It is the idyllic dream, a period property with acres of land overlooking the great British countryside. Many people dream of having that perfect property in the country. It maybe a Manor and full estate to a small cottage with a babbling brook.
After years of people leaving the country to go and live and work in big conurbations there is a reversal of this trend with more and more people wanting to go and live “in the country”. This is due to several factors, firstly with broadband and the Internet, working from home or different locations is much easier as employers are less reliant on people working in a big central office. There has also been a lifestyle shift with more people looking for a better quality of life, cleaner air and more space.
However is the life in the country all its cracked up to be. And what is “the country” and is there any left?! In answer to the latter, the answer is unequivocally yes, there are some beautiful places throughout the UK, particularly in Scotland, Mid and West Wales, Devon and Cornwall, The Lakes and The Pennines. Whether it is all it’s cracked up to be is dependent upon your expectations. There have been well-documented cases of the urbanite watching too many episodes of River Cottage and Location Location Location and buying into a country lifestyle that perhaps doesn’t suit them.
Like any house purchase you should look into your motivations for moving and what you want out from moving to the country. You will inevitably have to trade off convenience, public transport, and proximity to cinemas, theatres, and museums for a cleaner, more spacious, quieter and probably more communal life.
We would like to hear your experiences and recommendations on where to live in the UK countryside. Please click here and go to property tips and forums and fill in the form “Review your hometown”.
Good links to relevant sites about buying property in the country.
Country life website
Rural property Index
Primelocation farm estates and land
