For those of you who live in a small country town, what activities do your DC do?

[jemimapotts]

We are seriously considering moving from a very large northern city, to a small town in the North. We hope this will offer the family a better quality/less stressed life style. I want to go but also worry it will be boring, and that although I fantasize about the DC going horse riding/climbing/ mountain biking/kayaking/ fishing etc in reality we won't really do this, and will miss all the activities the city offers.

To all those rural mumsnetters, does your family actually make full use of living in the countryside? What do they do after school? Please don't tell me they just want to play electronic games!

Friends are the biggy. We moved here from London ten years ago and it's so far for people to come and visit. I get down there as much as possible. However, I would argue that anyone who really loves you should happily travel an hour or two to see you, so you should be fine!

In small towns it is easier to make friends in some ways as you bump into people more often. However, I am largely friends with other 'incomers' as the downside is that those who grew up here and stayed have very established friendships and don't seem to want any more.

We are away from the coast, but can get to Tynemouth in 405 mins or so and the glorious stuff up near Bamburgh in not much over an hour and a half. The traffic here is relatively low volume so although it's a big county you can scoot about easily.

I love Tynemouth. King Edward's Bay is my favourite ever beach. My Grandparents lived there.

I worry about making friends, but also worry about lack of anonymity. You can't have it all ways though.

Yes, Tynemouth is fab. I love the little beach cafe under the cliffs!

You'll be fine. I missed out on 'baby friends' with both of mine and I have oodles now (honest!). Start/join a book group or similar is my advice.