Originally Posted by rebeccajo

I believe sile would be wise to start thinking in pound sterling, rather than US dollars.

By my calculations, the rents sile states she can pay are anywhere between £600 to £820 per month.

Originally Posted by rebs

Have you looked at other places along the South Coast?

As mentioned before, the climate here is quite gentle and if you don't go too far west it is generally fairly dry.

I am situated just outside of Bournemouth and I would say that areas in and around Bournemouth & Poole would pretty much tick all of your boxes.

Originally Posted by dunroving

I think I mentioned this on another thread where Eastbourne came up, but my soon-to-be-former PhD student is from there and she and her boyfriend (or life-partner, or whatever is the "in" term these days) absolutely love it there. She is very active (runs, cycles, swims) and it sounds like it is perfect for outdoor activities like that.

Originally Posted by izzi81

hehe not having visited Detroit I couldn't be sure, but having lived in Glasgow for nearly 7 years I find it crowded, litter-covered, scruffy, scary after about 8pm, with quite a few areas I wouldn't go to at any time of day! Plus there are also a lot of scruffy scary people as well. Some people might describe the place as 'lively', but that's not a word I'd choose

The OP mentioned wanting pretty surroundings... so unless the budget is massive probably best to discount Glasgow lol.

Edinburgh is lovely, but perhaps too expensive. Perth is also lovely, and Dundee is much nicer than the reputation it seems to have.

Originally Posted by sile

I think Edinburgh would be nice, but I agree, it looks like it would be a bit expensive at the moment. The Scottish Borders area looks really nice, and the house rentals there are VERY reasonably priced. If only it weren't so rural.

Originally Posted by Pistolpete2

If you are over 60, you are eligible for a senior rail card (costs 28 pounds a year):

http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/

which gives you a third off on off-peak rail travel, such that:

Eastbourne London (1hr 30mins) return for the day incl London underground or buses - 22 pounds.

A National Express bus ticket with over 60s card (11.50 pounds incl postage for a year) costs around 9 pounds return from Eastbourne to London Victoria and you would need to add the underground fare of approx 6 pounds* - direct service takes 2hr 45mins to 3 hrs 15mins for the approx 75 mile journey.

*4 pounds if you have an over 60s rail card, as above.

Eastbourne is about 22 miles from Brighton and the (with rail card) day return by rail is 6.60 pounds and the trip takes about 33mins each way.

Originally Posted by sile

656 - 923 according to the currency converting app I use.

I can't help but think in USD right now, but I use this calculator when looking at rentals online.

Originally Posted by rebeccajo

Depending on the source of her US income, sile needs a plan to allow for fluctations. She can't count on the continued decline of sterling especially if her dollars are fixed.

http://www.moneyweek.com/investments...e-dollar-62430

Originally Posted by sile

Thanks Pete. I'm not 60 quite yet, but it's good to know about that rail card.

Thanks for all the details!

Can you bring a dog on a train there? I believe I read that somewhere...

Originally Posted by transatlantic

For that kind of budget you could live well almost anywhere in the country... except London I guess....

Alnwick
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-24414255.html

Hexham
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-37302196.html

Corfe Castle
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-26033910.html

Skipton
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-25977513.html

Also plenty of nice places in York and Harrogate and off course the South coast for that price.

Originally Posted by Pistolpete2

Sorry to anticipate your seniority wrongly!

Not a problem, those dogs:

http://www.takeyourpet.co.uk/12/info...ts+and+Trains/

Just no livestock .

Originally Posted by transatlantic

If you're looking to avoid rain (as much as possible in the UK)
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps07dff170.gif

Originally Posted by transatlantic

If you're looking to avoid rain (as much as possible in the UK)
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps07dff170.gif

Originally Posted by dunroving

Strange, I expected Glasgow to be purple (or black).