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Rural living

Looking to relocate to the countryside? Find advice in our Rural Living forum.

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Original poster

Wanting to "escape to the country..."

15 replies

Phoenix2014 · 15/05/2014 09:05

I have this long term dream to escape London and live rurally. I've lived in towns all my life with 35 of those years in London. Although I love London, I react to pollution am fed up with traffic, queues and inconsiderate people rushing everywhere.
I think it would be a one way move, especially given how London prices rise faster than those outside the capital.
No idea whether I am idealising rural living. Anyone on here made a similar move?
How did you find the transition?
Did you cope without the sound of police cars and helicopters?
Would you do it again?

OP posts:

Theincidental · 15/05/2014 21:49

I love my life in the far west. It's so peaceful and the best is the light quality (and the dark is really dark).

Still get helicopters, but they are our ambulances here as the hospitals are so far away.

Do it!

sulee · 16/05/2014 06:39

I am originally from London, but moved out many years ago. Have lived in the suburbs- too built up, a small country town ( nice when the kids were little), a tiny hamlet( would be OK now, but too remote with a young family), and have now lived for 15 years in a village surrounded by open countryside yet near a medium sized town- I love it and would
never go back!

Donki · 16/05/2014 06:47

I hate cities - but:

Don't complain...

if you choose a house near the village church, and the ringers ring the bells (ok, I know this can happen in the city too)

If you are near a rookery and it is noisy.

Harvesting at night wakes you up in the autumn.

It is smelly from animals or muck-spreading

You react to the massive overdose of pollen from fields of rape that you can get.

Donki · 16/05/2014 06:48

(I have done none of the above, but I know of people who have...)

newfavouritething · 27/05/2014 22:50

Haven't done it, but would really recommend doing your research before moving. To live rurally you are essentially moving onto a factory floor - it can be noisy, smelly, unpredictable and downright dangerous.
It can be lonely, frustrating and remote, but can also be the best thing that you ever do.
There's a couple of houses in our village that are regularly bought/sold (every two or three years) by people that find country living isn't for them.
Good luck with whatever you decide, but the grass isn't always greener.

mineofuselessinformation · 27/05/2014 22:56

You need to really do your homework on this. How rural do you want to be? You could potentially end up driving a good distance for a pint of milk or to get to the post drive for instance.

uggmum · 27/05/2014 23:06

I moved out of London to a Yorkshire village. Not rural but small, plenty of fields and a great community feel.

I feel I have the best of both worlds as I can drive into my nearest city (Leeds) in 20 minutes for a city fix. Leeds has really grown in the past few years. I can also be in London in 2 hours and I go on various day trips throughout the year.

If you're so used to London a big rural move might be a bit overwhelming. Have you thought of somewhere more coastal with a rural feel but close enough to a major city to give you a city fix if required.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 27/05/2014 23:09

To live rurally you are essentially moving onto a factory floor

Well, if you live in a farmyard, possibly.

It's quite peaceful where I am. Fields, lanes, the odd car or tractor, a few people in the village to say hello to. Lovely open dog walks, lovely little primary school five minutes away, ditto village shop.

Waitrose deliver too.

RaisingSteam · 27/05/2014 23:12

You can definitely get the best of country living in a village or small town without going to an extreme of isolation. When we moved out of London we were desperate for a view and looked at some isolated houses, but I'm glad we ended up in a place with neighbours and a few things within walking distance.

"There's a couple of houses in our village that are regularly bought/sold (every two or three years) by people that find country living isn't for them." this is true in our village too, they are always the prettiest and more expensive houses.

If we get a police helicopter everyone is talking about it for days at the school gate!

SignoraStronza · 27/05/2014 23:15

Grew up in a tiny hamlet in the middle of nowhere. Bloddy miserable teenage existence as had to be driven or hitch hike everywhere. Don't do this if you have/are planning kids. Try a well serviced village instead!

fuckinglondonballs · 28/05/2014 00:04

I often get this urge OP and then remember how great London is.

Fancy going halves on a weekend house in the country?

EauRouge · 28/05/2014 09:12

I have the best of both worlds here. I live on the edge of a village; I can see fields from my window and can be in the woods in 10 minutes. I can also walk to the GP, a small supermarket, post office, a row of shops etc. That kind of lifestyle might be less of a shock for you.

I love living here. My DH didn't at first and complained that takeaways wouldn't deliver and you couldn't shop in the middle of the night. He grew up in a big city but he loves it here now as well and I think we're going to go even more rural with our next move.

Would you mind getting stuck behind tractors all the time? Horses shitting in front of your driveway? Not having anything to do in the evenings apart from go to the local pub? Setting off an alarm in your local paper shop when you ask for a copy of the Guardian? (that might just be me). These are the things that you'll have to get used to, but you get fresh air and a more simple lifestyle.

WestmorlandSausage · 28/05/2014 20:04

Funnily enough EauRouge I've found the biggest shock for a lot of people moving into rural areas is that takeaways don't usually deliver. Or open past midnight on weekends. 10pm weekdays.

OP living in a rural area is great but you have to be the kind of person that is willing to go with the flow and accept the community for what it is. In small communities news travels fast and everyone will know of any minor indiscretion. Complain to environmental health about the smell of manure and everyone within a 15 mile radius will know and will be bitching about 'ignorant townie incomers' down the pub.

Castlelough · 14/06/2014 10:06

Hi OP, I lived in Dublin (so, not quite London! but a capital city all the same!) for 31 years....then met my husband and moved to a very rural place.
We are now 3 hrs drive to Dublin, 30 mins round trip for a carton of milk....

I love it, and couldn't see myself moving back, but then, my DH is from here so that has helped with getting to know people and settling in. It still takes time to make proper real 'friends' though. But there are lots of positives:

Our mortgage is only one fifth of that of my Dublin friends, we'll be mortgage free nice and young hopefully. And we have built a lovely home.

For me, having animals and a garden are dreams come true, especially being able to keep a horse . Lifetime dream come true!

Feeling like you are part of the community! I've been roped into the church choir and everybody is so friendly and kind to me. They are so glad to see people moving into the area instead of put of it!

The peace and the closeness to nature. I don't miss the hustle of city life, the go-go-go! I used to always be on the go in Dublin, shopping centres, supermarkets, coffee, meeting people....life is much calmer now. I go to 'town' at the weekends and do a big grocery shop, and other errands, and I may pop in once during the week. I arrange to meet friends for coffee or dinner about twice a month in town, but call to visit at houses much more often which is nice.

Beware though - everyone says they will come to visit! I've been here 4 years now and some of my best friends have yet to visit!!!
I do really enjoy my trips home to Dublin. I fill them with meet-ups, shop, have the odd night out in the city, go to the theatre or a concert .... but to be honest, it is always a relief to go home to the country!

magicgirl74 · 18/10/2014 17:55

Sorry I know this is an old thread but iv just found it and just thought I would add my thoughts as they are different from other posts,I moved from a large town to a small village 4 years ago and loved it at first but now I hate it.I have to use the car all the time as we have no shop(it closed down the week we moved here)so if I run out of anything or need the doctors or dentist I have to use the car which usually involves me getting stuck in traffic for ages.we find people very clique and there seems to be a lot of backstabbing and gossip,the local mums are very competitive and look down their noses at you if your kids aren't wearing designer clothes or your not driving a flashy car,the funniest one I heard were a group of mums trying to outdo each other over the cost of their curtain fabrics.when I lived in a town everyone was in different positions financially so none of that stuff mattered and we all mixed well,I could also walk or bike into the town centre within 10 minutes and there was a smallish shop near where I lived so if I ran out of anything I could just pop there.i would love to move back there but my son is in a really good secondary school so I will have to wait until he leaves and then my house will be put up for sale straight away,I can't wait I'm finding it so boring living here and houses are cheaper in town xx

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