To reconsider living in a national park?

[LetSophieGo]

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?

Little bit further away but Skipton is a lovely little town

I'd second the Eden valley which is beautiful but not Lake District busy. Appleby or Kirkby Stephen might be worth a look. Both have decent sized co ops. And Penrith is only 20 mins or so from Appleby. And straight onto the m6. A66 tends not to be as hectic as the national park roads and have dualled sections so you can get past the caravans. Good for the Yorkshire dales too. Just be aware of the horse fair which changes the character drastically for a few days ( few days in Appleby bit longer in the surrounding area ).

I live in Cockermouth. It's lovely, and I can be at a lake in 15 minutes.

You couldn't pay me to live in Windermere / Ambleside / Keswick. It's hell in the summer. We don't even visit in the summer months.

Broughton in Furness and Ulverston are lovely. I dont like Penrith but I can't remember why, now I come to think of it!

Have you had a look at Teesdale to the east? Eggleston is lovely and lots of lovely places around there. Much quieter than the lakes.

@BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand

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.

Interesting, I'm glad you can see what I mean about the infrastructure.

I have always loved Derbyshire, especially around Castleton/Edale, used to go camping there, and it does seem less frantic even if popular. But property availability seems less than in Lakes so might take forever to locate a decent place.

I do love the harsher weather and freshness of the Lakes though.

It is under a lot of pressure, I wonder sometimes how they're going to meet that challenge in years to come. Like it might become a victim of its own success.... loved to death indeed.

Another down side to the Lakes in my opinion, is everything in those areas is tourist related, so many gift shops, the exact same jewellery and art shops in every village, same cafe, same slogans, it is like one corporation 'owns' the place and has pushed everything else out.

I was initially surprise that there are actually very few traditional country pubs left in the popular areas (just one in Bowness), and Grasmere, to me feels like a large museum, with barely anything authentic left in it. Of course the scenery is stunning, and that can blind you to the weird, commercial drenching that has buried everything else.

But that's just me having a moan;)

going to check out these places, thanks everyone!

I live in one of the areas others have mentioned. Think coach loads of Japanese tourists. It’s a romantic area so even in the winter there are visitors. I know lots of little tricks re car parking, getting out early etc.

The number of families who turn up at say 1100 and wonder why it’s busy is staggering. No, there will be no where to park, the restaurants and cafes will be booked up. You just need to arrive earlier.

When we were 90 mins from Brighton we all got up and left the house no later than 0745. The kids hated us but they went to sleep with their pillows and then at 0930 we were at Brighton Sea Front just parking up.

When we left about 1400 there were people just looking stressed and circling around car parks shouting ‘are you going’.

There are ways round it and as you are renting it’s easy to change your mind.

I think as you're renting you should go for it as you're more flexible. If it doesn't work then you haven't bought a house and have the trouble of selling it etc. It does sound like your heart is pulling you there but understandably your head has doubts but that comes with every move and usually there is a compromise.
I don't know that area but we moved to a seaside town on the South East coast from SE London. Yes, in the Summer its busy but like others have said, you get used to a place and know what to avoid. There is a beautiful secluded beach 5 minutes from our house that only the locals know about and we spent many happy hours rock pooling when our daughter was younger. The tourists tend to flock to the beaches near holiday parks/arcades etc. It takes time to get used to something different but you've been there in the winter time and I love the different seasons here. Nothing better than a brisk, windy walk with rolling waves on the beach in Autumn/Winter .

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I have always loved Derbyshire, especially around Castleton/Edale, used to go camping there, and it does seem less frantic even if popular. But property availability seems less than in Lakes so might take forever to locate a decent place.

The Castleton / Edale /Hope are is to the Peak District what Windermere/Ambleside / Grasmere is to the Lakes.

If you live in a national park, it will all be on your doorstep. There is no need to only look at the busiest tourist areas - I can guarantee that there will be hidden gems which are just as beautiful but far less stressful.

I live within cycling distance of two of the biggest tourist areas in the Dales (one of which is Malham). But crucially - I don't live IN Malham, or the other touristy spots. Because there's no need! I have all of this beautiful countryside to enjoy without having to base myself in the middle of the tourist clusterfuck that occurs every bank holiday. I have the scenery, but not the noise and hassle.

What I'm saying is: don't think like a tourist when you are looking at areas to live. Look at the map and go visit the towns/villages in the Lakes and surrounding areas that you've never heard of or never visited before. The villages that guidebooks don't recommend people to visit. Those will be the ones worth living in.

If you need to work in South Lakes, then don't live in North Lakes including Cockermouth. It would be a real pain on the A66, A591 every day for travel. How about Staverly or Burneside ?

I know you said you were an introvert, but I would consider your options for making friends and settling in properly.
Are you likely to feel very welcome?
Are you comfortable with extended periods of darkness, which is the case in the countryside in the winter?
Are you okay with being snowed in?

I live in a tourist destination hot spot, that is also completely dead in the winter months, and I would say it is much more comfortable in urban areas in the winter, with lots of people around you and the lights and things to do. MH can go both ways out in the sticks, not everyone likes it.

Try it and see, but keep up your old links and friends where you are now, in case it doesn't work out.

We've lived in a national park for 20 years and love it! Yes, it is busy ( ish ) but we just avoid the hotspots. As a resident you soon learn where the quiet areas are. I can leave my house on foot, walk for 10miles and hardly see a soul. For the majority of the year, we can get around very easily with no issues of crowding. It has got busier over the years we've lived here, and since Covid busier still, but with 500 square miles it's never hideously busy. I'd say go for it, but live in a non tourist town.

I find visiting the Lakes even as a daytripper a bit stressful. Prefer Peak District and - appreciate it’s not NW - rural Yorkshire.

I have arty friends living in the Peaks, and it works well for them. Property (often old cottages with lots of space to grow veg) cheaper than the city, lots of nature and walking...

Good luck whatever you decide. Sounds exciting!

I live in Ambleside, its lovely. I wouldn't live anywhere else. But it's hard work in the summer.
Our little Tesco is full of people Just stood staring at things. There's no parking. Its probably raining.
If we need to nip to tesco for bread we walk. We don't take the car into Ambleside at all unless necessary really.
Kendal is less touristy, as its just outside the national park- but I wouldn't live there. (Sorry people from kendal)

@Livebythecoast

I think as you're renting you should go for it as you're more flexible. If it doesn't work then you haven't bought a house and have the trouble of selling it etc. It does sound like your heart is pulling you there but understandably your head has doubts but that comes with every move and usually there is a compromise. I don't know that area but we moved to a seaside town on the South East coast from SE London. Yes, in the Summer its busy but like others have said, you get used to a place and know what to avoid. There is a beautiful secluded beach 5 minutes from our house that only the locals know about and we spent many happy hours rock pooling when our daughter was younger. The tourists tend to flock to the beaches near holiday parks/arcades etc. It takes time to get used to something different but you've been there in the winter time and I love the different seasons here. Nothing better than a brisk, windy walk with rolling waves on the beach in Autumn/Winter .

Good luck with whatever you decide.

lovely comment, thank you

@beachsidecafe

I know you said you were an introvert, but I would consider your options for making friends and settling in properly. Are you likely to feel very welcome? Are you comfortable with extended periods of darkness, which is the case in the countryside in the winter? Are you okay with being snowed in?

I live in a tourist destination hot spot, that is also completely dead in the winter months, and I would say it is much more comfortable in urban areas in the winter, with lots of people around you and the lights and things to do. MH can go both ways out in the sticks, not everyone likes it.

Try it and see, but keep up your old links and friends where you are now, in case it doesn't work out.

I do plan to get involved socially, and already have done a lot of voluntary work in and around windermere during winter. I am happy to get into new things so my introvert part only really requires some room to breathe, dream, etc.

I think I could deal with that. Grew up on a farm and am used to a bit of isolation and bad weather. It's the heady crowds of tourism that make me shudder a bit;)

I like Penrith. A 'proper' town. It's got everything just outside of the Lakes but right next door. Best of both worlds and slightly cheaper on the property.

@Nutrigrainygoodness

I live in Ambleside, its lovely. I wouldn't live anywhere else. But it's hard work in the summer. Our little Tesco is full of people Just stood staring at things. There's no parking. Its probably raining. If we need to nip to tesco for bread we walk. We don't take the car into Ambleside at all unless necessary really. Kendal is less touristy, as its just outside the national park- but I wouldn't live there. (Sorry people from kendal)

Hi! I lived in Ambleside for a good while in 2019. Mostly during winter, close to Smithy Brow. It was absolutely gorgeous but very, very hectic road-wise. The pavements are so tiny too. What I loved most was walking a few steps down the road and the world just opened up onto a vista unlike no other! So beautiful, but the pace of life with the tourism made me jumpy.

I would really love to hear why you are not fond of Kendal. I see it as a decent 'compromise'. I doubt it will offend anyone, we are all different! Please tell :)

Out of interest, did you visit any of the popular bits of the Lakes last summer? (Between the lockdowns)

Last year made 2019 look very quiet indeed.

Ulverston sounds perfect, or one of the very nice villages surrounding.

Is there something specific about the lake district.
Its really pretty but a lot of scotland is like that but without the crowds

@BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand

Out of interest, did you visit any of the popular bits of the Lakes last summer? (Between the lockdowns)

Last year made 2019 look very quiet indeed.

Only through June. It was fairly dead, had been expecting chaos! Roads were nuts though.

@Branleuse

Is there something specific about the lake district. Its really pretty but a lot of scotland is like that but without the crowds

Yes, it seems so for me. I fell deeply in love and it never wore off. I can't really formulate why. I adore Scotland, and whilst not having been much I feel myself agreeing with you. However, I want to stay in the NW for now and in the more southern end of the Lakes due to having a few friends and family between Lancaster and Cheshire.

We are frequent visitors to the Lakes. I would never stay in Ambleside or Windermere. I don't think I've ever seen them not rammed with people and cars, even outside high season. Keswick OTOH is far more manageable. It rarely feels overwhelmingly crowded, even at the peak of summer.

I wonder if the tourist season will be longer and busier this year (and next) because people won’t be holidaying abroad so much - and needing to spread their wings after all the restrictions have been eased.