UKC

There seems little point hanging around the UK when no longer tied to a job here so where should I retire to (some years off but if I need to visit multiple countries before then to check them out summer and winter I need to get started)?

The things I am looking for are:
Inexpensive
Mountains
Sunshine in the summer
Sport climbing
Skiing close enough for a weekend trip

Other nice to haves are:
Regular flights from UK
Decent infrastructure
Skiing day trip able (inc. cross country/touring)
Plenty of English speakers

The obvious choice seems to be Catalonia towards the Pyrenees (I assume the French side is more expensive with not as much skiing?) but what about all those former Eastern bloc countries I've not been to like Bulgaria, Macedonia (sport climbing potential?), Bosnia, Georgia (plenty of skiing). Anyone had any thoughts or experiences along similar lines?

In reply to Tyler:

If I could persuade the wife I would live around the Briancon area in the Ecrin. It's got everything I could want and is fairly central.

Al

In reply to GridNorth:

Seconded - apart from err, well, you know...the French.

JW

In reply to Tyler:


Good idea if it's right for you and works for you. Two points to consider are healthcare provision, and missing friends and family*. Also take care when buying property in another country, it usually works differently to the UK.

Good luck!

*also knowing some of the local language - far more needed when settling than when on holiday.

In reply to GridNorth:

Briancon is obviously great but potentially expensive although I imagine as France is slightly more socialist than the UK the lower income population (i.e. retirees) are probably well looked after.

I'm interested to hear of more exotic/unknown/out of the box type places, like the Alps 100 years ago (only with a decent wifi connection )

In reply to Tyler:

Granada area of Spain. Find a village that hasn't been invaded by the Brits, Germans or Russians, such as Lanjaron. Bouldering in the village, in the foothills of the Sierras, dry climate, skiing (cross country and downhill) within an hour, 1 hour to the coast. High enough altitude not to be too hot in the summer.

In reply to abseil:


I dare say more prosaic things will take over nearer the time (the rate I am going I may be unable to climb or ski in 10 years time!) but at the moment I have quit reading AutoTrader each night in favour of Rightmove overseas so just after some ideas of where to look!

In reply to Tyler:
I've been thinking about a similar move (retirement probably in the next 5 years). I suspect we'll stay in France (my partner is French) but whenever I propose somewhere a bit remote she starts asking about access to shops, hospitals etc. For us, the likely options (at the moment) are the Ariege or somewhere near Briancon/Gap - I want skiing, climbing & good walking in easy reach & can live without the coast.

In reply to Tyler:

India
You might have to forgo Skiing close enough for the wekend,

In reply to Tyler:

Don't forget southern Spain. Loads of mountains and climbing near Murcia, Almeria, Malaga.

Granada (also with climbing round it) and the Sierra Nevada ski resort are all within a couple of hours drive

In reply to Tyler:

South Island, NZ? Pretty cheap at the moment, esp Christchurch. On top of great mountains there's world class bouldering and passable wine.

In reply to Tyler:

BENIDORM!!!

Go on you know you want to.