Where to retire to

Whew!! That’s a tall order seems like you want rural with Urban advantages. Have you thought about getting about in a rural area you may drive now but it possibly won’t always be so and getting to GP or hospital isn’t always easy in the country. I look forward to seeing suggestions.

Have you considered a small market town? You get the slower pace of life but with facilities on hand. You can walk out to the GP, library, pubs and cafes but also have parks and country walks very close by.

From experience I can say that having no neighbours can be very isolating especially in winter.

I live on the edge of a small market town. Lovely views of farmland from my front windows with the street and neighbouring houses at the back. I can walk to the GP, dentist and library and local shops. My hairdresser is located at the bottom of the hill.
It is the ideal place as its also on the bus route between two cities. Great for when I don't have a car.

How about the Hexham area of Northumberland?

Like everything, it depends on your budget. You can get something semi rural even on the edge of a large city. I'm not sure that isolated is a great idea for retirement. Having neighbours can be essential for all sorts of obvious reasons.

I think in five years' time you might change your mind about being in the middle of nowhere with no neighbours!

Not so easy to make new friends when you get older unless you find a place with lots of activities. You do not only need a local bus but one which has a regular service. We have one to the next really big town but it is only one per hour and you have to go all round our town in the bus before leaving it to get started on the journey proper. It makes me mad how long it takes . Make sure there is a good health centre the small town where my friend lives just lost theirs and remember a dentist if there comes a time you do not drive.

People are more important than where. The village I live may not be the most beautiful but I know lots of people here and if I have a problem they would help me just as I would help them. Loneliness when you get old is not nice.

Don’t you like where you live now ? ?

If you have five years to plan, start having holidays in different parts of the country, search areas on RightMove to look at houses and see prices.

We live in South Wales near Cardiff. Lots of beautiful rural and coastal areas. But only 20ish minutes from the City. And Cardiff has plenty restaurants, music venues and theatres.

Have a look at Herefordshire. You get a lot of house and land for your money and the people are great.

Just don't choose anywhere were you have to drive to get to the shops, doctor or hospital!

None of us know how long we will be able to drive, or apparently afford to do so!

Find a house in a small town and on a bus route.

Where depends on whether you want to stay near where you are now, move back to where you came from, or try something completely new.

I don't think anyone but you can know or decide that.

Have a look at Crieff or Comrie in Perthshire. They would both fit your criteria.

Which part of the country do you live in now? I have moved around over the years… Mainly in the south of England… I was born in London, moved to Surrey, lived on the seafront in Sussex for many years, And have retired in a village just outside Bury Saint Edmunds in Suffolk. I have neighbours but I live in very rural settings, Fields in front and behind my home… It’s beautiful, but 8 years later I am noticing the downsides… I have to drive to get a pint of milk… we have no pavements and street lights… I used to love taking my dog for a late night walk around the town…. And some days as much as I enjoy walking across acres and acres of fields… I miss the hustle and bustle villages and towns… My daughter has lived in total isolation for 15 years… Her house was in the middle of a field and her neighbours were horses and cattle… Which was great for her children but they have all grown up and left home now. She moved into our town centre. I would say villages are lovely, maybe on the outskirts of the village so that you have the best of both.

It depends on what you mean by "rural". Your conditions can be met in a carefully selected place in a spacious suburb in city, village, or small town. You will have to pay for the large grounds especially as land is now at a premium.

I wouldn't go very far. I appreciate where I am as I have transport connections, family friends, services etc.

People think there is a idyl somewhere else but they often end up feeling incredibly lonely and isolated and regretting the move.

I lived part time up in Wester Ross for a couple of years.. A remote and stunning place. I discovered that so many people had retired there from England after having had fabulous holidays in the past. They then moved back down to England after a couple of years.The locals didn't bother much trying to be friends with them as they knew that they wouldn't be able to stand the isolation and would leave.

You don't say if you are married or on your own. If you are, how would the situation be for the person left behind?

Moving to a new place takes a lot of work and energy to try to become part of the new community. A dog or a baby help, and you won't have the latter. People tend to have their own lives established but if you're young your kids make friends and you get to know people that way. Older people don't have the same opportunities for making connections. And sometimes the locals are not so welcoming to outsiders.

If this dream keeps you going, carry on and when it comes to the time maybe have a serious think about what matters to you most.

I wouldn't want a rural location as I got older, especially if it had land or huge gardens to look after. It sounds like you need somewhere on the outskirts of a small village, that would maybe suit you better. I would love to retire to the seaside, at present I have a lough with a marina to walk the dog around.
I can't suggest an area though as I'm from a place that's not on your list.

I live in a lovely little town in E Kent with all the amenities. My husband died earlier this week and I have realised that being near my DD is now the most important thing to do.
I shall be moving to Bristol in the near future to be closer to her. I don’t especially want to do this, but I have to be realistic.

when young people move to a rural area they can often stay, when retired, they generally dont stay long , 10 years max,usually family, health, mobility problems take them back to family etc.How do i know, i have friends who moved to sticks when young with family, stayed, and watched this happen countless times, must be something in it!

I cannot understand these people you see on Escape to the Country. What happens when they cannot drive? Or only one is left?
We had to downsize to a bungalow in a village in a cheaper area when my husband retired. we let the bungalow, hitched up the caravan and travelled Europe for twelve years until he died. I didn’t drive but was able to come back to the
Friendly village where there was a shop, and bus to town, surgery etc.

Oh I love Hexham. We visited there for a day when we were on holiday at Newcastle a couple of weeks back. But my family and I used to go there a lot when I was a child. For me the place has everything. Brilliant chippie, great friendly people. Small market square. Lovely places to eat. Great scenery and a train station. I would move there but then I would be too far from my grand children even though I dont see them very often.

grandmattie - I, too, live in a lovely little town in E Kent with all the amenities. Ive lived here for many years.
My husband died last November. I also feel that I need to move (200 miles) to be near DD and her family but just don't know what to do for the best . I worry about being here on my own with no family.

I'd hope to move to somewhere there was a good hospital and access to some sort of GP service. A place where I can make friends as well.

After that, well, there's the coast (but probably not a place that too touristy or where it's mainly retirees), the countryside (in which case on the edge of a market town is good), or somewhere really isolated where there's trees, hills, mountains etc but, from what friends in places like that tell me, you'll find there's a lack of public transport and healthcare. I'd also look at whether it might get cut off by flooding or snow.

BTW - granMattie, we live on the edge of Bristol and can walk to green space and still have good medical services. It's very friendly with loads to do for older people - was brilliant before covid and hopefully we'll be able to get back to feeling safe in music venues and restaurants etc in the not too distant future.