Is rural living what you expected?

[Tumbleweed101]

For those of you who have moved somewhere rural from towns/cities what things have been better than you expected and what have been harder or unexpected?

I've lived in rural locations all my adult life but grew up in London daydreaming of life in the country.

In my particular location I think the lack of proper walks is the biggest unexpected. I overlook beautiful rolling suffolk countryside but there are no nice walks, just edges of fields. In Devon I was close to the long distance coast path so always had nice walks (moved away for reasons out of my control).

I also daydreamed of a detached cottage with chickens, goats, veg plots etc. The reality is a semi and having to work full time!

I'm not complaining really. I'm happy enough but it isn't quite what I had planned even though I'm living in the country.

The good bits are beautiful stars at night, the view from my bedroom window and having children growing up with a big garden to enjoy.

I have no view but have amazing walks - miles of uninterrupted national park.
Lots of cottages with chickens round here but it is very hard for people to get work - I think families are happier on lower incomes because of the lifestyle they get - good small primary school etc.
I don’t think rural living is what everyone expects in a “rural idle” expectation. There are positives and negatives and hugely depends on where you live. I was surprised at how terrible local services were compared to being in Greater London ie swimming pools - activities etc but we have woods to play in so it’s all swings and roundabouts!

Yes I think it is. We moved from London three years ago to a medium sized village in Cheshire. We are 25 mins from Manchester but properly 'in the hills' so to speak

Positives:

Views are absolutely beautiful
Village school (lovely)
Safe for kids to walk to school etc once old enough (there is traffic but not too much and close to the school / easy access)
Kids are outdoors as much as possible
Big, 4 bed period house for 350k (3 yrs ago) with nice garden, parking etc
Can afford private secondary if we need to
Commute is so so so much easier, we get a seat, 20 mins on a train to Manchester, it's also cheaper
Pace of life is slower, happier, more relaxed and more family focussed
We work (much) less hours than we did in London
Have joined a group for mum's that has introduced me to loads of likeminded people but we are all quite spread out across the city
People are generally friendly and happy, I think because they're less stressed
Lots more free cash to spend on holidays, trips etc

Negatives

Nothing is really cheaper (other than property)
Lack of choice when it comes to restaurants, theatre etc unless we travel into city (not an issue as easy by train but we chose to move to this place because of that)
Less 'likeminded' people around, have met a few, mostly relocated from London or moved here later in life from central Manchester or other
Less choice of classes e.g. fitness stuff than I would like BUT amazing walks, runs etc and I have found great pilates and yoga but not much more locally and have discovered a lot more since when we first arrived
Local services are poor, swimming pool is not nice and I send DH!! London was great (but busy) however cinema and libraries etc are fine
With young kids I found it hard to find as much variety in classes etc but there are some, we moved from very nice London suburb full of yummy mummy types so it was a big shock to find only one or two options or soft play (lots more for older kids though)
Initially, for the first year I really felt we were missing out on stuff, that feeling has gone now and I only feel it again when we visit friends etc in London however I wouldn't swap now if you paid me.

To summarise, for us positives hugely outweigh negatives.

Better than expected:
Lovely small school
Fantastic sense of community
Feeling of safety
Transport links (found rural village on mainline)
Access to walks and miles of countryside
Sense of peace and tranquility

Less positive than expected:
Choice of secondary schools (only really one state option)
Money spent on fuel (15-20 minute drive to kids activities, shops etc)
Cost of emergency shopping at village store
Needing to be super organised (no post office, limited supplies from village store etc)

Hi all, I'm new to this. However I'm hoping someone can help me!. My hubby & me are both 61yrs young lol 😀. We are hoping to move out of London (housing assoc). To a village/countryside. We need a bungalow. Seaside & country homes have sent us a list of area's However at our age We're not wanting to be in a bad area, just want a Quiet life. The area's are. Hampshire: (Not let. Lordswood. West end.lee on the solent. Backfield.) Does anyone know what these area's are like. I've got more. But I feel awful sending such a long list. Regards pinky

I think my kids are worse off than if I brought them up in the suburbs or city. My husband thinks you can keep an eye on them better and they grow up more innocent because they cant hang out around bus stops and shops. I don't think I turned out too badly being brought up near a big city.

In countryside I have to drive kids everywhere. Public transport is dire and no footpaths.

If I lived in city I'd have bridlepaths and cycle lanes. Big parks for skating and cycling. Lots of museums, galleries, soft play and council arranged activities for kids - nothing near me.

Kids are stuck with tv. Yes they go to lots of clubs but they'd do that in city anyway.

I miss variety of restaurants. I was brought up with sushi Turkish Indian Chinese Thai to name but a few. Here it's a pub that does Indian burgers Mexican Chinese and Thai and all tastes the same

I hate my commute to city to work and lack of opportunity here.