moveme.com

According to a recent survey, record numbers of urbanites are looking to trade cosmopolitan city living for the lure of a rural idyll. In fact, more than 100,000 people a year are moving to the country attracted by lower crime rates, decent schools and a better quality of life.

But is it all as rosy and harmonious as it seems or is the ‘Cath Kitson’ vision responsible for distorting reality? Many find the isolation of a dark, cold cottage in the middle of no-where is enough to have them hotfooting it back to the city as soon as they can. A dramatic lifestyle change certainly calls for a shift in attitude; working patterns and access to amenities change when you move from the city. How you adapt is key to how well you’ll settle. What separates the stayers from the scarperers is preparation. With that in mind here are my top tips for townies…

• While finding the right house and location is important it’s not the be-all and end-all. You also need to think long and hard about what’s essential and what you can live without. For instance, living in a detached pile in the middle of a field is all well and good if you’re organised, but if you’re the type of person always running out of milk, fags or wine then you might be better of looking for a village with a pub and shop (although bear in mind it’s not likely to be a 24-hour Tesco Metro) for information on everything from your nearest pub to pizza place, try: upmystreet.com

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