What kind of country dweller do you think you are

During the pandemic there was a trend for homeowners to flee the cities and head for the hills; it was hard to envisage the return of a traditional nine-to-five office lifestyle. While things are returning to some kind of normality, there is a large group of home owners who are considering a move away from the city who had perhaps seen this as something that would happen further down the line.

Rachel Johnston says “While there’s a strong desire to move out of the city, there’s also a fear of making the wrong choice of location. 

“Choosing a category of rural is a good starting point, otherwise the choice is just too overwhelming. So the first question that needs answering is ‘what kind of country person do you think you are?’ There’s a world of difference between living in the middle of a field miles from anywhere, and living in a vibrant market town.”

What kind of country dweller are you?

Full Monty Rural

“For those who have a large noisy family and love the great outdoors, or for those who seek privacy and solitude, a house in the middle of nowhere with sheep as neighbours, and only the sun, stars or moon as ambient light, this is a great choice. There are huge advantages – a good-sized plot, parking space galore, options for extending or developing, and space to grow things and keep animals.

Village light

“Buyers looking for a slightly less hard-core version of country living may look towards a hamlet or small gathering of houses, probably a church, but no pub or shop. Roads will be better and there will be a small community to become involved with. When it comes to demographics, not all hamlets are equal. Some may be very rural with families who have lived there for generations, others that became sophisticated London satellites are now a hub of homeworkers.

Full-fat village

“Start adding a shop, pub, possibly school and other facilities to a hamlet, and it becomes a proper village. Land will only be available if you’re on the perimeter, and it will come at a premium. Gardens will be smaller, parking may be harder to come by, but you will have ways of becoming involved in a new life – all the things that come under the heading of ‘community’. Like hamlets, villages tend to have a dominant demographic, so while some will be young with lots of families, others may be largely occupied by the retired, or some of the more picturesque may have a high proportion of weekenders and Airbnb’s.

Market town – urban light

“A market town is more anonymous than a village, there will be a variety of shops, bars, and facilities, but you will have to work harder to make friends. A good market town can be a lovely thing, but sometimes London migrants think it’s a good stepping-stone to a deeper rural experience. The danger of this is that the next move will be harder – you will have adapted to a manicured form of country living, and the muddier version will require a whole new level of adaptation.”

“One outcome of living through this pandemic is that local social media groups have become such an important part of all communities lives, and it’s become very easy to tap into the demographic, spirit and mood of people who live in an area. It really is worth spending some time scrolling through posts and disappearing down the rabbit holes of other groups and societies that will inevitably appear in the posts of a local community’s account.

“So whichever version you choose, take the plunge, but examine your inner self and decide which variety suits you best. You won’t find London life in the country, but you’ll find a different life, and it has a lot to offer.”

Call: +44 (0) 1594 842880

Email: info@stacks.co.uk

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