Where would you live?

Kerry Ireland in the spring, summer and autumn; Andalusia and Ibiza in the winter. And I've been lucky enough to have traveled a lot.

Oops just read UK.

I have thought about this at length and decided the answer is the Eden Valley South of Penrith. World class road riding in all directions. Easy access to the Lakes but away from all the mayhem. Great transport links to Scotland, the North East, Bowland etc etc.

Where I am now. Because I chose to live here nine years ago and nothing has happened to change my mind. .

Scotland

No wait, im already here. 😀

Actually, probably north west would be ideal. Scenery is spectacular. Bit nippy in winter, but global warming is slowly taking care of that.

Northumberland but it’s shit.

If I hadn't already escaped to Portugal then the Isle of Mull or anywhere else in Scotland (then hope) for reasons beginning with 'B' and ending in 's**t'.

The UK is circling the drain. What difference does it make?

Half way up a hill.
With trees.

Maybe somewhere like Exeter. Got good riding (my son's Uni club seem to have endless options), also close to sea. Got Cornwall nearby, Wales not too far. Nice long way from Scotland 😛

Swindon

Spain, it's basically still the UK with all the expat boomers innit...

Given the criteria in the OP, I would not be staying in the UK.

Devon if pushed though, or the Lake District, or Northumberland.....

Inners.

I'd go back home, to the place I belong.

Why limit yourself to this hateful shithole?

I’d go back home, to the place I belong.

West Virginia Waters?

Why limit yourself to this hateful shithole?

That’s not the country, it’s the assholes running it into the ground. As the country of my birth, and having been born in the West Country, specifically Wessex, I love where I live, and I honestly don’t think I’d want to move anywhere else. Living fairly close to the South Cotswolds, Avebury, the Marlborough Downs, and further afield Salisbury, Wells, Glastonbury, etc, I feel blessed at having access to so much history and beautiful places.

I spent some time considering this pre-Covid as an opportunity to live back in the UK for a few years so my kids could see their grandparents and see where I come from.

I’ve never come to a conclusion though really. All the pros seem to be outweighed by the weather and the reportedly relatively high rates of crime, political incompetence, general misery.

Probably somewhere with big hills and forests.

I'd take any of...

Keswick
Rhayader
Hayfield
Peebles
Dunkeld

Cornwall. **** bikes, I'd just surf.

East Lothian.

Weymouth/Portland

Cornwall. **** bikes, I’d just surf

Or in south wales, do both!

Dunkeld

Northumberland but it’s shit.

Northumberland and its worse than shit.

On an uninhabited island with no one else

Probably Shropshire, not far from where I'll be in a few hours from now. Hopton Castle.
Close to trails, Wales, FoD, property cheap, weather better than Scotland.

Brecon Beacons, away from any neighbours. Second choice would be Snowdonia. But definitely not in a large town or city and in a detached place so as to have some peace and quiet.

Only a dream tough as I currently live in Cardiff in a block of flats and am currently looking to move to Bristol 🤦

Probably Speyside.
Love where we are in Dunblane though, but tempted by the even better riding, hills and rivers further north.

I made the choice to move to somewhere I really wanted to live before I’d really settled down. Moved from Birmingham to Devon at 25 and have been here ever since.
Once we knew Brexit had scuppered our retirement plans, we looked at downsizing in the U.K. but couldn’t think of anywhere else we’d rather be. Everywhere else in the U.K. with hills just has crap weather or is too crowded and/or expensive.
The West Country is a difficult place to be at times, I’ve never really adapted to the culture( I use that word advisedly), casual racism is still an everyday thing here. It’s also pretty much out of the way and forgotten, meaning opportunities are scarcer than elsewhere and wages are generally poor. Working people tend to be Tory too which has always just struck me as a bit weird.
Having said that, the pluses massively outweigh the negatives and I’ve been really happy here for over half of my life. Can’t see myself ever moving.

Been on the Isle of Mull for over 18 months - it feels a bit more disconnected from the ‘big bad world’ being on an island, particularly when you’re on the ferry home. There’s a great sense of community here that’s sadly lacking in many places, where folks are too busy getting on with their lives and frankly DGAS about anyone else. The weather here in winter can be rubbish, particularly if you’re having to work outdoors but even then, the occasional glimpses of blue skies, looking across to the snow-capped peaks of Rum and Skye, catching glimpses of eagles and otters on your travels.

Currently enjoying it in the Angus countryside and would be very happy to live out my days here, but another fan of Dunkeld and Perthshire. Good weather and a mix of hills, woods, rivers and coast within easy distance. East coast of Scotland in general is ace.

In some ways it reminds me of where and when I was brought up, but that area is just so built up and busy now it's a bit of a shock whenever visit family.

We lived in Shetland for 12 years. Amazing coast with gin clear waters and stunning scenery which I miss, but the weather was generally and frequently shite, and transport off island was a pain and expensive.

I'd love to be somewhere with great riding on my doorstep do somewhere in or near the lakes would be to of the list.

But really, I just want to live somewhere quiet, I want to look out of my windows and see countryside and when I sit in the garden I just want to hear... Country noises!

I am lucky to live where I do, but there's a constant flow of ****s driving up and down the street, neighbours dicking about in their gardens, dogs barking and sirens (we're near the hospital.)

I made the choice recently when I took a voluntary redundancy package. Have now moved to Speyside. It’s so much nicer being away from a city and having endless miles of trails available from the door. Much more snow here though than Aberdeen. I need to get myself set up for cross country skiing for the snowy weeks. No regrets from me although it’s a bit of an adjustment for the family.

We're in exactly that position with no ties to anything and chose The Tweed Valley.
Been here a couple of years and only regret is that we didn't move earlier.

If the UK, then for the reasons given by @mrb123 then probably around Eden valley, maybe Arnside, or somewhere in Scotland (not sure where, but not too remote)

Probably somewhere in the Breacon Beacons. Maybe outside the Park itself since lots of things like planning permission are a PITA with National Parks. Or maybe somewhere slightly nearer the S.Wales coast.

Well that’s the plan anyway if we ever end up moving from Surrey - which is just too over crowded at times.

Should do another thread with something like find the best house for 500k and people nominate houses they've found on rightmove, throwing up between smaller and nearer good stuff or larger and out in the sticks?

Where would I live? Well it's subjective really. I'd love to live in the lakes but practically it's a right drive away from everything. I like the facilities that come with living in a city so my pick is North Staffordshire 😂 but out in the countryside somewhere in a large house with a view. There are plenty of hills and the countryside is generally pretty good and really accessible. I might consider some parts of Shropshire too.

Exactly where I am now (Beamish) but with a bit more land, a rewire and modern insulation.

The West Country is a difficult place to be at times, I’ve never really adapted to the culture( I use that word advisedly), casual racism is still an everyday thing here.

You didn’t mention the bigotry🙄

@tractionman I see what you did there.
Me, I'll be going across the moorland past the mountains..

Probably in or near Wales?

I grew up in Shropshire and still think south west Shropshire is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. So maybe near bishop's castle?

Mrs Doris grew up in Snowdonia and would love to live there again, only it's expensive and full of tourists (like us) these days.

Hay on Wye might be a good fallback.

I've always quite liked cardigan too - feels remote but also has plenty of decent cafes and bakeries, which is a big draw for me

Exactly where I am now (Beamish) but with a bit more land, a rewire and modern insulation.

And free admission?