Moving to the countryside is one of those irrepressible ambitions: born of many weary years commuting through city centres and choking on urban exhaust fumes, that can only be sated by actually going and doing it. And when you do, you’ll wonder what took you so long. Living rurally isn’t for everyone, but for those who take to the idea immediately, it can be a hugely impactful lifestyle change in many ways.
Still, there are difficulties inherent to living in the sticks, which need preparation and resourcefulness to handle appropriately. Winter is chief amongst them, being a tough season made tougher by the remoteness of your new homestead. A little planning and the willingness to do the hard yards will make your countryside living experience exactly as you imagine it, even in your difficult first winter there!
Preparing Your Home for Rural Winters
Said preparation relates in no small part to ensuring your home is winter-ready. This means checking that your central heating is all it’s cracked up to be – if you have central heating, that is. If you do, you should ensure your boiler is up to date with its maintenance checks and ready for another season. If it’s looking a little tired, or if your home’s heating system is still the conventional hot- and cold-tank variety, you might benefit from researching new combi boilers to save yourself emergency engineering and some cold days in the event of failure.
You might also take the opportunity to check everything’s tickety-boo concerning your windows and doors. Draughts are the devil in winter, and can dramatically reduce the temperature ‘feel’ of a room despite the best efforts of your heating. Even temporary fixes like foam tape to line your window seams can make all the difference.
Navigating Rural Roads and Transportation
Your home isn’t the only worry, mind. Countryside roads are notoriously tricky in the winter due to ice, snow, and their remoteness from the regular maintenance activities of your local council. Ungritted roads are common, and deadly when combined with the lack of streetlamps and the national speed limit. Careful driving is a must, as is preparing your vehicle for dealing with a little more than the odd pothole. This is where proper investment in winter tyres and snow chains can make all the difference.
Connecting with Your Rural Community
You will find a key part of countryside living to be the community you are surrounded with, and especially so as winter falls. Rural areas are undeniably isolated by weather conditions and poorly maintained road links, which hamper the delivery of vital goods between villages; the power of community organising ensures that no household is left out of the loop. Local farmers benefit from your trade and are more than willing to repay favours in kind. Joining local community groups can see you become part of a circular culture, in which everyone is helped and uplifted.
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