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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.

OP posts:
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crazydiamond222 · 22/01/2020 19:46

This one is right in the middle of woodland near Dorking www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/59965809

Autumndaysarehereagain · 22/01/2020 19:46

Hampshire! We live in a village near Winchester and it’s an hour to London by direct train. Schools are excellent- Thornden or Kings are local secondaries.
I can be in woodland in less than 5 minutes running and by the river in 10.

I want to move south and live near woods, where can I afford?
Chocolategirl79 · 22/01/2020 19:56

I'd suggest Romsey and Chandler’s Ford / Hiltingbury / Otterbourne which are between Southampton and Winchester. Schools are generally outstanding or performing well, a couple of post 16 options close by and just over an hour to Waterloo (although it's a horribly crowded line). Loads of woods around and a nice community feel.

JoJoSM2 · 22/01/2020 20:01

Epping Forest does come quite into London so you can live in a very build up area and be within walking distance.

However, now that you mention you’re moving from Wilmslow, I don’t think edge of London or most of the commuter belt is likely to work. We’ve got friends in the Cheshire triangle and you might find the London environs too built up even if there are plenty of woods in places.

The Surrey Hills are stunning and Dorking is charming while not feeling commuter belty but very reasonable for coming into London.

JoJoSM2 · 22/01/2020 20:08

Also, how fancy do you want it? To match your current neck of the woods?

GOODCAT · 22/01/2020 20:13

Anywhere in or around the New Forest with a train station. There are lots of good schools around.

Although the South coast is great it is quite built up although you do get areas of woodland and you have the New Forest. I have never escaped the feeling of it being built up though. I even go to the New Forest twice a day every day but it takes quite a long time to get to the quiet bits where you cannot hear traffic.

I understand the pull of the South, but why woods? You get eaten alive by midges!

mindproject · 22/01/2020 20:23

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65130747.html

I don't know if this south enough for you but its a lovely big house with lots of trees around.

GreyHare · 22/01/2020 20:23

What about something like this www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-85250306.html mainline station to London just up the road in either Grately or Andover, near Salisbury, very green and lovely area, and not far from the New Forest.

Neednewwellies · 22/01/2020 20:26

@FenellaMaxwell, thanks. Your description of what you have on your doorstep is exactly what I want. Just not sure if I can get it within budget.
@Autumndaysarehereagain, yes, where you live sounds perfect. Can I ask where it is so I can do a search around? Please pm me if you don’t want to put it on here. Being able to do what you can is what I’m desperate for. Please can you let me know. I promise I’m not a stalker! Grin

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 22/01/2020 20:32

Depends on how far your dh is willing to commute into London, East Sussex close to the coast is amazing for lifestyle, close to fantastic beaches, lots of woodlands, (Brede woods, Icklesham woods) exquisite countryside....an hour to Tunbridge wells/Sevenoaks.
Fast train to London from Ashford 40 mins...not cheap, but property prices are hugely less than Hampshire or Surrey. You would get a 4bed for your budget.

There is the grammar school system, so some very good schools generally.

MOST IMPORTANTLY Hastings and the surrounding coast has the most hours of sunshine in the UK. Roughly a third more than Cumbria.

CottonSock · 22/01/2020 20:35

Look around Essex.. train is easy from Colchester. For example west berghhalt has a woodland nature reserve.

www.onthemarket.com/details/7790444/

I'm from South Suffolk and can confirm it's gone dry and often boiling hot.

Neednewwellies · 22/01/2020 20:36

@JoJoSM2, I don’t want fancy at all. Grin Imagine the area I live in and think of the opposite. Well, not quite, I don’t want grotty but I want to slow the pace. I don’t want to see 900 white Range Rovers on our 5min walk to school. But the main reason for moving is I want to get away from the inherent cold and damp of the NW. I think Hampshire seems to offer what I want but I’ve never lived there so I’m not sure what I’m basing it on. It’s very much commuter heaven here, both into Manchester but also down to London. We’re now in a position where DH will only need to go into the office 2days a week so I think a bit further away from prime commuter belt would be better. Thanks for your help.

OP posts:
GreyHare · 22/01/2020 20:36

In the forest with open heathland behind the house

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73687730.html

feliciabirthgiver · 22/01/2020 20:39

How about Worthing and surrounding villages, best of coast and the South Downs. I walk in Angmering park estate most days and commute to London several times a month from either Angmering station or Arundel - both have direct trains to Victoria and Kings Cross - happy house hunting.

HeyMicky · 22/01/2020 20:41

I'm in a village just south of Milton Keynes. Nearest train is 28 mins to Euston. 5 mins walk to the Grand Union canal. Surrounded by farmland. Lots of woods nearby, and others a short drive further.

When we moved from London we wanted somewhere really green, so that you noticed the difference after the commute. This place absolutely does that

Hepsibar · 22/01/2020 20:46

Cornwall is apparently planting 1 million trees. However, I understand that the East coast (Norfolk) etc is less damp than say Devon/Somerset.

eavers · 22/01/2020 20:48

South Oxfordshire has lots of woods. Its the southern edge of the Chilterns. Trains to London from Didcot/Goring.

Oly4 · 22/01/2020 20:49

Horsham in West Sussex, and any of the surrounding commutable villages. Good transport into Victoria or London Bridge, easy access to countryside. Half an hour to the coast. Doable on 675K

HeronLanyon · 22/01/2020 20:51

Now you need to zone in and find a similar for ‘wooded area’ and overlay them. !

I want to move south and live near woods, where can I afford?
CottonSock · 22/01/2020 20:53

I've lived in Lancashire op, I can tell you I've never seen rain like it. And I live in Cardiff now and it seems dry in comparison. Good luck

SherlocksDeerstalker · 22/01/2020 20:54

I can recommend the Essex villages. I’m just outside Chelmsford. The train station will get you into Liverpool street in 40 minutes and the villages are well serviced by park and ride and local route buses. I have 3 woods walking distance from my house in Danbury (I know, I’m showing off Grin ) but I also have all the major supermarkets within a 10-15 minute drive in any direction. Eastury coastline in 15 minutes and lots of coastal/towpath walking round here. It’s proper wellie boot country!

HeronLanyon · 22/01/2020 20:55

Oops colour code got knocked of that map. I fear you will be all too familiar but dark blue is not what you want. Yellow is ! There are some beautiful quite extensive wooded areas with lovely villages around Canterbury area.

FluffMagnet · 22/01/2020 20:55

Have you thought of the outlaying villages around the Tunbridge rail line in Kent? Loads of wooded areas, like Smarden and Challock, and the North Downs. Grammar Schools in Maidstone and Ashford (and further down the line in Folkestone)

www.zoopla.co.uk/new-homes/details/50326840?search_identifier=2e4b69905d72bbc50d3b70fb0a59a2ce or www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/53055394?search_identifier=dd2cff98b64b235a01180d710d0e9f0e

CottonSock · 22/01/2020 20:56

The AONB around this area is nice. Further south looks to push budget

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Essex.html

CottonSock · 22/01/2020 20:58

Ah, try again
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84893846.html

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