Relocating to Dorset with 7yr old

[JALG]

Hi - I am thinking of upping sticks and having a complete change in life and relocating to the Dorset Coast with my daughter who is 7 (I am 47). I spent years by the sea as a child and now want to go back there to finish my daughters schooling and live a lifestyle that is a bit more peaceful. My daughter would love the beach life in the summer and surfing etc would def be her thing. I would be happy just walking my dog and finding a nice part-time job somewhere. The big question is can anyone suggest a nice village with a good community vibe, that has a really good school, access to a good secondary school, houses to buy or rent that is also by the coast? Any ideas, suggestions - tell me I am mad - I would be really happy to hear from you. Thanks

[MaggieW]

bump

[fivegomadindorset]

Winfrith Newburgh springs to mind, slightly inland from Lulworth Cove but has a good community feel, lots of Artsreach stuff. I live in next door village, we are just in the process of going two tier school system.

[lisad123]

Adding myself as moving that way too once house is sold. We love Christchurch and mudeford but am a little too worried about tourist so plan to be in one of the villages just outside. Most schools within the surrounding villages are private but know Christchurch has a wonderful jmi school.

[lisad123]

Wareham is stunning and as is wool. Avoid Portland, and certain parts of Poole. We can't go as far down as wareham as I need to be able to get back to my parents of I'm needed. Weymouth is lovey but manic in summer

[purplewerepidj]

Southbourne/Boscombe will give you best value for money, but be wary or which areas you buy in as some parts have a lot of "up" still to come.

Do not try and drive anywhere between 9.30am and 7pm in June, July and August. Oh, and half of September. And most of May. And sometimes April.

Do not expect to be able to purchase bread, milk, eggs, bacon, sausages or baked beans at those times either

I would strongly recommend Lisa's plan of being slightly inland (I'm just on the Hants side of the border btw, lived round here for my entire life) so that the fun stuff is accessible but you can still actually live in the school holidays!

[fivegomadindorset]

Driving around here and shopping is fine at those times but we are away from towns

[fivegomadindorset]

Bere Regis would put you in the catchment for Lytchett Minster HIgh School, but Purbeck is good aswell.

Swanage is hideous in the summer but have just been given the go ahead for a free school which looks good and tempted to send DC's there if it is up and running by the time they get to that stage of their education.

I agree with Lisa that Wareham is good.

[purplewerepidj]

IIRC, five, you're North-ish while I'm East-ish. I made the mistake of meeting a friend for lunch in central Bournemouth in August. It's normally about a 30 minute drive, so I set off 40 minutes before I was due to meet her to give myself time to park. I was half an hour late.

Which is reminded my why I. Just. Don't.

[fivegomadindorset]

Definitely south, you can see the sea From our garden. Think rock with big whole in It.

[lisad123]

Don't forget the little villages in the new forest if your the out doors type
I'm quite glad we are renting so dont have to panic about buying new house and everything. Although moving with 2 SN kids is going to be fun!
Op when you going?
Been told to avoid blanford as there is quite a few issues with drugs ect

[fivegomadindorset]

But agree with you about bournemouth

[lisad123]

I'm going to stay with fivegomad

[purplewerepidj]

Ah, you're Westerly then We'll just ignore Bournemouth and Poole getting in the way of our county, shall we?

If I stand on my toilet and stick my head out of the bathroom window, then on a clear day in winter I can see the Needles

[purplewerepidj]

Lisa, I'm expecting an invite to help go to Moors Valley as soon as possible

[lisad123]

We were staying in new forest in aug and arranged to met a friend at corfe castle and she was coming from Weymouth. What should have been a 40 min trip took 2.5 hours!!

[Peachy]

We lived in Somerset and the A38 ran through our village carrying people between Minehead (Butlins) and the M5. Dh was new to the area and thought I was silly warning him never to elave the house between 10.30 am and 4pm in peak Summer, or if there was a M way hold up (actively snarled up the only road to our house meaning you simply could not get there)

He learned! Although the 35 degree heat with a day old baby after an accident closed road with unsympathetic police also taught me and we moved.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

I'm Wimborne way which works well in the summer as don't get trapped in traffic jams and can get where I need to be without major trauma.

[fivegomadindorset]

Then you have the Piddle Valley just north of Dorchester, I know it is inland but is lovely.

[Slacking9to5]

Wool is officially the deadest, most boring town in the UK. Avoid.

[fivegomadindorset]

Don't like it then?

Schools are good.

[purplewerepidj]

You've obviously never been to Highcliffe then, Slacking - it has the highest percentage of over 80yo's in the country. And no train station (well there is, but it's a tough walk for me at 30 - my fit and healthy parents can't manage it easily!)

[Slacking9to5]

True, Christchurch is bad enough.

[mycatsaysach]

i don't like weymouth much

[purplewerepidj]

Christchurch is ok, Highcliffe specifically is God's waiting room. Take it from someone who spent their teenage years there