where to move to?

Bluedaisy I'm not sure where in Devon you are but there are 3 Hospitals serving Devon, in Plymouth, Exeter & Torquay plus several Community Hospitals.

I was brought up in the Yorkshire Dales, moved to Lancashire, Middlesex (Surrey). After DH retired we eventually downsized to Somerset/Dorset border (Yeovil) which was approx half way between my DD in Torquay & Step-DD in Lightwater, Surrey

15 months after we moved I was widowed at 57. I waited a year & then put my property on the market & finally moved to Devon to be closer to DD.

I live in a small Town on the edge of Dartmoor, decent bus service, all amenities & lots of clubs/activities. The downside is of course tourists but during the week Town isn't overrun with them. I avoid tourist "hotspots" between middle of July & middle of September & definitely don't go anywhere on a Bank Holiday. I've lived here over 5 years now & love it.

My DM still lives in Yorkshire & I do the 300 mile drive several times a year (on my own, I'm now 65)

A word of caution regarding staying near/moving closer to AC, their jobs may mean them moving away leaving you out on a limb.

tookmylove... you sound like Cumbria is your wish but as others have said perhaps rent for 6 months, don't make hasty decisions. Good luck

Bluedaisy Good luck with your move back to Sussex. I hope all goes well for you.

I like Devon too but, having read your comments, I think, as someone else said, it's probably better to rent somewhere for a while to see if a location meets your expectations when you are actually living there full time.

We would move to Sussex like a shot but it would be too far away from my elderly Mum and our small, but close, family.

I grew up in Thirsk, we spent s few days there a couple of years ago, and it still looks lovely albeit a slightly bigger town than I remember. I think it would be within your budget.

I love Northumberland and would plump for a community such as Morpeth, Alnwick, Amble. As we age we need to be nearer transport links, doctors, shops, library etc. We have just spent 5 days in Amble and love this area. Great beaches nearby, good local shops/ restaurants, lovely walks!! is relatively cheap as well. Good luck !!

If being in a village or small town is a priority I would strongly advise consulting the local planning department to see if any land is designated for housing, Daughter thought they had found exactly what they were looking for - large house set back from a quiet road surrounded by 10 acres of land - and then discovered there was planning approval for 300 houses to be built opposite.

Good luck with your search. Having a different house is always exciting, but having moved several times I truly believe you know if it is right or wrong just by the feel of it.

East rainton, little village just outside Durham. Lovely place, friendly nice bungalows. Little shop, pub and restaurant. My fil loves it there.

Good advice Bluedaisy, about the dangers of the 'one-way' move. We recently had a weekend in Appleby, Westmoreland, next door to Cumbria. Absolutely beautiful and slightly away from the more touristy parts of the Lake District. We hanker after the sea and Cornwall. Has such a 'pull' for me and sea air feels so invigorating. Though I feel it is my 'spiritual home', it's so far away from family, and summer crowds put me off, so afraid to take the plunge. But often we think we have everything we need right under our nose in lovely south Lincolnshire, though kids all moved away and we have no 'roots' here. Also need good, reachable hospital facility as Bluedaisy points out. Trying to be practical. Good luck.

Absolutely agree with @Lancslass1 and would add that a small market town could be better than a village as it gives you more opportunities within walking distance (that's a polite way of saying in a village you will see the same people at every event!) Thirsk, Yarm or Northallerton are worth checking out - and it rains less on this side of the Pennines . Good luck!

You need nearby shops, good bus services and a good hospital not too far away!
Kendal is not far from Oxenholme so you could be in London or Edinburgh within a few hours should you need to be .

For me it is the children and dgc who are the tie. It is so difficult, I too want to move back to my roots but it would mean almost a 5 hour difficult drive for them to come to me, so I am sitting tight. for now am keeping my mouth shut and mostly forgetting what I would really like to do. All my married life, I went where dh had work, when he had opportunites like opening an office for the company.

Cumbria to south wales to the south west and now I am in between the two DDs. It is hot here in the south, too hot, lovely countryside and lovely people but the cooler roots are still there. So now I save and maybe dd will go back to her roots too and I will follow, she has spoken of it, she and her husband. 50 is young enough OP, follow your heart, while you can. At 72, I have to be sensible

I was brought up in West Cumbria and keep thinking I should go back but it is a bit "out on a limb". We've been considering Brampton and villages near Carlisle for easy access to the M6. We also like Hexham, a lovely market town and so friendly.
My problem is that our grandchildren are in Essex and Suffolk!

No matter where you decide I feel good transport links are essential as we age. 51 certainly isn't old but it's surprising how the years fly by. You have a lovely situation to deal with. Hope you find your ideal home.

Kendal,Windermere or Staveley .
Not too far from the M6 .

What about Up by Bamburgh castle not to far from the family Beautiful place, lovely walks, the beach.

If I had my time over again, BIG sigh, I would buy a all mod cons motor home and wander where ever, never stopping in one place too long

Sounds as if your heart is still in Cumbria! I moved to rural Northumberland in my very late 60's and really enjoy it. Everyone is very friendly and there are quite a few NT properties around. As for nature... I can only say STUNNING, lots of beautiful beaches, plenty of walking and walking groups, churches, historical places etc. I would add that as one gets older one may have to rely on a good public transport system and that may not be available in the more rural areas. Why not take somewhere like Hexham or Bishop Aukland and draw a circle round it on the map say within a 2 hour driving distance and see what is available within this radius, you might be pleasantly surprised.

We lived in Brighton for most of our lives but longed for the country and a village life so 22 months ago we Downsized and moved to Devon With the promise from all our friends and family that they would fly down (to Newquay) and visit us frequently! 3 months after moving here and not knowing a soul Newquay flights stopped flying from Gatwick airport so that meant a 5 hour sometimes 6/7 if roads were busy drive to see us, our son drives for a living and hates the journey and I don’t blame him. None of our friends have come down here to visit and non have plans too and quite frankly I don’t blame them, the journey is never ending. Consequently we hardly see our grandson whom we used to babysit every weekend. I haven’t seen my best friend for almost 2 years. We have not made any friends here, people of our age are quite cliquey and have by our time of life made their own friends. There are no craft clubs catering to the craft I do and I don’t want to set my own up. There is only one main hospital for all of Devon and some of Cornwall which is a pain to get to from where we live. You cannot visit any attractions between May and October due to being jammed packed with holiday makers. It constantly rains in Devon due to us being hit first from the Atlantic weather.......I could go on but I won’t. The moral here Being Please think carefully about leaving all your family and friends behind as it’s not always as easy to make new friends later in life. Your children probably work like mine so are you prepared to only see them once or twice a year? Will you be near decent shops, bus stops, decent Doctors, accessible hospitals if you get ill? One last thing could you afford to move back if it didn’t work out? We’ve now just put out place back on the market but have to carefully downsize just to get back to Sussex, we couldn’t afford to move back to Brighton even if we wanted too? Good Luck

Id love Hexham or Alnmouth. We live in Durham but it’s hilly and like a building site but there are retirement flats . I gather they are difficult to sell on.

My cousin lives in a rural cottage near Alnwick in Northumberland and it is stunning. She is a keen labdscape/nature photographer and goes on such wonderful walks with friends. I would imagine property prices are good there.

Just remember that the day may come when you no longer are able to drive and choose somewhere were there is a good bus service and some local shops.

Rural or coastal Northumberland is lovely as is Cumbria!!

Maybe keep an open mind and look at properties in both areas.

I'd also consider getting older in the new area. While no one can predict whether services that are there now, still will be in 20 years but shops, public transport, ease of getting to a hospital etc.

We moved from Northumberland to the Scottish borders when excessive building in our town made it too busy. We now live in a very small town with a great community. Property prices lower great views beaches lots of good walking and never more than a few miles from a castle or abbey. Also Scottish parliament provides lots of benefits e.g. free prescription bus pass at 60 cheaper membership to NT and heritage scotland. Midway between Edinburgh and Newcastle if we need retail or culture fix

I moved from rural Perthshire to Aberdeen when I retired. I was divorced, my daughters both married, and I was at least 50 miles away from all my remaining family members. I had been seriously I'll and the family felt it would be wise to move nearer at least one of them. Following discussion with my daughters and sons in law we decided I should move to Aberdeen. Its the best thing I ever did, I've been here 15 years now and am happy and settled well. My family live 3 miles away and as I write this I have 2 of my granddaughters here waiting for lunch. As I say its the best thing I ever did.

Come to the border between Northumberland and Cumbria. There are lots of lovely little towns and villages. The countryside is beautiful, and you can walk to your hearts content, as there are loads of woods, countryside walks, and the Ronan Wall path.
Where I live in South West Northumberland there are good public transport links to Newcastle and Carlisle, and from there, anywhere you want to go.

Spend 6 months renting in Cumbria, a place you loved and near to children. Good luck with whatever you decide ?