My OH is looking at options for three years hence, should daughter go to University or not, he thinks we should move on!
I am not sure either way, but would quite like the SE of England or even south Scotland...Dumfries way.
Financially it would be great, as properties are so expensive here, we could sell, buy there and have change to fund holidays.
Anyhow generally not knowing many/any areas ould love to hear from you kind people here.

Karen :)

South coast is great fab sea views but being within the London commute area makes it very expensive.

For dog showing I would like to move to the Cotswolds/south midlands but cant because of OHs job.

Having lived both North and South and several points in between I would be inclined to look North.  Less crowded, more peaceful, more for your money, less frenetic lifestyle, possible more beautiful scenery, certainly more of it and, in my personal experience, a little easier to get to know people or at least find people willing to smile and pass the time of day.
Specifically, I love Dumfries and Galloway. Some of its communities may border (pardon the pun :)) on the too isolated for you after your little island but plenty of busier little towns and places along the coast and not too far to scoot up to Glasgow for fabulous shopping.

We are in the Cotswolds but in villages that are classed more as working villages rather than touristy so get the benefit of the countryside, super pubs and restaurants but during the summer we are not over run with coaches and traffic queues !!

The prices are on the steep side but if you know the area then you can still get some bargains.

We are also centrally positioned for good commuting to Cheltenham , Oxford , Bristol etc so really good shopping :-)

I have lived in Staffs , Kent, Shropshire and think where we are West Oxon is the best place I have ever lived :-)

What do you like ?? :) Britain is so varied. Do you like peace and quiet, is dramatic scenery important ? Is access to good shops etc vital or do you just want the quiet life :) What about transport - do you need to be able to get to relatives easily. What sort of property do you want - do you want a large garden or a town house. Lots to consider :) :)

This is all very helpful :)

Access to airports/docks would be important, so road links I suppose.
We are small here so certainly a village would be better than a town, the sea is a funny one....not sure if I need it or not
Walled in safe and manageable garden, no fields necessary.
Dogs are small and would walk out with me, as here.
He will want access to a golf course... me, maybe cards or bingo.

Karen

>> Access to airports/docks would be important, so road links I suppose.
> We are small here so certainly a village would be better than a town, the sea is a funny one....not sure if I need it or not <IMG alt=confused src="/images/confused.gif">
> Walled in safe and manageable garden, no fields necessary.
> Dogs are small and would walk out with me, as here.
> He will want access to a golf course... me, maybe cards or bingo.
>

SW Scotland, beautiful part of the country, many small villages and Hamlets.
I live very very rural, 4 miles from main road, yet only 15mins from motorway (M74) 2hrs from Glasgow, Ediburgh and 30mins from Carlisle, 2hrs to Newcastle and app. 2.5hrs to Manchester
No decent beach, but a shingle dog walking area along the Solway coast 20,mins away, 200acres of woodlands, hills and heathered walks.  5 golf courses within a 25mile radius (one you drive through to reach me )

downside: you may find you have a 16mile round trip for a pint of milk :-)

If I could I'd move to Herefordshire--very beautiful, quiet and lots of space for your money.

> If I could I'd move to Herefordshire--very beautiful, quiet and lots of space for your money

And one of the few places handy for Builth :-)

Compared to where I am now, it's handy for loads of shows :-)...maybe one day...

In two years, fingers crossed, we are off to Herefordshire or Malvern, we have such wonderful times when we are there. Hope it doesn't feel different when we get there.
Only stipulation by husband- golf course so I called his bluff, I beleve Kington has the highest course in UK :)

Kington is lovely (although I have no interest in golf whatsoever), and Malvern is a great choice too

Not sure really.  I am in love with the Wirral but prices are a bit steep... It's ok round here (north lincs) but I'd prefer to be out of town, no neighbours and lot of countryside to walk in uninterrupted.

I would LOVE to move to Scotland - I just adore it up there, it's like going home (even though I'm not remotely scottish LOL!).  The downside is that it's too cold for me even in a heatwave!

On the total flipside to that I would also like to go back down south - I miss Kent for all its faults and chavs, and I do miss being around proper southern accents :-P

Scotland of course ( beats me why anyone would want to live anywhere else lol ), Dumf and Galloway are lovely but have a look at the Scottish Borders too, good house prices ( as long as you don't want to live in Melrose ) fantastic scenery, easy access to Edinburgh and Glasgow and the airports, lots of outdoor activities and very friendly folk too.

> beats me why anyone would want to live anywhere else lol

The weather ?? :) :) :) We've been following your weather for a while as we are coming up your way next week :) Now my father's family were from Scotland so, in one way, I should be biased towards living in Scotland, but I don't think that I could take the amount of rain you get :) :) :)

Norfolk is lovely, but may be just a bit quiet for you, Karen and road links aren't fantastic (no motorways), but it's quieter than southern England and house prices (as long as you avoid the coast) are reasonable. Not so far to go if you have relatives south rather than north :) :)

Somerset and Dorset do it for me. Although I am south Somerset I really have access to quite a few shows. Paington, Richmond, Bournmouth, Malvern Newbury, Stonleigh are all under 2 1/2 hours for me.
Rolling fields small towns and pretty villages. Weymouth, Lyme Regis etc.. and the Jurasic coast are under an hour away. Bristol, Bournmouth and Exeter airports all under 2 hours and Southampton docks also less than 2 hours. Portsmouth docks a little more. Bath and Bristol as well as Taunton and Bournmouth all easily accessable for a days serious shopping, Dartmor and the Devon delights not out of the question on a day out. And I can be in London by coach or car or train in less than 2 1/2 hours as well.
Somewhere along the M4 corridor would be great and full of wonderfull places but as with anything that has all these facilities the prices are higher.
Oh and we don't do so bad for the weather!! :-) Though not today :-( Wet dog day !!!
Aileen

Suffolk's lovely, I live near Bury St Edmunds in a small but bustling village. It does take a long time to get away from Suffolk though, there's only the A14 and it's nearly an hour to the motorways from us, not ideal for dog shows!

Yorkshire/County Durham would be my dream. Wide open spaces, fantastic scenery, more or less guaranteed snow in the Winter. At the moment I'm in a small North Herts village, it's lovely and I've got some good friends here, but I just want more space around me. And house prices are sooo expensive here, being so close to London.

Maybe one day.......

Well I think South Wales is the best!  We have an airport (though perhaps not so many destinations)  Bristol airport is not far away either.  We have Cardiff - a great city with loads of good shopping, entertainment, the coast and not far to the Brecon Beacons - everything within a short distance.  The downside is travel - until they sort out the traffic in Newport at the tunnel - one accident can close down South Wales for hours - and of course you have to pay to get back into the country!!!   Universities too.

>> I miss Kent for all its faults and chavs

ooh, if you do make it back daaan saarf please let me know. If the beastie's still around, I'd love you to work your magic on him. ;-)

I always hankered after Scotland for the peace and quiet, better roads and healthcare lighter evenings but the downsides are mozzies, longer darker winters, more severe weather and I'd have to find another vet as brilliant as one we see now.  There are still places in the south with what I would like.  Last week I visited someone who lives up an unmade road in-between Hastings and Camber. The tourists can't park there and don't bother to walk to that end of the beach, so no traffic/people/planes, possible drawbacks for some would be lack of amenities and accessibility to motorways but to me it was heaven and I wanted to stay.

Funny you should say that, after a disasterous few months we are looking to rent our house and run away.

To that end we have visited some properties in Wales one near Carnarvon and one near Llanidloes where we have fallen in love!

Sooo we are now in the process of closing one company - my brother who owns 50% wants his money, started another company, which has picked up contracts. BUT, its a big but, we want to stop this construction lark and do a total life style change and its Wales for us I think!!

Talk about confused, but the boys are 26 & 24 and we have 10 years until we retire to have an adventure, and he said I can have another dog!!!

Best of luck with your seeking!!

The Scottish weather's interesting that's for sure, it does keep you on your toes, but it makes you appreciate the sunny days all the more. Although saying that I don't think we get the same amount of serious flooding as happens in England.

I'm afraid though the better roads mentioned doesn't exist, our roads are shocking, the section of motorway I use has only now been fixed after the deep snow and it had been bad even before that, parts of it had no surface tarmac at all, tourists would have been forgiven for thinking we all drove around drunk as there was so much swerving round muckle big holes.