Somerset

[UKrider]

My husband has been working hard for a degree in a practical/career subject and just finished. It’s a career change for him. He’s now been offered a job with good perks and good scope to ramp up his career in his chosen field.

The job is a couple of hundred miles away in Somerset/likely Yeovil or yeovilton area.

I am currently job hunting after losing a much loved job just before our baby was born. Looking for flexi type job in public sector or 3rd sector as that was my area before. Now it seems we are on the move so I’ll be looking in the autumn in the Somerset area.

I’d love to hear from Somerset folk who can suggest cheap areas for housing within communing distance of yeovilton area. We are having to go cheaper as it’ll just be one salary and our decent deposit for now so around 130/140k for a 2 bed. It won’t be our forever home, just for a couple of years. All help needed as you can imagine!

Also any good, kind, cuddly nurseries for toddlers and older children to look out for - preferably montisorri or based around this style.

I’d also love to hear from anyone who’s moved away from friends and set up in a new location. How did it go? Any helpful hints for making the move and settling in?

It seems quite an exciting and also sad prospect all at once so hearing from other mumsnetters would be hugely reassuring.

What about street area? That’s around 20min drive from yeovilton, there’s a Montessori nursery 3 miles away in Glastonbury

Wincanton is a fairly sleepy but pleasant town but it’s still quite cheap despite being right in between the very fashionable Bruton and prett castle Cary. Easy to get to Yeovil and other towns as it’s right on the A303 and Bruton and Cary have stations, though train is pricey for commuting. Lots of young families here and lots of groups for little ones. 3 nice nurseries to choose from. PM me if you want any more info. Other side of Yeovil you have Langport which I think is still fairly cheap but the area is a bit more rural and less well connected. Yeovil itself I would avoid. Good luck with the move.

Wincanton is a fairly sleepy but pleasant town It also has the delightfully named Nog Inn (a traditional name, not a dreamed up new name)

Langport is fairly equidistant from most major Somerset towns and would give you easy access to Taunton and Bridgwater for jobs, but I don't think it's cheap. Ilminster is nice, and Crewkerne is on the Waterloo to Exeter line if you want access either way.

I don't know the Yeovil area, but if you are going to be looking for public sector/local government jobs, Taunton has a big public sector, major hospital and the national Hydrographic office.

A PP mentioned the village of Street and the Glastonbury area. All very lovely but do be prepared for 3 days of gridlock (Tues, Weds and the following Monday), last weekend of June every year! My family in Street are unable to get to work those days because nothing can get in or out of the village.

I second Wincanton, it's got a bit of character and is definitely on the up* and very easy for commuting. Having said that, Yeovil also has quite a lot going for it.

*surprisingly, Lynne Banks, the mad PR person who was the inspiration for Ab Fab has just moved there, although this may not be everyone's definition of up

I second Crewkerne - a lovely small market town. About 9 miles from Yeovil. Have a look at Rightmove - plenty of 2 beds on the market in your price range. It's got a library and swimming pool. Maybe research for public sector opportunities for yourself, but there should be plenty in that area.

Thanks everyone for all the info and insight. I’ve made a list of all those options and we are checking them out.

What about Yeovil itself? You'd get a good house for that money

I'm from the area and Yeovil is cheap but I'd never live there myself. I'd favour Ilminster or Crewkerne (be aware we pronounce it Crook-ern!) but my mum loves Street and Glastonbury. Glastonbury obv has the alternative edge to it, I love it to visit but not sure I'd live there. There's also South Petherton which is one of the bigger villages, as well as Martock which people are a bit sniffy about but has good facilities and prob a bit cheaper.

Chard that's a local joke for local people

I would stay away from Yeovil itself but Ilchester and Yeovilton are nice, as is Sherborne.

The A303 is hell on earth, especially in the summer though.

So I gather - it’s apparently a ghastly road. I think we will be involved with it one way or another though.

Yes I hear lots of people slating Yeovil. I have to consider our small budget and that it’ll be a house for a couple of years and just seems preferable to renting and paying someone else’s mortgage. That said, I do worry about Yeovil’s bad press

Thanks everyone - a few more spots on our map to check out too. Very much appreciated

Yeovil is really NOT that bad (yes, I do live and work very locally!). You will get a lot of house for your money and there are some cracking (and one bloody awesome ) primary schools.

There is a Montessori with a good reputation in Yetminster. Lower Covey

PP who thinks you can get a 2 bed for 140k in Sherborne isn't local!

Not able to provide suggestions, but also moving to Somerset shortly for DH’s job - we will be over Taunton way!

Hello, I'm in Somerset in a lovely little village within very easy commute of Yeovil and Yeovilton.

I can recommend:

Templecombe (home to a company called Thales who are huge employers in the area, has a train station and a lovely park).

Henstridge (Pretty village, decent pub).

Stalbridge (Cracking primary school, brilliant local shops).

Wincanton (sizeable town for the area, decent shops, bus route, Terry Pratchett Emporium).

Sherborne is fucking expensive, Templecombe and Wincanton are reasonably priced. Yeovil isn't brilliant but is ok. Houses are cheap(er) in the area.

Chard isn't that bad*

Crewkerne or Ilminster may be worth looking at? Possibly South Petherton?

*As long as you don't go out after dark, avoid the natives and are able to drive to get out of the damn place! It is pretty cheap though 🤔

You’ll easily get a two bed in a nice part of Yeovil for your budget. You may struggle in a village though.

Tbh, Yeovil is quite a decent little town. There’s everything you need, but it’s not too busy and housing if fairly cheap. Plenty of big employers, council offices, hospital, Westlands (leonardos now) etc.

I’m sure there is a around about as a friend of a friend works there. Most of the primary and secondary schools are also fairly decent. Only one or two you should really avoid and not huge competition for places.

Not Glastonbury, it's really been taken over by the tie-dye and never-went-home-from-the-festival casualties now.

Somerton is a pleasant small town (or possibly big village, although my friend who lived there assured me it was a town) and I also like Ilchester.

There are lots of lovely villages around - High Ham may be a bit far, but Long Sutton is nice and I quite like Martock. I know some people who live there, they've got the river at the bottom of their garden, which is nice.

Castle Cary is gorgeous, but pricey by Somerset standards.

We've relocated twice, the second time with kids. It was much easier to make friends with a baby in tow! Libraries or local Facebook pages are good sources of information re: baby groups etc. I wouldn't let Glastonbury festival put you off living in Street, it's only one weekend every other year.