Surrey Hills or South Oxfordshire?

[thebadgersflange]

Hi all,
We were just wondering what your views were about living in South Oxfordshire or the Surrey Hills?
Both look to be about an hr from work.
The main things we are after are good hiking, outdoor activities and a good sized garden/land. For let's say around £1mil.
Can we achieve all of this in both areas? Is one better than the other?
I'm guessing Oxfordshire would be a bit cheaper, but is there enough to do compared with the good ol Surrey hills?
Any info or tips would be most welcome!
Thanks!

Having lived in the Surrey Hills and now near South Oxfordshire, I'd pick SO over SH any day. You can find everything you say you want to do and walking The Ridgeway is wonderful. Easy access to London and Oxford itself, of course.

It's not that much cheaper than SH, IMO.

I don't know the Surrey Hills but South Oxon ticks your boxes.

This is less than 10 mins' walk from the Thames Path, the Ridgeway trail and less than 5 from the railway station into London.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146875505#/?channel=RES_BUY

Ahh thanks so much for the info!
Any particular part of South Oxfordshire you would recommend? Ideally we would want a very quiet village/rural setting where we could get a bit of land or big 'ol garden.
Thanks again!!!

Bampton would be my choice (used as the village in Downton Abbey). Or the area south of Faringdon - Wantage.

Ok great! I'll check that out, thank you!!
Can I ask why Surrey Hills isn't as good?

Whoops I thought the former was in Sydney, Australia

Haha you're not wrong, there is a Surrey Hills in Australia, but moving to that one would make the commute an absolute body melter!

Surrey Hill is amazing! Do you have children? Need to be in London in less than an hour?

Yes we have a daughter, so really want somewhere that we can do as much as we can outdoors. Hiking, biking, paddling etc.
don't need to be able to get into London.
We are in Beaconsfield at the moment which is a great location. But we would like a bit more for our money and a bit more rural

Both are lovely but I'd pick South Oxfordshire but probably because it is less hilly.

Haha hills are a plus in our book.
Been looking around the Peaslake area which looks lovely and great for mountain biking!

@thebadgersflange , there are some lovely villages around Beaconsfield. Around Henley is brilliant.

@thebadgersflange , I got lost in the Surrey Hills in a storm and my GPS wouldn't work
Around Albury is stunning.

Yeah Beaconsfield is lovely, but you can't get much for your money round here. Surrey hills and South Ox look to be a fair bit cheaper for what you get.

Haha I bet getting lost in there is pretty easy! It's massive!!

It was worth it for the scenery. Where I live is flat.

SH is a little dull and SO offers more wrt futureproofing.

But Guildford is so much nicer than Reading. Yes I know that Reading is in Berkshire

Guildford is indeed a good deal nicer than Reading! And places around the Surrey Hills feel like a Time Machine back to the 40's which is lovely!

I've not lived in either but I have family friends in both so have been dragged around both areas for years. I much prefer Surrey - prettier, hillier, greener. I find South Oxfordshire a bit flat and bland? Some amazing walks and hikes around Surrey.

I guess it's a personal preference thing. Good luck!

Both nice but would say South Oxfordshire likely to be cheaper . Also think that SO would have a more laid back vibe than Surrey, being further from the capital.

So many lovely places. Private or state school, primary or secondary, train line? We live in SH, rural but 2 mile from train into London in 45 mins and not far from Guildford. We can see out of our windows, sheep, horse, alpacas, we can be by the coast in 60 mins, London 45, on the river in 15 and we live in beautiful countryside. Amazing schools and a community feel

I live in the Surrey hills. I'm a keen hiker and it's ideal for that. The scenery is beautiful and there are some lovely views from the downs.
I've lived in Reading (Berkshire I know, but worked in Henley) years ago. I prefer the downs personally, but obviously have no recent experience of SO.

That sounds perfect!
We are in a Private school at the moment, but are debating home schooling in the near future thanks to the VAT situation. But still unsure.
So far our main interest has been in the strip between Guildford and Dorking.
Shere, peaslake, Holmbury St Mary etc. What would you say is the best area to aim for?
train line we are not too fussed with.
Thanks so much again for all the replies

Thank you!
What would you say is a good home base area for hiking?

Abinger Common, right in the middle of the Surrey Hills is the most beautiful place. And ticks all your boxes, OP.