Which COUNTY/region would you live in, if not your own

I’d love to live in N Yorkshire, when DH left the army in the mid 80’s after 22 years we could only afford a house in South Wales, we’ve been here ever since.

Greyduster A friend had a cottage near Amroth. A long steep walk down to the beach

Apart from Northants where I live , Harrogate in North Yorkshire has been a favourite place to visit.
Mick

We had a real love affair with Pembrokeshire for a number of years after living in Manorbier for some time when DH was on secondment to a nearby Army base. We must have covered the coast from Fishguard down to Amroth over the years on our holidays there, and Solva was always one of our favourite places. I have a watercolour of the harbour at low tide and it’s the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning.

Casdon

I love visiting different places in the UK Crosstitchfan, there are many beautiful places everywhere, and I’m sorry if it came across that I was being derogatory, that wasn’t what I meant. I like the wildness of the mountains best though, looking out of my window when I open the curtains is somehow life affirming (sorry if that sounds really corny).
Your family are from a spectacular part of Wales, I love the Pembrokeshire coastal path, and I’ve been to Solva, which is so pretty - and very sought after by second home owners now.

Don’t worry. I understood completely what you meant and wasn’t the slightest offended.
When I was a lot younger, my husband and I wanted to move to Solva and we put the wheels in motion. Unfortunately, my job in Border Force (then HMC &E) was in Intelligence, and Fishguard didn’t have anything similar - I would have had to take a large cut in salary and give up a job I loved. My husband had the same problem with his job. We just couldn’t afford to lose that much money. We were sure it would all be ok once the children were much older, and we could move then, but life got in the way and it was in our interests to stay here. It’s been fine and hasn’t stopped me being happy but I still have that odd twinge of nostalgia for what might have been. Also, you remarked on the second home situation, so I think it’s very unlikely that Solva would bear any relation to how it was when I used to go there, when everyone knew everyone. I would imagine it’s been ruined for the residents and am probably better off with happy memories!

Is Bishop Auckland near Newcastle lemsip?

Bishop Auckland

I love visiting different places in the UK Crosstitchfan, there are many beautiful places everywhere, and I’m sorry if it came across that I was being derogatory, that wasn’t what I meant. I like the wildness of the mountains best though, looking out of my window when I open the curtains is somehow life affirming (sorry if that sounds really corny).
Your family are from a spectacular part of Wales, I love the Pembrokeshire coastal path, and I’ve been to Solva, which is so pretty - and very sought after by second home owners now.

Casdon

I would not enjoy the scenery living in the south east of the UK, as I find the landscape dull. I like mountains, or if not, big hills. If I had to leave Wales, I’d choose the Lake District, North Yorkshire, or Derbyshire. I like Scotland too, but further north the weather is even wetter and colder than it is in Wales.

I live in the South East and just had to disagree that the landscape is dull, although I accept that it isn’t as pretty as The Cotswolds, the Lake District, parts of Wales and similar areas.
Like any other area, Kent has its rather plain places, but there are many pretty places too. The countryside around Ashford, Wye, Appledore etc is very beautiful, and those are just three of many Kent areas that are worth seeing.
I think the coastal scenery here is attractive too, whether it’s a pretty bay, a ferry port or the white cliffs.
That said, I adore Wales. My mother and grandmother (and many other relatives) were born there, in a beautiful village called Solva, where I spent all my childhood holidays.
I hope you never have to leave Wales until, and if, you have to.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

We used to live in the Home Counties. Absolutely heaving in our old town with cars, and huge towers of flats everywhere. Now we are in the SW of Wales. Doctors, libraries etc very good, but haven’t needed hospitals yet.
Will stick with dear old fashioned Wales I think.

Boolya

Darlington, County Durham
Just outside Scarborough
Anglesey

That sounds good to me Boolya.
Have you been reading my mind?
I actually as fancied Prestatyn as well. Nice little town, good shops, lovely countryside too for walking & very friendly people. Plus, a good train link in order to visit far-flung kids!
However, it seems on further research to have quite a high crime rate. A bit disappointing but back to the drawing board. Thinking of Durham now, It's all so difficult! but I don't want to stay where I am now. There's just too much crime & new houses are covering all the once lovely green-space! 😬

Darlington, County Durham
Just outside Scarborough
Anglesey

CariadAgain

Maybe Herefordshire for me?

A small city not too far from Wales, but in England. So I'd have the English NHS and not the Welsh one and reasonable access to the rest of the country.

During Lockdown - with the wierd way things were different in Wales to England (ie harsher here) = I never understood why that was the case for the life of me and the ideal position to be in would be a short walk one side of the border and then go out for things whichever side was easier to be in (was SO envious of people in a town that was divided between both areas and all the people had to do to be in England was literally cross the street). Mind you - it was a time when I was glad of the remoteness here - as that made life easier too (best party ever - with about 200 people at it - was when the Welsh restriction was 30 people).

So my ideal size place would probably be about 15,000-20,000 people with good public transport, ready access to countryside and seaside and good restaurants/shops.

Re earlier mention of Exeter - yep that is my city - where I have lived for most of my life - and I've never ever encountered any of us being discriminatory in any way against anyone (though there's lots of people that visit/study from other countries there) and others have commented to me how it's welcoming. Out in the countryside around and I'm more inclined to let it be known that I am a Devonian (though no-one has ever doubted it for a second despite me not having an accent)...but it's not the thing in Exeter to pay any heed whatsoever to that.

I know some people in Wales who attend Hereford hospital.

As for being on the border - no, we weren't allowed to cross during lockdowns unless working, but I still have a rebellious streak and crossed a footbridge from one country to another and back (more than once). There was not another soul around.

Maybe Herefordshire for me?

A small city not too far from Wales, but in England. So I'd have the English NHS and not the Welsh one and reasonable access to the rest of the country.

During Lockdown - with the wierd way things were different in Wales to England (ie harsher here) = I never understood why that was the case for the life of me and the ideal position to be in would be a short walk one side of the border and then go out for things whichever side was easier to be in (was SO envious of people in a town that was divided between both areas and all the people had to do to be in England was literally cross the street). Mind you - it was a time when I was glad of the remoteness here - as that made life easier too (best party ever - with about 200 people at it - was when the Welsh restriction was 30 people).

So my ideal size place would probably be about 15,000-20,000 people with good public transport, ready access to countryside and seaside and good restaurants/shops.

Re earlier mention of Exeter - yep that is my city - where I have lived for most of my life - and I've never ever encountered any of us being discriminatory in any way against anyone (though there's lots of people that visit/study from other countries there) and others have commented to me how it's welcoming. Out in the countryside around and I'm more inclined to let it be known that I am a Devonian (though no-one has ever doubted it for a second despite me not having an accent)...but it's not the thing in Exeter to pay any heed whatsoever to that.

I live in South Wales, always holidayed in Ceredigion so my second choice

Oxfordshire, where I spent so many long holidays with my godmother and Aunt. It’s changed since then though…
Also London.

Musicgirl

@Allira, l couldn't agree more with you. As we get older, it is more important for us to live somewhere that we can get to shops, doctors, church and other facilities easily. There may well be a time when we are no longer able to drive, and if we live in the middle of nowhere without a bus route, we would be stuck. I live in a smallish town (around 20,000 residents) and it is the ideal size for me. We have everything we need and there is a regular, hourly bus service, which I use quite often as it can be more convenient than driving. We also have some lovely countryside nearby.

Agree with this Musicgirl. We moved from a small village (and a large house and garden) to a nearby town (smaller house and garden!) and have everything we need including all our old friends. If I had to choose another county it would be Northumberland.

Musicgirl
I live in a smallish town but there is no hospital within miles!

@Allira, l couldn't agree more with you. As we get older, it is more important for us to live somewhere that we can get to shops, doctors, church and other facilities easily. There may well be a time when we are no longer able to drive, and if we live in the middle of nowhere without a bus route, we would be stuck. I live in a smallish town (around 20,000 residents) and it is the ideal size for me. We have everything we need and there is a regular, hourly bus service, which I use quite often as it can be more convenient than driving. We also have some lovely countryside nearby.

However, I’ve always fancied Somerset, Devon or Cornwall, but sadly I hear they hate incomers!
It's nearly 60 years ago that I was called a furriner and that was just one rude person, Irismarle, when I was applying for jobs. Unfortunately, he was in charge of recruitment for the large Council! People were welcoming and there has been an influx of furriners from many places since those days.

Notagranyet24

We moved from Oxford to Stroud in the Cotswolds, biggest mistake ever! I had no idea just what a cultural resource Oxford was.
Despite its 'quirky' (groan) image, Stroud is a boring little town which people who grew up in it agree is now filled with second homers and ex-Londoners who have extended small cottages into gross, glass-filled monstrosities, filled the streets with Range Rovers and ensured locals can't afford decent houses!

I would love to live in Devon and Cornwall but they are no longer the joyful places I visited as a young person. Now, I'd go away from the south to somewhere north or east perhaps as far as Scotland though I would hate the weather up there.
Sadly, the UK is now very crowded and pretty villages often require a car to get to amenities including shops and medical facilities.

I've never understood why older people want to Escape to the Country where there's a bus service once a week, the village shop has closed and the nearest surgery is in a town miles away. What happens if/when you can't drive, I ask!

Irismarle

I live in Edinburgh which is a lovely city in lots of ways albeit usually chilly.
However, I’ve always fancied Somerset, Devon or Cornwall, but sadly I hear they hate incomers!

This isn't the case. There are large towns and cities in the south west where incomers are commonplace and welcomed with open arms. Exeter is a university city.

In more rural areas I think it depends on the incomer's approach. My friend moved to north Devon several years ago and has been welcomed into the community with open arms and we have found the same in Somerset.

If you go with the intention of joining in and of contributing to day to day life then you are very welcome. If you live part time, don't join in - well then you can understand how things might be more frosty.

We moved from Oxford to Stroud in the Cotswolds, biggest mistake ever! I had no idea just what a cultural resource Oxford was.
Despite its 'quirky' (groan) image, Stroud is a boring little town which people who grew up in it agree is now filled with second homers and ex-Londoners who have extended small cottages into gross, glass-filled monstrosities, filled the streets with Range Rovers and ensured locals can't afford decent houses!

I would love to live in Devon and Cornwall but they are no longer the joyful places I visited as a young person. Now, I'd go away from the south to somewhere north or east perhaps as far as Scotland though I would hate the weather up there.
Sadly, the UK is now very crowded and pretty villages often require a car to get to amenities including shops and medical facilities.

silverlining48 - we would not go back to Norfolk either.
Have lived in lots of places both here and overseas. Norfolk was not for us, unfortunately.

The Cotswolds.

Absolutely lovely and the people are so friendly.