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I want to move south and live near woods, where can I afford?

279 replies

Neednewwellies · 22/01/2020 14:07

We live in the North. It’s cold and damp and I’ve come to hate it when I used to love it. We have 3 children, one in senior school (y10) and two in junior school (Y3&Y1). Our eldest is very academic but also easy going so would happily move somewhere else for Alevels. So my biggest issue would be looking for catchment for an excellent senior school for all 3. We are very urban here with not much greenery and for health reasons I want to take a step back from work and get a dog. I’d really love to be walking distance to woodland or if not then maybe some coast but not a commercially built up seaside town. Ideally I’d like to be in Hampshire or Sussex but open to ideas. We need 4 bedrooms and DH would need to get to London 2days a week. I don’t want to be somewhere too build up so just what we have here but further south if that makes sense. I crave more space around me but I also know with a teenager, we can’t be in the middle of nowhere. Our absolute max budget would be 700k but ideally no more than 675k. Is any of this doable? Is my head in the clouds? Where we live is expensive and that gets us a good size 4 bed but I know it’s far more expensive in the SE. Any help appreciated and we’d be looking to move when my daughter finishes GCSEs so next summer.

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Plumdeum · 22/01/2020 14:15

Would you consider Wales? We live in a semi rural location right on the edge of woodland and it’s really lovely. A small village but 20 minutes on the train to Cardiff (you walk through the woods to the train station).
There are great secondary schools within the catchment (Y Pant or Pencoed).

Typical lovely house here

www.onthemarket.com/details/6693437/

I can highly recommend it, friendly safe and everything you need for shopping / relaxing and the big city within 20 minutes

Neednewwellies · 22/01/2020 14:18

Thanks @Plumdeum, I like Wales but I can’t imagine the weather in Wales is any better than that in the NW. Plus my husband will need to be in London 2 days a week. Ideally I’d like to be in Hampshire I think or maybe Sussex but I just don’t know if I can afford what I’d like. I desperately want to be able to walk to woodland.

OP posts:
Neednewwellies · 22/01/2020 14:19

Ha! That house is very not me but amazing for someone!

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HappyHammy · 22/01/2020 14:21

Salisbury
Winchester
Tonbridge Wells
Sevenoaks
Chislehurst

Babymamamama · 22/01/2020 14:23

Epping forest

Wagsandclaws · 22/01/2020 14:26

We were in the NE for a while ( although originally from the SW ) and we came back, the weather was a huge consideration.

We are now in North Somerset, and have just bought a 4 bed ( barn conversion ) house circa £550k with 2.5 acres and near woodland.

DH commutes to Reading ( from Frome ) every day bar one and can get into London easily daily if need be. We used to live in Wiltshire which is a little more expensive than here but even closer to London.

It depends what sort of commute he is prepared to take on tbh, you'll get plenty more for your money at the top end of the SW rather than on the SE. Good luck!

Plumdeum · 22/01/2020 14:26

There are ‘normal’ houses in the vicinity and if you like timber lodges there’s a beautiful site of them in Llanharan which is just up the road. You’d be on the motorway in 5 minutes so London is 2.5 hours away, the coast is 15 minutes in the car too.

Have a look around the area you’d be very pleasantly surprised and you can get an amazing house for that money.

Plumdeum · 22/01/2020 14:27

The weather - agreed 😂

raaaasss · 22/01/2020 14:28

Reading? Great grammar schools and Green in places, good commute to London.

Plumdeum · 22/01/2020 14:28

This is my daily dog walk - two minutes from the house

I want to move south and live near woods, where can I afford?
I want to move south and live near woods, where can I afford?
Plumdeum · 22/01/2020 14:30

Sorry don’t know why there’s a pic of my garden included 🤣

cocopops88 · 22/01/2020 14:31

We used to live on the outskirts of Chatham. Whilst I wouldn't recommend the town itself there are some beautiful villages around there and Maidstone and some wondeful country side. Houses are relatively cheap and Chatham is on HS1 into London.

Whathappenedtothelego · 22/01/2020 14:37

It is quite woody around the North East corner of Hampshire, between Reading and Basingstoke.
Look at Silchester, Pamber, Burghfield, Bramley, Mortimer - last 2 have stations. Burghfield has a good secondary, I think, Reading schools a bit hit and miss- good grammars but some poor schools too.

Northernsoullover · 22/01/2020 14:39

The weather isn't that bad in Wales...

Skyejuly · 22/01/2020 14:40

Brokenhurst 100%

HappyHammy · 22/01/2020 14:40

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Fridakahlofan · 22/01/2020 14:41

Buy a simple house with a field and grow your own wood or orchard - we need more trees :)

CMOTDibbler · 22/01/2020 14:43

We used to live in East Grinstead, and it was a lovely area, but still an easy commute to London.

Justoneuse · 22/01/2020 14:45

Lots of woodlands in the M4 Corridor West of London ... how much you get for your £675k will depend on how far from London your husband wants to commute ... a decent sized older style 4 bed semi though should be very possible ...

Justoneuse · 22/01/2020 14:49

Just one or I could be here all day
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-87127982.html

Neednewwellies · 22/01/2020 14:49

Wow thanks everyone! The weather is a major reason as I have arthritis and the NW is just too damp. I want a woodland path literally walking distance so hoping someone can say they have that near them.

We have looked at the area around Reading but schools seem hit and miss unless you go to grammar. Wokingham seemed nice but nowhere to walk and too expensive. We also looked at North Hampshire as there seemed lots of woodland but schools seemed difficult and I’m not sure we can afford it. Sad
Again, places like Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks are probably out of our price range plus they seem more ‘chic urban’ rather than woodland. But I don’t know. I’ve only been to TW once and it seemed very like where we currently live. Grin

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Neednewwellies · 22/01/2020 14:52

@Justoneuse, yes, that’s what I’m looking for I guess, assuming I can walk to and through those woods. Thank you. That’s a good starting point for me.

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DieCryHate · 22/01/2020 14:56

I second @wagsandclaws. I'd recommend North Somerset. Direct train to Paddington in rush hour, loads of woodland, NT places nearby, the beach. Easily get a nice 4 bed detached for a lot less than your budget. Bristol and Bath easy to get to.

palacegirl77 · 22/01/2020 14:56

Dont think youll find anywhere in the UK that is warm enough to relieve symptoms of arthritis. Youd have to go abroad for that.

HRH2020 · 22/01/2020 14:57

The new forest! Southampton side.

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