Coast Towns

[SallyAnne]

alnwick - is that spelt right? - was voted best place to live by some mag (country life?), commute to Newcastle or one of those places beyond the northern limits of civilisation (edinburgh/glasgow)

morepeth - cheaper but in the same neck of the woods.

Alnwick is nice, Amble is even nicer. Anywhere in Northumberland will be lovely. Stay away from Tyne and Wear coast line though (Newcastle, Tynemouth, Sunderland etc), they're much more expensive and full of drunks.

You can commute to all of the north east (Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Midlesborough) and Edinburgh quite easily....but depending on what you do you may struggle with jobs (set up a weekly email from Jobserve for a few months and see what you get?)

One thing to consider when moving up here though...IT'S ******* FREEZING!!! And the North East wind belting over that North Sea might take the edge off your pretty view, so beware!

Good luck though.

[wobbegong]

There is a definite divide in the UK, go cheap-n-chilly oop north, or warmer but bloody pricey daan saaf.

I'd recommend Dorset for the best combination of pleasant living, great coastline and countryside and acceptable commutes if you do have to get up to London from time to time.

[the guy with the bowtie]

Thanks for all the responses, troops. You may stand down.

Still keen on the North East because I have always felt welcome and at home when I've visited the region. Also, I contract as a freelance Finance Manager / Accountant so there would be more options than I thought as I did not realise Edinburgh / Lothian was a viable commute.

All it needs now is the decision to be made ...

[Bagpuss]

Robin hood bay in Yorkshire?

http://www.jorgetutor.com/greatbrita...binhoodbay.htm

[expat]

There is a definite divide in the UK, go cheap-n-chilly oop north, or warmer but bloody pricey daan saaf.

I'd recommend Dorset for the best combination of pleasant living, great coastline and countryside and acceptable commutes if you do have to get up to London from time to time.

Roughly speaking, it's cooler up north in the summer; colder in the east in the winter. The north-south differential is less in winter.

[where did my id go?]

just to throw in a wild card, someone has built a housing estate in normandy with a private landing strip. quick and easy trip back to the uk...

[SallyAnne]

Roughly speaking, it's cooler up north in the summer; colder in the east in the winter. The north-south differential is less in winter.

Hmmm - not sure you'd say that if you were looking out of my window at the moment Expat!

[basshead]

As a north-east based contractor I can recommend Northumberland as a great place to live if you want to get out into the country - I'm moving out there this week from suburban Newcastle for the easier life - golf, cycling, clean air, less light pollution, less traffic (no fighting to get into and out of the suburbs) at the expense of a longer drive to the client site and slower broadband

As has been mentioned, its not a place where highly paid contracts abound, but they are there in Newcastle, Sunderland if you look hard enough.

And its also not cheap in Northumberland.. we've just spent a frightening amount on our place, but that said, it is within walking distance of here.

[Bagpuss]

Hmmm - not sure you'd say that if you were looking out of my window at the moment Expat!

You'd say "Let me out, Let me out, I'm trapped"