Want to live in the middle of nowhere and as far away from the 'modern world' as possible ideally in the uk

[fourlittleangels]

Where do i start? Any suggestions?

I want to escape modern technology and for my children to grow up living the simple life...

[ninjasquirrel]

If your main concern is the values your children grow up with, I think the answer is to get them more involved in the modern world, not less. It's great to grow food and make stuff yourself, but they need to know about where other things come from - how cotton farmers or garment workers in Bangladesh might live. When they're old enough, encourage them to campaign, volunteer or fundraise for a cause they care about (which might involve using social media!). Model the attitudes you'd like them to have without going OTT about banning things. All that is regardless of where you live.

[TwllBach]

I sometimes have the same sort of dreams, although I don't have DC yet. My worry would be how my children would then function in the world once they left school.

I decided that the only way to compromise is to (eventually, when I can afford it) move to a home with some lad and grow our own. I live in north Wales anyway, so it's not like we are in a big city anyway.

Could you do that? Grow your own? Keep some chickens maybe? Start of small and then work up to it. That way you can put the brakes on with little consequence if you find it doesn't suit you or a member f your family.

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

Think very carefully about your children's friendships, networks and career prospects before you take them away from social media and the Internet.

It could damage them beyond belief.

[CorrieDale]

I think it's helpful to work out what kind of adults you want them to be in the kind of world we have, and work towards that. Obviously you can only do do much since they're children and not playdough but if they see you being true to your principles then they're more likely to follow suit. We want the children to be independently happy (not assessing their own happiness by what other people have) and have strong social consciences. They still love a bit of plastic tat but they do get why we walk short trips rather than get out the car, and DS is thrilled to be sponsoring a rhino with his pocket money. The 'try it out for the holidays' plan is a good one but I'm more inclined to think ninjasquirrel has it right!

[Weegiemum]

I lived in the Outer Hebrides for 10 years, 18 months in Stornoway then 8.5 years in a tiny (4 houses) township in Harris. We still have our house there, we rent it out but go back every year for holidays.

Only my dd1 was at school there - it was 13 miles but there was a school taxi that took her. Our GP was 16 miles away (there was one closer but it was my dh so we couldn't use it!!) but fabulous service. Supermarkets 23 miles, ditto hospital. Reasonable Vodafone signal but poor broadband. Great nursery also 13 miles.

I don't drive but there were 3-5 buses a day (but none on Sunday) to either Stornoway or villages elsewhere. We had water treated locally and a septic tank, no gas unless you bought calor, oil fired heating (and that's got very expensive), we tended to go for electricity eg underfloor heating.

We kept hens and ducks, neighbours had sheep, horses, highland cattle.

Why did we leave? I couldn't find woh (am a teacher but my subject was well covered), dh bored, dc wanting to do things but so much travelling! We moved to Glasgow, both did a theology degree, I have great pt work. Dh missed working rurally but managed to get a job just about an hour away in a rural location. Children are happy - we kept them in Gaelic Medium education which bizarrely is easier in Glasgow! They do sports, music, brownies, scouts - all very hard to access where we lived.

It's actually not that easy to live ethically in a remote rural community - you use the car a lot more, most/all food is imported (higher food miles), harder to find fair trade/organic/ethical products. For us, integration wasn't an issue, partly as dh was well known as the local doctor, and I had taught in the local secondary school. We also chose GM education. But some "incomers" we're very isolated.


Just my 2p. We've not sold our house there as we get an income from it plus we're not entirely convinced we'd never go back - and we'd not get such a nice house again without building, and I've watched the stress of hat on too many friends!! But for now we are very happy in the city.

[ubik]

You could look at remote parts of Scotland Nd islands, done of the places are like going back to the 1950's. we stayed if the island of Canna- just around 20 people living there, no cars, rabbits, seals amazing birdlife. Some parts of the Highlands are also like this and mean you wouldn't have to board your children when they start high school - I have friends whose children sometimes cannot get home for a few weeks at a time due to dangerous weather conditions which mean a ferry can't land.

Things you should be aware of when considering life on these communities are that while you want to get away from it all, they are intensely social; everyone knows everyone's business, it's easy to fall out with folk. The winters are long You need a car and some determination when it's a day trip to the supermarket, and are you comfortable being hours away from A&E?

[MisForMumNotMaid]

I grewup in a suburban village but my family had a boat. We sailed virtually every weekend from Easter to October spent at least three of the six weeks holiday away as well as Easter and May/ October half terms. We had crude 12v lighting that lasted a few hours in the darker autumn evenings, had to collect water to fill tanks, had no fridge just the bilge to keep food cool. We had the radio which we barely turned on and each had a small locker for clothes and one for toys. The toy storage was about 40 cm x 20cmx 30cm.

We spent a lot of time at anchor just in quiet bays away from the world. I love swimming, i used to take a small dingy out for ours at a time just pottering. My sister desperately missed the clique things - the modern day equivalent of social networking I suppose. Things like Saturday Superstore that everyone watched and talked about at school.

[meditrina]

I would have thought a small holding in any rural area would be fine.

It's not that drastic a thing to want to do!

[Scruffey]

But you are asking on the internet

Anyway, I think you should limit the consumerism/materialism in your own home rather than removing your kids from society. You can easily grow your own veg, get chickens, fruit trees etc, you can limit telly time, you can wear ethical clothing, go without makeup etc etc.

[Naebother]

Just get them out op.

Walk through woods. Climb mountains. Go skiing or to the beach.

Get them on outward bonds courses, brownies, scouts.

Limit screen time and teach them esafety

Remember this is the world we live in and give them an appreciation of the natural world but respect for technology too.

[burberryqueen]

the problem about those places is that teenagers amuse themselves with drugs drink and rampant sex; there is nothing else.

[ouryve]

You realise that the more rural your location, the more reliant you have to be on driving anywhere?

And if you don't want them to have social media, don't give them phones or computers to use. Unless you home ed them, they're not going to be completely protected from the fact of their existence, though, because they will see other children at school and talk to them.

[ouryve]

And sometimes i feel like the interent on hand can give too much information and life would be much more simple/happy without it alot of the time.

So cancel your Internet contract, then. Nothing is stopping you from doing that, now.

[fourlittleangels]

I wasn't prepared for some of the negative responses I think maybe I have been misunderstood.

I don't think the internet is evil or should be completely removed but I do believe even living in a rural area atm the balance is tipped, I can set an example as much as possible but with the best will go the world they still may have more want for things living where we do, it's part of the need to fit in that so many children feel even if their home life doesn't reflect that.

I think we are becoming more and more out of touch with what is important.

I don't see why I would set them up to be disadvantaged if we lived in a very rural area.

I wasn't complaining about our local shop, I was making the point that we live nearly 8 miles from local amenities and it has never bothered me - I like it.

But I would love to be slightly more distanced, I am not talking caveman but a house surrounded by lots of open unspoiled space where we enjoy more time away from everyday technology and more time outdoors (which we already do lots of btw) lots of books for learning etc

I think it's easy to say get rid of it all and stay where you are, much easier if your children aren't constantly surrounded by it!

We have a lovely small community where we ere but also quite an affluent one, most people have sky, ipads, lots of tv etc.

We have one tv, a laptop and a mobile which seems strange to a lot of people but I know there will come a time when the children will ask (not necessary get) for more.

I mean the are using ipads in my dds primary school and she is only 6 - here it is the norm I would like my children to understand it not feel reliant on it!

We have four children under 6 and I like the idea of experiencing more with them than the norm of modern society. I don't believe it would harm them with the right attitude as long as they are somewhat prepared should they choose a different way of life as adults.

I don't believe that would be impossible!

[fourlittleangels]

Fwiw, I grew up with very little, our family couldn't afford it. There were times I found it a bit difficult during secondary school but I am so glad of it now. I do believe most of the people I meet simply can't comprehend I life without lots of 'stuff' it seems alien to them.

I feel as a society we are victims of our own success and it can lead to unhappiness.

I was only reading recently a study showing how the average teenager has know no other life away from Twitter and fb and the value themselves based on how many friends they have or likes on a what's called a selfy (picture of themselves) of fb and Twitter.

By children don't know these sites exist yet and he I had my way I would make sure if they have mobile it has no internet etc but that's an ideal, in reality it could breed resentment and make the feel outsiders even with our support and education. I agree it's better they prob have it but are well educated about it. But if they live somewhere where it group big thing then they are less likely to notice/have an interest in it.

Thats my opinion anyway.

[fourlittleangels]

Just thinking this thread almost proves my point - it seems some people can't actually comprehend that some people may want to live a life away from mod cons, its like it's inconceivable. I find that quite shocking!

I struggle to understand how we have got to this point!

I want my children to see people as just that too, people. How can they do that in a more classed society than ever where you live a life based on money and belonged, groomed from 4 years old to conform, if not earlier.

[Ilikethebreeze]

You have said you want the UK.

I probably live in a bit of your ideal.
But there is still access to junk food, access to technology[actually, broadband sppeds can be slower].

Yes, crime is definitely lower, pollution lower, no bombs.

But anywhere like I live has some poverty really. Not too bad, but jobs are obviously more scattered.
Ironically, a lot of the adults like the internet , to help stop social isolation, and a lot of people round here work from home.

But yes, slower way of life, and people do take the time to stop and stare, and appreciate.
Ironically, the kids tend to move away when older, because, if they are bright, they move to the higher paid jobs, and probably more life!

[Ilikethebreeze]

Oh, amd we dont much bother to conform!
We are a lot more laissez faire.

[Ilikethebreeze]

I will email you where if you want.

[fourlittleangels]

Yes please :) It's something I've been just thinking about for a couple of years, now I want to stop thinking and do something about it! Just don't know where to start. And obviously we would still need an income and that might be the stumbling block :(

Do you home ed, Ilikethebreeze?

[Flibbertyjibbet]

We manage to live a non-materialistic life in the North west.

Run two cars, both work. But the children don't seem to have developed expensive tastes or a lust for gadgets etc.

We have a small house in a cheap-house-prices town on the edge of the moors, nice long walks right from our front door. We have an allotment round the corner on which we grow a lot of stuff. I pickle and preserve lots, dp and I between us make most things for the house.

But the children are at a lovely school 10 mins walk away through a park, they have millions of friends and I would not want to go anywhere so secluded/remote that my children only have each other.

When I visited the Scottish islands some years back, our landlady was quite laid back about the fact her children are at boarding school mon-fri through term time, from age 11. But then she grew up there and that's the norm if you want your child educated. Then if they go to uni the distance and travel is so much longer and expensive (ferries etc) that they hardly ever come home and never manage it for just a weekend.

I understand that you want them to live a simple life, but if that's not what your children want too, then you are storing up trouble for the future.

[fourlittleangels]

Maybe I need to be more rural rather than on an island, I don't know,

[TwllBach]

Have you thought about Wales, OP? Although I am very biased

[fourlittleangels]

Oops. Like I say I'm just looking into it atm. Maybe I house outside of a village surrounded by aunt more landscape!

[JaquelineHyde]

Try the Shetland Isles, I have lived there and still have family there.

There are primary and Secondary schools available, it is as rural as you can get, a completely different world.

Please, please research this carefully though as it is a massive move to make and most people who make the move dreaming of a better life soon end up regretting what they have done and have no way to make the move back.

Even the most idyllic rural communities have there problems especially for young people, you must go into this with your eyes open. If you do and you are prepared I am sure you can be very happy.