Relocating to County Durham, Local Advice Needed

[AmandaArcher]

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking to relocate to County Durham and need some advice on the area, as I've only visited for short breaks in the past (currently living in Yorkshire).

Areas that keep popping up on Rightmove and Zoopla when I do a property search include:

Bowburn
Burnhope (Meadowfield)
Chester-le-Street
Consett
Esh Winning
Framwellgate Moor
Newton Aycliffe
Sherburn Village
South Hetton
Stanley
Ushaw Moor
West Rainton

Any advice on these areas (and others I might have missed) would be greatly appreciated, including details of any areas that might not be so good. I'll be living alone so safety/security is a must. I also have my own transport, so being rural/semi-rural isn't a problem, love the countryside too, and have heard that County Durham is beautiful.

Many thanks,

Amanda

[StealthPolarBear]

Burnhope is nowhere near meadow field.
I lI've in a little village near esh winning, it's lovely, twenty mins drive to town
Chester Le street and framed will have a bit more to do, frame good for easy access to durham
where will you be working?

[AmandaArcher]

Hi StealthPolarBear,

I'll be studying/working at Durham university, and will be allocated a school once I start the PGCE. Unfortunately, I won't know where the school is until I start, but I'll be moving permanently to County Durham regardless. I have my own transport so distance from the uni isn't a problem really, I'm just looking for a nice area to put down roots.

I'm a bit confused, you said Burnhope isn't near Meadowfield, I've been looking at this property - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41470305.html - and it states that Meadowfield is in Burnhope?

[CremeEggThief]

That Meadowfield is an estate, Amanda. There's also a Meadowfield area, between Langley Moor and Brandon, so about 2.5 or 3 miles away from Durham.

Have you got your place on your PGCE yet? If not, I would wait until you have that and ideally know your school placement, before moving. Fram, Pity Me, Newton Hall, Nevilles Cross, and Langley Moor are all within walking distance of Durham city and nice areas, IMO. I live near Coxhoe,which is a lovely village about 5 or 6 miles south of Durham city. Bowburn isn't far from Coxhoe. It's closer to Durham and cheaper to rent/buy, but the amenities are better in Coxhoe. I sometimes work in West Rainton, which seems nice enough. It's handy for commuting to both Durham and Sunderland. I'm not sure how easy it would be to make friends there though, as it definitely has a village feel. PM me any time if you need more information.

[StealthPolarBear]

That's odd.looks like it's in burnhope which is nice i think . Near Lanchester which is lovely.

[yveeastdurham]

Agree about Coxhoe having better amenities than Bowburn - we're in East Durham, at the moment, but looking to move over that way, once both boys are in secondary school and have decided it would take a special house to persuade us to go for Bowburn, as it's just a sprawl really, with nothing but houses and industrial estate (and crap mobile coverage!)

Newton Aycliffe, Chester le street and Consett are all quite large with good and bad bits. On balance, CLS probably has more good bits and more going on there and is better connected. A lot of Aycliffe is a bit depressing (it's basically Peterlee, after a wash!) and Consett - well winter! Pls I thikn it's the only place in the county even foggier than my own village! Burnopfield also gets cut off in winter, iirc, too.

South Hetton is on my side of the patch and a bit off the beaten track with not a great deal going for it. Sherburn village is one of the better villages to the East of Durham, but, as with all places, you need to select your spot carefully.

[StealthPolarBear]

Pmsl at Peterlee after a wash :)
Yes agree about Consett, it has 6 feet of snow between October and April.
I exaggerate but only slightly

[yveeastdurham]

Also, bear in mind that, like North Yorkshire, it's a massive county. Newton Aycliffe is virtually in Darlo, whole Consett is only spitting distance from rural west Gateshead, much of which has the same dialing code!

[AmandaArcher]

Hi CremeEggThief - Thanks for the information, especially about Coxhoe, a few properties came up around there too. What you've said is reassuring. I'm looking to relocate, not just for the PGCE, but for personal reasons too...I'm in my early 40's and need a change of location, and County Durham looks like somewhere I could settle down.

Hi StealthPolarBear - Yeah, I've seen nothing but good reports of Lanchester online, and the house in Burnhope is around a 5 minute/2 mile drive from there...

Decisions, decisions...

[IAmAPaleontologist]

If in the same village as spb and I adore it,fabulous place (and my very lovely house is for sale )

Ushaw moor has not necessarily had the best rep but it is being improved and in recent years a community group has done a lot of work.

Langley moor is a decent place, good little high street, walkable to a lot of places.

Framwellgate moor and Newton hall are very suburby but pretty age and inoffensive.

There are lots of great places to live around here!

[CremeEggThief]

You're welcome, Amanda. I think you're better off living near enough to the city centre for a while until you get to know County Durham. I think I would have struggled with where I live now if I'd moved here when we relocated, but living in Langley Moor for a few years gave me time to adjust. That said, moving here from Yorkshire won't be as much as a difference as from the south west.

[AmandaArcher]

Hi yveeastdurham - Thanks for the information. I currently live semi-rurally in the Pennines, so not a stranger to fog/gales/rain/sleet/snow. I also have a 46 mile round trip to work at the moment (via the nightmare that is the M62) so all the areas I'm looking at seem really close together to me.

I'm leaning more toward the house in Burnhope (very similar to where I am now)...I've got until January to make a decision, but then it becomes quite urgent. Thanks again

[AmandaArcher]

IAmAPaleontologist - Ooh, you could PM me a link to the property for sale, it might be out of my price range, but it'd be worth a look to know where to buy Thanks for the info too

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Have done Amanda.

Depending on how far out for the university you are willing to be be for commuting have you considered wolsingham? It is a fabulous village.

[Ohwhatwitcheryisthis]

Again, if you don't mind travel, Barnard Castle is nice, and has one of the lowest crime rates in England. Property isn't bad price wise too.

[ShadowNova]

I'd be inclined to stay near the city centre until you get used to the area and have a better idea of where you'll be working, as a pp says, it's a big county.

Bowburn and Coxhoe are both very convenient for accessing the A1 (they're on opposite sides of a motorway junction, Bowburn on the same side of the A1 as the city) and not far from Durham City - I agree with pp about amenities in Coxhoe being better.

[AmandaArcher]

Ohwhatwitcheryisthis & ShadowNova - Thanks for your advice, very much appreciated.

Just wondering if Burnhope is a no-go area then? It's just that I've read (on the internet, so don't know whether to take it with a pinch of salt, or not) that certain villages don't like outsiders/people from other areas. Being from Yorkshire, are there any areas that might not welcome an interloper?

Also, a couple of people mentioned that it might take time to adjust to living in County Durham. As I only live in the next county, I'm wondering if the culture is that much different? If so, how so?

Apologies for all the questions, the move will be life changing and I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing

[breakfastnotattiffanys]

Belmont, Carrville and Gilesgate Moor are ok and are close to Durham city and near A1m

[DrSeuss]

How about Sedgefield? Shincliffe? Langley Moor? Neville's Cross? Newton Hall?

[CremeEggThief]

I don't think it will be as big an adjustment for you, as it was for me, moving from a city in the south west. I'm from Ireland originally and I found it easier to adjust and be accepted easier than my very southern, middle class XH, who left within 2 years of our move. It's just that life in the villages is quite different from closer to the city centre. Also if you live within 5 miles of the city, it puts you in reach of more amenities and places, rather than living somewhere rural that's quite a way from your schools or uni.

[DurhamDurham]

Ahem just thought I'd pop in to say our house is on the market; lovely family home in Great Lumley, five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a huge kitchen for a bargain £220,000...........just saying

[PotteringAlong]

In in Chester-le-street and really like it! Great commuting links and has been a lovely place to live for me.

[Toomanyclares]

I would cross Aycliffe off. The commute from Darlington area to Durham is a nightmare. (Up to an hour each way at peak) staff at my office who do the opposite commute are looking for jobs nearer Durham.

I would concur with stay nearer Durham until you get your bearings and the schools you are likely to be in.

[Toomanyclares]

Don't worry about the Durham N Yorkshire thing, there are lovely people and village idiots in both countries. I was raised in both.

[AmandaArcher]

breakfastnotattiffanys & DrSeuss - Wow, there's so many new place names...I'm going to break Google maps haha Thanks for letting me know these places, certainly gives me more to look at and consider...

CremeEggThief - Thanks again for your comments and advice, they're really appreciated as I don't want to go through a big move only to find I've made a huge mistake...and I agree, it's better to be close to more amenities and places to meet people, rather than be potentially isolated.

DurhamDurham - Sounds lovely, but there's only little old me, think it'd be a tad too big, and it's a bit out of my price range (bet it's gorgeous too)...

PotteringAlong - Quite a few people have said that CLS is a good place to live, I've done some searches and haven't found anything in my price range yet, but will definitely keep looking...

Thanks to everyone who's commented, got lots (and lots) to think about and consider, feel much more confident about certain places though

[AmandaArcher]

Toomanyclares - Thanks for the reassuring comment regarding the Durham N Yorkshire thing...I think my village will miss me though haha

I agree, Aycliffe does seem a bit too far away, so that's a definite no...and plus, part of the move is to try and cut any commuting time down to a minimum...

Wow, lots to research, thanks again