Howardian Hills versus North Cotswolds versus South Downs

[PoodlenotDoodle]

If you were retiring and had the following requirements, where would you choose between these 3 areas. We have no family in the UK other than our children who work in London, so we are very flexible:

1. We want a strong sense of community
2. AONB/National Park setting for protection of the green belt
3. Dog walks from the door
4. Pretty villages but not over-run with tourists
5. Outside of London commuter belt
6. Proximity to a town (say 30 or 40 mins drive) for hospitals etc
7. Nice housing stock budget around £1.5 - £1.75m (for a 4 bedroom house set in its own land)
8. Not under a flight path or near major A roads

All recommendations are most welcome including other areas we might not have considered in our list (must be National Park or AONB though)!

Peak District. We've just moved from Buxton. Miss it terribly. 2 hours to Euston including time to get to Macc. Theatre, fab people, great food, scenery amazing.

Scottish Borders.

The Isle of Wight! 50% of it is designated AOB. And £1.75 million would get you a magnificent property! Like this one for example https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164359946
I’m a great fan of the IOW, if only we had your budget!

South Downs. Presumably you’re hoping your children will visit and it’s closest and most affordable from London. Plus you’ll have the coast nearby. Also there are great museums/ opera etc. and you can do easy day trips to London for more.

Not somewhere I had considered - what is it like for dog walking?

Chichester?

I’m in a similar quandary but without the huge budget! Where in the S Downs would you recommend?

How wet is it compared with east of the Pennines? I am fine with cold but I really dislike constant days of rain (and muddy dogs)!

Howardian Hills
Trains to London or Edinburgh, main line. York in half an hour. Would get something huge on that budget round here!

You could be on east side of the Peak District which would be better, so just west of Sheffield. Hathersage area? Probably not as dry as Howardian hills but nowhere near as bad as Manchester side I’d have thought. You can probably find figures for average rain fall. Compare Sheffield to York.

I worry the South Downs is overrun with day trippers on the weekends - is this the case or are areas like the Meon Valley less busy?

The Howardian Hills can offer you everything that's on your list although the 30-40 minutes to a hospital is probably a bit optimistic if you choose somewhere on the edge of the moors - Hutton-Le-Hole, Rosedale etc.

Lovely villages which are in slightly easier reach of York or Scarbrough include Hovingham, Nunnington, Terrington, Sheriff Hutton or Harome (and lots of other too I'm sure).

Thank you - I am leaning towards this area

I know you said 4 bedrooms in your original wishlist but if you want views and great walks this ticks a lot of boxes...

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171155708#/?channel=RES_BUY

4 bedrooms - https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171555956#/?channel=RES_BUY

Definitely get a lot for your money up there compared with down south!

Hovingham and that area is beautiful

somewhere round here outside Bath- lots of lovely villages on edge, great countryside, lots going on , decent countryside, and some fabulous houses - you do get a lot of tourists obviously but not so much in villages or somewhere like Bradford on Avon, Corsham , Timsbury, Holt. Good hospital too with full A&E - not on flight path

Well, I'm going to get totally flamed but the problem with the lovely Howardian Hills is it's full of rich old people coming in and pushing up the house prices.You don't have children to put in the local schools and you are a drain on our health services. The average age round here is 65, we need young families.

Go somewhere else please.

Bit late sorry.
It's cold - as in 4 degrees colder than the lowlands at any time.
Wet - around the same as Manchester and Sheffield. I would say perhaps a more oceanic climate - ie damp but not ostensibly more rain.
You will get snow 2-3 times a year.
Dog walking - amazing. Walking and outdoor lifestyle amazing. Kids could wild swim, climb and cave by 8.
Loads of excellent local produce and lots of festivals and stuff to do.
We live now in the Cotswolds. It's so full of people I feel hemmed in.