Possible move to Northumberland

[Misskittycat16]

Evening Folks

Hoping someone can help

We are considering Northumberland for various reasons. I wondered if anyone could point me in the direction of a few areas suitable for families.

We need somewhere with decent rail links to Newcastle as DH doesn't drive ( although hoping to rectify this ASAP) we have a DD who is 2 years old so schools are a consideration. I don't really fancy being right out in the sticks so a town or village is preferable.

I can think of many pros to moving to Northumberland but what are the cons? I'm worried about the fact that the weather is more inclement than where we are currently ( West Midlands)

Any help would be much appreciated.

Morpeth and Alnwick are both beautiful towns with access to Newcastle and good schools. Personally I would avoid Cramlington and Blyth as they are more old industrial areas rather than Northumberland countryside. These are all places to the north.
If you are willing to go West instead Hexham, Corbridge and Wylam are all beautiful towns and villages with easy rail links to Newcastle and good schools while still giving a countryside feel.

Be aware that the stations on the ECML only have one service a day into Newcastle, Morpeth being the exception. If you don't mind a bus commute, there are regular county wide services into Haymarket. These go tits up when it snows. The Metro goes tits up at random.
The weather isn't too bad. It'll be about 2-3 degrees colder than you're used to, rainfall about the same. The air is VERY much cleaner though. There's an incredible amount to do with children; steam trains are everywhere.

Hexham is lovely, (nipped over yesterday) lots to do, lots of community stuff, shopping is decent and the hospital is good. I’m too old to know about schools!

Thank you so much for replying. We are planning another visit soon so will definitely check out all the places that have been recommended. It feels like our kind of place, and I believe it would be a fabulous place to bring up DD.

It's a big move for us so trying to get it right. I am worried that my DH doesn't drive which I'm guessing is quite a problem long term.

Thank you all once again.

I don't live in Northumberland but visit friends there a lot and honestly, it is such a struggle and a palaver on public transport - and beyond the main towns, impossible. Beautiful as it is (I'd chose a coastal area, with a huge deserted beach) I would not move there unless I could drive.

Northumberland is fantastic, but not an easy place to live if you don't drive, as it is large and rural with limited public transport.

If you need to be on a train line then you can choose between the Tyne Valley villages (Ovington, Stocksfield, Corbridge, Hexham) or the route north (Alnwick, Alnmouth, Morpeth or Berwick).

Northumberland is fantastic and somewhere I would like to move to once DC leave home. I will probably aim for Hexham when I do (although Alnwick, Morpeth etc etc are all great) but I wouldn’t do it if I had to commute by train into Newcastle. 22 miles takes 40-60 mins and then you have got to get to your place of work!

I'd avoid Blyth but not Cramlington, especially if one of you can't drive. Cramlington has got a shopping centre (google 'Manor Walks') with a cinema, leisure centre/swimming pool (google 'Concordia'), doctors surgery, etc. and also has rail and bus links into surrounding areas including Newcastle with a bus to Newcastle every 10-15 minutes. The nearby schools are good and one of the primary schools (Beaconhill school) is a beach school and has lessons at the beach. Fair enough it's not in the countryside but it is on the doorstep with Weetslade Country Park and Northumberlandia in walking distance however in terms of day to day amenities I'd be looking at what's easiest without a car and with a reliance on public transport.

I agree that it's worth considering cramlington. There's loads to do and there's also a train station with journeys into newcastle taking about 15 minutes.

There's no train station in Alnwick (well there is, but it's been a book shop since 1991 - Barter Books). The main line does go to Alnmouth though.

I lived in Morpeth. It’s a nice place to raise children and you can get the bus or train quite easily to Newcastle. I’d have loved to have lived in Tynemouth though!

Northumberland is my favourite part of the country and you’re close to Scotland which is a massive bonus!

Tyne Valley is best if need train link to Newcastle (bit more expensive than other areas). Wylam, ovingham, Stockbridge, Corbridge etc all very easy. Clara Vale is nice (15min walk to Wylam train station). All these villages have good first schools and middle schools.
We moved from central Newcastle to Tyne valley a couple of years ago and it’s so nice! Clean, green, friendly, good facilities, happy kids. The weather is great, it gets cold but it’s nice and bright in the north east.

I don’t have a car and I work in Newcastle - it’s easy and fine using the train, also fairly reasonable priced. I actually enjoy the commute.

I live in the Tyne Valley and it's lovely. If I was relying on the train to get to work I'd be looking at Wylam or Ovingham. Hexham though has a lot more facilities for children. There are excellent schools, lots of activities, a leisure centre, library, cinema, great GP's and a supermarket.

I live in Whitley Bay so I'm coast biased but if you want countryside I would go Morpeth or Corbridge. Public transport is sketchy at best once you are out of a decent sized town.
You could look more Gateshead way Ryton, Sunniside, Rowlands Gill as they are more city orientated. You were quite vague on areas. Northumberland is a big place 😀

Stay closer to Newcastle and take trips to Northumberland. Whitley Bay is wonderful.

Haltwhistle and Hexham

Corbridge floods.

Wow thank you for the suggestions. Lots to think about. Ooo it's exciting!

Yes it's a big concern of mine that only one of us can drive, as pp have said, a beautiful place but not easy to get around on public transport.

Sorry for being vague, truth is I don't know the county very well so we are just at the research stage shall we say. I can imagine it is the most fantastic place to bring up children. I really good at the rose tinted approach to things so this thread is helpful to ground me!

@Misskittycat16 did you end up moving in the end and where to?

There are so many nice areas. Because your husband doesn't drive I would suggest looking at somewhere with bus and rail links into Newcastle. Stocksfield and Wylam are lovely as is Corbridge but with one of you not driving I would look at Prudhoe. Schools are lovely, there are shops, ! Library, cafes/restaurants in the town centre plus a castle and a leisure centre. You can walk or get a bus to the newer shops on the industrial estate. There are lovely walks along the river and a number of parks in the town. As with everywhere some parts of Prudhoe are better than others so do your research first.

Oops just realised this is a zombie!!