I want to move to the Peak District, does anyone have any experience of the reality of living around there?

[OverMyDeadBody]

I need to escape, and I think that is where I want to go, but I don't want to live in central Sheffield.

Can anyone share their experiences? Where's nice? Where should I avoid?

What are schools like?

I was thinking somewhere around Chesterfield, but only becasue I drove through there yesterday! Ideally I'd like to be close to Froggatt or Stanage.

Tell me your experiences!

[OverMyDeadBody]

anyone?

Please?

[onlyjoking9329]

i have some mates who live in lumsdale near tansley and it is lovely where they are living.

[ahundredtimes]

Dreadful.

All those hills, and the grey stone and it rains a lot and everyone goes on about how beautiful it is, but it's forbidding and gloomy and has no decent shops.

That was my experience.

[OverMyDeadBody]

Thank you OJ and ahundred

The hills is what I am after, because I am so sick of the flat fens

[OverMyDeadBody]

although you are right, it does rain a lot doesn't it, I bet the winters there are gloomy...

But where should I move to then?

[ahundredtimes]

Oh look, no, go. Everyone loves it, everyone wants to live there, except for me. But I was lonely and a bit mad, and ds1 was a baby and I couldn't drive and I hated the scudding clouds and marvellous peaks and just the endless endlessness of the countryside.

You should go there. Everyone loves it, apart from me.

[OverMyDeadBody]

Actually I don't love it much either, but I need a change, and I need to be closer to proper rock for climbing. And I need to move spemwhere where I can actually afford the rent grrrrrrr

[OverMyDeadBody]

and I can't drive

It's not looking good is it?

[onlyjoking9329]

i love matlock we go there as much as possible, we are not far from there, i don't know if it is "doable" without transport thou

[OverMyDeadBody]

have been looking at matlock on google earth and looked at properties on right move there, it's certainly affordable, but yes I would need a car wouldn't I?

[janeite]

Matlock is probably fine without a car but the villages around it would be v hard work if you have to rely on public transport. I actually think the bus services have got worse (and are hideously expensive) in the last 5-10 years. Whenever I go "home" am appalled at how much a short bus journey costs.

The trains between Matlock and Derby are pretty good though and then once you're in Derby you can get pretty much anywhere.

[edam]

Not driving is a bit of a problem for the Peak District but you could look around Grindleford/Hathersage and places along that railway line - do a bit of googling and you'll see which villages have stations (vague memory that Bamford does but may be wrong). The Peak District is beautiful and I've move there like a shot if I didn't have to be near London for work. Check out whether any house you are looking at is in the catchment for Lady Manners (Bakewell) if you want secondary schools.

Chesterfield is cheaper than Peak District proper but v. close. Villages such as Dronfield are nice but don't know about schools.

[OverMyDeadBody]

thank you janeite!

So how much does an average bus journey cost? It's £3 here for a return, is it sheaper than that?

Do you know anything about the schools?

[OverMyDeadBody]

thank you edam!

[OverMyDeadBody]

I thkn I need to put 'learn to drive' on my top priorities list

[avenanap]

I live in Derby, which is at the bottom of the pea district. Houses in the peak valley are expensive, Matlock is lovely but they reguarly get biker groups congregating in the town, espeially on Bank Holiday mondays and it can get really noisy/busy.

Chesterfield is quite nice, as is Bakewell. Belper is a nice part too but the schools have alot to be desired. A friend at ds's old school sent her children there and she said the schools were a nightmare. She sent them private in the end. Duffield is lovely, half is the rich bit if you know what I mean. The schools are excellent and there's a very good state secondary that people fight over and it bumps up the house prices. The buses are very good, mostly on time, clean (apart from the OAP's dropping their tickets). The rents vary alot depending on where you want to look at. There's a bus that goes through most of the peak district.

[OverMyDeadBody]

Thank you avenanap! That's loads of really good advice, really appreciated!

Ok, I will investigate this further!

[edam]

Oh yes, traffic is always a problem in the Peak District because there are so many visitors. In summer - or any sunny day - the roads are jammed. I suppose if you live in one of the villages you get to know the back ways...

[OverMyDeadBody]

Well where I live now is such a tourist site I have to literally push through the visitors in town on any given saturday, so I'm used to that!

I wonder how doable it is to cycle everywhere? maybe not with all the hills!

[lulurose]

I'm from Derby originally, good transport links. Duffield and Wirksworth are lovely, excellent schools in both. Parents live in Matlock: pool, supermarkets, lovely walks and beautiful scenery. We love visiting. How exciting, I wish we could move back but my husband is a die hard southerner!

[OverMyDeadBody]

thank you lulu!

Is it a lot colder and wetter than the south? Will it be a shock to me?

[Hecate]

I live in the dales.

It is LOVELY.

Buses can be a bitch!

Matlock is a TOWN! Everything is there! No problems at all, it's not what I'd call rural!

Chesterfield is rough! Not pretty at all and some bits are awful. Not somewhere I'd recommend. If you don't live there you can see nice bits but trust me, it is not nice to live in (I used to live there!)

Dronfield is not nice. Nor is Clay Cross or Cresswell. Clowne used to be but it's really got horrible recently.

If you want to be close to rock climbing - move to Hathersage! It's also got a train station - line runs through grindleford, bamford etc, it's the sheffield to manchester line, I think (never use it myself).

Bakewell is great. Very nice.

Oh, everywhere is lovely round here!

And I'm here too............

You know what. If you seriously want to move, you are very welcome to come and visit me. I will drive you round the area and you can get a feel for it? It's a genuine offer.

[Hecate]

Yes. It's colder than the south.

[Pinkveto]

Matlock is a serious honeypot, I'd avoid really.

Trainline good suggestion, or you could look on the manchester side - glossop etc although I dont know what the rocks like over there.

[squilly]

I'm in Sheffield...south west of the city and very green, considering how close we are to the amenities.

The peak is about 7 minutes drive from my house; the city about the same on a weekday after rush hour, but traffic's appalling most of the time into the city a/m, out of it p/m.

I see the appeal of the hills and the green, but I get all that in the city, so don't feel the urge to go more rural.

I come originally from Birmingham and I really felt the difference in the cold/rain situation. It snowed really badly one winter soon after I moved and I couldn't believe how cold it got! After 18 years, though, I'm finally acclimatised to the northern weather. Either that, or my 'time of life' hot flushes have kicked in Either way, it's working for me!

I sometimes get tempted by the cheaper properties on the edges of the city, Dronfield, Chesterfield, Whittington, etc, as they look beautiful on a sunny day. I'd miss my urban-ness, though. Great buses, great shops, lots to do.

I envy you though. It'll be a cold day in Hell before we move again and even then I suspect it will only be from one part of the city to another. The thought of flitting to the countryside is romantically appealing, even if the reality really wouldn't suit us!

Good luck with the moving...and I'd suggest that driving would probably be a life-saver of a skill in the Peaks, so get those lessons booked!