The Pros and Cons of Moving to the Countryside

Is moving to the country as idyllic as you imagine it to be? Is moving to the countryside right for you?

Views out over lush green undulating hills, meadows filled with wildflowers, peace, and tranquility, a better quality of life, fresh food straight from the garden to the pot, neighbours happily chatting over the hedge as the sounds of birds fill the air, living in the country must be truly beautiful, or so we believe.

There are certainly many advantages to moving away from the big city or from the crowded towns of the UK, but there must be disadvantages too, right?

In this week’s home moving blog, we will look at the pros and cons of moving to the country, as well as offer you some tips on moving to the country to help you decide if it is the right move for you.

You may also like to read: Is Life Better in the City, the Suburbs, or the Countryside? In this guide, we compare the advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside, the city, or the suburbs.

The Pros and Cons of Moving to the Countryside

For every benefit that moving to the country gives you we will also share with you the reality of that assumed benefit. So maybe this section could be titled the myths and reality of life in the country.

Pro – Cleaner air

Generally, it is accepted that going to live in the country will give you a healthier lifestyle.

One of the often-cited advantages is that of clean air, the further you are from smog and industrial pollution the cleaner the air should be, right?

Con – That’s not Fog, it’s Chimney Smoke

Many rural areas have industrial sites which are in the countryside and whilst not as common as some cities, there are certainly parts of the countryside that house pollution makers.

It should also not be underestimated the amount of smog that coal fires produce. Having lived in an old mining village deep in the countryside, I can tell you, smoking chimneys early in the morning can fill the air with thick smoke.

You may also like to read: What are the Health Benefits of Moving Home? There are some surprising health benefits to be had when moving home, just just by moving somewhere with less pollution for example but how it will help you break bad habits and form new good ones.

Pro – Life is Less Stressful In The Countryside

Life in the countryside is regarded as less stressful, less hectic, and more peaceful. There are no crowds of people, traffic jams, or the thousand other elements of city life that cause stress.

Con – Life can be Stressful in the Countryside

Stress is a state of mind. Different things trigger stress in different people. If slow traffic is your stress trigger, getting stuck behind a combine harvester, tractor, or herd of cows being shepherded to the next field is going to stress you out.

My point is, we need to identify what our stress triggers are, and if they can be avoided by living in the countryside then that is excellent. But if you are generally prone to stress, you may just discover new stress triggers you never knew existed.

Pro – Being Close to Nature

It certainly helps your physical and mental wellness to be nearer to nature.

The sound of wildlife, the feeling of relaxation, the smells, and the sensory delights of being outside.

Easy access to outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and gardening, which are all proven to increase your immune system and generally promote good health.

Whatever the weather, whatever outdoor pursuit you enjoy, being out in the countryside is a great feeling.

Con – Nature Gets Everywhere

Just accept that your clothes and house will get muddy.

Dust, when they cut the wheat, will fill every crevice of you and your home.

You will need to run for cover when they spray the crops, usually as you just sit down in your beautiful garden for the first glass of vino.

Unmade roads and paths have a habit of forming holes that hold more water than the average bath, and you are guaranteed to step into every single one.

Pro – You can grow organic food

One of the delights of country living is having a garden and being able to grow your own fruit and veg.

Even if you are not a keen gardener the village store will almost certainly stock organic veg from the village.

And of course, living in a village community your neighbours will be keen to share with you the spoils of their hard work from their own gardens.

Then, of course, the local farm might also produce organic meat or milk. There certainly is a world of difference in taste between commercially grown and organically grown products.

Con – The Jury is Out

To be 100% sure something is organic you need to grow it yourself. There is some evidence that organic veg, which can contain up to 60% more antioxidants, can actually be bad for you.

I will leave you to do your own research and make your own conclusions.

You may also like to read: The Pros and Cons of Buying a House with a Garden. A wonderful place to relax, for the kids to play, and maybe even grow your own fruit and veg, or is the reality of having a garden that it is a money pit that takes up every spare minute of your time? In this guide, we seek out what the reality is like of having a house with a garden.

Pro – Village Communities are Safer

Village communities tend to look out for each other, everybody knows everybody and it is easier to spot an outsider or something amiss.

Fewer people equal less risk and just the gentle and quiet atmosphere of the countryside will put you at your ease.

You will not be so apprehensive about the kids playing out or nipping to the shops, being in the countryside instills a sense of well-being with the world. Not only that but there is less traffic so it is safer for your kids to take the bikes out or cross the road on their own.

Con – Studies show Otherwise

Whilst this is a study made in America the logic of the conclusions can easily be applied to the UK.

When you average out the population between rural and urban communities it is actually safer to live in a city.

Whilst that is not true of all cities and villages in the UK, the fact that it will take an ambulance longer to get to you in the countryside, that urban car crashes are low-speed bumps whilst rural accidents tend to be more high-speed, and that country folk tend to use dangerous tools daily which increases the likelihood of an accident, you can see the logic.

It is also well-documented that many rural communities face the problem of bored teenagers and easy access to drugs. Of course, there are safe cities and safe villages, but there are also unsafe ones.

Pro – Countryside Homes are More Affordable

Certainly, many rural homes are far more affordable and bigger than city homes.

You will not only get more house space but a garden too. This in itself is a great reason to move to the countryside, not only will you get the benefits of more house space, but having a garden opens a world of recreational possibilities.

Con – Maintenance and Living Costs are Higher

Many rural homes are very old and maintaining them is a constant battle.

They may not have the insulation that a city home has, so it will cost you more to heat. And of course, a bigger home means heating and electricity will cost you more anyway.

Thinking of buying a thatched cottage or a listed home? Beautiful, but you will not even be able to paint the windows without getting permission from the authorities to do so.

Pro – Rural Communities are Friendlier

There is something reassuring about being able to walk down the street and recognize everyone you meet.

Country folk take the time to stop and chat, to help you in times of need, and are always ready and willing to offer advice to newcomers.

Your whole village will become like extended family, keeping an eye on your kids so they come to no harm, or letting you have the recipe for their homemade apple pie.

Con – Everybody Knows Everybody

Whilst having neighbours look out for you is a kind and generous thing, if you come from a big city where you are lucky if you have said hello once to the family two doors down in 3 years, it can be quite disconcerting.

Every move you make, someone will know about it and have an opinion about it.

Pro – Solitude

Imagine sitting in your beautiful garden with only the sound of the birds and rustling leaves on the trees.

No traffic, no constant background buzz of noise, no loud music, or noisy neighbours. Just you and nature. Awesome.

Con – Isolation

Being deep in the countryside will mean you will be miles from anywhere. Other than the basics from the village store you need a car to do anything.

Forgot to get an ingredient for tonight’s tea? That could be a 30-minute car journey.

Doctors, dentists, schools, and shops may not be on your doorstep as they were before and will require effort on your part to get to.

Bad weather caused blocked roads? That could be days before they are cleared.

There are also a couple of other points that you should carefully consider before moving to the countryside.

Things to Consider When Moving to the Countryside

#1 Fewer job opportunities

This may or may not be a concern for you, but it is worth thinking about. Generally, there are fewer career opportunities and lower salaries when you move to the countryside.

#2 Fewer social / entertainment options

You may soon grow bored of the only two pubs in a 5-mile radius and the local amateur operatic society may not be quite as entertaining as a night at the Barbican Theatre.

#3 Fewer shops

The village store will probably stock the basics but anything more is going to involve you traveling to the nearest big town or city. Need some superglue or a pack of nails urgently, that may mean another trek out in the car.

#4 Limited public transport

Although you may be quite fit and healthy now and just be able to get in your car and nip off to the nearest town if that changes you will be relying on public transport. Few villages have train stations, taxis will be unlikely to want to come out to you, and buses will be few and far between even if they exist in the first place.

#5 Wildlife

The sounds of the animals in the countryside can be wonderful to sit and listen to. But not when you hear the banshee screams of a fox at two in the morning (there is no sound like that and will certainly give you a jolt) or the cockerel’s cry as the sun rises. Bugs and insects get everywhere, it is a fact of life in the countryside and you will get to see creatures you never knew existed. Mice and rats will find their way into your shed and make short work of your nice patio furniture cushions. too.

#6 It’s hard work

Living in the countryside is hard work. There is the garden to tend to, house maintenance, and constant cleaning. A roaring fire of an evening is so relaxing, but not so much fun in the morning when you have to empty all the ashes, chop kindling and logs for the next night, then stack them. And when you use more logs of an evening than you planned, going out into the cold and dark wood shed to fetch more is not an experience you will want to repeat.

Of course, where in the country and how deep into the countryside you intend to move will affect the extremes of conditions, hardships, amenities, the type of property you will find, and how you intend to live, but we hope it has given you food for thought.

Looking through rosehip-coloured glasses is all well and good, living in the countryside is certainly very desirable, but it can also be a massive shock if you have not prepared yourself properly.

You may also like to read: Can Moving Home Make You Happier? Is moving home going to give you the happiness and improved quality of life you think it will? In this guide, we look at whether moving home will solve your problems or add to them.

Where to Move to – Countryside Options

Living in the countryside is not for everyone but certainly offers many people a wonderful quality of life.

For many, the compromise may be to live on the outskirts of a town with easy access to both the amenities of the town and also the beautiful countryside.

Moving from London to the Scottish Highlands would be a massive culture shock, moving from London to the outskirts of Leeds or Sheffield not so much.

And for many people, the balance between country living and city life is the absolute ideal.

Here are some tips to help you find the ideal place to live in the countryside.

#1 Get a map. It may be worth taking some time just to look at a map.

#2 Draw a radius. If you are moving to a certain area because of work or to be near family, then draw a radius around your workplace where you would be comfortable commuting.

Look at your options. Then it will be a case of seeking out villages that look convenient.

#3 Research. Read as much information as you can. Often villages will have community Facebook pages or websites. Forums will have locals who can give you lots of useful insights.

#4 Visit. Make as many trips to the area as you can. Visit at different times of the day so you can see what the place is like not only during the day but in the evening too. On weekdays the village may be empty and tranquil, on a weekend it could be heaving with tourists and mountain bikers for instance.

#5 Be careful. One piece of advice I learned the hard way. Check that any rural property you want to buy does not have a public right of way through your garden or any other strange covenant that many rural properties have.

You may also like to read our guides to moving to different parts of the UK. From individual towns to regions, from the coast to the mountains, we have a guide for every part of the UK filled with useful tips and information that will be useful if you have not decided where your new home will be.

We are so lucky in the UK that we are never that far from the coast or some beautiful countryside. There are some truly beautiful unspoiled parts of the country that you could soon be calling home.

We hope you find the dream life that you are looking for and wish you every happiness with your move to the countryside.