The Best Outdoorsy Town In The UK?

I have sat in the harbour in Thurso eating fish and chips, watching perfect tubes coming in. Like a cold Hawaii.

I’d say Aberystwyth. I’m going off the OP stating ‘town’ rather than city. Has everything the OP wants. Loads of natural riding, many trailcentres within an hour, surfing (the trap) on the doorstep. Birmingham is 2 1/2 hrs away so not too cut off from the midlands or the north. The Cambrian mountains are 15 minutes inland – for walking they are fantastic- generally you wont see anyone else all day.

Have you seen the cost of gore-tex jackets, high-end rucksacks, proper walking boots etc?

Yep, and I’ve also seen how many climbers either aren’t using them or are using old cast-offs 🙂

The reason I’ve never been skiing (apart from the cost) is that being carted up a mountain by a machine with thousands of other people is anathema to me.

I think you may not quite be hitting the mark molgrips. Climbers normally have high end gear, although it may have been high end 10 years ago. Climbers tend to buy end, but then try to make it last.

I tried snow boarding a few years ago at Cairngorm on a busy day and loved it. Really hard work, and I reckon it caused an achiles tendon rupture a few days later, but nevermind.

I reckon climbers these days spend as much on their hobby as skiers, but like to keep up a facade of reverse snobbery. I know I have been guilty of this belief during climbing holidays in the Alps.

Last I checked, none of those places are particularly cut off from the rest of the UK. IT doesn’t matter where you suggest you are always going to be a long way from somewhere.

So how did you interpret the OP’s request?

Bristol scores highly because it’s a good compromise.

The MTB’ing isn’t true “mountain” biking, but it’s accessible – meaning that you can slip in an evening’s ride after work, because it’s only 10 minutes’ ride from the centre.

I live just south of the centre (Southville) and live that dream. I have two small kids and just wouldn’t mountain bike, road ride or walk as much as I do without being here.

Parking and traffic are rubbish – but that means I walk and cycle everywhere.

The reason I’ve never been skiing (apart from the cost) is that being carted up a mountain by a machine with thousands of other people is anathema to me.

You know that bit isn’t compulsory. I went skiing with a mate last weekend very close to Glenshee. Didn’t use a lift, hardly so a soul but I did see many many hare.

The reason I’ve never been skiing (apart from the cost) is that being carted up a mountain by a machine with thousands of other people is anathema to me.

Your loss.

molgrips – Member

Nonsense. Skiing is niche in outdoor people – it’s something rich people do. Walking and climbing is traditionally done by skint pepole.

I think you will find the opposite if you went to a ski resort, maybe if you said
“A once a year ski holiday is what most British skiers have and they pay through the nose for it”

Kendal excellent road and rail links not as touristy as Keswick plenty of riding walking,skiing ;-)houses on the reasonable price range!

Walking and climbing is traditionally done by skint pepole

True.

Any decent climbers and walkers I know are skint’ish. By decent, I mean at the top of the game.

If you love climbing enough, you’ll scrape a living to climb as much as you can.

I’ve been living in Bristol for 18months and can vouch for most of what most people have said about it, especially the traffic.

However, where are you guys riding? Bristol doesn’t have a good MTB trail scene afaik. I have to go to Wales, Dartmoor, Quantocks and the Mendips for my fix.

Shortly to be moving to the Keswick area for similar reasons to OP, apart from the surf stuff but the coast is only a short drive away.

Bristol is awesome, and mol has always had a bee in his bonnet about it because it gets suggested anytime there’s a thread about this kind of thing. He’s always eager to be negative about it.

Smacks of jealousy if you ask me.

I moved to Bristol about 15 years ago and have never wanted to leave. It’s a fantastic mix in my view – the attractions, culture and amenities of a proper city, coupled with very easy access to the countryside. There aren’t many big towns where you can be on half-decent, purpose built mtb trails within 10 minutes ride from the centre. We can also get to all the really good riding in S. Wales, with the added bonus of not having to live there.

The traffic is of course terrible, but like all sensible people, I cycle everywhere.

toxicsoks – Member

Shortly to be moving to the Keswick area for similar reasons to OP, apart from the surf stuff but the coast is only a short drive away.

At last thats you off my patch 😛

The reason I’ve never been skiing (apart from the cost) is that being carted up a mountain by a machine with thousands of other people is anathema to me.

Yeah, I mean just look at the crowds….
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Who’d want to be there, eh? Horrible.

Erm….

Yeah, but Glenshee this year on a good day was horrific. They closed the road because they had 3 mile tail backs for the carpark one day.

If you have good conditions for a long period, and you have time off in the week – not around school holidays – then it’s fine.

It’s just so variable in the UK. It’s been either whiteouts, or good conditions and mega busy, or it’s been midweek.

EDIT: Ninja edit!

Or it has been midweek.

Massive Ninja Edit.

Should read OP post, not just thread replies.

ahem, Avon Tyrrell

The thread was asking about a town – so responses have mostly been appropriate (other than those suggesting Aviemore 🙂 )

I’m just getting old, grumpy and ranty.

I hate living close to people, that’s why I currently live in a cottage in a field, at the bottom of a hill, and am moving to a cottage in a field opposite the Pentlands.

And that’s not what the OP wants. Perhaps you should read it?

Fair point. Edited ranty post.

Here’s a biscuit:

There’s a polarising view between people on here, those that think being *close* to the countryside, and living *in* the countryside are the same thing – or as good as equal. For me they’re really not.

I live on the edge of a market town – lovely countryside views from the house/terrace. Then within a minute or two I can be in beautiful mixed woodland with cascading rivers. Within a few more minutes I can be up on the moors, or stopping for a drink in a historic cobbled hilltop village – maybe walk back down past the climbing crags. Several ace tech bike descents finish within a few hundred yards of my house.

Or if I go the other way I can go and buy great local food from the market, visit one of the numerous independent shops (including a decent bike shop), cafés and galleries, go watch a film in the non-chain cinema or a gig in the award winning music venue.

Not that I’m smug or anything. Heaven forbid. 🙂

How do you define countryside these days anyway?

Do you have to live in a huddle of houses miles from the nearest Village?

Can you live in a Village of less than 1000 pop surrounded by fields and woodland?

Can you live in a village of 10,000 surrounded by woods and fields?

Must the country extend at least 5 miles in each direction?

How about Nethy Bridge, for those too snooty to live in Aviemore. 😉

Or Braemar/Ballater.

I’d love to live in Aviemore personally, but those wee towns are much more attractive.

Sorry but had to comment on that Thurso vid. Spectacular wave and at least twice as big as I’d feel comfortable with!

Slough. Near nothing of note that the OP desires (unless Bracknell counts), but good travel connections everywhere.

Ft Bill.
Skiing, with spectacular touring. World class Mountain biking. World class climbing. World class surf and wind on Tiree. World class diving all up and down that coast, plus sailing, all types of kayaking. Torridon, Kinlochleven, Skye, Mull, Jura, Isla, Moidart, Knoydart, Ardnamurchan, Cairngorms all within easy reach. Moray coast for more surf, plus whisky country. If you like trail centres, Golspie & Laggan. Some properly tough running and tri events.
Ft Bill is a great wee town with a good vibe. Large enough to have an A&E, small enough to walk or ride everywhere. Seafood on your doorstep, game at the butchers. There’s even electricity!
Overnight trains to London and other places in Southland. Just 1.5hr drive to airport at Inverness.
Sorry to everyone down south, but you have just been comprehensively outclassed.

Bit of a tangent, but some of the towns in the West of Ireland could be centres of outdoor awesome-ness if there was a bit of progress in land access. Place like Sligo, or Donegal town, for example. Surfing is already developed and is world class AFAICT. Mountains and landscape there offer great potential for walking / climbing (including enormous sea cliffs in Donegal) / biking, but access isn’t straightforward.

Other side of the coin is that there must be a lot of new routes to discover. Compare somewhere like the Peak, where’s there’s probably not a single square foot of rock that hasn’t been climbed / walked / ridden over.

Sorry to everyone down south, but you have just been comprehensively outclassed.

I’ll remind you of that while you’re being eaten alive by midges. Or when the weather fails to get over 10 degrees, in mid-August. 😉

Bit of a tangent, but some of the towns in the West of Ireland could be centres of outdoor awesome-ness if there was a bit of progress in land access. Place like Sligo, or Donegal town, for example. Surfing is already developed and is world class AFAICT. Mountains and landscape there offer great potential for walking / climbing (including enormous sea cliffs in Donegal) / biking, but access isn’t straightforward.

Very good point. On that note, what about Northern Ireland? Beautiful landscapes and both Portrush and Kilkeel should get surf, looking at a map. My understanding is that most of The Troubles were pretty localised, primarily at flashpoints in Belfast and around the border (I took some guys out from northern Northern Ireland while working as a guide). Not too sure about access, but because the population is a lot sparser I wouldn’t anticipate too many problems.

Ft Bill is a great wee town with a good vibe.

And let’s not forget that it’s the 93rd largest town in Scotland!

Hi Land Man.

Agreed Ft Bill has, is near all those things you mention but it still looks like a dump or Ashton under Lyne but near some water.

Rhosgadfan located between Llanberis and Caernarfon. Prefect for riding and walking and you can check the surf from your window as it overlooks anglesey and parts of the Lleyn.

My recommoendation has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I’m selling my house there and everything to do with the fact that the place has everything the op wants in a place to live!

I live in a small town in the NE of Dartmoor. Nice friendly community feel, good pubs and local shops.

We’re close enough to the North Cornwall coast to go for a post-work surf in the summer. Can ride or walk on the moor from the door and we have some pretty good bouldering and kayaking within a 10-15 min drive.

Exeter is only 25 mins down the road if we fancy some city life.

On the downside, it’s one of the wettest parts of southern Britain!

it’s one of the wettest parts of southern Britain

you live in tavistock as well?

Ventnor on the Isle of Wight? Assuming you don’t buy one of the properties that’s falling into the sea, you’ve got watersports in on the seafront and along the coast, and downs off the back of the town. It’s a bus ride or drive to either Cowes or Ryde to get onto the mainland, but once there you’re 45 mins from the M25 or an hour by train into the smoke.

Edit: it’s warmer and more attractive than Ft. Bill too. 😉

” Hi Land Man.

Agreed Ft Bill has, is near all those things you mention but it still looks like a dump or Ashton under Lyne but near some water. “

Aye, but you don’t need to spend much time looking at the town. Look at the hills and the water instead, much better.
And yes, I had noticed that there can be a midge or two around at times. But hey, it’s all a compromise.. I’ll take midges over hordes of peak district ramblers any day.

@Jambo Close, and equally wet 🙂