Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Rural living

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

Rural life with small children?

6 replies

LizzieMint · 30/05/2014 19:03

We're relocating at the moment and viewed a house that was in a teeny village of around 80 people. Obviously there are no amenities there, although the next village along is not far (1 mile or so) and does have some but is still small (about 450 population).
I have 3 children aged 8,6 and 3 and live in a reasonably small village now (700 ish) and although I can see the attractions of living somewhere like that, I just don't know whether to go for it or not. I kind of think I'll spend all my time ferrying the kids around to where they want to go - visiting friends, clubs, schools etc. It's unlikely there'd be many (or any?) other children in the same location.
Is anyone in this sort of situation, and how do you find it?

OP posts:
MaliceInWonderland78 · 04/06/2014 17:42

This is the only real down-side for us. They're prposing to build another 10 houses in our very small village - and I seem to be the only person in favour.

See if any children from the village attend local schools.

victoryinthekitchen · 20/07/2014 22:26

yes you do end up driving kids around a lot but my experience has been that the local children from nearby farms / hamlets all attend the local village school and they are a close bunch as they all know each other's siblings, attend the same Brownies / cubs / youthclubs etc. I also find the children are a lot more innocent than friend's children living in the town, they just don't seem to be have the freedom to grow up as quickly I suppose. Sorry it's a late response but I've just found this thread!!

Evbev · 28/07/2014 13:49

Did ye make a decision about it? Trying to decide myself - driving me nuts! Keep thinking not fair on teenage son but would love privacy

LizzieMint · 29/07/2014 20:01

Hi evbev just spotted your reply. We didn't go for that house but we haven't found anything else yet. Still drawn to rural locations!

OP posts:
Evbev · 29/07/2014 20:50

Us too!

attheendoftheday · 19/08/2014 09:19

We did this 5 years ago. Moved to a tiny village of 40 houses and no facilities, with a 15 min drive to the closest (small!) shop. We have dds who are 1 and 3.

I love it and I would never move back. The safety and freedom my kids have enhances their quality of life. The area is beautiful and isolated, and the kids have access to nature in a way they never would in the city where we used to live.

There are big downsides in terms of driving big distances for work (dp and I both commute an hour, there is almost no local work unless you're a farmer or work for the forestry commission). I do spend a lot of time driving the kids about to various clubs and activities, and there's a limited choice available.

The local community is not always welcoming to newcomers, and I would say it took at least 3 years before we felt more accepted. Tbh, we still are primarily friends with other 'newcomers' to the area. But there are a fair few likeminded people who.moved here with similar ideas to us and similar age kids, and we have a nice little community.

I do worry about when the kids are teenagers, and how bored and isolated they will feel. School provision is also a concern, as the kids are bused quite big distances to school (20 mins to first school, 40 mins to middle school) and the provision for secondary school.is weekly boarding, which I'm not wild about. The local schools are also tiny (27 kids in total in the first school, dd1 will be in a class of 7) which might lead to problems with lack of friendship choices. That said, there's far more of a feel (both for kids and adults) of having to rub along because there aren't that many of us, and people do help out when you need it.

Other problems I've come across is that there's almost no childcare available (just one part time childminder who's often booked up), you have to be organised about getting shopping and we have been snowed in for a week every winter except one. But the pay off is worth it for us.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page