Really think about how much land you want, My last house had 2.2 acres and it was way to much, it was very overgrown and swampy and although there had at one point been an amazing garden there, with a stream, waterfall (all natural) winding path etc etc.. we never got round to clearing the whole lot out, but the time we cut down one lot of bushes the previous lot had regrown.
I now have 5 acres but I rent out 3 of them and grow a huge amount of vegetables for sale on 1/2 an acre. but there is still an acre that is totally unused and reverting to scrub land. I do not have any time for the houses "garden" so it is also reverting to a mess!
Also check for internet connection, where I am we have 1000/1000 but I am no longer in the UK and I know the british internet ruraly can be absolutly terrible
I did spend 5 years in Plymouth, it has everything you would need and the climate and rural areas outside of the city are lovely. right at the other end of the country in Aberdeenshire is also lovely, colder but much wilder and not so full of tourists, just stay away from the see and the Haar, it can completely ruin a good summer day!
It does look appealing. Never seriously considered Ireland as my specialism in ecology is in herpetology, no snakes, no go. Does look lovely and peaceful though.
Seriously, Gemma, don't overlook the political implications. What if Scotland becomes independent? Will France be the beautiful place of the future? If you were to think about N Ireland, will it soon be linked up with the Republic? The devil you know etc.?
Seriously, Gemma, don't overlook the political implications. What if Scotland becomes independent? Will France be the beautiful place of the future? If you were to think about N Ireland, will it soon be linked up with the Republic? The devil you know etc.?
Totally, I was pretty much settled that Wales was the answer a few months back. Then I found out people are being thrown out of properties all along the Welsh coast for political reasons, really put me off the idea.
Good thing about Ireland though, all the motorcycle road racing, now that is tempting!
Really think about how much land you want, My last house had 2.2 acres and it was way to much, it was very overgrown and swampy and although there had at one point been an amazing garden there, with a stream, waterfall (all natural) winding path etc etc.. we never got round to clearing the whole lot out, but the time we cut down one lot of bushes the previous lot had regrown.
I now have 5 acres but I rent out 3 of them and grow a huge amount of vegetables for sale on 1/2 an acre. but there is still an acre that is totally unused and reverting to scrub land. I do not have any time for the houses "garden" so it is also reverting to a mess!
Also check for internet connection, where I am we have 1000/1000 but I am no longer in the UK and I know the british internet ruraly can be absolutly terrible
I did spend 5 years in Plymouth, it has everything you would need and the climate and rural areas outside of the city are lovely. right at the other end of the country in Aberdeenshire is also lovely, colder but much wilder and not so full of tourists, just stay away from the see and the Haar, it can completely ruin a good summer day!
I have wondered about this a lot. It's easy to look in a book and see they recommend x acres. Though I know even my tiny little veg plot can be a lot of work, often when I'm busy in our moderate garden, house work goes out of the window for months on end.
I'm very keen on wildlife habitat creation though, so re-wilding some of the land really could be an option, light woodland management such as coppicing could appeal a lot.
For the veg I've been researching no dig on commercial market gardening scale, which gives the option of getting a lot of produce from a small area with a lot less work than the traditional plot I currently have.
I grew up in London and lived for many years in and around Brighton. I never liked city life, and longed for North Wales, where some of my recent ancestors came from, and where we'd enjoyed wonderful family holidays. Six years ago I retired, and came to live in Llandudno with my OH and AP. None of us has a flicker of regret. It's a great town for seniors, and well served by public transport, which was important for us as none of us drives.
You'd need to be on the edge of town or in a nearby village to get the land you want. To give you an idea of prices, we bought a 3-bed, 3-bathroom detached house in a quiet street, with a garden I can just about manage, for £242K.
Clay soil, ph7-8, second mildest climate in the UK.
I can highly recommend the Westcountry, being a
local! Devon is far enough away to be peaceful but also very well connected.
Climate is great, people are generally very friendly, quality of life is second
to none in my opinion.
You should find a friendly welcome too as Devon gets a lot of
move-ins (although this has bumped house prices right up in some of the popular
areas) so we're pretty used to welcoming newbies.
As one of the other posters said, you'll get a lot more rain
than East Anglia (our winters can be very wet!) but much milder year-round and
some of the highest sunshine levels.
Rural South and East Devon areas tend to be more expensive
than Mid and North Devon but have a good look around! For what you're after,
I'd recommend North Devon or around Tiverton area. Around Exeter is lovely but
the closer you get to the city the higher the prices!
In terms of biking roads, some of the Mid and
North Devon roads are amazing! Long straights with sweeping bends and not much
traffic…
I can't imagine living anywhere else, but then I've never
lived anywhere else and I tend to be very biased go for it!
I can highly recommend the Westcountry, being a
local! Devon is far enough away to be peaceful but also very well connected.
Climate is great, people are generally very friendly, quality of life is second
to none in my opinion.
You should find a friendly welcome too as Devon gets a lot of
move-ins (although this has bumped house prices right up in some of the popular
areas) so we're pretty used to welcoming newbies.
As one of the other posters said, you'll get a lot more rain
than East Anglia (our winters can be very wet!) but much milder year-round and
some of the highest sunshine levels.
Rural South and East Devon areas tend to be more expensive
than Mid and North Devon but have a good look around! For what you're after,
I'd recommend North Devon or around Tiverton area. Around Exeter is lovely but
the closer you get to the city the higher the prices!
In terms of biking roads, some of the Mid and
North Devon roads are amazing! Long straights with sweeping bends and not much
traffic…
I can't imagine living anywhere else, but then I've never
lived anywhere else and I tend to be very biased go for it!
I totally agree. We moved here 11 years ago and have been welcomed with open arms. I'm never moving again
Posts
Any good to you Gemma?
http://www.patmaguireproperties.com/Content/ViewProperty.aspx?pid=1358
Good thing about Ireland though, all the motorcycle road racing, now that is tempting!
I'm very keen on wildlife habitat creation though, so re-wilding some of the land really could be an option, light woodland management such as coppicing could appeal a lot.
For the veg I've been researching no dig on commercial market gardening scale, which gives the option of getting a lot of produce from a small area with a lot less work than the traditional plot I currently have.
You'd need to be on the edge of town or in a nearby village to get the land you want. To give you an idea of prices, we bought a 3-bed, 3-bathroom detached house in a quiet street, with a garden I can just about manage, for £242K.
Clay soil, ph7-8, second mildest climate in the UK.
Kili
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
I can highly recommend the Westcountry, being a local! Devon is far enough away to be peaceful but also very well connected. Climate is great, people are generally very friendly, quality of life is second to none in my opinion.
You should find a friendly welcome too as Devon gets a lot of move-ins (although this has bumped house prices right up in some of the popular areas) so we're pretty used to welcoming newbies.
As one of the other posters said, you'll get a lot more rain than East Anglia (our winters can be very wet!) but much milder year-round and some of the highest sunshine levels.
Rural South and East Devon areas tend to be more expensive than Mid and North Devon but have a good look around! For what you're after, I'd recommend North Devon or around Tiverton area. Around Exeter is lovely but the closer you get to the city the higher the prices!
In terms of biking roads, some of the Mid and North Devon roads are amazing! Long straights with sweeping bends and not much traffic…
go for it!
I can't imagine living anywhere else, but then I've never lived anywhere else and I tend to be very biased