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Original poster

Anyone know Utley at all?

27 replies

MovingToPlan · 29/10/2023 20:45

It's on the edge of Keighley, which doesn't have a great reputation. We'd be looking further out for schools, no question. But is it a decent enough place to live?

Also looking at Riddlesden for similar reasons. Any local insights would be appreciated!

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Original poster
MovingToPlan · 30/10/2023 07:48

Hopeful bump!

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ChocolateCakeOverspill · 30/10/2023 07:49

Do you mean Otley? Never heard of Utley

Holymotherforkingshirtballs · 30/10/2023 07:59

Utley is a real place! I don't know it well only driven through. Steeton is just further along. Do you need to be close to Keighley. Lots of nice villages around depends how close you need to be to Keighley

ChocolateCakeOverspill · 30/10/2023 08:00

I’ll back out then 😂.

Original poster
MovingToPlan · 30/10/2023 08:17

No, don't need to be close to Keighley, there just aren't many houses available in the area that meet our requirements! Would rather more Skipton way tbh, but nothing for sale we like.

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RoseZinfandel · 30/10/2023 08:23

I know people who live in both.
The children living in Utley go to school in Giggleswick, which seems a very long journey for them, but their must be other schools nearby! I think that end of Keighley is a nicer part, Cliffe Castle is attractive. Quite steep and narrow roads away from the main road. Handy for the hospital. Not quite so handy for the train, but there are buses in to Keighley (or Skipton in the other direction, past the hospital).

Riddlesden is very hilly, lots of the houses are set on very steep roads indeed. It’s almost part of Keighley, but ending in moorland. It has a good primary, nice National Trust property, lovely walks along the canal. I think the DC of people I know go to Bingley Grammar school - which isn’t actually a grammar school - by bus. The main road running along the bottom is quite wide and fast. If you approach from the Keighley end it is all retail parks and heavy traffic, but a lot of the houses have stunning views across the valley.

Keighley doesn’t have the best reputation, but I would say both of those are fairly nice parts.

Holymotherforkingshirtballs · 30/10/2023 08:34

I was going to say Skipton as that where we are but houses don't hang around for long.

Original poster
MovingToPlan · 30/10/2023 08:38

We love Skipton, but we'd like a decent sized garden and don't have the budget for a house like that in Skipton itself.

Thanks @RoseZinfandel that's a really helpful summary, and mostly what I've observed when visiting the area. 😊

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agoodfriendofthethree · 30/10/2023 08:52

I live nearby, but closer to Skipton. Utley is an attractive part of Keighley, and definitely has some nice houses and lovely looking roads, and Cliffe Castle is gorgeous. However, the houses are cheaper than if you drive a couple of miles closer towards Skipton for a reason - it's an attractive part of Keighley, but still part of Keighley.

I don't know your thoughts about schools, but you will almost certainly not get into South Craven from Utley, however if your children pass the 11+ then they would usually be close enough to get into the grammar schools in Skipton. Otherwise (unless you're looking at private), you will be limited to Keighley schools from Utley. Carlton Keighley is much improved recently and has great facilities, but still draws mixed opinions due to stigma of years of poor performance and its catchment area.

In all honestly I would not recommend Utley or Riddlesden, and I would suggest looking further along the valley towards Skipton. Despite only being a couple of miles away from Utley, Steeton, Silsden and anything beyond them are very much not part of Keighley and you would get into South Craven from there.

I'm happy to answer any questions if you ever want to message me, as I'm very local!

Original poster
MovingToPlan · 30/10/2023 09:35

Ah, that's really good to know, thank you. We were looking at Bingley Grammar if in Riddlesden, but prefer South Craven on the whole. Looks like we need to reconsider our focus. I'm also keen to look at the grammar options, so closer to Skipton is better overall. Hmmm.

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agoodfriendofthethree · 30/10/2023 09:56

I have to admit that I don't know as much about Riddlesden, as it's a bit further away from me, but from the experiences of a couple of friends who used to live there, I wouldn't rush to recommend it. Over that way, East Morton is nice and feels much more out of Keighley, and might be somewhere for you to consider if you like Bingley Grammar. I would just keep in mind though that with Riddlesden/East Morton you are right on the edge of where usually gets in to the Skipton grammar schools (it varies each year so is hard to predict), if you want to keep that option open.

Overall though, (and I am biased!) I would definitely strongly recommend looking at Steeton, Silsden and the villages beyond. House prices are still very sensible, but we have great schools, good transport links, really close to the countryside, and much lower crime rates than the Keighley area. It's crazy that a couple of miles makes such a difference, but it really does! It's almost like there's an invisible line drawn across the map, but you can only see it once you live here!

Original poster
MovingToPlan · 30/10/2023 10:17

Very insightful, thank you!

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Beamur · 30/10/2023 10:26

Personally I would prefer Riddlesden over Utley, but they're both communities a bit hemmed in with busy roads. Which I think is a bit of a feature of that part of Airedale.
What kind of place are you looking for?
Cononley and Farnhill/Bradley are nicer and nearer Skipton. Steeton/Silsden you probably have more choice and as places have pros and cons. Decent transport links, hospital, etc.
If you want rural/near Skipton keep outside of the National Park and houses are cheaper. Think Threshfield rather than Grassington.

Original poster
MovingToPlan · 30/10/2023 10:31

Ah, thanks for those pointers. We're looking for a 4 bed with 2 receptions and a decent garden big enough for growing veg and potentially keeping chickens! Good schools are important, from primary up to sixth form/college, though we can drive them places if required. Budget is max 400k, which is doable but we just aren't seeing much which ticks enough boxes.

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Original poster
MovingToPlan · 30/10/2023 11:01

Wow, thanks so much. Will check these out!

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CateG · 13/11/2023 20:06

I'm also looking to move to that area and have looked extensively. Personally I have ruled out Utley because of its proximity to Keighley, and wouldn't get my kids into the schools I want. As far as schools go in that area, I'd be happy with Beckfoot (Bingley one), Bingley Grammar or South Craven. I think South Craven is my first choice so am looking at homes in Cross Hills, Sutton-in-Craven and Glusburn, all of which would be walking distance to the school. I'd also consider Steeton, Eastburn, Silsden (would there be school transport from these areas does anyone know?) but the towns of Bradley, Cononley and Cowling might be a little too out of the way for my teen son!

Following this thread as it's exactly what I'm looking at now ☺️

agoodfriendofthethree · 13/11/2023 20:46

@CateG All those areas are nice and you can't go wrong with any of them in my opinion (I live in one so am biased!). Bradley is outside the South Craven catchment so you would be unlikely to get in from there, however all the others are in catchment so you should get in. In terms of school transport - children from Steeton and Eastburn generally all walk to school - there's a huge amount of them and it's not too long a walk. Silsden is far enough out that there are free school buses. Happy house hunting!

CateG · 13/11/2023 20:52

Thanks! My parents live in Cross Hills and I love the area. Thanks for the tip about Bradley, not that I'm really considering it, but hadn't realised it would be outside the catchment area.

So Silsden would be in the catchment area then?

Thanks for your reply 😌

CateG · 13/11/2023 20:55

Actually just answered my own question, but posting this image in case the original poster wondered..

Anyone know Utley at all?
agoodfriendofthethree · 13/11/2023 21:02

@CateG I've just seen you've found the catchment map 😊 It's a very squiggly line to avoid Bradley isn't it?! 😂

But yes, Silsden is very much in the South Craven catchment area and Silsden Primary is probably the largest feeder school. I would say about 95% of the secondary school age pupils from Silsden attend South Craven (the rest tend to be at the grammar schools in Skipton), so your kids would have plenty of friends there if that's where you end up. To be honest, South Craven is such a large school, they'll be near plenty of friends in any of the villages you're considering!

CateG · 13/11/2023 21:04

Brilliant, thanks ☺️☺️