spot carefully. I live on one of the islands and although parts of the island get v busy in summer, where we are is very quiet.

@IdrisElbow , the 1st one is a holiday chalet. It says 12-month occupancy but it won't be for the same occupant(s).

@Silverbirchleaf , you can't go to Mumbles and not have an ice cream!

Another vote for Saltburn on NE coast. There are many lovely places on that coastline.

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163021940?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

That’s so cheap! And really nice.

I don’t remember the name, only that it served rich, creamy icecream in late eighties. Methinks a trip down to Mumbles is overdue.

Another vote for Northumberland. Amazing beaches, great food and loads to do in Newcastle. Also not far from Edinburgh. It takes us just over an hour on the train to Edinburgh. Alnwick is lovely and Hexham has loads of restaurants, a theatre, independent cinema and loads of local shops.

We're not on the coast but only half an hour from the Scottish borders which have some lovely towns.

Joe's or Verdi's. You probably felt strongly that one was far better than the other

@IdrisElbow ,
@WoolTweedArtandBooks , and you can't not try laverbread.

Gower is lovely. Well worth a visit.

I grew up with the Gower as almost a second home. PJ’s Surf Shop sold me my first surfboard and still remember my dad, forty-odd years on. I’d love to think I could live there! I wrote it off as a place to live years ago when I heard that quite ordinary homes were being valued around the million pound mark. But maybe should reconsider!

my husband doesn’t want to live in a city. Accessible to one is ok, the very edge of a town or village is ok, but left to his own devices he’d live on a very small island about 5 miles off the coast, and just sail in to the mainland once a month for whisky and bacon 😆 so we are trying to find somewhere that works for both of us.

Whitstable or Herne Bay?

I have never actually been to Kent (apart from through it on Eurostar). Or Sussex. I always think it’s going to be a bit crowded and expensive, and I’ve never had a reason to go there (I don’t have anyone to visit there, and we tend to go north or west for our holidays). Sounds like I should reconsider.