As I read this I started thinking about North Wales myself, and I think elevation makes a huge difference - you might be far away from somewhere, but you can still see it if you're high up, which is very different to say your little patch of bush in northern Sydney - you're (relatively) isolated, but you don't *feel* that you're isolated. Areas like the southern side of Snowdon are pretty lonely, but elevated and very open too, so I could always see the main settlement in the area - similar case in the hills of Meirionnydd. All that said, I completely agree with you (and angelofboox) - head for the Highlands!