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Original poster

Am I mad to want to relocate to Cornwall?

82 replies

salviapages · 08/04/2022 15:34

Seems like the kind of thing people do after retirement on an episode of Escape to the Country...but surely it's not mad to actually do it?

My husband and I live in Sussex and are expecting our first baby, we've known for years we'll have to move away to be able to afford to buy somewhere (we currently rent)

My MIL lives in Cornwall, I've been looking at properties out there and they are lovely and in our budget. We've been a few times and it seems lovely. Is there a downside? Do any of you live there, can you advise me anything to consider first?

My mum pointed out that it's 'very isolated' - I suppose she means from the rest of England/London but this doesn't really bother me, I've lived close to London all my life and rarely go. We love the countryside and currently grow our own veg, do lots of country walks etc so I think we'd fit right in. Is it mad?

OP posts:

HewasH2O · 09/04/2022 20:41

Average wage around £35k. Average house price around £335k.

Neverreturntoathread · 09/04/2022 20:58

Everyone I meet who’s from Cornwall thinks its awesome and can’t wait to go back, sounds fun to me.

When yiur mum says it’s very isolated what she means is “Oh dear that’s really far from me and really close to MIL how sad for me I won’t see as much of grandchildren as MIL will.”

Original poster

salviapages · 09/04/2022 21:31

Thanks everyone lots to think about. It is sounding like a good option to me, I'll try to stay close to the hospital and grammar school areas.

Honestly anywhere in the country that would be affordable to us is going to be rubbish for teenagers and have downsides. But we don't need to be in a town, we spend a lot of time working in the garden growing food and like outdoor activities and hope to raise our children like this so it could work well.

Also house prices - they may be high for cornwall but still lower compared to sussex! It's a shame we can't afford to stay in the area we grew up in but house prices have prices out anyone with an average job. Cornwall is looking like it would really suit our lifestyle but this has given me lots of practicalities to consider about whereabouts within Cornwall

OP posts:

Rowgtfc72 · 09/04/2022 21:37

We looked in to moving to Cornwall a few years ago. Water bills and council tax almost double what we pay here. We abandoned the idea.

Kezzie200 · 09/04/2022 21:39

South East Cornwall has access to the Plymouth grammars (if the child qualifies through 11 plus) although they will need to travel as Plymouth is in Devon (just). We also generally use Derriford Hospital (which is also in Plymouth) not Treliske. Both my children were born there.

Not sure where your MIL is based?

Kezzie200 · 09/04/2022 21:42

Water is quite high, that's true.

There are some allotments locally to us so looking for one of those closer by might suit you. We grow a lot of our own fruits and veg too (about to plants the peas out tomorrow) .

balalake · 09/04/2022 21:57

If you are thinking of moving anywhere, the test is what it is like in January and February. Perhaps spend a week or two with MIL if you can at that time of year.

Also recognise that you are a long way from airports if flying on holiday is something you value.

Juancornetto · 09/04/2022 21:58

It's not mad. If you're going to be close to your MIL I'd go for it. Local family is so important. Although do bear in mind that your children may not stick around once they're adults - I grew up in rural Cornwall and it wasn't that great for a teenager, I left as soon as I could. I'm now in a town in Cheshire, house prices are similar to Cornwall but there are 3 major cities less than an hour away and London's less than 2 hours away. In your position I'd want to make sure that my children were somewhere they could easily socialise with their friends without a massive reliance on the parental taxi

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 09/04/2022 22:01

I moved from Sussex to Somerset 2 years ago and I'm as happy as Larry. Love it here and it's much better connected than Cornwall.

LindyLou2020 · 09/04/2022 22:23

@Neverreturntoathread

Everyone I meet who’s from Cornwall thinks its awesome and can’t wait to go back, sounds fun to me.

When yiur mum says it’s very isolated what she means is “Oh dear that’s really far from me and really close to MIL how sad for me I won’t see as much of grandchildren as MIL will.”

Well, that may be what she means, or it may not. She may be a jealous, possessive mum. Or she may simply be very sad at the thought of her daughter and any future grandchildren moving so far away, and much closer to her daughter‘a mother-in-law. And not feel able to verbalise her true feelings. But whilst you absolutely cannot dictate where your adult children live, surely she is entitled to feel whatever it is that she’s feeling? I am in a similar situation to what OP’s mum may be in, and whilst I accept it as bravely as I can, it hurts like hell.

Original poster

salviapages · 09/04/2022 23:00

@Neverreturntoathread @LindyLou2020 my mum moved to another country a few years ago so I wouldn't be moving away from her!

OP posts:

LindyLou2020 · 09/04/2022 23:56

[quote salviapages]**@Neverreturntoathread* @LindyLou2020* my mum moved to another country a few years ago so I wouldn't be moving away from her![/quote]
Eh???
I was referring to the situation regarding OP, her mum, and mum-in-law, not you…….🥴

MrsLargeEmbodied · 10/04/2022 06:13

@LindyLou2020

the op is @salviapages

Foreverlexicon · 10/04/2022 06:21

It’s a beautiful county especially if you love rural life.

My word of caution would be many many young people move away never to return. My DP is from Cornwall and 1 of 3 siblings. 1 now lives in Australia, 1 in Scotland and we live in the south east. The vast majority of her friends also moved away at uni age. There’s lack of career opportunities.

Appreciate your little one hasn’t even been born yet but it’s worth considering as FIL is now widowed and 5 hours drive away from his nearest child.

WalkerWalking · 10/04/2022 06:50

Teenagers who've grown up "in the sticks" don't hate it. They find things to do (mostly just hanging out with their friends, same as teenagers up and down the country!) If you're coastal, then most of the older kids/teenagers will surf, paddle board etc.

The much bigger problem is the lack of work and opportunities. Internet provision is very patchy, so wfh is not always a viable option. Primary teaching jobs in particular are not so easy to come by, and schools are more spread out, so you might end up travelling a fair way. If you were able to teach secondary maths or science, even to KS3, that would increase your options.

People have far less disposable income, and dog training is very much seen as a luxury down here. Your husband would have to be flexible, and take on dog walking etc as well, or possibly something totally unrelated.

Tourists are obviously a big source of income. I've always thought there's probably call for overnight dog boarding for holiday makers who want to bring their dog, but who can't find a holiday let that allows pets. So they'd have their dog with them all day while they're out and about, but they'd bring it to stay with you overnight.

Basically, you'll probably always be hustling!

clarysageandlavender · 10/04/2022 06:56

Some fair advice here I would say. I was born and grew up in Cornwall and my parents still live there (45 years).

The beaches are drop dead amazing and I've travelled a lot. The weather sadly is not! I live in SE now and the climate here is so much better. The weather is warmer in Cornwall in the sense it is more temperate, so doesn't get so cold in winter - but doesn't get so warm in summer too. When the sun is shining in summer in Cornwall there is literally no better place to be in the world, but it rains a lot, and you get a lot of grey days.

I'd say it's amazing for young kids if you'll embrace the beach etc in all weathers. Mine are 6-10 and they adore going to visit.

I was bored and isolated as a teen but honestly I wonder if that's the worst thing a teen can be? There used to be a lot of hanging around in my village and local town drinking etc not sure if that still happens. There wasn't much to do.

Can't get anywhere without a car which I keep thinking must be getting expensive at the moment!

And as others have said me and my brother moved away so really we've been gone since 18. I'd like to live nearer my parents.

Lastly Cornwall is very "proud". I would never pass as Cornish despite being born there. That thinking wasn't a burden to me but I enjoy the diversity of thought where I live now.

Good luck deciding! Agree moving near to family with a baby is fab. If they are nice!

Onlyrainbows · 10/04/2022 07:04

I live on Cornwall and hate it! (But I'm a city rat). Getting a teacher job isn't as easy (although supply teaching seems to be ok). There's no Nandos, and getting anywhere is at least 3 hours. I have two semi important meetings coming up and I'm not going because of the hassle of getting there. I'll echo about dog training, it will be seen as a luxury so maybe not a massive market for it. Treliske is OK, schools are terrible to mediocre. Truro (the capital) only has two petrol stations. No H&M nor John Lewis. I would move if I could but the DC are happy here.

TreesoftheField · 10/04/2022 07:08

Also born there into overwhelmingly Cornish family!!! Have lived away since 18 - I don't think I would have had the same career opportunities. I also really struggled with a social life, found it hard to make friends as an adult because everyone knew me as a nerd in school.
Didn't want kids somewhere you have to drive EVERYWHERE, even to go for a walk!
Rains all the time.
In summer takes 30 minutes to get to town because the one road there is rammed with tractors and tourists.
But my siblings are happy down there. They have proper professional qualifications so they can get a decent paid job and had loads of friends from school who stayed.

RobinHumphries · 10/04/2022 07:38

Expect to have to go private for dentistry

knittingaddict · 10/04/2022 07:41

I have relatives who moved to Cornwall. It's quite an insular place and not especially welcoming to incomers. My relatives fit in very well, (the husband got a job in the local pub), but it is very hard to become accepted into the community.

My daughter went to uni in Cornwall. She loved it, but moved back as soon as she had graduated. She said that it's like living in a bubble.

I wouldn't move there, but each to their own.

Senseofsomething · 10/04/2022 07:43

It’s great here. Been here years, as PP says, don’t live in a tourist hotspot and it can be fabulous.

However. So hard to move here right now. Properties for sale are getting 25+ offers way way over asking prices and there is nothing to rent because of AirBnb.

Unless you are mega rich don’t try it at the moment.

knittingaddict · 10/04/2022 07:48

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I moved from Sussex to Somerset 2 years ago and I'm as happy as Larry. Love it here and it's much better connected than Cornwall.

We live in Somerset and love it too. It's easy to get to most places and we have a great quality of life.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 10/04/2022 07:50

I would consider it with younger children but absolutely no way with teens.

HewasH2O · 10/04/2022 07:56

Although at the moment fuel prices are surprisingly cheap compared to up country. Diesel is dodgier though. There's no gas in my village, so you're stuck with oil or electricity for heating.

Everyone goes to their local school. You might get a choice of comprehensive in Truro, Newquay, St Austell etc, but you wouldn't try to send children outside the local area as you'd be tied to giving them lifts each day.

Nennypops · 10/04/2022 08:18

A part of me would absolutely love to move to Cornwall, but on the other hand I've sat in those endless traffic queues in the summer and I'm not sure I could put up with it for several weeks every year.

You say you want a country lifestyle. Might it be better to go for somewhere like Somerset or Wiltshire which is still within easier reach of Devon and Cornwall? Or maybe even to go north?

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