Interestingly I had not considered running the cabling around the exterior of the house, that would work. If I need to upgrade will do that.

I can point you to a supplier that can provide external Cat5e or Cat6 and even armoured versions. ANd if you need it, 25 pair so you could run 6 circuits through it. They will also supply it by the metre and offer an excellent service.

I recently decided to do something about weak WiFi. I bought a 'Devolo Dlan' set and having installed everything found that instead of getting my usual 15-17Mbps over WiFi I was getting 2-3Mbps download. I took it back, got my money back and then I bought a box of external cat5e, sockets and patch cables. Clips, screws, drill bits etc. etc. even a punchdown tool were already in my 'might come in useful again' collection.

I didn't think about running cable internally as it was so much easier to run it externally. I even managed to use the same hole that the Sky installer had drilled in one place to get an extra two cables through. All the sockets are on external walls and I bought ones with vertical outlets.

I now get a steady 37Mbps and my outlay was to within a few pence the same as the mains network kit although I may spend a bit more at some point and put in a WiFi AP at one of the sockets later.

Mains networking must work for some people but it was worse than useless for me.

As long as you use external grade cat cable which is not that much dearer than standard. Only difference is its outer cover is made to withstand the elements.

Some of us have an other 1/2 who does not want holes in the house, but does want Internet access in all of the rooms. Home plug fits the bill.

If I could get cable (cat 5/6) in the house I would have, but when built, the builders looked at me strangely when I mentioned. I did manage to get power sockets on most walls.

I understand what you are saying, but if it's done in a professional manner, then there's would virtually be no sign of any cabling or holes. All cable would be under floor inc between room, any ingress into the house from external would be into a properly fitted wall plate. Ultimately how good a job it is will be determined by the quality of work done and the effort someone has put into the installation. Unfortunately in "Bodge up Britain" there are too many who can't even wire up a plug successfully. When I used to visit houses a few years ago in my job I saw so many DIY wiring disasters, cables running up walls, tacked to skirting boards, cables running across stairs and so on. Some of these were done by so called professionals. The mind boggles.