Where to live?

HollySocks_2

Hi
I know these questions can seem a bit daft, but i'm at a loss as to where to move to.


I rarely left the house for years, pretty horrific social anxiety at times. Not making excuses for my situation, but its left me hitting my early 40's and having no friends whatsoever, and little knowledge of towns/cities.


I would chat to my parents every day, but sadly they both passed away last year.



The only thing that has kept me going for the last 12 months is the thought that i can at least get away from this council estate, and move somewhere nice, try and restart life a bit.


So, inheritance is through. Have £160k ish.


I have this silly idea of maybe taking up cycling. Its something i can do by myself. But roads are too scary.

So ive been looking at places with traffic free cycle lanes, promenades etc.. I have been up and down so, so many on google street view, but ive never been to these places


Does anyone have knowledge of places with good cycle routes, that dont require cars or transport to get to the traffic free bits?
I've looked online at Cardiff bay, Swansea seafront, north of Blackpool - Cleveleys..Sunderland-Roker seafront.


Again, i know its a silly question, but i'm not really restricted by the usual living near work/family/friends as i have none of them lol.


I dont want to live in a rough area though. Being in an inner city housing estate, ive been stabbed, robbed, constant harrassment from people on the estates. I once got a dog to try and get out on walks but she got attacked in the park by some staffie thingummys and died.


Just somewhere i can generally just live the rest of my time without too much hassle and have access to some nice outdoor activities like dog walking and cycling as i plan on getting a new dog and cycle.


Really sorry for the waffle.

Giddypip

New Brighton is a lovely area. Cycle routes on the prom that run for a few miles. Lovely coastal walks. xx

Davesnave

People are going to suggest seaside resort areas, but that won't necessarily be where you get the best bang for your £ when it comes to housing.....and you only have £160k.

If you want a dog, then a flat with a garden is probably the minimum you should think about. If you want to be in friendly, non-rough areas then forget the larger conurbations and go for small towns where you will get known quite quickly, especially out with the dog.

In the town local to me, you can't walk down the street without people saying "Hello" and starting random conversations; unnerving to folks from big towns, but it's what gives this area such a friendly feel. You won't get that sort of thing in a large town or a touristy spot. From your list, maybe you'd get something like that in Mumbles (Swansea Bay) but Mumbles and the areas around it is pricey.

Here in Devon. we have something called the Tarka Trail, which is a cycle route that follows old railway tracks and covers both seaside locations and many miles inland too. Towns on that route which are, small, coastal, but not really holiday destinations are Barnstaple and Bideford. They're reasonably affordable, so you could check them out. Most of the cycling around those places on the Trail is relatively flat too; not something you could say about much of Devon!

moneyistooshorttomention

This is where some of the upsides of West Wales - from your pov - would apply.

You could investigate smaller towns there. Dogs everywhere...I've never seen so many dogs prior to moving here and an incomer friend of mine commented specifically on that to me that one of the first things she noticed was lots of people taking their dogs for a walk (ie a high proportion of people walking had a dog with them - there aren't "lots of people" per se here). There's people out and about walking their dogs and chatting to each other and you could afford a house here.

You'd have to suss them out individually re whether they are flat or no. Googlemaps these days will tell you - if you put in a search from one part of the town to the other - then it will tell you that.

HollySocks_2

Thank you so much for that.


I presumed all of the south east was too pricey, hence never looking at the Tarka Trail. And having no transport or anyone it may be a bit remote...But lookin at the cycle map , Barnstaple looks great..And 3 bed terraced houses on RightMove for £160-180k.


I hadnt looked at flats as i just presume theyre mostly leasehold and have rules about dogs..And it would be great to have a little garden as ive never had one yet.


New Brighton has plenty of traffic free cycling too. I didnt consider that area either as i didnt really know where it was apart from an 'area of Liverpool' , and it might be a bit rough. Having done 15 years in Harpurhey, Manchester, i dont want to go back to being anywhere too bad..Tho it would take a lot of beating to find somewhere as bad as that ha!


And yeah, Wales is great price wise..So far ive checked out the Swansea to Mumbles area, Cardiff Bay, and Llandudno. Cardiff Bay is mostly apartments though, and Mumbles looks a bit out of my league price wise.


Lots of decisions to make, but thats definately been a great help. Really appreciate it. I just need to get out in the real world and see these places ha, instead of wandering around in a virtual world with my Occulus Rift goggles on :-)




Oh, it doesnt need to be flat, theres really nice elecric bikes on Halford website. Just really near to the actual cycle route as i'd really be too nervous getting to them via main roads

todayisagreatday

Hi

Wales sounds a great idea, have you also thought about say the Shropshire Wales border. We live on the canal in Whitchurch and its very popular with walkers and there are some great walks nearby, e.g. Sandstone trail, etc. It sounds like you like the idea of water but it doesn't have to be the coast, it could be canals, rivers etc.

Your budget will determine a lot and how much you can get for your money, but I'd also say to consider things like how close you are to amenities, e.g. Shops, Dr's, train or bus routes for exploring further etc. It sounds like you have lots to consider and good luck with your search.

todayisagreatday

For example, this has just come on close to us and it's right near the canal and rural, but walking distance to a pub, shop, cafe and bus stop for buses into Chester. I realise it needs a bit of work but it kind of gives you an idea.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75294584.html

Grezz24

Southport is a nice area, great areas to cycle and dog walk and not full of idiots either (well what ive seen)

HollySocks_2

New Brighton looks pretty neat , i dont know a lot about it, but it looks like they've had a major regeneration in the area. I did live in Brighton once and loved it, but a studio flat there is £160K. So maybe, New Brighton instead :-)

agrinnall

I don't want to rain on your parade but how do you intend to make enough money to live on, and crucially to maintain a property? You say that you have no work, are you planning to find some in the future? If you are then some of the places mentioned may not be ideal for that.

HollySocks_2

Ive been on ESA and PIP for 12 years now. Not exactly proud of that. Most benefits get stopped due to the inheritance, but the DSS have said i can purchase a property and it doesnt class as deprivation of capital, so any lost benefits get re-instated. Obv, i wouldnt be claiming any housing benefit anyway.


But i do know the DSS can send you back to work at any point. Partly why i'm looking at 3 bed places. Im not sure if i could manage to have lodgers under the rent-a-room scheme when i find it hard to be in a room with other people. But its a possibilty, if i can get out more, try and get over the social panic, and can provide up to £7.5K tax free. With no mortgage, i would possibly only have to work 2-3 days a week to bring my weekly income after any taxes to around £250. Which is perfectly fine for me and no mortgage.


Its not much of a plan in life ha. But i dont want to carry on isolating myself. Watching mum and dad die, you do realise how short life can be. I can't guarantee everything in life, but finding a 3 bed place does open up possibilites of some extra income if i can manage the social side. And i'll always be mortgage and rent free now. Which is sadly more than many young people can expect. I don't ever go on holidays obv. ha, or eat out, go to the cinema etc, so my outgoings are pretty low.