By the River in Confolens: Why We Left the UK for Life in the Charente

Maggie shared with us her, and her husbands story of moving from the South of the UK, to the really lovely region of Charente. She shares the highs and the lows and how 8 years on she feels about the area...

If you’d told me ten years ago that I’d be living in rural France, running a small holiday let and welcoming guests from all over the world, I probably would have smiled politely and carried on with my day. And yet, here we are, eight years into a life that now feels completely natural to us.

My husband and I moved to France in our late fifties, from the south of the UK. Like many people at that stage of life, we found ourselves asking what came next. We weren’t ready to stop completely, but we did want something gentler, a slower pace, more time together, and the opportunity to build something of our own.

Falling for the Charente

We spent quite a bit of time exploring different parts of France before making a decision. The Dordogne was beautiful, but it felt busier than we wanted. Other regions were either too remote or didn’t quite feel like “us.”

Then we discovered Charente.

What stood out immediately was how accessible it was. That was incredibly important to us. Leaving family behind in the UK was always going to be the hardest part of the move, so we needed somewhere that didn’t feel cut off.

From the Charente, we found we had good options — airports within a reasonable distance, and straightforward driving routes back to the UK when we wanted to take the car. The ability to hop back for a visit, or have family come over without too much difficulty, made the idea of moving feel far less daunting.

But practicality aside, it was the feeling of the place that really won us over.

Discovering Confolens

We found ourselves drawn to Confolens, a charming little town set on the meeting point of two rivers. I still remember the first time we stood on the old bridge and looked out over the water, it was one of those quiet moments where something just clicks.

The views were exactly what we had been dreaming of. Gentle, unspoilt, and peaceful without feeling empty. The town itself had everything we needed, from shops and cafés, to a weekly market.

We weren’t looking for somewhere flashy. We wanted somewhere real. And Confolens gave us that.

Finding Our Home

Our house wasn’t the first one we saw, but it was the one we couldn’t stop thinking about.

It sat just outside the town, with views towards the river and enough space to create what we had in mind — a small, welcoming place for guests. It needed work, of course (they always do), but it had character and potential in equal measure.

We took our time with the purchase, making sure we understood the process, the costs, and what would be involved. In hindsight, that careful approach made all the difference. By the time we moved in, we felt prepared rather than overwhelmed.

Building Our Little Business

Our plan from the start was to create a small Airbnb-style business, offering short-term stays for people passing through the area.

We weren’t aiming for anything large or overly commercial — just a couple of comfortable, thoughtfully prepared spaces where guests could relax and enjoy the surroundings that had drawn us in.

The early days were a learning curve. Understanding what guests wanted, navigating the practicalities of running a business in a different country, and of course dealing with the odd language mishap, it all took time.

But slowly, it began to grow.

Guests would arrive planning to stay a night or two and end up staying longer. Some came back the following year. Others recommended us to friends. And one of the nicest parts of it all has been watching people discover the Charente in the same way we did — often surprised by how much there is here once you slow down and look.

The Reality of Leaving Family

I won’t pretend that leaving family was easy. It was, without question, the hardest part of the move.

There were moments, especially in the first year, when the distance felt very real. Missing birthdays, spontaneous visits, or just the everyday familiarity of being close by wasn’t always simple.

But this is where our location really helped.

Because travel is relatively straightforward, we’ve been able to return to the UK regularly, whether by air or by driving back with the car. And just as importantly, our family comes to us.

In many ways, that’s been the unexpected gift of this move. Instead of quick visits squeezed into busy weekends, we now have proper time together. When family stay with us, they slow down too. Meals last longer, conversations go deeper, and there’s space to actually enjoy each other’s company.

Life Eight Years On

Now, more than eight years later, this life feels completely normal — in the best possible way.

We have our routines, our favourite market stalls, our regular walks by the river. We know our neighbours, and we feel part of the local rhythm of life.

Our little business continues to tick along nicely, bringing a steady stream of interesting people through our doors. It gives us purpose without pressure, and flexibility without stress.

Most importantly, we’ve found the balance we were looking for.

Life here isn’t rushed. It isn’t about constantly doing more. It’s about enjoying what’s already there, the landscape, the seasons, the community, and the simple pleasure of having time.

No Desire to Leave

People often ask if we’d ever consider moving back to the UK.

The honest answer is no.

We still love visiting, and it will always feel like home in many ways. But the life we’ve built here in the Charente, by the river, in a place that first caught our attention with a single view, is the one that fits us now.

And after eight years, we still feel exactly the same way we did on that first day in Confolens. We simply fell in love with it and never found a reason to leave.