Newton Tony - Ace pub!
Fonthill Gifford - Ace pub!
etc, etc, etc!

For rural, you'd be hard pushed to beat somewhere like Netheravon or Figheldean. Right in the middle of the Plain, but still on the main road. So, open access all over, but well connected.
I know a rather dashing (single male) doctor who lives in Figheldean if you're interested in (ahem) gaining a little more local knowledge. Keep trying to set him up with someone....!

There are so many lovely villages around the edges of the Plain. Almost too many to choose from!

As Captain says, areas around Fonthill is lovely.

I live in Warminster, I would suggest the Wylye Valley or the Deverills/Mere, certainly lots of riding around. Don't think you'll get cheap though, it's a sought after area. Teffont would be my choice, could look towrds the villages surrounding Shaftesbury, good riding round those parts as the terrain is steeper!

Thanks for the replies. 🙂

I have ridden around Figheldean and Netheravon, very pleasant little valley and I do like the Plain, so surreal.

But I suspect those areas will be expensive, yes?

Back to my searching!

Thank you. 8)

You'll need about £200k in your pocket at least for those kind of locations, mihgt be worth looking at towns as they are a fair bit cheaper, AVOID Trowbridge, Melksham and the likes, houses are cheaper there for good reason.

Thanks ziggy. 🙂 Yes, Wylye Valley is so pretty. But thought perhaps towards Dorset would be cheaper?

Edit: I was looking at £150K max! It may have to be a mobile home. 😯

Not really, as you edge towards the South coast it gets progressively more expensive.

Dorset certainly won't be cheaper.

Biggest gap between local incomes and property prices in the country I believe. As we say, it's where people come to die, then don't!

OK thanks. 🙁 Where is reasonably cheap then please? Or do I have to venture oop North?

Hi CG, can post you the property pages from the paper this week if you wish, for the town I live in but also covers the surrounding area. A friend of mine bought a semi for less than your budget in Winterbourne Dauntsey a couple of years ago but it needed a lot of work - nothing very major but it had been left in a complete mess. Mail me your address if you want. You might need to take on a project...

Anna - thanks! I'll reply to your e-mail now. 🙂

The Blandford, Sturminster Newton and Gillingham areas can all be reasonable for house prices compared to most of Dorset.

Then again if you can move over a bit more the Yeovil area is cheaper still

Along the top of salisbury plain along the A342 corridor used to be pretty cheap. Its a bit of drive to get anywhere and the trains are non-existent so it isn't great for commuters. Not sure if it still is. Quite nice countryside, too.

More local information, thank you. 😀

Funnily enough, I did think of Blandford Forum. Years ago at Shillingstone, I ran the Dorset 3 Peaks race - most scenic. 8)

Not worried about trains, will check out the A342 vicinity but did check out Ludgershall and that is quite dear.

Dear God, you have one life...please don't waste any of it in Ludgershall

Convenient for Collingbourne Woods and the excellent cream tea that is served at The George in Vernham Dean. 8)

Used to live in Blandford and parents still do. Its quite a nice town, and not too far from poole/bournemouth/dorchester.

Plus the railway got ripped up years ago leaving some railway tracks in a housing estate, a nice long railway cutting that is a good cycle route out of the town, and a bit of bridge on the flood plain so ticks that box too 😉

You have been looking at Rightmove for an idea of what your £150k will get you haven't you?

but did check out Ludgershall and that is quite dear.

Dear God, you have one life...please don't waste any of it in Ludgershall

Please C_G Noooooo!!! 😯

Ludgershall......the horror.....the horror...

I have driven through Ludgershall many times and have always thought it had 'character'. What actually is wrong with it?

Hi CG, long time no see. I was going to suggest Blandford area, but not the best value for money. Best mate used to live 300 yards from me in Bournemouth, moved to Blandford as rent's cheaper, then Sturminster Newton, and is now in Yeovil. Quit while you're ahead - you really don't want to end up in Yeovil, trust me.

Have you seen those signs on the edge of Yeovil now? 'The heart of the country, the mind of a city'.

Hmmm....and the nightlife of Riyadh.

Avoid Blandford itself. Full of unsavoury types / young single mothers / yoofs hanging about.

However, the outlying villages are lovely (expensive).

Waves to genghis! What's wrong with Yeovil?

Reckon I need to look oop North, better start a new thread!

PS Still haven't heard what's bad about Ludgershall.

genghispod - Member
Quit while you're ahead - you really don't want to end up in Yeovil, trust me.

There's nothing really [i]wrong[/i] with it, infact some of the surrounding villages are very nice, but it's 30mins West of where you'd prefer to be based, is quite a big town for this area, and there's 2 train stations! It needs the car to get to decent trails really, too.
Think Milborne Port as the furthest West you wanna be going in this direction.

I always thought Salisbury Plain was a bit boring for riding, no? Maybe I went to the wrong bits.

bravohotel9er - Member

Have you seen those signs on the edge of Yeovil now? 'The heart of the country, the mind of a city'.

Hmmm....and the nightlife of Riyadh.

Your getting closer to my county... you really are stalking me 😉

Laverstock a suburb of Salisbury and the winterslows are rather nice, though I've not lived in Salisbury for a few years now so may have changed.

I also lived in Yeovil during my apprenticeship AVOID!

Avoid Blandford itself. Full of unsavoury types / young single mothers / yoofs hanging about.

What a blinkered and narrow-minded attitude. 🙄

Do you have your copy of the Daily Mail delivered?

Blandford isn't that bad, it's like most areas there are the good and bad parts, but on the whole its better than it was 15 years ago.

CG,

that's the same area i've been looking at for the last 4 years!

Finally bought near Winterbourne Stoke; ticks all the boxes.

Would prefer to be bang on the coast, but I'm an hour from 3 ports & windsurfing spots. This place works for schools etc really well.

Avoid Blandford itself. [s]Full[/s]there are lots of unsavoury types / young single mothers / yoofs hanging about.

What a blinkered and narrow-minded attitude.

Do you have your copy of the Daily Mail delivered?

No, but I have a fully functioning pair of eyes and ears and have the misfortune of living slightly too close to Blandford.

Convenient for Collingbourne Woods and the excellent cream tea that is served at The George in Vernham Dean.

Vernham Dean is [i]more[/i] convenient 😉

Ludgershall? Better than it was - less transient services population, but the new estates popping up seem a bit soulless. No worse than anywhere else though, and it is very good value at the moment. Andover (or Charlton) is probably comparable and has a few more plusses for day to day life though it's a bit further from the Woods. Both are well connected via A303 assuming it isn't in anyway 'summer'.

Heading further west than your target into Frome/Radstock way the prices do drop off a bit, and I've always liked it down there - easy access to the coast, Mendips, Quantocks, and the local riding is pretty good tto.

You could look at Warminster [or Westbury].

Plus points
Off the plain, but close enough to ride to on some nice trails.

Longleat woods.

Its not Trowbridge.

Why does everyone think villages in Dorset are expensive?

Maybe if you're looking for a chocolate box thatched cottage by the village cricket green, but plenty of villages have cheap housing. I live in a village of 50odd (and yes, some of them are very odd!) people and the house opposite me (end of terrace, 50's build with 2 bedrooms) went for £140,000 recently. My 3 bed was only £170,000.

redthunder - oh, I thought you were in the Cotswolds? Does this mean I can look forward to bluebells being more blue and the only birds to be seen are birds of prey? 😉

Well, quite a selection of opinions! More places to check out so thank you. 🙂

Is Westbury OK for living?

Westbury is ok ish, not alot in the way of shops though. Horrific traffic in rush hour as a bypass has never been built. There are lots of surrounding villages though which might be worth looking at, Bratton, Upton Scudamore, Dilton Marsh etc.

I would say you need to get onto rightmove and look around, or get in the car and go and look at the areas for yourself.I'm off out now for a few hours on the bike, if I see any bargain properties on the way I'll let you know 🙂

No, but I have a fully functioning pair of eyes and ears

...And a superior attitude to others you perceive to be of lower status to yourself, it seems... 🙄

You could simply have just said 'it's a bit rough', rather than revealing your social prejudices.

Tisbury? Quite rural, few good shops etc. Not that expensive, although £150k might be tough. Depends what you mean by small. I'm in Wilton, which is ok and might have a few sensibly priced places, it is a small town though.

Avoid Blandford itself. [s]Full of unsavoury types / young single mothers / yoofs hanging about[/s]. Its a bit rough.

There - fixed it for the PC barometer.

Tree-magnet where in Dorset do you live?

If you avoid the areas of Blandford with the social housing then they can be nice. The town is just like any small town in the area.

Ahhhh, Wilton. I had some superb duvet disco in Wilton many years ago. Lots of it.

Not with RichPenny, though, I hasten to add.

LUDGERSHALL!!! NOOOO!!!! Arse end of Andover.

And agree, Blandford is a bit rough although surrounding areas such as Shillingstone and the like though are nice, also over near Puddletown/Piddletrentide area. Dorset's not that dear, certainly less than we were paying in Reading.

The Wallops are nice, C_G...... 8)

Yeah, Wallops (or Quarley/Grately area) would be alright. Cheaper side of Andover, reasonable riding (see Mulletus for routes), hour and a bit to West London if it takes your fancy, hour to Purbecks, Salisbury and surrounding riding very close.

rusty/Cap'n - I've fallen on hard times and no longer enjoy a middle-class existence. 🙄 Perhaps I could claim housing benefit and live in the Wallops?

Blimey, I'm shocked at some prices in Wiltshire/Dorset. In fact I am seriously thinking of a 'park home'. But that would mean one bike. 😯 And less clothes, shoes, CDs, books etc. 😯

Dunno where I'm going to end up but it's probably a good thing I have an estate car. 😉

Some of the park homes down here are actually pretty decent if you can get past the idea of living in one in the first place.

Yeah, some of them look quite posh and they're not exactly cheap either!

luke - Member
Tree-magnet where in Dorset do you live?

A little village just outside Sturminster Newton.

Had the local paper yesterday, and some of the house prices in Bovington are cheap for the area, right on the edge of the Purbecks, 10 minutes to the coast (Lulworth Cove).
Got relatives in Sturminster Newton, we even looked at moving out that way earlier in the as I had a job offer out that way.

C_g, I've just found a three bed semi with large garden, driveway and garage in Malmesbury for £129,995, and a terraced house with two double bedrooms in West Chippenham for £122,950. If you go up to £160k there are a few more around the Chippenham area.

Count - I had assumed that North Wiltshire, ie closer to the M4, was dearer than the Southern part of the county. The Wylye valley certainly appeals - have done a couple of nice rides around there.

I will do some more Googling. Thanks. 🙂

Old Town Swindon FTW

Frome - does anyone know this town? Any comments please?

Thank you so much. 🙂

it's a nice place is frome. close to longleat if lions are your thing.

how important is it not to be in a town? as you could get something within your budget with a garage on the outskirts (not that Frome is big). further into the countryside would be harder.

if you travel much i'd suggest looking closer to the motorway (chippenham perhaps) as it's a bit of a mission from Frome. if you generally stay local then great.

Thanks for the reply phil 🙂

I suppose I just want to get away from towns and idiots driving at motorway speeds in residential areas. There does seem to be a fair selection in Frome but it's just that little bit further out than I would like.

I will however go and have a recce, not ruling anywhere out apart from the towns that everyone seems to have agreed on should be avoided!

Nice town Frome, used to have a decent bike shop but haven't been back for a few years. Some distance to main roads / motorways if you need to travel a lot, although the A303 isn't too far to the south.

I like Frome a lot. It has character, as well 2 fine examples of the holy trinity of shopping (records, wine and cheese) 🙂

Aye, I like Frome as a town. Close enough to Bath (Great beer, pubs and bike shop) and some lovely natural trails all around.

Thank you, that sounds encouraging!

Rich - would that happen to be the record shop you told me about? If so, it might not be a good idea. 🙄

If you live in Frome I think you qualify for local residents tickets for Glasto festival too. Which is nice, if that's your thing.
Oh and Jenson Button came from there.

Just thought I would post a little update ...

Have been to Frome and what a delightful little town it was. The intention was to visit estate agents but somehow ended up in a wonderful bakery and was tempted by so many delicious looking cakes. 😀

Many interesting shops, just that bit different, and a fair bit of culture there too. Had a look at some houses too but, in the end, felt it was just too far out.

So ... next question ... what is Trowbridge/Chippenham/Melksham/Calne like please?

Thank you so much. 🙂

C_G what abput a bit further east; Devizes, Marlborough or Pewsey?

(Always thought Ch'nam & Melksham a bit of a dump really)

CG me and everyone i know must be missing something .We all rate Frome on par with ShittonSmellit (sorry i meant Shepton Mallet !)

Andy - I would love to live in Marlborough ... but not in a shed! Too bloomin' expensive. Important consideration is being close to a few towns for any work opportunities. Thanks for suggestions though. 🙂

oldfart - no no! Such character in Frome and it was amazing to see a little stream running through the middle of a narrow lane off the High Street. Anywhere else it would be fenced off with 'Danger' notices all around. 🙄

Didn't really have time to shop, although that little precinct just looked an eyesore!

Frome is a really great place to live. I know most of the surrounding towns well enough, (and lived in a few of them) Frome is defintley where i want to stay

local bike club (BCC) is great, as is the bike shop in town (live 2 ride). you can find live music every night of the week, has a cinema, two theatres, several art galleries, and plenty of other stuff going on. lot's of people moving there from the wider world (ie: londoners) so prices are on the rise.

captain_b - I did spot the bike shop!! Funny, having spoken to people in the shops and various estate agents, they were all keen to point out that it's an 'up and coming' place. Was given an interesting little mag promoting Frome, was almost making it out to be rather 'boho'.

Would like to visit again and spend some time mooching around.

I have to say that on the map there didn't appear to be many trails.

Captain Bastard.

How on Earth did you get past the mods with that login application?

I'm very jealous... 🙂

Elf - he's a really nice bloke too and definitely doesn't live up to his name. There was a Forum Ride from a Wiltshire White Horse.

Buy a narrow boat and live on the Kennet and Avon canal ? Abit far north but affordable
http://www.abcboatsales.com/boatsales.aspx

Ask Elf what I'm like in a boat. 😳 Had to cross Southampton Ocean a couple of years ago with some STW'ers and our bikes!

CG Calne is a bit of a strange place soory but I cannot put my finger on the reason why
I used to live in Wroughton which was quite plesant and the Downs were just a couple of miles away as is Swindon. Wooten Basset could be another option .
I have worked quite a bit in Frome of late and yes there is a bit of charm to the place ( in a posative way)it just seems miles away from anywhere

Captain B'stard I thought Frome Wheelers were the local club who are BCC

You don't get festival tickets here in Shepton free so you have no chance in Frome

Shepton is a shithole Frome is bigger and I think a nicer town ,both are cheap

Warminster and especially Westbury are affordable but dull.but they are nearer the plain

saladdodger - that's interesting about Calne, on the map it looks fairly small so perhaps it's been overlooked by bigger towns?

Yes, Frome just seems almost isolated although there are A roads and only around 6 miles from Warminster which seems more accessible.

Calne seems a bit weird and Chippenham isn't that great either 😐

OK OK it [b]has[/b] to be Swindon. 😆

While Chippenham has some faults, like no record shop, it has quite a lot of advantages, chiefly that it's so easy to get to lots of places. It's on most of the main trunk roads, it has the main London-Bristol railway line running through it, and the M4 is three miles north. I've done home to Kings Mall carpark in Hammersmith in exactly an hour and a half, leaving at four in the afternoon. Bath can be done in half an hour, sometimes less depending on time of day, Bristol in about an hour, via the A420 straight into the city. Cirencester about forty five minutes, Avebury and the Marlborough Downs about twenty minutes. We actually have a pretty decent bike shop in town that deals mainly with Treks, and a fair bit of roady stuff. We also have a cinema. And a bunch of coffee shops, and loads of decent pubs and restaurants in the area. It's the ease of access to everywhere else I like about the town; just look on a road atlas to see the transport network. There's the riding over the Downs that you already know and have ridden. There's lots around Bath as well, and my mate Sean in John's Bikes in Bath will be happy to show you LOTS of riding in the Forest Of Dean and Wales and around Bath.

Count - are there work opportunities in Chippenham? Same question for Calne/Trowbridge/Melksham. Who are the major employers?

This has to be my main consideration so all thoughts of lovely riding areas needs to take a back seat!

All information gratefully received!

Thank you so much. 🙂