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Original poster

How and where can I find a really remote cottage? Ireland, Scotland, Wales.... where else?

146 replies

StarryStarryNight · 01/08/2007 19:31

I am looking to buy a really remote little 2 bedroom cottage as a holiday home.

I am thinking Wales, Ireland, Scotland, but dont know where to start?

Or maybe land and do a timber self build?

Has anybody done this?

Any suggestions for nice areas where I can cycle, angling (river and sea fishing), pick wild berries, etc...

I dont need electricity.

OP posts:

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 01/08/2007 23:40

Prior to kids my husband and I spent many a holiday walking in Scotland. I especially fell in love with the Cuillins. We have also been Wales a few times, and just this may bank holiday took the kids cycling in Wales.

Staying in guest houses is too expensive, and does not have the feel of "doing it yourself". I dont like to be waited on during breakfast. I want to make it myself, bring my bowl of cereals and mug of coffee outside, and just sit on a log and enjoy watching nature wake up, as I do. It is nothing like the fresh morning dew gathering on indentations on leaves, or petals. Heathers with droplets of water in all colours of the rainbow as the sun wakes up, the mist over oceans and lakes, and to hear the bird beginning to wake up. That is what I want to give my kids. It is the best I have, and I want to share it with them.

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bookthief · 01/08/2007 23:42

I have a lot of sympathy for starry though. It sounds like she's talking about a real committment to her cottage. The problem with weekenders can often be that they have the intention to spend a lot of time in the area but it doesn't really work out that way.

My gran lives in one of four little houses in a very pretty but remote part of Argyll. There used to be people living full-time in all of the houses but when her friend sadly died earlier this year and her family sold the house as a holiday cottage, my gran became the only one who is there all year round. The other two houses are maybe occupied for 6 weeks a year. It's on a single track road and she can easily go all day without seeing another human being. She's 90 this year and we were (selfishly) hoping that the house would go to people who would be there fairly regularly but the couple who bought it are from the South of England and realistically won't be there from one month to the next.

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 01/08/2007 23:45

bookthief, now that is an angle I had not thought about. That is very sad. Her community has gone. Must be scary and lonely for her. Holiday makers are preventing the community renewing itself and is instead dying out.

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moondog · 01/08/2007 23:46

Although to be fair,in a lot of rural places,the young locals are streaming out and monied middle aged folk streaming in.We all seem towant to be elsewhere eh? Think of immigrants clamouring to get into UK while so many Brits dream of living in Spain or France.

It's mad.

tatt · 01/08/2007 23:53

so what's wrong with a tent? It's really back to nature and in winter you rent a cottage. You could buy a field and put a tent on it and I doubt anyonw would object to that if it wasn't here full time.

expatinscotland · 01/08/2007 23:56

The problem is, the 'cottages' are far, far too expensive to be bought by most people at all but the rich. And in these areas, there is only seasonal work at best, usually immigrants are recruited for this as they won't need to stay.

So more and more of the young locals move out.

Many Brits do move to the Continent because they literally cannot afford any property here, and as I pointed out, the rental laws here make it night on impossible to get long-term accommodation suitable for a family, hence, the Brits are mad for buying a place.

pointydog · 01/08/2007 23:56

so how does it make it all lovely that starry is not British, moondog?

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 01/08/2007 23:56

That is also a problem in Norway too, to some extent. The GIRLS are leaving the country side to go to uni while the boys who have rights of ownership (ancient land owning laws, the first born MALE to a family has sole and exclusive right of farm), so you have whole communities without women. Where lone male farmers struggle on to try and farm. It is against the law to sell it on to somebody without a farming license, really awkward rules and legislations...

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pointydog · 01/08/2007 23:57

I sense a relaity tv show in the makign, star

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 01/08/2007 23:58

pointydog, I dont think moondog meant that. I think she meant that she understand about the community I refer to as being different. I am talking about what it is like where I am from, not what I think it is like here.

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expatinscotland · 01/08/2007 23:59

Shit, I'll move to Norway and marry them. Wait, I'm already married, but DH would be game if it meant we could get a decent place to live w/o the threat of being turfed out every few months.

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 01/08/2007 23:59

pointydog, there already is. "Blind-date a Farmer". How sad is that?

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Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 02/08/2007 00:01

Expat, if you were to show commitment to farming, and has experience, possibly some education too, there are lots of small farming communities with empty farms screaming out for foreigners who wants to come and live here and farm the land and keep livestock. It is also heavily subsidised by the state.

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expatinscotland · 02/08/2007 00:02

Well, we're moving for two years to an area which would give us such experience, Starry.

We are committed to such a life.

We would be most willing to learn the language, a challenge!

There is no hope for us here, sadly.

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 02/08/2007 00:02

and, if you were to find an empty farm, you will have to find out what the farm is licensed to farm, animals, or crops, or a combination.

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Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 02/08/2007 00:03

Expat, I think you would need to show them a willingness to stay beyond two years....

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expatinscotland · 02/08/2007 00:04

No, no, I meant we are moving to a new place in SCOTLAND for two years.

After that, we will need to leave for good.

So yes, where we go next will be long-term, we hope!

pointydog · 02/08/2007 00:05

har - Blid Date a Farmer

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 02/08/2007 00:05

oh I see. I can certainly find out for you about areas where they have welcomed foreigners to farm, if you want.

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expatinscotland · 02/08/2007 00:06

If I'd have known that when I was single, pointy (re: Blind Date a Farmer), I'd have been off like a shot!

expatinscotland · 02/08/2007 00:07

That would be much appreciated, Starry!

We really are serious. There is absolutely NO chance of our ever securing a family-sized home to rent long-term in this country or to buy. That will never happen, so we're going to have to move along.

pointydog · 02/08/2007 00:07

It's a bit hazy bit I;m starting to eget a picture of myself as a farmer's wife,... ruddy cheeks...white pinny... cooking herring... yesI could do it

Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 02/08/2007 00:08

Expat I will keep my eyes open!

And now, I bid you good night lovely ladies

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Original poster

StarryStarryNight · 02/08/2007 00:08

LOL pointy, dont forget making waffles!

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Pan · 02/08/2007 00:09

Moondog...I am shocked at the Tesco thing. Another reason to despise them.

Knowing the Lynn as I do, I know the point you make re language.

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