What's it like living in the Lake District?

[Chupchup]

Good morning! Dh and I are pretty sure, after lots of thought, that we would like to move to the Lake District. We have 2 primary dc and a very average budget. We want some scenery and a community feel.

Obviously it's a big area and the next step is to identify exactly where. So where is good, but also where can we discount immediately? Is it a lovely way of life? Where we currently live is very aggressive and crime ridden and for the sake of the dc we really owe them a better way of life.

I would be looking to find work there, and dh would need good road links.

Any help appreciated.

I love the Lake District! I live about 30-40 mins away so regularly drive up there for activities. If you are looking for work, schools, road links and to be close to shops etc with an average budget you might want to consider areas such as Kendal, Warton, Milnthorpe which are close enough to the Lake District but cheaper.

There was a thread on here a while ago about this where several residents essentially said that the tourism can drive you up the wall, and the "community feel" is hard to come by unless you've lived in the area for generations and are known and trusted.

As with everything though, it probably depends on your personalities and what you can put up with - as well as where you end up.

Given that you seem to still be at the "daydream" phase of it, maybe think of living near enough to visit and enjoy it, but far enough away to not be stuck in it all?

We spend time there each summer and Christmas and I would give anything to live there. The village we stay in welcome any newcomers with open arms, as they are so keen to keep the community going, with the little shops and pub. And I know they're delighted if young families move in.

Some areas are less expensive than others, some are quieter and some are very community focused.

It is important to know if you need to drive or get public transport to jobs etc. There are not many A roads in the Lake District and even a short journey can take longer than you think, in winter due to weather and for probably 6 - 9 months of the year due to large amounts of tourists.

Housing wise, in the LDNP itself prices will be higher, on the fringes of the park and just outside the boundary, prices are lower. The west coast of the park is probably the least expensive housing wise but it takes an age to get there, the south is probably the most expensive. There used to be the view the north of the park is "quieter" but it is not now, Keswick is vitually inaccessible during the summer due to lack of parking, traffic jams and visitors.

Decide if you want rural or town.

Hope that helps

Definitely look at the west for least traffic and tourism. It's still beautiful though.

Economy-wise, that area is under Sellafield's thrall, which provides well-paid, stable employment. Good community feel, but also welcoming to "outsiders" as many come up to work at Sellafield. There's also lots of young people and graduates for the same reason, more so than other parts of the lakes.

You'll have to research areas very carefully. For example, Frizington is very cheap but very run down. House prices can change by 10s of thousands just by crossing the border into the National Park. St Bees is a lovely place with a beautiful beach.

Rather like the country's north / south divide, Cumbria sees itself as west or east. West is coastal, more rough terrain and rugged beauty whereas east is much softer and picture postcard, but there is (or deemed to be) a cultural change too.

Have a look at Lancaster, maybe just to the north of. You’re on the M6 and West Coast mainline (this applies to Kendal and Penrith too). In Lancaster you are about 30 miles from the south of the park and Lancaster itself is a lovely little city.

Another option could be Ulverston (or one of the villages around), just outside the park so a bit cheaper but still on the A590. Wouldn’t go to Barrow though, lots of social problems these days. Ulverston is also on a branch Trainline which connects to the West Coast mainline.

I quite like Grange over Sands, also on the trainline and nearer to the M6. It will be lovely if they ever get that lido open again.

Alternatively North lakes is lovely and less touristy. Penrith and surrounds

My ideal place would be around Grasmere (not quite in the town itself, as it’s busy with tourists) but it’s right in the middle of the park, so really expensive! The options I’ve given above should be a bit cheaper but with easy access to the park.

Thanks everyone! Yes very hesitant about honey pots and being trapped in tourist traffic.

@Clawdy can you divulge where your village is?

@1vy44 yes Grasmere would be wonderful!!

I'll check out the places mentioned. Is Cockermouth ok? I know it floods. The prices are the same as where we currently live.

Any other real no nos?

My grandparents lived there and always said the bigger towns on the coast were a bit rough - Barrow, Workington and Whitehaven. Not sure about Cockermouth and Maryport.

Cockermouth is a lovely.

Where is work?

I would need to find work, but dh is the main breadwinner and works nationally but could be Lancashire based.

Sorry previous message should have read Cockermouth is a lovely town!

If Lancashire based, I would personally look at the villages around Kendal.

Chupchup the village is Papcastle, about ten minutes walk from Cockermouth, which as someone above said, is a lovely little town, with great independent shops, restaurants, and tearooms.

If DP needs to be Lancashire based then north Lancashire & south Cumbria, near to the M6 would be best. West Cumbria would be too far. As others have said, around Kendal (Stavely is nice). Grange over Sands would probably be just about ok.

I was raised in the Lakes until 18 when I moved. I have a number of friends still in Cockermouth. It's not been spoilt by tourism yet. It floods be aware of that. As do a number of places. The Lakes has attracted romantics for hundreds of years so you won't be the first.

My grandparents lived near Ulverston then moved to Allithwaite, just outside Grange. So I know the area relatively well. If you see any nice houses around those areas, post the village on here and I’ll tell you what I know about it. In general, that area is lovely, not as dramatic scenery as the north or west but still plenty do if you want your kids to do outdoor activities like orienteering, sailing, canoeing etc. The area is very safe and not as remote from a transport perspective as the West coast.

I think we need to be a bit foolhardy and just go for it. If we don't get on well then we'll have to move again, but it's preferable to the knife crime and gun crime that we have on our doorstep. I want the dc to be independent, if we stay where we are I wouldn't even let them walk to the shop.

I want to be gone within the next 18 months. We can't afford to live the dream yet, but as I say, house prices are like for like.

Lots to look into! Life is just passing by so quickly!

I personally would rent for at least 6 months in your preferred area before buying. It would make it so much easier to view property to buy. You can then spend weekends travelling around finding areas you do and do not like. It may be an disrupting moving twice but worth it.

@chupchup

I know what you mean, I can see us moving up there at some point. Around the areas I’ve mentioned.

Just re independence - the public transport can be appalling in some areas. The trains only go round the outside of Cumbria, apart from a small branch line from Oxenholme to Windermere. So check out what the local bus services are like (can be 2 buses a day in some villages), otherwise you’ll be driving them everywhere until they’re 17!

Plenty of nice areas on the edge of the lakes. Used to live in Grange, now live on the Yorkshire Dales / Lakes Borders

Love it and not sure where the comments about community came from but always felt welcome and fantastic community.

@lovely
I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Grange, the prom is lovely for a walk or run, the view from Hampsfell is stunning. Grange has a really nice feel to it.

@1vy44

Busy on the prom today with PromArt.

Good thing about Grange is the access to trains to Lancaster and Manchester.

Also awesome Chips and Ice Cream a short train ride away in Arnside.