Is there a smaller Brighton anywhere?!

[donttrythisathome]

I live in Brighton and love it, but want to move somewhere a lot smaller and more rural. I've realised that my dream is somewhere like Brighton. Not, as in, for example, lots of drug deaths and hen parties. More the sea, open-mindedness, lots going on. Just smaller, and greener. Somewhere you can walk to countryside easily, and hear owls at night.

Stop laughing, you over there....!

So, is it an impossible dream?

A small seaside place, that is vibrant and progressive, with a great community. And noticeable owls, or at least easy access thereto?! Oh and work for a future childminder and current carpenter/furniture maker?

I live in Hastings. Delighted none of you are coming to spoil it.

Hurray!

And we have owls. We have a lovely lady with two Cobra-eating owls who aren't nocturnal and are used to frighten the seagulls.

Worthing. I think it will become the new Brighton.

Sompting (the location of linked bungalow) is great entertainment for sub-5s.

sins by omission <

thought you was in forrin parts hully ?

Mallaig - bit remote, lots of work here and amazing scenery and really lovely close knit community. Not as funky as Brighton.

not permanently, mr Poe

Right bookworm jobs a good un' then . Seriously will check it out if you think there's work to be had. But what about the sea?!!

Isle of Wight, hmmm, tell me more. What has it going for it?

Dartmouth?

Sorry, hully ! Don't shoot the messenger though, just being my master's mouthpiece

Is there really lots of work in Mallaig? I'm sure I've been there in my one time in Scotland on the way to Isle of Skye.

How about Exeter or somewhere around Ashburton in Devon - any views?

Serin you took the words out of my mouth. Do you live there?

I don't mind, others' opinions are as nought to me.

Glad to hear it gully.

I second Lewes and Totnes. also, have heard that Haslemere is a bit arty and nice countryside around there (but it's in Surrey, so maybe there's a limit on how alternative it could be).

My friend really likes Broadstairs - says it's better than Whitstable.

Also aren't places like Buxton in Derbyshire meant to be nice? and Hebden Bridge - quite far from the sea though I suppose.

Sorry jollster meant to respond. Maybe you are right! Hurst and Steyning just aren't seaside-y enough. Let me know if you find the impossible dream!

Donttry - Aldeburgh a proper mix of locals , arty/mucis types, second home owners, ex londoners a really ggod vibe especially in the summer - great schools!

donttry - for kids aldeburgh (& nearby villages) is great for kids, as well as great schools that are not oversubscribed there is beach, woods, forest, river, music activities at snape maltings, sports clubs, swimming etc etc & it is less than 2 hrs to London, 1 hr to Norwich & about 40 mins to Ipswich.
Local train a bit of one carriage an hour job but it connects with the london train to make l/street in under 2 hrs.
Woodbridge is also great a bit livelier on the river rather than the sea but again a good mix of people & good vibe.
& shhhhh dont tell everyone but we have almost no crime!

forgot to mention i've lived in London until I was 17, brighton, portsmouth, middlesex & IMHO Suffolk is best!

Hi dontry - just got back in and saw your response.

As for the sea round these parts .... from Bristol you can be on the North or South Devon coast in 1.5 hours and the Welsh coast even sooner so although it's not on your doorstep it's great for day trips. And for weekends away you're within hitting distance of Cornwall and West Wales / Pembrokeshire. Bristol itself has the harbourside, lots of boats moored, seagulls calling, museums, art galleries, cafes / bars, SS Great Britain ... from where you can walk out of town along the river through the Avon Gorge with its own peregrine falcons!

If you were thinking of Stroud / Totnes and were happy to shift your mindset to travelling about a bit rather than being able to walk everywhere you'd still have access to all the Brighton-type cultural stuff but have the countryside on your doorstep. (The converse being the option of having the culture on your doorstep in Bristol and the countryside a short drive away ....)

From a work point of view I think there'd be a bigger demand for childminding in a larger town, the carpentry / furniture making is prob a little more flexible.

Sounds like you've had lots of good suggestions from everyone - I can see some interesting weekends away coming up - all in the name of 'research' of course!

ps If you really need an instant 'fix' of coastline there's always WSM and the North Somerset coast half an hour away - although it's debatable as to whether that's more 'estuary' than coast! Still some nice headlands and walking though.

Appledore - north devon

oh your a childminder.. always needed here as the nearest all day/year day nursery is 18 miles away so childminders are busy

Some good suggestions "Beattie*, maybe Broadstairs is worth a look. Other places not by the sea, but p'raps will have to compromise.

lucy I really didn't think Suffolk would be that lively. I had a holiday in Dunwich last year, and SIL lives in Suffolk. Maybe need to consider it. Interesting re the childminders.

Bookworms loving the sound of the falcons, and yes maybe a river would do me! It would be nice to be able to get to those seaside places quicker. But even nicer to actually be in them though. I think you are right that I would need to be in a larger place for reliable work. Mind you people have kids everywhere I guess.

Janx will check out appledore thanks.

South Petherton in Somerset used to have a vibey feel about it - don't know now though.

my in-laws live in Suffolk. I wouldn't do it myself! (and I lived in Brighton for 5 years so I know what you like about it).

I do know someone who moved to Shoreham from Brighton for more space and she really likes it. I don't think it's got the same vibe as Brighton, but I think you can have a bigger place there, and get back to Brighton pretty easily.

(Jolls sorry you're moving out - I have to make a decision in the next few weeks about whether to move back this summer and I don't have a blooming clue what to do!).

Hully fancy a game of crazy golf and some chips?

Hastings is fine.

Let them not know what they are.
Flatness and gladness.
Lobsters and shells.
The ships dock at night.