Locations to retire to and why?
Discussion
Now I'm into my early 50's chats with wife mates etc.. seems to revolve around when and where to retire to.
It's a few years away for me (youngest is just 11 so realistically 7/8 years until he leaves home) but thoughts have turned to moving away from where we live now (South Lincolnshire) and relocating to somewhere coastal (we both love the coast).
While we like the east coast (its an hours drive) we want somewhere similar to North Devon but without the expense and crowds.
Wales has the beaches, cliffs, coves etc... and prices seem to the reasonable.
Spent a lot of time in North Wales as a kid/young adult.
Friends have a place just outside Cardigan Bay which we visit twice a year and love it.
Anyone has any experience of retiring to or buying in a coastal location?
Any suggestions or thoughts?
ETA, Another idea is buy apartment in both UK and Turkey and spend 6 months in each (rent the unused property out as holiday let)
It's a few years away for me (youngest is just 11 so realistically 7/8 years until he leaves home) but thoughts have turned to moving away from where we live now (South Lincolnshire) and relocating to somewhere coastal (we both love the coast).
While we like the east coast (its an hours drive) we want somewhere similar to North Devon but without the expense and crowds.
Wales has the beaches, cliffs, coves etc... and prices seem to the reasonable.
Spent a lot of time in North Wales as a kid/young adult.
Friends have a place just outside Cardigan Bay which we visit twice a year and love it.
Anyone has any experience of retiring to or buying in a coastal location?
Any suggestions or thoughts?
ETA, Another idea is buy apartment in both UK and Turkey and spend 6 months in each (rent the unused property out as holiday let)
Thanks for all the replies.
garyhun - where in south Lincs are you and where in Yorkshire are you locating to?
We lived in Sheffield for over 20 years and moved here to be closer to the wife's family.
I do miss the Peak District.
E31Shrew - lovely property, are you going for it?
MoelyCrio - used to go on day trips to Llandudno as a kid (brought up in Warrington). Lovely place. Very jealous.
smckeown - it's a lovely area of Wales. Always look forward to visiting our friends at their place in Gwbert.
My wife has been looking at Scotland but it's bloody cold and seems to be windy and raining most of he time :-)
Still think Wales is the best option.
I think being in a sustainable community is the most important thing, ie. not wholly reliant on tourism so there is life through the winter.
garyhun - where in south Lincs are you and where in Yorkshire are you locating to?
We lived in Sheffield for over 20 years and moved here to be closer to the wife's family.
I do miss the Peak District.
E31Shrew - lovely property, are you going for it?
MoelyCrio - used to go on day trips to Llandudno as a kid (brought up in Warrington). Lovely place. Very jealous.
smckeown - it's a lovely area of Wales. Always look forward to visiting our friends at their place in Gwbert.
My wife has been looking at Scotland but it's bloody cold and seems to be windy and raining most of he time :-)
Still think Wales is the best option.
I think being in a sustainable community is the most important thing, ie. not wholly reliant on tourism so there is life through the winter.
So not a fan kurt? :-)
However I do know what you mean.
I'm in a small village and we do have the same issues regarding access to services, decent shops and culture.
Also some of the older residents are unbelievable petty and ignorant.
But on the flip side we have made some great friends in the 7 years since moving here.
On the flipside again a couple of families who we were friends with have now decided to ignore us after a small disagreement which I had forgotten about but evidently they hadn't and had taken great offence at!
Not sure I would choose such a small village to retire to.
However I do know what you mean.
I'm in a small village and we do have the same issues regarding access to services, decent shops and culture.
Also some of the older residents are unbelievable petty and ignorant.
But on the flip side we have made some great friends in the 7 years since moving here.
On the flipside again a couple of families who we were friends with have now decided to ignore us after a small disagreement which I had forgotten about but evidently they hadn't and had taken great offence at!
Not sure I would choose such a small village to retire to.
garyhun said:
Hi GreatGranny,
I'm just outside Bourne, whereabouts are you?
We're thinking of moving around the Ilkley/Skipton area but as we want to build our own house we are being flexible and will end up wherever a good plot turns up.
We've got lots of friends and family in Yorkshire so that's our main driver but also just love the beautiful countryside and the friendly people. If I lived on the coast again it would have to be Poole or close to and that's just crazy expensive. The reason for moving in the first place was to retire and not have the huge overheads of the South Coast.
If I win the lottery though .....
We're just outside Sleaford so not that far.I'm just outside Bourne, whereabouts are you?
We're thinking of moving around the Ilkley/Skipton area but as we want to build our own house we are being flexible and will end up wherever a good plot turns up.
We've got lots of friends and family in Yorkshire so that's our main driver but also just love the beautiful countryside and the friendly people. If I lived on the coast again it would have to be Poole or close to and that's just crazy expensive. The reason for moving in the first place was to retire and not have the huge overheads of the South Coast.
If I win the lottery though .....
Been through it a few times. Has a nice feel about it.
Funny you should mention self build, wife wants to do that when we retire but as you say, its finding the right plot.
bad company said:
I’m with Kurt on a lot of points.
I was speaking to woman aged mid 40’s in my village just last week. The village is around 50 miles from London but she had never been. She said she would love to visit London and see the sights but a bit frightened to do so. Village mentality.
I find the people born and bred locally are the worse and the 'outsiders' more adaptable and open minded.I was speaking to woman aged mid 40’s in my village just last week. The village is around 50 miles from London but she had never been. She said she would love to visit London and see the sights but a bit frightened to do so. Village mentality.
The real locals always joke about you being an outsider even to those who have been in the village for 20 years!
However I must stress that most are really nice and friendly.
It helps that I drink in the pub regularly and go with a neighbour who was born in the next village and knows just about everyone.
wisbech said:
Looks like Bali. Wife is Indonesian, and we would want to go back/ she is starting to get homesick
I actually prefer Java or Sulawesi (Manado especially) but she is risk averse, and due to all the foreign tourists Bali has got better health care & amenities
Well that's upped the anti :-)I actually prefer Java or Sulawesi (Manado especially) but she is risk averse, and due to all the foreign tourists Bali has got better health care & amenities
Would love a property abroad.
Where we holiday in Turkey (Fethye) you can pick up a 2/3 bed apartment with communial pool for £65-70k. Service charges are £20 per month. Great for the winter and guaranteed rental for the summer.
Hitch said:
I find it quite strange that people move when they retire. It means you turn up knowing nobody and without any mechanism to get you into the community.
We're considering a place as a holiday-let-into-retirement-home so that we have time to build our local network. I'd choose somewhere that has (and is likely to retain) a sense of permanent community as so many of the top coastal villages are now majority lock-and-leave and are very quiet out of season.
I do understand this and you have a point.We're considering a place as a holiday-let-into-retirement-home so that we have time to build our local network. I'd choose somewhere that has (and is likely to retain) a sense of permanent community as so many of the top coastal villages are now majority lock-and-leave and are very quiet out of season.
You need to be quite outgoing and willing to build new relationships in your new community.
We did this in our present village when we moved in 7 years ago but did have the advantage of my wife's family living nearby.
There are always ways to involve yourself in the local community.
My wife has joined a book club and local singing group.
I drink in the local :-)
I also coach hockey at the local club and my son plays for the local football team.
We have also met friends through school events.
I realise that without the kids it will be harder but there's always ways to meet new people.
Sway said:
The very last thing I'd do is retire too far away - unless I can have a massive sum in the bank...
I've gone through a nightmare supporting my other half with her brother. Retired to Vietnam, f
k all in the bank - massive stroke, with no health insurance. Absolute fking nightmare.
Buy a place for £70k, live it up for a few years, then what? Any health issues and any savings will disappear very quickly, and then you're properly stuck - nowhere near enough cash to get back and under the NHS.
Just the medevac for BiL was £65k...
Not sure we would move permanently over there.I've gone through a nightmare supporting my other half with her brother. Retired to Vietnam, f
k all in the bank - massive stroke, with no health insurance. Absolute fking nightmare. Buy a place for £70k, live it up for a few years, then what? Any health issues and any savings will disappear very quickly, and then you're properly stuck - nowhere near enough cash to get back and under the NHS.
Just the medevac for BiL was £65k...
I'm talking about place in Turkey for the winter then place in the UK for the summer.
Rent out place in Turkey during the summer. Even if it's only 50% rented it will easily cover costs of living in the UK for 6 months.
But yes could be a problem if you become ill when in Turkey.
boyse7en said:
Agree,
I'm in Barnstaple and rarely see anything resembling a crowd. Living here means you can avoid the popular beaches in the peak weeks and go slightly out of season. Standing on a deserted Saunton beach with the sun going down over the Atlantic is a sensation only savoured when the tourists are back home.
Ilfracombe isn't the best looking town in the world, but is cheap for big Victorian villas with fantastic sea views and has a really good selection of restaurants. Villages inland are much cheaper than on the coast - try Parracombe, Chumleigh, Abbotsham etc rather than the tourist hotspots
Spent the last 2 summer holidays just outside Woolacombe and it is indeed rammed.I'm in Barnstaple and rarely see anything resembling a crowd. Living here means you can avoid the popular beaches in the peak weeks and go slightly out of season. Standing on a deserted Saunton beach with the sun going down over the Atlantic is a sensation only savoured when the tourists are back home.
Ilfracombe isn't the best looking town in the world, but is cheap for big Victorian villas with fantastic sea views and has a really good selection of restaurants. Villages inland are much cheaper than on the coast - try Parracombe, Chumleigh, Abbotsham etc rather than the tourist hotspots
But as you said, out of the school holidays it will be much quieter.
Thought it was very expensive as well but looks like there are cheaper areas.
sidekickdmr said:
Summer holidays and Woolacome are your issues there, not surprised you think its rammed! (where did you stay, out of interest?)
I just got back from a dog walk on Woolacombe beach, almost a daily occurrence for me, outside of the summer holidays, nice sunny day, warm and dry, on the whole beach there must have been 10-20 people, and you know how big a beach it is, you can park for free, getting a table at a bar is no issue, its great!
I love the fact that its busy in the summer, lots of events and festivals etc going on, but then nice and quiet outside of this small window, the contrast is a positive, wouldn't always want it winter quiet, or summer busy.
We were at the Willingcott Caravan & Motorhome Club site.I just got back from a dog walk on Woolacombe beach, almost a daily occurrence for me, outside of the summer holidays, nice sunny day, warm and dry, on the whole beach there must have been 10-20 people, and you know how big a beach it is, you can park for free, getting a table at a bar is no issue, its great!
I love the fact that its busy in the summer, lots of events and festivals etc going on, but then nice and quiet outside of this small window, the contrast is a positive, wouldn't always want it winter quiet, or summer busy.
Went for last 2 weeks in July but weather wasn't the best.
Nicest time on the beach was one evening when we went body boarding at about 7pm.
Beach very quiet, fantastic waves, sun out and cheap parking :-)
We did go to Puttsborough more than Woolacombe.
Bit of a pain to get to but less rammed especially in the sea and nice beach café.
Went into Ilfracombe and Barnstaple when the weather was crap.
Just looked at prices and once you are inland a few miles they aren't too bad.
sidekickdmr said:
This was taken on woolacombe beach on a lovely sunny evening, back on the 5th Sep, as you can see, hardly a crowd
https://youtu.be/BqsvoLEViFU
That's my idea of heaven.https://youtu.be/BqsvoLEViFU
Thanks for posting.
We moved to our present location because of my wife's family so she had support with our 3 kids as I'm out of the house 13 hours a day for work.
We have made friends but not one's we would stay here just because of them.
Think we knew this move wouldn't be for ever and had always wanted to move somewhere coastal when/if we could.
My family are over in Manchester so I've always had to travel to see them.
I have other friends and family I keep in touch with who are dotted around the UK.
We don't mind being noobies in a community.
This is at least 7-8 years away so nothing is set in stone.
ETA, this is my longest ever thread on PH!
We have made friends but not one's we would stay here just because of them.
Think we knew this move wouldn't be for ever and had always wanted to move somewhere coastal when/if we could.
My family are over in Manchester so I've always had to travel to see them.
I have other friends and family I keep in touch with who are dotted around the UK.
We don't mind being noobies in a community.
This is at least 7-8 years away so nothing is set in stone.
ETA, this is my longest ever thread on PH!
Wow, saw the alerts in my inbox and thought I would update you on our situation if any interested.
We moved out of the village, partly because I was fed up of being a taxi for the kids and partly because of certain small minded petty ex. friends/neighbours who I couldn't be arsed trying to reason with.
Now kids can walk to school and to my youngest daughters part time job.
Still have a rented property in the village.
We're also in the middle of buying a flat in Cromer which may become a retirement home but in the meantime will holiday let it and use it when it's not let.
Still would like to have a place abroad for the winter so may sell up main house when kids have left and buy in Tenerife which we do like.
We moved out of the village, partly because I was fed up of being a taxi for the kids and partly because of certain small minded petty ex. friends/neighbours who I couldn't be arsed trying to reason with.
Now kids can walk to school and to my youngest daughters part time job.
Still have a rented property in the village.
We're also in the middle of buying a flat in Cromer which may become a retirement home but in the meantime will holiday let it and use it when it's not let.
Still would like to have a place abroad for the winter so may sell up main house when kids have left and buy in Tenerife which we do like.
Very jealous.
Friends of ours bought a small flat over there about 5 years ago and they go as much as they can.
Their kids are 16+ so take their mates out there in the school hols.
We've been a few times and love it.
You can pick up a 1 bed apartment right on the coast for less than £110k or £120-130 for a 2 bed.
They holiday let theirs when not there and it easily covers the service charge plus some pocket money.
Think they only charge £35/night.
An ex pat in their block does holiday cleaning and (unofficial) lifts from the airport for a few owners.
Friends of ours bought a small flat over there about 5 years ago and they go as much as they can.
Their kids are 16+ so take their mates out there in the school hols.
We've been a few times and love it.
You can pick up a 1 bed apartment right on the coast for less than £110k or £120-130 for a 2 bed.
They holiday let theirs when not there and it easily covers the service charge plus some pocket money.
Think they only charge £35/night.
An ex pat in their block does holiday cleaning and (unofficial) lifts from the airport for a few owners.
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