Where to retire in the UK

[C70R]

monkfish1 said:

moorx said:

monkfish1 said:

moorx said:

juice said:

Vasco said:

Somerset might be a good choice. I don't know enough about the whole county but parts may be too expensive.

It's a big county, but has pretty much something to offer everyone. Quantocks and mendips for scenery, decent-ish beaches (baring in mind they're estuary facing) and lots of lovely countryside. We're in the Chew Valley and absolutely love it here. Equidistant between Bristol, Bath and Wells (Bristol for work and Bath...well for everything else !).
We have Wookey & Cheddar not far away and there's the lovely villages like Wedmore, Mells etc
It's a nice area of the world to put down roots...

Agreed. Mendips or Exmoor would have been my choice if we had stayed there, but we could get much more for our money in west Wales.

Assuming you are not welsh, how are you finding living there? Increasingly, im considering it.

No, neither of us are Welsh. We've been here 9 years now. Both of us had spent some time here previously on day trips, holidays, etc - myself particularly - though not necessarily restricted to where we finally settled.

We haven't had any issues settling in. OH can converse well with our main neighbour (farmer) as he worked for an agricultural suppliers/engineers previously. We don't have many close neighbours. Our local town is a really nice traditional market town, still with an active livestock market. Nice selection of independent shop and pubs. It was one of the things that convinced us to buy here. I work locally for the NHS. In my team, the English outnumber the Welsh, although most have lived here a significant length of time. Lots of English accents locally, too, and no sense of being 'outsiders'.

We are in Carmarthenshire, close (within a few miles) to the border with Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. This makes it a great base for travelling to some really nice areas. I've recently rediscovered my love of mid-Wales too, which is somewhere we used to visit when I was a kid.

Learning a few words of Welsh - even if it's just how to say 'thank you' is very much appreciated in my experience.

We just couldn't have afforded a place like we have, in the setting we have, in many other locations. So all positive as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for the insight.

West Wales remains every bit as insular as I remember it.

[phil_cardiff]

C70R said:

monkfish1 said:

moorx said:

monkfish1 said:

moorx said:

juice said:

Vasco said:

Somerset might be a good choice. I don't know enough about the whole county but parts may be too expensive.

It's a big county, but has pretty much something to offer everyone. Quantocks and mendips for scenery, decent-ish beaches (baring in mind they're estuary facing) and lots of lovely countryside. We're in the Chew Valley and absolutely love it here. Equidistant between Bristol, Bath and Wells (Bristol for work and Bath...well for everything else !).
We have Wookey & Cheddar not far away and there's the lovely villages like Wedmore, Mells etc
It's a nice area of the world to put down roots...

Agreed. Mendips or Exmoor would have been my choice if we had stayed there, but we could get much more for our money in west Wales.

Assuming you are not welsh, how are you finding living there? Increasingly, im considering it.

No, neither of us are Welsh. We've been here 9 years now. Both of us had spent some time here previously on day trips, holidays, etc - myself particularly - though not necessarily restricted to where we finally settled.

We haven't had any issues settling in. OH can converse well with our main neighbour (farmer) as he worked for an agricultural suppliers/engineers previously. We don't have many close neighbours. Our local town is a really nice traditional market town, still with an active livestock market. Nice selection of independent shop and pubs. It was one of the things that convinced us to buy here. I work locally for the NHS. In my team, the English outnumber the Welsh, although most have lived here a significant length of time. Lots of English accents locally, too, and no sense of being 'outsiders'.

We are in Carmarthenshire, close (within a few miles) to the border with Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. This makes it a great base for travelling to some really nice areas. I've recently rediscovered my love of mid-Wales too, which is somewhere we used to visit when I was a kid.

Learning a few words of Welsh - even if it's just how to say 'thank you' is very much appreciated in my experience.

We just couldn't have afforded a place like we have, in the setting we have, in many other locations. So all positive as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for the insight.

West Wales remains every bit as insular as I remember it.

There's nothing in the posts you quoted that indicate West Wales is insular.

[C70R]

phil_cardiff said:

There's nothing in the posts you quoted that indicate West Wales is insular.

Christ.

Why did I write "insular"? Literally the opposite of the word I was looking for.

Must concentrate harder when replying!

[roscopervis]

mike9009 said:

Your argument is a bit like the second home argument, except retirees actually use local shops, use local builders, use local restaurants/ pubs, buy from local car dealers, fit kitchens, bathrooms, needs gardening services on a continual basis etc. etc. Funding for NHS is centrally funded and probably contributed more by the retiree over their lifetime. Retirees will live in the rural area in non-holiday times supporting the local economy.

We live in a global economy and whilst I respect local traditions and 'indigenous' ideas, I question how these communities would survive without migration of populations (both ways). I suspect migration would only occur out of these rural populations without the migration inwards. A downward spiral.

If the name of a house is really the crux to the argument - I think the point has been missed.

I am fully anticipating my kids leaving their birth county on the Isle of Wight and will encourage them to do so, if they wish.

Of course places have to accommodate and expect people to leave. It’s the balance of this that is the very huge problem and the loss of local identity that goes with it is one of the many straws that ends up breaking the camel’s back. When it allows young people to stay or move there and can contribute and help, children learning the language in schools and all round positive attitudes - great. Retirees often don’t have the same attitude. They want to keep their new area like a museum and don’t like when the local area tries to organically grow. These elderly are a burden on the devolved NHS and it really is a downward spiral. You got that right.

I don’t suppose you would get it and you certainly don’t get the point by raising your Isle of Wight argument. Last time I checked, there wasn’t a separate language spoken there and the history and culture seems pretty southern England. People typically can say the place names and house names if they move there.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

roscopervis said:

Of course places have to accommodate and expect people to leave. It’s the balance of this that is the very huge problem and the loss of local identity that goes with it is one of the many straws that ends up breaking the camel’s back. When it allows young people to stay or move there and can contribute and help, children learning the language in schools and all round positive attitudes - great. Retirees often don’t have the same attitude. They want to keep their new area like a museum and don’t like when the local area tries to organically grow. These elderly are a burden on the devolved NHS and it really is a downward spiral. You got that right.

I don’t suppose you would get it and you certainly don’t get the point by raising your Isle of Wight argument. Last time I checked, there wasn’t a separate language spoken there and the history and culture seems pretty southern England. People typically can say the place names and house names if they move there.

You raise some valid and interesting point, but the logical conclusion to your argument is that incomers aren't welcome. That's a dangerous place to be.

[GT3Manthey]

Any chance we can go back to Frinton on sea and quit the arguments ;-)

[ARHarh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMvf9yPH1uc

[monkfish1]

GT3Manthey said:

Any chance we can go back to Frinton on sea and quit the arguments ;-)

Unfortunately Frinton on sea is too expensive, we we cant go there.

[GT3Manthey]

monkfish1 said:

Unfortunately Frinton on sea is too expensive, we we cant go there.

Certainly has gotten a recent big uplift which is bloody annoying as that was our plan for 2 years time .

Fortunately have a flat there which must of done ok but we’ll need a family home

[phil_cardiff]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

roscopervis said:

Of course places have to accommodate and expect people to leave. It’s the balance of this that is the very huge problem and the loss of local identity that goes with it is one of the many straws that ends up breaking the camel’s back. When it allows young people to stay or move there and can contribute and help, children learning the language in schools and all round positive attitudes - great. Retirees often don’t have the same attitude. They want to keep their new area like a museum and don’t like when the local area tries to organically grow. These elderly are a burden on the devolved NHS and it really is a downward spiral. You got that right.

I don’t suppose you would get it and you certainly don’t get the point by raising your Isle of Wight argument. Last time I checked, there wasn’t a separate language spoken there and the history and culture seems pretty southern England. People typically can say the place names and house names if they move there.

You raise some valid and interesting point, but the logical conclusion to your argument is that incomers aren't welcome. That's a dangerous place to be.

A place I'd never want to be in. I hope for a balance where incomers are welcomed and they in turn embrace and add to the local culture (and economy if possible).

[DaffyT4]

We're moving this week to a small village in North Devon from a cul de sac in a miserable town in South Glos. I've pretty much had retirement forced on me by a combination of Covid and Brexit and the wife will work part time but all from home.
We have no intention of complaining about church bells, muddy tractors or farting cows but hope to benefit the local economy by drinking much beer in the village pub. We're pretty easy going and being part of a village community was one of the main reasons for moving.

[GT3Manthey]

DaffyT4 said:

We're moving this week to a small village in North Devon from a cul de sac in a miserable town in South Glos. I've pretty much had retirement forced on me by a combination of Covid and Brexit and the wife will work part time but all from home.
We have no intention of complaining about church bells, muddy tractors or farting cows but hope to benefit the local economy by drinking much beer in the village pub. We're pretty easy going and being part of a village community was one of the main reasons for moving.

Good luck to you and every success in your retirement

[DaffyT4]

GT3Manthey said:

Good luck to you and every success in your retirement

Thank you.

[phil_cardiff]

DaffyT4 said:

We're moving this week to a small village in North Devon from a cul de sac in a miserable town in South Glos. I've pretty much had retirement forced on me by a combination of Covid and Brexit and the wife will work part time but all from home.
We have no intention of complaining about church bells, muddy tractors or farting cows but hope to benefit the local economy by drinking much beer in the village pub. We're pretty easy going and being part of a village community was one of the main reasons for moving.

Tut tut. You should be embracing the local culture and drinking much cider in the village pub

Good luck in your move, hopefully it all goes well. Wish I was retiring - only 26 years until I can get my state pension!

[rustyuk]

We have people move here to retire after being here on holiday (Peaks) and you see lots of houses going back up for sale after a year or so.

It can be hard to meet new people especially after your kids have grown-up. Add to that a large transient population due to holiday makers and it can be difficult for some people.

[Mark Benson]

rustyuk said:

We have people move here to retire after being here on holiday (Peaks) and you see lots of houses going back up for sale after a year or so.

It can be hard to meet new people especially after your kids have grown-up. Add to that a large transient population due to holiday makers and it can be difficult for some people.

Here in Richmond (Yorks Dales) there seems more for the army of retirees that come here to do than for anyone else, in the town and the villages surrounding.
If I didn't live here already, I'd certainly consider retiring here, I don't think I'd ever be bored. Maybe we've reached critical mass of oldies.....

[roscopervis]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

You raise some valid and interesting point, but the logical conclusion to your argument is that incomers aren't welcome. That's a dangerous place to be.

That isn’t what I said at all. It isn’t a black and white argument, it’s full of complicated nuance. However, on overall balance, what I have seen backs up the research in that most retiring couples are part of a long term drain on the area.

[bristolracer]

DaffyT4 said:

We're moving this week to a small village in North Devon from a cul de sac in a miserable town in South Glos. I've pretty much had retirement forced on me by a combination of Covid and Brexit and the wife will work part time but all from home.
We have no intention of complaining about church bells, muddy tractors or farting cows but hope to benefit the local economy by drinking much beer in the village pub. We're pretty easy going and being part of a village community was one of the main reasons for moving.

North Devon here

Lovely place, might be a bit wetter than you are used to, and the Devonians never do anything quickly.
The term dreckly applies just as much to Devonians as the Cornish.

[DaffyT4]

bristolracer said:

North Devon here

Lovely place, might be a bit wetter than you are used to, and the Devonians never do anything quickly.
The term dreckly applies just as much to Devonians as the Cornish.

We're probably classed as more north Mid Devon (Chulmleigh way). Wanted to stay clear of the coast and the real tourist hot spots.
We've lived in Spain in the past and soon got used to 'manana' so I can't imagine 'dreckly' causing a problem!

Edited by DaffyT4 on Monday 21st June 20:05

[mike9009]

roscopervis said:

mike9009 said:

Your argument is a bit like the second home argument, except retirees actually use local shops, use local builders, use local restaurants/ pubs, buy from local car dealers, fit kitchens, bathrooms, needs gardening services on a continual basis etc. etc. Funding for NHS is centrally funded and probably contributed more by the retiree over their lifetime. Retirees will live in the rural area in non-holiday times supporting the local economy.

We live in a global economy and whilst I respect local traditions and 'indigenous' ideas, I question how these communities would survive without migration of populations (both ways). I suspect migration would only occur out of these rural populations without the migration inwards. A downward spiral.

If the name of a house is really the crux to the argument - I think the point has been missed.

I am fully anticipating my kids leaving their birth county on the Isle of Wight and will encourage them to do so, if they wish.

Of course places have to accommodate and expect people to leave. It’s the balance of this that is the very huge problem and the loss of local identity that goes with it is one of the many straws that ends up breaking the camel’s back. When it allows young people to stay or move there and can contribute and help, children learning the language in schools and all round positive attitudes - great. Retirees often don’t have the same attitude. They want to keep their new area like a museum and don’t like when the local area tries to organically grow. These elderly are a burden on the devolved NHS and it really is a downward spiral. You got that right.

I don’t suppose you would get it and you certainly don’t get the point by raising your Isle of Wight argument. Last time I checked, there wasn’t a separate language spoken there and the history and culture seems pretty southern England. People typically can say the place names and house names if they move there.

I am originally from South Wales, so I do understand that perspective too. Diolch!