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.

Enjoy! I’ve been to Prom Art a few times, it’s great.

I really need to figure out how we could move up there.

@lovelyupnorth

Lol! I bet we’ve passed each other on the streets of Grange. Yes, I’ll 2nd the fish and chips in Arnside. Nice train journey over the viaduct.

Re schools, my friends children went to a selective Grammar in Lancaster (they live just outside Grange) but I think the secondary school in Cartmel is good too.

I wasn't up for renting, but could be more sensible. We could rent our house out for £300 per month more than our mortgage costs.

Just as I have a vested interest and I’m nosy, I’ve had a quick look at family houses available around Grange.

Rockhurst, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76365764.html

We have stayed in Stavley a few times, just outside the LDNP, which always seems to have a lot of family stuff going on.

Many years ago I worked in Grange over Sands, which had a great combination of small town community, access to the Lakes, sea and train and motorway links.

What a wonderful property! That is what i mean by living the dream! We cant afford that yet and would probably still be looking at a 3 bed semi for now.

5 The Crescent, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6AW
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64344822.html

I’m not aware of any “rough” areas in Grange.

My two went to Cartmel and youngest now at Girls Grammer in Lancaster.

All the south lakes schools are pretty good. Lots of nice small primaries.

There’s aren’t any rough areas in Grange the closest is Ravenstown but that’s not rough by any standards.

Flookburgh, Grange-Over-Sands
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67229257.html

I grew up on the boarder of the national park and my family still live there. It is undeniably beautiful BUT the pace of life is sooo slow. You have to drive everywhere unless you live in an actual town/ village and even if you live in the small towns (such as Kirkby Lonsdale, which isn't in the LD, or Ulverston) you need a car to leave as public transport is extremely limited. The bigger towns such as Kendal aren't much better. No 'popping' to the local shop, little to do indoors when it rains (soft play centres etc) unless you are willing to drive 30-40mins, the tourists, oh the tourists! Can take forever to get anywhere on bank holidays/ summer weekends. And the rain. I remember when I went to uni in the midlands being amazed at having 3 consecutive days of no rain! Where we lived, there was 1 taxi, there still is! So on NYE or busy weekends (such as agricultural shows etc) you have to book it waaay in advance. And no Ubers, at all. Very few takeaways deliver, it really is like going back in time.

It is stunning, I was very happy there and in many ways would love to move back BUT you have to be realistic about the things about 'modern' life you enjoy/ find useful/ use and whether these would be affected by the move. It's very individual.

Another thing to note, is that very few of my school friends have returned there from Uni. Those that have are generally in the agricultural or tourist trade. Those in the sciences, technology, IT, engineering etc have had to move out due to lack of jobs. What are your kids interested in? Would like them to live near you when they are grown up?

My sister lives slap bang in the middle of Grasmere. She's moved away but always come back. However her house is tied to her fiancées job. They could never afford a property there. She seems very happy there. Though I'm in big trouble for not visiting nearly enough!

Have you seen the engineering specialist round the Ulvetston and Barrow ares.

Loads of really good hi-tech businesses. World leaders in LED, Windpower, Subsea

Companies like BAE, Marl, Oxley's, Siemens, Kimberley Clarke, FETL, Playdale.

They have a good social life l, but that is mainly based around work colleagues and people who work in the other Youth hostels.

Also, what do you do for jobs? If you rely on the internet you need to be careful where you live. It is improving due to the introduction of B4RN (fibreoptic to door) but that is not widespread by any means yet.

I would say I love hiking, canoeing, rock climbing so what I've written above it not from the perspective of a couch potato!

lovelyupnorth yes, but Barrow is horrible, no one wants to live there and it can take over an hour or more to get to from other bits of the lakes in bad weather or tourist season! It's good money up there for a reason- they struggle with recruitment and retention.

lovelyupnorth I have friends who work in Nuclear and renewable energy up there, all say they'll do it for a few years, then move to something with less pay but in better locations. So far they all have!

I grew up near Kendal and loved being in a small town, with most of the usual shops and independents too, and able to walk 5 mins in to rural countryside along maintained paths was something I miss a lot. I now live in Lancaster which has reasonable priced houses, the reason we moved from Manchester where house prices were crazy!
It's 2.5 hours to London, for work, which is the same as Manchester! There are lots of lovely cafes and restaurants and also walks on the edge of the city and of course you're only 30 mins from Lake District which we visits for days, nights away as can get 2 action packed days if staying overnight at a hotel and midweek, or out of season the prices are reasonable, there's still lots to do and very lovely.

Lovely views. I wouldn't want to spend more than 250.

Hmmmbop yes will need to give thought to the realities. Maybe we'd end up going for a town. Not sure at this stage. Dh will keep his job which is engineering. Ill do anything! Regarding kids, I'd be happy if they moved country when they are older tbh, but obviously don't want bored teenagers. They love the outdoors, and id like for them to have a traditional upbringing. However, we'd have rail links to great cities.

I'm so bored where we are. It so ugly and depressing. I have to look at it like ive got nothing to lose. We think about it too much and get bogged down in tne detail and the what ifs.

There is a lovely bakery in Flookburgh, they’ve just moved down the road from Cark.

As you might have noticed, I love this area of the country. I think you get the best of both worlds - not as remote (or as expensive) as living in the park but it’s still easy to get to the big mountains and lakes (by car) at weekends. It’s safe, it’s pretty and appears to be off the main tourist path. The schools and transport are still good. No complaints from relatives or friends about having to wait 2 weeks for a GPS appointment either.

Touristy in the summer and bleak/lonely in winter.
You need to be the type to muck in with the community during flooding and bad weather.
Friend lives there and says it's great for young kids, they are moving somewhere a bit more lively with stuff to do when they are teens.

Funny my teens have never complained about being bored. Both done scouts/guides/rangers. Train from grange to Lancaster and ulvetston is easy

Both play sport, music etc.

Loads to do if you look for it.

As for BARN internet is awesome have at home and work get 1gb connection.

Bakery in Flookburgh fat flour do awesome pizzas

Another hat tip for Lancaster, and maybe Kendal - although that can be pricier than Lancaster. But you can get a lovely 3-4 bed big Victorian terrace in central Lancaster for around £200k. And we found it had fantastic schools - the grammars are amongst the best in the country.

Barrow is awful - DH is from there and I absolutely hate it.