Relocating to the Peak District

[Isanyoneawake44]

I'm in the middle of a break up and I'm thinking of relocating almost 5 hours back to near where I grew up in the Peak District.

It's been over 20 years since I've lived there. Most of my family would be nearby, and I'm relocating from the SE.

I'm looking at bringing all the children (4) so will need nursery, school and secondary school. We've got a dog and I quite like rural living.

I'm a nurse and have lots of options of career path.

However, I just can't work out where would work best for us?

Just wondering if anyone can share what it's like living in the Peak District now. My family will say anything as they just would love us 'home'

Thanks

How would the children have regular contact with their father if you move 5 hours away? Is there a backstory to why they shouldn't?

I'd have to try and make it work but I'm the main carer.

It's a domestic abuse situation

We’ve lived in Dove Holes, Buxton, Whaley Bridge and further up near to Poynton. All fabulous places to live and we would happily go back - but work journeys prohibit it at the moment. Currently looking at relocating to Ashbourne or Belper from Staffordshire - but they are very touristy which I’m not sure are for me.

That's great, and nice communities?

Dove holes was very much a large village community - everyone knew each other but weren’t in each others faces iyswim. As a result it felt very safe. Even out walking with the dogs across the hills felt safe. Downside is that it is on the A6 and very traffic heavy. But the side roads /estates are away from that. Easy to access wherever you want to get to and facilities/services not far away.

Whaley bridge is similar, but much posher (or likes to think so) personally it didn’t feel quite as safe.

Buxton like any town has good and bad areas, but seems to manage to retain a sense of community within roads and estates. Can be quite touristy.

Poynton didn’t feel community minded and at times didn’t feel safe at night. But the smaller surrounding villages were lovely and friendly once they knew you were not second home owners! However you do need to travel for amenities like schools/hospitals etc if you are further out.

All have a lot of activities/community stuff going on, lots for every age group to join and make friends or just to indulge in community atmosphere eg village fete/cricket etc. All easy to get out into the countryside as well.

Thank you

Ooh we're doing this this year too!
What sort of budget are you talking? There's a world of difference between the sort of house you could get as a band 5 vs a band 8 (and what sort of medical places you'd need to be near). And the prices vary massively across the Peak District.

Leek is very affordable (especially I've seen at least 3 4/5 bed townhouses in Spring Gardens area come up recently at very keen prices compared to SE) and has a decent community, not too posh but not massively run down. The schools are all right, too. Buxton's a bit more expensive. Congleton's also reasonably affordable but not as cheap as Leek. I haven't looked further East though as it won't work for us.

Leek and congleton always give me stoke on trent vibes! But I’ve always passed through them not lived in them.

I'm a top band 7, I need to be more to the east if that makes sense. I'm thinking more Sheffield or Chesterfield