Our home is situated between Leek and Stoke-on-Trent on the edge of the beautiful Peak National Park. The house is on a narrow lane with lots of lovely walks nearby and stunning view across the valley. Although it is tucked away, so 'passing traffic' is most likely to be dog walkers or horses, it is easy to get into town (by car or public transport) and pubs, newsagents, post office, shops, hairdresser etc are all within easy walking distance (so semi-rural). We have lots of canals in our area - one goes through our village and has a lock just a 5m walk from the house. There are lots of country pubs near the house - one on the side of the canal so you can see the long boats mooring up. Stoke-on-Trent (known as 'the Potteries') is world famous for its china (Wedgwood, Doulton, Moorcroft...to name a few). Many of the factories allow you to tour and watch the very skilled craftsmen and women. Leek is famous for its antique shops. We are just a few minutes drive from the pretty Peak villages (film setting for Pride and Prejudice) + 35m from Alton Towers (UK's biggest theme park). Chatsworth, Shugborough, Kedleston, Speke Hall, Tatton Park, Haddon Hall, Biddulph Grange Gardens, Erdigg, Powys Castle, the Roman town of Chester, Ironbridge Gorge are all within 1hr drive. Drive another hour or so and you can get to the N Wales coast, Snowdonia, Lake District, Yorkshire, Shakespeare country, Cotswolds... By train Manchester is 45m, Birmingham 1h, London 1h 35m, York 2h 20mins

We are Richard (consultant clinical scientist and head of nuclear medicine at our nearby city hospital), Kathie (chartered accountant), Charlie (18), Edward (16) both at sixth form college and Laura (24) a student nurse. We have exchanged several times before and can provide references.

Richard likes gardening and DIY and, although he was a keen squash player in his 'younger days', is now happy to watch sport instead. Kathie enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, water colour and needlework - as well as more crazy things like skydiving, scuba and abseiling. Laura enjoys travelling, music and spending time with her friends - and is surgically attached to her mobile phone! The boys love all the normal boys stuff - golf, skiing, fishing, snorkelling and scuba, football and computer games. Charlie is the serious and studious of the two with a dry and witty sense of humour. Eddie is the tall, blonde one - with a string of admiring girls in his wake!

We had a long haul exchange in 2010 (to Aruba) and we have a similar long haul exchange banked for 2012 (Carolinas) so we would prefer a European destination for 2011.  We would like to be somewhere warm and sunny with access to a pool, maybe within driving distance of the sea (if there is diving this would be a big bonus!) but where our sons & daughter can be independent of us old folks!