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.

Although I maybe want to tell everyone how awful Lancaster is to stop an influx of people - it's a lovely well-kept secret of a lovely little city ...

Barrows not awful just got some awful areas.

Lancaster. We looked at that again some nice areas some not so. We just couldn’t bring ourselves to move to the city. Too busy for us.

I’ve name changed as possibly outing but I live in Allithwaite, just outside Grange.

I didn’t grow up here, moved about 5yrs ago. My dc are in the local primary school, there’s a lovely community in the village and everyone os very friendly. The community has also extended somewhat as the school is very popular with surrounding village residents such as a Flookbrough and Cartmel. But there are good primary schools in those villages, also in Lindale, Grange and Backbarrow.

When we took the plunge to move here we sold our house and rented to start with, then bought within a year. It wasn’t too much of a plunge really though as we were living in a smaller village in a more rural part of the uk beforehand, plus my dh has never had to change work and I just slotted in to my profession up here self employed.

It’s lovely and quiet down this end, park is dead atm. Cartmel is gearing up for races tomorrow bit currently lovely and quiet in comparison to Ambleside/Grasmere. Grange is busy as the brass band is playing and prom art is on today, we popped down this morning to play crazy golf 🤪

I used to work in the heart of the Lakes and you def need a car, but recently been working in Lancaster and I just jump on the train at Kents Bank and I’m in the city centre in half an hour.

We tend to avoid Ambleside anyway as there’s not much there unless you want to spend money, we’re in to our mnt biking and rock climbing though so love being in the centre of the Lakes but again tend to avoid even driving through Ambleside in the summer.
We spend alot of time around Coniston and Torver as it’s so much quieter even today!

Many friends I have here work at the hospitals (lancaster, kendal, barrow), bae, in schools or as carers.

The areas round Penrith are lovely and very well connected. Mainline train and motorway nearby. Easy access to Carlisle and Newcastle when you want to go into a city.

I live 7 miles from Cockermouth. We moved here approx 10 years ago. As it is just outside the national park you do get more for your money than living in it. I can be at Buttermere in 20 minutes .
When we used to holiday here we thought that it would be lovely to live where we used to holiday ( Keswick, Ambleside, Grasmere etc) but now I'd hate to live in those places due to the quantity of tourists and the lack of everyday shops, plus it takes a fair time to get to the areas that have larger shopping areas such as Workington, Penrith, Carlisle.
If it is a village you hanker for then weigh up these questions.
Do you need a bus service if your car is out of action ? How will your children get to school ? Doctors, dentists, hospitals ( Hospitals are Carlisle, Whitehaven, Kendal, Barrow ) if you regularly need appointments / clinics maybe try to live within distance.
How much do you enjoy clothes shopping ? There are not really much in the way of big shopping centres , most people go to Newcastle or Glasgow.
Also be prepared to travel for things like furniture, DIY supplies.
If you have only ever been up here during the summer months and are seeing it with rose coloured spectacles on, then consider the weather during the winter months. It gets lighter later in the winter and darker sooner, it can be very wet and dull for days on end.
However, once you have got through the shock of your first winter and got used to the weather I'm sure you will love it here. Cumbria gets under your skin 😀😀

There are a lot of social problems in Barrow. Highest amount of drug deaths per capita in the country. Might be a bit too far from Lancashire too. Plus it isn’t scenic.

but again tend to avoid even driving through Ambleside in the summer

Ugh, yes that bit of road between Windermere & Ambleside can be bumper to bumper with day trippers. Personally, I think day trippers in cars shouldn't be allowed up here ... There's an excellent bus service from Windermere to Grasmere in the summer just for the tourists.

Agree about Barrow but the swimming pool is good

@MouthyHarpy I have a friend who lives in ambleside and I don’t know how this doesn’t drive her crazy.

My friend moved to Grange over sands and loves it, she regularly commutes by train all over the country and doesn't have a problem, she can be in the Lakes quickly and so gets to pick and choose when to go.

We holiday there every year, this year we went at Easter and it was awful, it's the first time we've been in a main holiday and never again, the traffic was awful, we stay in a very quiet valley and the parking along the lanes was shocking, we had to keep reversing around blind bends because of double parked cars.
We arrived on the Saturday and didn't leave the cottage until the Tuesday when a lot had gone home and it was much better.

The locals were all complaining about being late for work, not being able to pop to the shops, driveways being blocked.

We'd also been considering a move there and are financially ready now but have decided on Shropshire instead and will continue to holiday in the Lakes out of season.

I can also recommend Lancaster and Kendal. Both on the West Coast mainline, linked to the M6 and you've got the Lakes, Howgills, Forest of Bowland and the coast all very close. Really decent schools overall. Lancaster Girls' Grammar is the best school in the county.
If you choose where you live carefully, you will not encounter flooding and you will not get snowed in. The winter is harsh but nowhere near as bad as it is made out to be. I'm a scouser, so I'm an import and the weather in Liverpool is milder; I still prefer it up in Cumbria.

Agree Barrow is horrendous. I lived there 15 years ago for a year and it was so so bad. Violence, drugs and theft were my experience.
I also lived/worked at a hotel in Windermere. Don't be fooled by the beautiful scenery as there is a dark underbelly. Drugs, and again violence we're rife, especially amongst seasonal hotel staff and local riff raff.

Yeah Windermere and Bowbess has a big police presence during the evenings due to drunks, drigs and fighting.

I’ve heard that about Bowness. Is it just in tourist season, or all year round?

I’m not sure, I hate Bowness!! And have only ever stopped there once. But I know a few locals say it’s always been bad of an evening.

I think it’s mainly tourists, a posher version of Blackpool for hens and stags, but still the same drunken shit

Kendal isn't on the West Coast mainline. Oxenholme is.

Another recommendation for Lancaster! Great connections to London on train, 30 mins to Lake District, reasonably priced housing and lots of lovely villages on outskirts for community living. Schools are great too!! I know a lot of people who have moved there and are tremendously happy!

Depends where in Kendal you live @MouthyHarpy

Yes, oxenholme is the better connected station, Kendal is very poor. Unfortunately Oxenholme is a bit in the sticks.

Ingleton is nice. Technically in the Yorkshire dales, but spitting distance from the lakes with beautiful scenery and a community feel and lots to do. No train station but not far from Lancaster ("not far" is relative up that way!).

Another vote for Cockermouth or surrounding villages or along the a66 towards the coast.

Avoid Barrow (known as the @rsehole of Cumbria) or anywhere that's actually within the LDNP boundary (extortionate house prices due to outsiders buying "second homes" plus tourists - eurgh!!)

Cockermouth and Keswick are 2 of the best state secondary schools in Cumbria (if not the country too) but difficult to get into if you are not in their catchments. There are plenty of primaries that are just as good too.

Echo what others say re: pace of life, don't expect to do anything or get anywhere in a hurry (lambs int road is an acceptable excuse for being late for work )

No issues with getting most things you need for daily life 24/7 but yes, if you want big purchases like furniture or nice clothes shops expect to venture to Carlisle/Newcastle/Glasgow/Manchester (or do what I do and use the internet!)

I'm a born and bred Cumbrian, love the outdoors and you get used to the weather - we really do have our own micro climate!!

I've worked in cities but you wouldn't get me permanently relocating out of Cumbria for anything.

I love Allonby but it might be too remote for you?

We're also considering this. Does anyone have any opinions on seascale?

Seascape is very close to Sellafield and is a rat run for the shift changeover if the main road is blocked. It's fairly cheap housing wise as on the West coast. Your nearest town is Whitehaven and imo is not the best of towns.

Lol Seascale !