I can't make much comment about Scotland other than this. I have to question why one would want to move to Skye. When I've visited it's been overrun with tourists and much of the local infrastructure seems geared towards tourism. My wife is from The Borders and I feel you could well find the isolation you are looking for. My impression though, certainly in my wife's home town, is some places are like stepping back 30+ years. Personally I couldn't deal with that long-term. I have a great friend who lived three miles outside Taynuilt, near Oban. He has recently moved to Connel Bridge as at 75 he feels he should be less isolated. Apart from Oban there is little tourism, great beauty and it would be easy to find seclusion only a few miles from a local village etc. On the downside when my friend's wife need major hospital care it was one hell of a trek in and out to Glasgow.
As you know I live in Lancashire. As has already been mentioned there are some great places to live and you get a lot for your money. I would consider Bowland,
Ribble Valley (quite a lot of recent development), the Yorkshire Dales and possibly the Fylde, north of Preston, or what I term The Mosses - this is the area bound by Skelmersdale, Southport, Preston.
Services are good but access in emergency has to be a question. I have a friend who is a consultant and he is considering moving to the Ribble Valley from Bolton but has a big question in his mind should he need an ambulance.
On the other hand in January when I had my haemorrhage I got a blue light in ten minutes. If I step outside now there will not be a sound yet I'm only five miles from a hospital and ambulance station. Good combinations can be found.
My last point would be this, it's one only you can judge for yourself. I could no more consider moving than flying to the moon. The thought of having to build a new social network at 65 is too much. Added to this when I truly needed my friends this year they were there for me - close by. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy such a circle think hard before abandoning it. I have good friends who did leave, they regret it now.