Take your time
Moving for a relationship is a big step, so it's worth being sure first.
Get to know each other well, spend plenty of time in each other's worlds, and talk honestly about what you both want before anyone packs a box.
Try country life first
- Visit in every season. A sunny summer weekend feels very different from a wet week in February.
- Live the everyday. Do the food shop, the school run or the commute from there, not just the nice days out.
- Look at the practical things. Transport, internet, shops, doctors and work all matter.
Things to talk about together
- Work. Can you do your job from there, or will you need to find something new?
- Friends and family. How often will you see them, and how will you build a social life in a new place?
- Driving. In the countryside, a car is often essential.
- A plan B. It's not unromantic to think about what would happen if things didn't work out.
Settling in
Join something local, such as a walking group, the village hall or a sports club. It's the quickest way to feel at home and make friends of your own. And if it's the other way round, and you're the country person moving to town, the same advice applies.