Living in the countryside

[Alexandra6]

Just wondered if anyone has lived in the countryside now or in the past and how you found it? I'm about to leave London for a converted farmhouse in the countryside so interested in experiences!

Wouldn't change it for the world. We live on a dairy farm. It depends what kind of person you are though and how remote you're going to be. I don't feel very remote - 3 miles from nearest bus stop/town, 15 mins to the motorway, can be in the centre of Edinburgh within 30 mins(traffic dependant). What is important to you - hobbies/lifestyle ect. Do you work? What will your commute be like? Do you have kids? Where is their nearest school?

We raised our two in the country. There are pros and cons. The schools were smaller and there was more of a 'connection' between the parents and the schools. Very little went on that one parent or the other didn't know about (that can be good or bad). But socializing for children is a bit more difficult. There's no running across the street to see if XXX can play. It all involved driving DCs to and/or from playdates. Of course this became easier once they got their licenses and their own cars. But that's just about the time that DCs realize that 'there's nothing to dooooo!!!' in the country.

The quiet in the mornings and evenings is just wonderful. Couple that with the fact that we were far enough out to be isolated, but close enough to the nearest largish town to make marketing, medical appointments, etc easy and life's pretty good in the country.

That being said, DH and I are now retired and the place and land is getting to be a bit much. We plan to sell up sometime in the next 5 years and move to the small town about 15 miles away.

These days "countryside" is really no more than an upper class housing estate with more room between houses. The farming industry only needs a handful of people to produce food so those who actually work the land are in a verry small minority. There is no more harvest time, or other event that binds the community together with a common purpose. People no longer feed themselves from the land but i stead work in nearby large towns commuting every day to office jobs that can be anywhere.

If there are sufficient busy people who are like Linda Snell of the Archers, you may find a busy social callendar. However there are fewer and fewer pubs and you have to drive to a restaurant which means one person always driving...

I was brought up in the country and spent my life riding, walking and reading.....my parents had to drive us everywhere in school hols (we boarded during term time), and although I love going 'home', with four children, we have decided to stay in an urban setting until they have left home - more opportunities to socialise and do activities without me being a taxi.

It requires a totally different mindset I think. My husband has a very busy, stressful London job and it takes him several days to slow down to 'rural time' when we go and stay. And you can't pop to the shops so being organised is vital - it's a 5 mile round trip just to get milk where my parents live. Throw yourself into village life/activities in order to meet people, and prepare to be 'the new people' for at leas 20 years

I adore the peace and quiet though and am looking forward to moving out once the children are off our hands.

I grew up in the British countryside and largely disliked/ hated it. If you are not horsey or churchy or very into gardening you don't belong. The village i grew up in had rubbish public transport but also the roads are narrow and pavement less with dangerous blind bends so kids don't play out much or walk alone to each other's houses. They all have big gardens but that is very isolating.

I am somewhat accidentally bringing my kids up in the German countryside and after initially feeling isolated I now love it - the major difference is the roads are wide and clear with pavements and there is a playground and football field and village green right in the middle of the village, so all the kids play out and everyone knows each other, the kuds have an excellent social life with friends knocking every day, and I know all the parents and grandparents.

As a childless adult I'd never choose the countryside but could end up staying where we are - knowing most people makes the difference, and to throw yourself into country life in the UK is harder if your face and interests don't fit ime.

Good luck - if you want to be left in peace or if you enjoy church/ gardening club/ horsey stuff you'll love it, if not you might have to drive to town for all your socialising.

I think it depends where your work is.

If you live rurally but have a huge commute to the city every day - what's the point? You'll never have the time or energy to enjoy your surroundings.

If you work near your home then that's different.

I love the countryside but also hate driving and commuting so live in the city a 10 minute walk from work but can be in the Yorkshire Dales in a 50 minute train ride at the weekends. I would far do it that way round.