Relocation to Herefordshire

I don't know Shropshire, only by reputation. Perhaps a little too near Brum for me.
I've never thought of Shropshire as being near Birmingham!
I'm from Staffordshire/Shropshire borders myself, it just seems rural apart from Shrewsbury which is (or was) a lovely town.
Quite similar to Herefordshire I think.

Check out the U3A in various areas.

Thank you all for taking the time to post your thoughts. They have helped enormously. I am now looking south of Shrewsbury along the A49 area. Just about to look on booking.com for a holiday rental. Best regards.

Good luck.

Isla71

Thank you all for taking the time to post your thoughts. They have helped enormously. I am now looking south of Shrewsbury along the A49 area. Just about to look on booking.com for a holiday rental. Best regards.

There are some lovely places around there. We drove through on a sunny day last summer on our way from S Herefordshire to an art exhibition near Shrewsbury and the drive was almost as much of a joy as the exhibition!

I hope you find the right place for you.

DH used to do that drive regularly when he was working in Shropshire for a year or so.

I remember walking over the Long Mynd and the Stiperstones many years ago 🙂. Lovely countryside!

Allira

There are a lot of chicken farms in Herefordshire and the River Wye, unfortunately, is polluted now with run-off so be careful if your dog is a swimmer.

Lots of river pollution is also caused by dogs. They also cause a nuisance to wildlife in and along rivers.

semperfidelis

You really need a car in Hereforshire. Transport links are not good. You may feel very isolated, even though the scenary is beautiful.

This is the problem imo with all these out of the way places.
Nice for a holiday doubtless.
But how would you manage with a twisted ankle ?
Services are sparse and often there's not even many mini cabs.
Could be quite isolated.
I think there's a lot to be said for city or burbs. In practical terms.

You do need a car here and public transport is sparse. But most country dwellers know this and factor it into their plans and their lives.

If you had a twisted ankle you would ring a friend or family member to help, or call a taxi (there are lots of local firms) or, if things were really bad, call an ambulance (from whom I have had very efficient service here) - in fact, you would do much the same as you would in a city or suburb! There a also community transport minibuses run by volunteers.

I have not been able to drive for 4 weeks and have employed all the above very successfully.

If you are in a village there are lots of people around, and they are usually very active places with a busy social calendar and a real sense of community. We help each other.

Hello, Luckygirl3. Many thanks for your post. Would you believe, I have never thought of being incapacitated. I noticed at a U3A meeting I once went to that these were all people in their mid-70s and older. Speaking with a few of them, it seems as though they were congregating much like a tribe supporting each other. They went for a hot drink, warm room and to have people around them. At the time, I thought U3A was an activity group. In actual fact, these people shared their problems and had a network of help.

The Times recently ran an article about Shrewsbury. It's one of the happiest places to live. I'm relocating to Shrewsbury. It's my home town and I can vouch that it's a beautiful town with a wonderful mix of small, interesting shops.

This is the problem imo with all these out of the way places.
Nice for a holiday doubtless.
But how would you manage with a twisted ankle?

Millions of people live and work in rural counties.

It's not the back end of nowhere. Hereford is a city!
There is a main hospital, they have doctors, nurses, midwives, believe it or not 😯
And shops.

I'd prefer not to live in a city. Horses for courses.

But how would you manage with a twisted ankle ?

Ice pack. Supermarket home delivery. Etc.

Another Hereford resident here! I'm amazed at the amount of people on here that live in Hereford or surroundings. I personally think it's a great place to live, although they're building far too many houses and the infrastructure is starting to groan under the pressure! There are some gorgeous villages near the city and a reasonable choice of shops in the city. And I love the slower pace of life!

shoppinggirl

Another Hereford resident here! I'm amazed at the amount of people on here that live in Hereford or surroundings. I personally think it's a great place to live, although they're building far too many houses and the infrastructure is starting to groan under the pressure! There are some gorgeous villages near the city and a reasonable choice of shops in the city. And I love the slower pace of life!

And Great Britain continues west even beyond Herefordshire 😂

Reported

Well done - don't want any of that rubbish in Herefordshire!!

Luckygirl3

Well done - don't want any of that rubbish in Herefordshire!!

We're getting flooded by these posts and none are being deleted!

Allira

shoppinggirl

Another Hereford resident here! I'm amazed at the amount of people on here that live in Hereford or surroundings. I personally think it's a great place to live, although they're building far too many houses and the infrastructure is starting to groan under the pressure! There are some gorgeous villages near the city and a reasonable choice of shops in the city. And I love the slower pace of life!

And Great Britain continues west even beyond Herefordshire 😂

Really??!! The OP was specifically asking about Herefordshire, but mid-Wales (to the west!) is beautiful too.

Really??!! 😁

I've got maps

Isla71

Thanks for all responses. I did PM a few of you. But perhaps better to open respond. This area was unfamiliar to me 2.5 years ago. My daughter wanted to live here, and is now choosing to live down South. Bless. I like access to shops, but prefer to live in country and walk the dog. Hereford is also within my budget. As mentioned; NHS doesn't work here, so I don't expect much elsewhere. Plus, I try self help. You Tube is brilliant.

Lived in Herefordshire for many years as a child. Lovely town and interesting county, on the banks of the river (a location I' not touch with a baregpole now because it floods so often)
be careful to avoid any areas that flood; getting worse due to climate change.

Choosing a place to live entirely on location is a route to disaster. Go to any seaside resort that is popular with retirees and listen to the stories of lonely old people who came down in retirement and failed to settle or make social contacts and who hadn't taken into account available services. Far from friends and family, they live sad lonely lives. Perhaps not our generation, but the one before. For us the tales come from Spain, and France and other overseas retirement places

What matters, first of all, is whether the place you are thinking about moving to offers opporunities that you would enjoy to build up a social life. You may live in the best location ever, but loneliness kills. If there is nothing in the place you live, which helps you build a social life, you will not enjoy your wonderful safe location for long.

Then look at services, doctors, hospitals, shops, trains and busese. Again no point in moving somewhere beautiful and safe if the doctor is 5 miles distant and the hospital 30 miles distant, buses go at 9.00am and return at 6.00pm and the nearest railway station 15 miles away (no bus).

Only if the location you choose can meet every other need should you consider moving to it.

We had a friend who did exactly what you say you are doing, putting location first. She moved somewhere lovely and despite being a very sociable person, could find nothing in the area she chose that interested her, and locals were not very friendly. She lasted 3 years, and died of cancer, alone, because, family could not get to her as she was so far away from them.