Where to buy for beautiful rolling english countryside and lots of dog walking options

[PoodlenotDoodle]

Hello this is my first post on Mumsnet! We are recent empty nesters and starting to thinking about our next and final house move. Here is a basic list of our requirements. I am hoping for some advice on areas and villages that we should consider and any thoughts are most welcome:

1. Around a 2 hour or less train commute to London
2. Beautiful rolling english countryside
3. Away from large towns
4. Away from major airport/flight path
5. Areas with pretty villages and nice housing stock
6. Great dog walking options in local vicinity is a key
7. Budget around £2m (or less!)

I expect you will all say "The Cotswolds" and we do love the Cotswolds but we also want to consider other areas that might be less on the tourist trail and still come with a similar offer. I have read that the "Notswolds" (Northamptionshire/Rutland etc) area is worth a look but have not actually been to this area (we know the Gloucestershire/Somerset area well) so any thoughts most welcome on this area as well as any others we should consider. Thanks in advance.

I can't recommend anywhere, although I too am keen to see what suggestions you get, but one thing I would urge you to consider is where are your children ? Also, are they settled and how long will it take to travel in between where they are and where you plan to move too.

This isn't for any caring duties but more practical stuff like wanting to be regular parts of each others lives, seeing grandchildren etc

My late MIL lived moved away (moved as an empty nester) and she was always a distant figure in our families life and in was really difficult as she became increasingly infirm.

Obviously I'm not suggesting you buy a bungalow in a retirement community round the corner from your kids, but just to be careful about making life more difficult than it needs to be for everyone.

Some areas of Staffordshire are beautiful - For example areas around Eccleshall (which is a lovely village in the middle of the rolling countryside) would be 20-30 mins to Stoke station and a 90 min train in to London.
You would get an insanely nice house for your budget in the Staffordshire countryside.

Hi Jasmine. Thank you for this and yes, this is definitely something we are considering. Currently our children are working in London and I expect (as long as they stay here in the UK!) that they will be in London or the home counties going forward. Hence our requirement to be within 2 hours of London by train. We definitely want to be within a commutable area of where they might be and assume they will continue to work in London but you never know!

The South Downs. Around Lewes initially, but really anywhere along the Ouse

Tisbury, Wiltshire is lovely - it’s a large village with a train station with a direct train to Waterloo that takes 1hr45. It’s rural but only 13 miles/one train stop from Salisbury, and a 20 minute drive from Shaftesbury which are also both lovely.
It’s within an area of outstanding natural beauty and the village itself has several pubs/independent shops/a butcher and deli etc. You’d definitely find a beautiful house within your budget!

...also just to note that we are in our late 50s and children are in their mid 20s and off in careers in London. We definitely want to be an easy commute for them to come home and bring friends, partners, and one day maybe grandchildren!

Yes we know that area and it is beautiful - not a lot of housing stock is one issue but its definitely on the list

Dorking. Hour to London easy journey. Dog Walk City.

I agree about Tisbury.

Also, further along the same train line:
Gillingham and surrounding countryside
Sherborne

Marlborough in Wiltshire , you have the Downs and then Savernake Forest .

Yes that is a lovely area but is it under the flight path of Gatwick (or will be when they build second runway)?

Hampshire ticks all your boxes.

Warwickshire? Lots of lovely pretty villages and places to walk dogs. Train to London from Leamington Spa or Warwick Parkway (Stratford has a train to Marylebone too but I’m not sure how long that takes).
Easy access to Birmingham if you are missing city life.

Another vote for Wiltshire. Salisbury area. My retirement wish list is very similar although my budget is a fraction of yours.
Most people still want a sizeable town or city close by for culture and shopping and I like Salisbury.

Wiltshire. Very underrated and everyone just drives through on their way to the Cotswolds or Cornwall.

There are so many beautiful villages, great transport links and fabulous countryside.

North Warwickshire/Solihull border - the overlooked (and therefore quite a bit cheaper!) bit of the county. Beautiful countryside, lots of walking options and trains from Cov to London in just about an hour. Birmingham and it’s airport are also close by.
South of the county is beautiful too but proximity to the Cotswolds and it being more popular means money doesn’t go as far and there are more people!

Storrington - South Downs

Where in Hampshire would you recommend for example as it isn't an area we are familiar with but would like to explore

Dorset, although it's a bit longer than 2 hours on the train.

What are your favourite villages?

Yes we have thought about Warwickshire - what are your favourite pretty villages?

My friend moved there when widowed. She used to foster dogs so needed to walk reactive dogs sometimes. Beautiful area.

Rutland is amazing, I live there. I have also lived in the Cotswolds, fewer clean welly wankers in Rutland (although there are some) and it’s friendly and affordable (although not cheap).
It’s really easy to get in and out of London for day trips, easy to get everywhere really.

"Countryside and woodland in Hampshire | National Trust" https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/countryside-woodland

Which are the villages in Rutland that you recommend as we are interested in considering this area as an option as we hear it is lovely!