AIBU to consider moving to Dorset?

[surreygirl1987]

DH and I are ready to change jobs and would like to move in time for our oldest to start primary school. An opportunity has come up in Dorset, near Poole. However, I've never actually been there. We currently live in Surrey. Is Poole really dull or is there plenty to do down there for young families / a couple in their 30s? We like sports events (runs, mudruns, obstacle course races, open water swimming), events (like food festivals and Christmas fairs type things), games like escape rooms and treasure hunts, national trust places, restaurants, watching theatre.... Outskirts of Brighton would be ideal for us but job just hasn't come up there. Would we find Poole / Bournemouth okay?

@Mumofsend Its really interesting to hear your
opinions of Rossmore/Parkstone area. as someone who live there.. We found a house that was exactly what we wanted in theory on Herbert Avenue not too far from st aldhelms but were really put off by other parents views online here and also the echo and the news reports in general about the area. We planned for Manorside academy and actually got a place for both DS's and then hoped they would go onto Magna. The Head has changed so we figured in the next 2 years it could be a little less intense in terms of strictness.

But we pulled out of the sale in the end as we were so put off by it all and every estate agent we have talked to has either said the area is very dodgy or we dodged a bullet by not buying there. So now im really confused!

I love Dorset and Poole and we visit regularly. Lucky you!

@mrsJayMumof3 I have to admit I'm not there yet on sending my DC to ST aldhelms but it is definitely improving.

I've lived in Bournemouth and Poole my whole life and even stayed here when my family moved away. I grew up in two of the roughest areas (Turlin Moor and Bourne Estate/Rossmore) but now live in the beautiful Branksome Park area.

The area is absolutely beautiful. From the beaches (various "chines" that you can walk to from loads of areas in Bournemouth and Poole), the Forest on your doorstep, all the woodland you could possibly dream of and more, you're onto a winner.

I went to St Aldhem's Academy when it was Kemp Welch, it was a very underfunded school but had a lot of heart. I loved it but it does have its problems - you've basically got three huge "estates" that converge onto the school, hence the reason it has the issues it does.

Industry wise, we've got a massive amount of banking, insurance and creative companies. We're a bit of a "hub" for all things digital and have our own "silicon valley" equivalent.

Come down for two weeks, take a boat trip to Brownsea Island, go for a massive hike through the New Forest and talk an epic walk from Bournemouth Pier to Sandbanks along the coast. Come down at the weekend when it's warmer and you'll get a sense of who we are.

We're a friendly lot down here and we've got the friendliness you'd expect in the South West without the "this is a local town for local people" attitude you may be afraid of.

Also - Bournemouth is very international, with lots of North African, Turkish, Spanish and Chinese people and businesses. You won't find better food anywhere.

You'll be very welcome here :)

Oh, lastly (sorry)

Bournemouth Train Station can get you to Waterloo in an hour and 40 minutes and to Southampton in 30.

You can fly to quite a few international destinations from Bournemouth Airport (off the top of my head...Turkey, The Balearics, Greece etc) but Gatwick can be reached on the coach or via train. You just change at Southampton for a direct Gatwick train. I've done it many times.

Locally, we have a great "uber rival" style taxi company with fixed, fair pricing. Buses are excellent and Bournemouth and Poole has a few train stations - Parkstone, Poole, Branksome, Bournemouth, Pokesdown For Boscombe, Hamworthy - that mean you can get where you need to easily.

Hope my slightly biased view helps :D

Oh it sounds SO lovely! Really hope the potential job works out - I think my heart is set on Poole now! Definitely going for it anyway.
@MrsJayMumof3 yes I'm 33... 2 DC, oldest is 2 and youngest is still a baby 🥰 It sounds a wonderful place for kids/families...

I have a number of sporty friends who moved down there and love it - always posting about amazing runs and the fun they have had learning to sail.

@medusawashere Great info thanks.

@surreygirl1987 Same age but with 3 DC. 2 DS's and a baby DD who is 1.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and area info esp @Mumofsend ! We put an offer in on the house in Christchurch today and its been accepted. So with no chain above us or below our buyers we 'may' be in by christmas .....fingers crossed

Covid dependant.

Bournemouth is fab, we like in a small town outside and love living here. There is plenty to do and the beach is gorgeous.

Oh I love Christchurch, fingers crossed for you!

Poole is lovely, expensive though! Just don't move and expect everything to be the same, not a way to endear yourself to new friends and neighbours - "back in x we had x" the coffee shop/toddler group/deli etc was better in x". That sort of thing. Everywhere has differences, if you can embrace them do it. Most the stuff you list are everywhere, just think about the more individual places you go. I've just moved and I'm only too aware of comparing previous locations, I'm sure dp is fed up with me moaning about the "tiny" supermarket

Btw your nearest airport is Southampton, since Flybe's demise not sure it has flights! Bristol is not much closer than Gatwick, I drive from Bristol to the new forest a lot, takes ages!

I've lived in Poole all my adult life....I'm 50
My kids are now late 20 s
It's a great place to be based
We have an airport !!!

@OptimisticSix Thank you!!

@MrsJayMumof3 I would definitely avoid Herbert Ave, and the surrounding roads. Sadly whilst the majority of people are fine, there is a noticeable amount of anti-social behaviour.
As a school, St Aldhelms is improving, and if your DC have additional learning needs they seem very geared up to support them well. However if you have very able & academic learners then they will find it hard to reach their full potential. The academic curriculum is quite narrow compared to other schools at GCSE level, with a broader range of vocational options. They currently have no 6th form, so they will need to move for post 16 education. I think it will be a few more years of progress yet before I would consider sending my dc there.

@MrsJayMumof3 just seen your update on Christchurch - fingers crossed for you!

@ATowelAndAPotato I agree with St Aldhelms. Mine are only early primary so it could continue up and I would consider it but still some work to do. I don't think they have police on site anymore?

Bishop Aldhelms and Heatherlands and Manorside are all fab primary schools though!

So sorry to partially hijack this thread but we’re about to move to dorset (specifically verwood/ three legged cross/ Ferndown area) and we don’t know much about the area or what it’s like - can anyone help?

I too live in Surrey and holiday 4 times a year in Dorset and have done for nearly 20 years.

I find Dorset quite like Surrey, the 2 extremes of wealth and poverty, very well to do places right next door to very poor run down areas, quite odd.

Oestrogen patches causing awful nausea and headache. Anyone else experienced this?? Thanks

Sorry posted in wrong place! 🤪

Bournemouth is always one of those places (along with Brighton) that the papers show during a heatwave where the beaches look absolutely rammed, with people packed in like sardines.

@Dongdingdong it certainly has its moments but then non-locals just head to the same spots. Usually further along these spots is much emptier beaches. People CBA to walk along.

They always show by Bournemouth pier, there’s loads more beach in both directions. I’ve never sat near the pier.