Where to live for cycling, outdoors activity, lively town?

[cyclinglikingcyling]

We plan to move soon and can luckily work remotely as long as there is fast fibre optic broadband (DH says 50 Mbps which is pretty fast but I understand fibre optic is being rolled out in lots of rural places).

The ideal would be somewhere with great cycling, being able to cycle day to day around the town with good cycle lanes preferably separated from traffic, and also nice countryside walking and cycling nearby, which you could walk/ cycle to rather than have to drive there.

Preferably a lively town with lots of activities and good schools (we could go private if needed but good state schools preferred), and good public transport links out.

We currently live in a big city and I'm open to nice cities, however as we don't need to live there for work it seems that we'd be amongst the congestion, pollution and higher house prices unnecessarily.

DH would have to travel about twice a month so being able to get to an airport within a few hours by train would be helpful.

I've been looking at the towns that got Cycle Status from the government, and also Scotland as the fibre optic broadband is apparently really good in Scotland, however I'm finding it hard to narrow places down.

Cambridge I did think about, it is just really expensive and as we don't need to commute to London I'm wondering if we can find something nice that is less expensive.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Newcastle I really like the sound of, but when I checked the air pollution levels they are similar to London, which surprised me. Apparently the sea winds blow the pollution around in a bad way. It sounds like a very under rated city though.

This is right on my doorstep (I get trapped every year) so we have a big cycling scene around here and some lovely routes: www.velothon.com/events/velothon-wales.aspx

Stirling I haven't heard of before, I'm researching it now. Would we stick out as an English family there? What is it like in the winter?

We're in the middle of the country so winters aren't too bad. Small, but quite cosmopolitan probably because of the University. Everyone welcome!

Never been snowed in yet. Should have mentioned that Stirling is only 30 minutes to Edinburgh airport.

I cycled a lot when I lived in Lancaster and it was pretty cycle- friendly (and housing is pretty cheap) but having come from cycling in York I found it a) quite hilly and b) very wet. Neither of those need be a barrier if you are fit and get proper waterproofs but I didn't like it and went back to the drier, flatter Vale of York.

Really beautiful countryside around Lancaster though.

If you like the Scottish Borders look at Melrose. Train to Edinburgh from Tweedbank. It is, imho, one of the prettiest towns in the UK. Small but has lots going (in Melrose or nearby). Lots of outdoorsy stuff around too.

Another vote for around the Stroud area and the Severn Vale in particular, which is 7 mlies or so west of Stroud. Excellent cycling with many very quiet country lanes. Also the Forest of Dean, which is brilliant for cycling, but is a bit far flung and remote, so can't speak for schools and broadband. One thing is certain, you would get a lot of house for your money there.

Another vote for Shrewsbury. Shropshire is such a beautiful county, loads of gorgeous countryside/walks and cycling to be had here. We live near Ironbridge and have everything on our doorstep in terms of facilities, plus pretty central in the country for getting anywhere else.

Oh, and meant to mention several very good schools here too.

We have friends in Skipton - it's a small town but lively, and outdoorsy, and there always seem to be lots of cyclists around. You could cycle straight out into the Dales (not flat, though). Lots of walks right from the town through woodland, or along the canal.
Good links to Manchester and Leeds, occasional direct trains to London too.
Don't know about broadband speed or secondary schools - primary schools seem good.

Ilkley
Skipton
Clitheroe

I second Lancaster or Skipton. York is nice but very flat and therefore boring!

The borders towns are nice but there is a distinct lack of quiet roads meaning you'd be doing the same routes all the time.

Ilkley for me. I think of it as a smaller Harrogate for outdoorsy folk with great transport links and a lot going on.

Ripon too, no train station though (unlike Ilkley) good walking, cycling, lots going on.

Yorkshire is great for cycling (Tour de Yorkshire grows every year), you don't get separate lanes but you do get quiet roads and lovely views.