Have any of you gents considered (or actually jumped in) a complete relocation of your family for a better lifestyle else where?

I live in N Ireland, property is now hugely expensive. Land is beyond buying - £20-25K per acre for agricultural. There is very little woodland and decent sport is hard to come by. In general I think the quality of life here is going down hill very fast.

I am now 38 yrs old. I work from home so it does not much matter where I live. My kids are 7, 5 & 3 so we would need decent schools. I am seriously considering cashing in my over priced house and a few other investments and buying a farm somewhere. I spent a year in the west country in my mid twenties and liked it a lot. Particularly Devon. I have also considered abroad, but it would really need to be to an English speaking country.

My priorities in no particular order are:

Decent house.
Land with woodland.
Very rural setting.
Good village or small town with 10-15 miles.
Community spirit.
Sport - stalking, game shooting, fishing.
Less rain than NI.


So what do you recommend? This would probably be a two year project to identify an area we might like, maybe spend a few weeks on holiday and then look to make the move.

CD,

What is it that you do for a living?

There are plenty of places about here in the UK and the further away from london you go, the better value you get.

If you can buy land in Nort Essex upto north Norfolk, you will have some excellent stalking and variety as you will in the west country. In Scottyland you can get some serious tracts of land if you look in the right places, but it will be remote rather than rural and it can get bloody cold!!

Rgds,
FB

If I could live anywhere it would be British Columbia.

Anywhere in the UK...Scotland!!

You can get pretty good shooting in the west cost of Ireland, i.e. Galway/Kerry/Clare.

Come to Canada, and specifically Alberta. The economy is booming madly here, and by Uk standards the land is cheap. - dan

FB, I sit at home and negotiate personal injury claims with solicitors for an insurance company. Not exactly stimulating which is part of my problem. As long as I have broadband and mobile coverage I can function.

I have considered Scotland, it is only an hour away by boat. Their weather is bloody worse than ours. I can take cold in the winter - actually like it. I am sick of the rain. A bit more heat in the summer would be nice.

My wife and I had considered going to the States about 10 years ago but didn't do it for all sorts of reasons. I really don't think I could take the children more than a couple of hours flying time from both of our extended families.

Brian,

You have my sympathy and I wish you well in your search. If I were you I would consider emmigration seriously.
If I were younger and still fit I would be off like a shot. Canada, Oz, NZ in no particular order. We would still go now if we had the chance, but with the next birthday being the 60th I am afraid time is not on my side.

Bloody shame.

John

When sport is a priority as it is for many of us here, I really don't think there is anywhere in Europe that you can have the sheer volume of shooting/fishing, for so little as you can in England.

Get the right bit(s) of land and it can keep you busy for 365 days a year.

Rgds,
FB

CD

Whatever you do - don't consider Devon!

The weather is lousy, I don't have five species of deer within an hour's drive, there are no decent Pheasant/ Game shoots ANYWHERE in the SW, having to drive 15 minutes to launch the boat into Lyme Bay is arduous in the extreme, having the option of surf beaches 55 minutes north just adds one more decision when planning a day's relaxation, the scenery is something you get used to............etc etc.....

Finally, living here encourages you to lie when describing the place to outsiders!

Rgds Ian

FB, I had come to the conclusion that England might be the best option, for a number of reasons - sounds like heresy coming from my Irish mouth.....

Ian, you don't have to sell me on Devon, just the wife.

I looked at a farm near Honiton a few months back. It would have been perfect for me, maybe a little on the big side, it would have been on the very edge of what I could afford. A similar place here would have been 4-5 times the price.

Unfortunately, it will be at least the end of next year before I could turn property here into cash and be ready for a move.

I have sort of formed an idea that I would like to farm at least part time - I come from a farming family.

Brian,

I bet if you got yourself a farm in England somewhere, with enough land to support a shoot you would have a lot of trouble finding people to form a syndicate

John

I would either live in Cranbrook BC or in the Alaska, the Yukon or NWT.

Your not in the right age group to retire in Canada or the US so you will have to work some creative immigration scheme.

I think Britain is a ticking time bomb on gun control and hunting.

Hunting and gun ownership are protected in most of the USA and most of Canada.

quote:

I looked at a farm near Honiton a few months back.

Living five minutes away from there - I sympathise!

Rgds Ian

What size of property are you looking for?

England is great but don't try Hampshire or Dorset if you want stalking.

South Devon or Somerset would be my choice.

I would dip a toe before diving - many places seem better but by 38, home has a way of remaining home even if the quality of life is better elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by D99:

Hunting and gun ownership are protected in most of the USA and most of Canada.

D99 - we get on well on line and I hesitate to disagree so vehemently but here goes!

Hunting is certainly protected in the US! By ludicrously short seasons, fees, tags, draws, lottery, shot gun only counties, Sunday bans, tiny bag limits on game birds, legislation massively restricting game bird rearing, sale of venison and game meat banned etc etc.

Even people from the same country are not allowed to shoot some species of big game in another state in the SAME country!

The UK is not pro gun and only a minority hunt but the hunting we do is of a quality that repeatedly draws foreign visitors who cannot believe our deer densities. I know which situation I prefer!

Sorry for the rant. I will agree that things are likely to get harder with more red tape for gun ownership but the most recent legislation is actualy increasing the ease with which people may own a gun to shoot deer!

Of course my 'perception' of US hunting might be as different as I perceive yours to be about the UK (spot the psychotherapist )

Got to go I'm off to try for a fallow !

quote:

Originally posted by 1894mk2:

quote:

Originally posted by D99:

Hunting and gun ownership are protected in most of the USA and most of Canada.

D99 - we get on well on line and I hesitate to disagree so vehemently but here goes!

Hunting is certainly protected in the US! By ludicrously short seasons, fees, tags, draws, lottery, shot gun only counties, Sunday bans, tiny bag limits on game birds, legislation massively restricting game bird rearing, sale of venison and game meat banned etc etc.

Even people from the same country are not allowed to shoot some species of big game in another state in the SAME country!

The UK is not pro gun and only a minority hunt but the hunting we do is of a quality that repeatedly draws foreign visitors who cannot believe our deer densities. I know which situation I prefer!

Sorry for the rant. I will agree that things are likely to get harder with more red tape for gun ownership but the most recent legislation is actualy increasing the ease with which people may own a gun to shoot deer!

Of course my 'perception' of US hunting might be as different as I perceive yours to be about the UK (spot the psychotherapist )

Got to go I'm off to try for a fallow !

Ditto that, Although if you would be kind enough to keep propogating the myth that people are not allowed to hunt and own guns in the UK we would be very greatfull, as It will just mean more hunting for us!!



Rgds,
FB

After therapy (hint Isla and liquid) I feel a bit better! Hope I haven't caused offence.

Claret you have a PM