The scenario is a familiar one. The children have left home and you and your spouse are rattling around in a house far bigger than you need. Enter the retirement village: as they sound, these are developments specifically for those of us of more senior years. They offer good security and a range of services to make life easier.

At Castle Village, a 28-acre site next to the National Trust-owned Ashridge Park on the outskirts of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, buyers can take their pick from cottages, bungalows or apartments. You can lead a sociable lifestyle — facilities include tennis, croquet, snooker, a library, restaurant and bar — or you can be independent.

The focal point of the village is the Mansion House country club, a Grade II listed mansion built at the turn of the 20th century. The first stage of the village development and conversion of the mansion into flats was completed six years ago.

David Grigsby, a retired dental surgeon, and his wife, Joyce, were among the first residents. They sold their house in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and chose a three-bedroom cottage in Castle Village, but found that their furniture was too big for small rooms. They also preferred loftier ceilings. The solution was to change to a two-bedroom flat in the mansion, where they have lived ever since. Mr Grigsby says: “We love it. Most people here do. We’ve made many friends — other retired professional people, artists, actors and businessmen and women. The great thing is you can be as gregarious as you like or a recluse. You can go away for weeks or months and just lock your door and feel the place is safe. There are no worries either about decorating or gardening, unless you enjoy it. The grounds and the properties are superbly maintained. There is a bed linen laundering and a cleaning service.” Emergency medical assistance is also available.

If you want to consider a house or flat in Castle Village, which is run by Retirement Villages, the bad news is that the few that are available are quickly under offer. The good news is that new properties do come on the market. The estate agent Aitchison has a list of nearly 70 people who want to be kept informed of homes that become available in the village. Prices range from £270,000 for a two-bedroom apartment to £325,000 for two-bedroom cottage and more than £470,000 for a chalet bungalow.

Buyers are offered a long lease — 125 years from the year 2000 — and pay an annual ground rent plus an annual service charge of £3,500 to £4,700.

There are two conditions if you want to buy here. You must be at least 55 years old and be able to provide satisfactory medical references. But pets are welcome and garages are available; most residents own a car.

But did I like it? Our three adult daughters are always telling us to stop roaming around our five-bedroom house in Berkhamsted and start downsizing, but even a four or five-bed house at Castle Village would not provide nearly enough storage space for us.

On the plus side my wife, Mynerva, already has many friends who live in Castle Village and would quickly join the social whirl. Plus, house maintenance and gardening have never been my strong points — I wouldn’t miss either.

What I would miss, though, are the commuters running down our road to catch their trains, and the children being delivered to the school at one end of the road and visitors to the nursing home at the other. And the joggers and power walkers and three of our grandchildren waving on their way to school.

The point is, I may be in my seventies but I’m not really ready to retire. I’ve always promised my wife when I am we’ll travel more. When this happens, the idea of living in Castle Village and locking our front door and driving off without a care definitely appeals.

Aitchison: 01442 862533 www.aitchison.propertymall.com

Retirement Villages: 01372 731888 www.retirementvillages.co.uk

Explore Property

• Buying & Selling

• New Homes

• Overseas

• Interiors

• Investment

• Gardens

• Specials

Times recommends

• Analysis: frustration for everyone - except investors
• Spanish property: why it's crunch time on the Costa del Sol
• Buy-to-let: professional investors cash in on the credit crunch