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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To reconsider living in a national park?

165 replies

LetSophieGo · 02/05/2021 15:20

Mid 40's single.
Have opportunity to move to the Lake District (southern, windermere area) after having lived for years in a fairly depressed urban town.

Am self employed and able to afford it as a renter so no financial concerns. I am happy to continue renting as I like the freedom and simplicity of it, so that's just a personal choice. Curiously, many of the properties are much nicer and somewhat cheaper than my urban area, so it would be win-win in that regard.

However, I have been working on creative projects in this area on and off for years, I absolutely adore the place and fit in well there. Most of the time I have spent there has been in winter months, so not at the height of tourism. I have been very open to the possibility of moving there full time for a while.

But now the time has come and I can make the move, I am having a few doubts. I wonder if the tourism and constant traffic, crowds, etc might get on my nerves full time. Any summer experience I have had there has admittedly stressed mea little but thought it might ease off on me if I got used to it.
After sating in Ambleside for 1 month a few summers ago I was relieved to get out of there! Every day was a constant crush and it always felt like there were far too many people for the size and infrastructure of the place.

I absolutely LOVE this part of the world and can work so well there as an artist, I enjoy walking and the whole mountain/outdoorsy thing. I am happy other people love it too, and don't blame them for crowding in to enjoy it.

Anyone done this and regretted it? Would my life become an endless crush into Booths hoping my fave foods havent sold out for the weekend? Would I never get any privacy or get away from noise? Living alone I would prefer not to live too far out in the middle of nowhere so would have to keep relatively close to a town like windermere, Ambleside, etc.

Like I said I have more or less lived there for 4 years but only between Nov-Feb.

Would you do it or is it best to leave it for holidays?

OP posts:
Original poster
LetSophieGo · 02/05/2021 16:29

sound like me

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 02/05/2021 16:43

I've been here 11 years and I still look out of my window and go 'i live HERE.. wow'...

Cannot say the same for 10 years with a view of the M66!

It is honestly worth it, the grockle traffic is annoying but you quickly learn where it will be and how/when to avoid it.

That said, I own a house here and I am not renting, but even so... I'd do it again in a heartbeat, I've loved this area since I was a very small child and I can't see me moving far from here now.

Tavelo · 02/05/2021 16:46

I lived and worked in the lakes long term and found the busyness quite unbearable at times. One of the reasons the places around the centre and south where you described are so busy is the main roads run straight through.
There are huge perks to living there though, so I suppose do a lot of research on location in advance.

Quincie · 02/05/2021 16:53

The tourists mean there are probably decent pubs, hotels and restaurants and supermarkets. You can live in a beautiful area but have no amenities and rubbish public transport.

munchbunch12 · 02/05/2021 16:58

Have you considered Ulverston? It's a lovely little town.

Tinkerbellswings · 02/05/2021 16:58

I was also coming to say what about north lakes such as cockermouth and surrounding villages? Easy access to west Cumbria and very self sufficient town, short drive to Keswick and central lakes. We lived in a village just outside the town for some time and it was really lovely.

Roadtohades · 02/05/2021 17:13

Consider Galloway in SW Scotland - stunning scenery, lots of artists, far fewer tourists than the Lake District. And cheap rents.

mrshonda · 02/05/2021 17:14

I lived for 7 years on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, and loved it. I was in a small tourist town. Personally I loved it and wished I'd never moved away, but there were some compromises to be made. Be aware that the crowds will drive you batty in summer - I was self employed and made sure I ventured out (especially at weekends) before 10 and after 5 to avoid the busiest times. The roads can get very choked - plan your journeys wisely. There was a lack of some amenities where I lived - 14 miles to the closest large supermarket, 25 miles to the closest large cinema or serious shopping centre, public transport was extremely patchy. And the council tax was ruinous compared with other surrounding places. But if you can bear with that, you'll be rewarded with stunning surroundings, outdoor enjoyment all year round and walks from your front door. I loved driving down into the little valley where the small town lay and seeing the lights twinkling to welcome me home.

terfinginthevoid · 02/05/2021 17:17

I was also coming to suggest Cockermouth. We stayed in a village not far from there a couple of years ago, in a summer week of unusually hot weather, and were easily able to drive to hills and go for fabulous walks where we hardly saw anyone. I wouldn't want to live anywhere around Windermere.

Themusicis0utside · 02/05/2021 17:19

I'd go for it.
You learn to 'go with the flow' and work with the tourists - meaning that you get out when it's quieter and get on with household/admin stuff when it's busier. Working weekends can take the edge off as weekdays can be quieter, even if there's not the extremely noisy bikes and endless convoys of identical sports cars.

The sheer volume of people can be a nightmare but look at their faces - the majority of them have a smile on their face as they are here because they want to be. Compare that with your average town in the UK...those smiles make you feel fortunate to live in a place that everyone considers a great place to be.

Tourism which creates seasonal work can also be a way of making extra money when required...

The amount of friends that now want to call round for a cup of tea because you live in a lovely area!

There's pros and cons to every consideration of where to live in the UK - I firmly believe there is no perfect place but you can come close.

Good luck with your decision. :-)

BonnieDundee · 02/05/2021 17:23

Another one suggesting Ulverston, Cockermouth or Kendal.

Also Penrith or Lancaster. Close enough but away from the traffic

PoTheDog · 02/05/2021 17:26

Cockermouth is strangely quiet considering! Or somewhere like St Bees / Ravenglass if you like the coast?

Original poster
LetSophieGo · 02/05/2021 17:26

Excellent advice and ideas, thank you!
I agree that it will likely be in a surrounding area, will be taking a closer look at Ulverston for example. Perhaps Kendal, which I do know quite well.

It is true that it won't leave my heart, it has felt like my 'calling' for many years. And whilst there are niggles and down sides to it, I honestly can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.

OP posts:
RaspberryCoulis · 02/05/2021 17:27

I used to work in city centre Edinburgh, right on the Royal Mile.

Fecking nightmare every August.

Original poster
LetSophieGo · 02/05/2021 17:29

@RaspberryCoulis

I used to work in city centre Edinburgh, right on the Royal Mile.

Fecking nightmare every August.

I love Edinburgh! I have family there and I truly thought the locals were the nicest people I had ever come across!
OP posts:
MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 02/05/2021 17:31

I wouldn't live in the tourist heavy parts of the lake district if you paid me....... I'm around 30 minutes away and that's plenty.

I'd live within the lakes tho, so places like Ennerdale, Penrith, Ulverston which whilst penrith and Ulverston aren't in the national parks they're very commutable........then however you have to factor in the traffic actually getting to work. Which is ridiculous.

I will say though the lakes only tends to get stupidly busy during holidays and weekends. Midweek at term time is when I visit. It's nowhere near as bad.

lavieengrenache · 02/05/2021 17:33

Penrith (there's a Booths!), Eden Valley, Cockermouth, Kirby Lonsdale? All just outside the National Park, and it makes a difference.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/05/2021 17:35

My sister lives in Grasmere. The traffic can be an issue. But it's still a lovely place to live. They are moving to Penrith shortly as they can buy there. They looked at Kendal but the commute down the A591 to their workplaces would be awful In the summer.

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 02/05/2021 17:35

Kendal is OK. But a weird place, I can't put my finger on it. It's always reminded me a little of Glastonbury (( the town, not the Festival)) for its weird, off vibe.

However it could be me that's weird and everyone else is normal. 💁😂😂😂

TheYearOfSmallThings · 02/05/2021 17:37

You are in such a great position since you want to be renting anyway - why wouldn't you give it a try?

If it doesn't work out you can always move again, but if you know you want to leave the place you live now it seems a no-brainer to move to the place of your dreams.

Flipflops85 · 02/05/2021 17:40

Personally, I’d look at the Duddon valley/Broughton in Furness / Ulverston areas. Much quieter, would suit an artist, beautiful and very close to the more touristy bits of you needed to access them.

mutinyonthebunty · 02/05/2021 17:45

Kirkby Lonsdale is a lovely town not far from Kendal with a Booths and lots of lovely small independent shops and pubs/restaurants. You can easily get to loads of places from there. My grandpa was the vicar there for many years and I have a lot of fond memories of it and try and visit when I can, there are tourists but it's not nearly as busy as the lakes.

Kindlingwood · 02/05/2021 17:52

What about Penrith? Still very close to the north lakes and nice town. And easy access to motorway and main roads. Or are you wanting closer to south lakes which are nice but less well equipped (apart from tourists)

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 02/05/2021 17:53

Any summer experience I have had there has admittedly stressed mea little but thought it might ease off on me if I got used to it. After sating in Ambleside for 1 month a few summers ago I was relieved to get out of there! Every day was a constant crush and it always felt like there were far too many people for the size and infrastructure of the place.

This is your answer really. The Lakes isn't a nice place to live in summer unless you are in an unusually quiet corner of it (the far western side would be best for this). The Lakes is being loved to death, and has far too many visitors for the infrastructure.

I live in a national park, close to the Lakes, but where I live only attracts a fraction of the tourists the Lakes has. As a consequence, it's a lovely relaxed place to live. The summer can be busy, but not stressfully so.

So maybe look at other rural / mountainous areas other than the Lakes? You are likely find something nicer and much quieter.

Bumpsadaisie · 02/05/2021 17:55

We live in the pretty area just south of Kendal - it's an aonb.

We have a Booths, we can be in the lakes in 20 mins.

But we never have to worry about tourist traffic.

In the summer we never go to Windermere or Ambleside etc but go to the western lakes instead.