The latest research by over 50s property specialists, Quickmove Properties, has revealed that while getting outside and active may be good for your health, a countryside walk could end up costing you £60,000 more on the purchase of your property.
Quickmove Properties analysed current market data, looking at the average house price in postcodes home to 15 of Britain’s best rambling routes and how they compare to the wider areas in which they are located.
By now, a good country walk may be the only thing separating you from failure when it comes to your new year’s intentions to get more exercise. However, the research from Quickmove Properties shows that moving within close proximity to a great walking route could cost you.
The average house price analysed by Quickmove Properties across the 15 postcodes that are home to some of Britain’s best walks currently comes in at £373,768.
In contrast, the average price of purchasing a property in the wider areas they are located within comes in at £314,333. So those wishing to live within arm’s reach of a great walking route are facing an average property price premium of 19% – almost £60,000.
The Catbells route in Cumberland is home to the highest house price premium, with the average house price in the CA12 postcode (£362,257), home of the route, coming in 113% (£191,911) higher than the wider average price of a property in Cumberland (£170,346).
Loughrigg, also in the Lake District, is thought to be one of the best walks for more mature adults as it presents less of a challenge compared to many of the other trails in the area. However, with an average house price of £464,037 in the LA22 postcode, it’s some 105% more expensive when compared to the wider area of Westmorland and Furness (£226,587).
The route running from Daymer Bay to Padstow is home to average property prices some 40% higher than the wider area of Cornwall, as is the route in Norfolk’s Wells-next-the-Sea.
Norfolk’s Blakeney Point walking route and the coastal trail along the White Cliffs of Dover are also home to some of the highest premiums analysed by Quickmove Properties, at 24% and 19%, respectively.
However, there are some options available to keen ramblers that could actually see them save when purchasing a property. The postcodes that are home to The Roaches (ST13) and The Malverns (WR14) walking routes in the West Midlands have an average house price some 19% below their respective wider areas of Staffordshire Moorlands and Malvern Hills.
Alternatively, a residential park home could help you bypass the high property price premiums found close to Britain’s best walking routes without having to compromise on your desired location.
Most residential park home sites are popular for ramblers and dog walkers alike as their peaceful rural locations offer lucky residents access to walking routes on their doorstep. What’s more, they are also one of the more affordable downsizing options at an average price of £215,493, leaving plenty of equity on the sale of your brick-and-mortar home to enjoy a hearty pub lunch post-walk.
Sales Director at Quickmove Properties, Mark O’Dwyer, commented, “Many of us will have entered into the new year with the best intentions of leading a healthier lifestyle and, by now, these intentions have most probably fallen by the wayside. However, a brisk countryside walk is one method of exercise that is accessible to almost all of us, and it’s one that can be realistically maintained, even for those of us in our later years.
We’re extremely lucky that there are such a wealth of outstanding walking routes found the length and breadth of Britain catering for all capabilities, but as with all desirable amenities, a home close to the best is likely to come at a premium.
In fact, living close to one of the nation’s best walks will cost you around £60,000 more on average, and while there are a few options that come in more affordable than their wider areas, these price premiums can be as high as £190,000.
A park home purchase is one way to bypass these house price premiums, with many park home developments found within touching distance of some of the country’s best walks, but for considerably less than the price of the average bricks-and-mortar home, let alone a premium.”