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?

But it’s a beautiful part of the world, and you’ve got so many possible plan B’s, I’d go for it. Life’s too short not to grab the chance to try something you’ve long wanted to do.

Plus, tourists come and go, the beauty and drama of the scenery will always be there.

I live on the edge of another national park. Last summer it was absolutely heaving and I don't expect this year to be any better.

However, living here gives you a big advantage over visitors. Firstly you get to know the quieter spots that aren't so heavily frequented by tourists. Secondly you can go at different times of the day - early morning, or later in the day when the crowds have gone home. And thirdly, you get to enjoy it all year round.

Having lived in this area and now in a place that is deemed as a do not go area I would suggest looking at availability on the rental market as this may narrow down your choices,
The A590 and A591 are notoriously busy. Being born, brought up and currently living in Cumbria I have always avoided the tourist hotspots in high season and visit and appreciate the beauty in quieter times.
There’s lots of off beat beautiful areas to be explored and some areas are not as welcoming to off comers as others.

You are all stressing me out now about my half term trip to Windermere, postponed from last year...I live in a touristy area and found last summer so stressful at times, am I swapping one crowded area for another (I expected it to be busy but will I actually hate it? )

@Wheezyfreespirit

Having lived in this area and now in a place that is deemed as a do not go area I would suggest looking at availability on the rental market as this may narrow down your choices, The A590 and A591 are notoriously busy. Being born, brought up and currently living in Cumbria I have always avoided the tourist hotspots in high season and visit and appreciate the beauty in quieter times. There’s lots of off beat beautiful areas to be explored and some areas are not as welcoming to off comers as others.

True.

Availability will be my guide ultimately because, coming from an urban area, I can see that there are much less available properties at any given time.

Most places available in the hot spots are flats, or sandwiched in-between food joints and holiday lets. Further out, prices drop a little and small cottages/houses appear. It depends on how much I am willing to spend, I suppose.

I have only 'lived' there on a temp basis and I already avoid the busy seasons. Hence my reticence, I guess.

We have some wonderful places over here in the north east, Durham heritage coast is just spectacular, as is the Northumberland coast, we have the north Pennines AOUNB on our doorstep, Durham dales, castles galore. If you really have no limits, visit some new places too before you decide.
Barnard Castle has many of the charms of the lake District, without such intense tourism, surrounded by beautiful countryside, decent enough high street and close road links to bigger towns for more choice of shops if needed, and it's not much of a drive over to the lakes if you wanted to do a day trip.
Stanhope is just gorgeous.
Seaham and Blackhall for the coast.
There's some lovely historic market towns in the valleys too, it's not all about the mountains and the coastline.
We do get our share of tourism over here but it doesn't get as gridlocked, generally less intense tourism than the north west.

If I could live anywhere in the country, it would be Holy Island. Even with the thousands of visitors. It's my happy place.

I live in cockermouth and it's a perfect compromise. Close to the busy and quiet lakes without the worst of the tourism and traffic. I love it here.

I live in the Algarve which (until last year!) gets very busy in the summer months. It is really easy to avoid the crowds when you know where and when to go. I would go for it!

You may have to put up with the high season to enjoy the quieter and longer longer lower season There’s always a compromise (ask Kirsty and Phil),

It will be busy @FlyingFlamingo but think it will be like that everywhere.

I would go for it! I’ve lived in the Lakes for years and you quickly get to know the quieter beautiful places. I live in Staveley, a village between Kendal and Windermere. For me it’s the perfect place, not overly touristy yet bustling, and not too far to Kendal for shopping etc. Plus it has a train station. The busy summers don’t put me off at all. I have days out to Hawkshead, Grasmere etc in the quieter months and stick to the less touristy places in the summer. I’m grateful every day to live here.

Mainly because of the higher (but not high) crime rate.
Quite often on Facebook there are posts from people that have had things taken from either their garden or shed.
There was a murder or 2 last year or the year before.
Nothing major if you compare in to cities or big towns. But enough to put me off.

@Lakeswimming

I would go for it! I’ve lived in the Lakes for years and you quickly get to know the quieter beautiful places. I live in Staveley, a village between Kendal and Windermere. For me it’s the perfect place, not overly touristy yet bustling, and not too far to Kendal for shopping etc. Plus it has a train station. The busy summers don’t put me off at all. I have days out to Hawkshead, Grasmere etc in the quieter months and stick to the less touristy places in the summer. I’m grateful every day to live here.

I would LOVE Staveley! Not many properties pop up though for rent. There was one I had my eye on for a while but it was in terrible repair and not worth the asking price. Kind of always looked at it longingly as I passed through from Kendal to Windermere. Perfect:)

@Nutrigrainygoodness

Mainly because of the higher (but not high) crime rate. Quite often on Facebook there are posts from people that have had things taken from either their garden or shed. There was a murder or 2 last year or the year before. Nothing major if you compare in to cities or big towns. But enough to put me off.

oh I remember the murder, was it a knifing? It was on an estate - but I will be honest it still looked like happy valley Sunday compared to many NW urban towns!

Can you just find a place a couple of miles out of the main tourist drag?

My parents and DBro live in a very touristy town and all holidays from Feb half term onwards are crawl along even during Covid. But despite this, they love living there and we get used to it. Just shop before the tourists get up and use back street cut throughs they don't spot.

I’d be off there In a heart beat. I’m in Manchester so most of our long weekends are spent in the lakes. Plus my family have a friend moving to grange this weekend. I’d go definitely

Why don’t you just try it for a year and see?

Do it.
Try it out for a year or so and if it's not for you, you can move.
You'll still have the experience of having lived there.

Beautiful areas attract tourists - so you get the advantage if the beautiful area, but disadvantage of the tourists. Tourists also bring in money so the areas don't decline.
If you don't have to regularly commute to work every day, there should be less of a problem for you.
If you are renting you have nothing to lose - you can always relocate to a quieter rural spot.

@CharlotteRose90

I’d be off there In a heart beat. I’m in Manchester so most of our long weekends are spent in the lakes. Plus my family have a friend moving to grange this weekend. I’d go definitely

my ex partner (we are still close) is in love with grange over sands.

my issue is I havent really explored cumbria outside of the hotspots, and for the foreseeable I won't have a vehicle (will have later in year though). I will need to be able to research and visit which is difficult during covid, but I guess that depends how you look at it, I know.

I am currently interested in knowing more about Ulverston, grange, penrith.
I do want to be able to dip in and out of some easy local work - my self employment is good, but does have occasional dips, where a bit of extra work would be great. I just need some flexibility as well as the lovely environment. Im covered for rent up to £800pcm and already have 2 yrs worth put aside. It is a new start for me and even though as a renter I can afford to make a mistake, it is still expensive and id rather be careful.

Ulverston more social, and lots of lovely pubs and events ie flag festival, Dickensian festival,
Grange is more afternoon tea but lovely.
Both on A590 and on train line,
I would happily live in either,
Barrow is ideal for extra income, commutable and industrial. Theres a Cistercian monastery, seals on the beaches and Walney and Piel Islands,

lot of votes for ulverston here, what is so special about it?

I used to live and work in Ambleside and it was hell in the summer. The drive to Bowness could easily take you an hour or more - in off season it's about ten minutes.

I now live on the west coast and it's so much nicer. Much quieter, but the scenery is still beautiful and I can be in Ambleside in 40 minutes on a good day.

Ulverston is lovely and I'd definitely pick there over Windermere or Bowness. I would also be aware that Bowness in particular has quite a bad drugs problem.

Ulverston has a lot of festivals - there's even a breast feeding festival!
Cafes, little shops + booths, Aldi and M&S.
Train to Manchester fairly regularly.
Grange is nice but more of an older population.
I was in Glenridding today. It was rammed.

I lived in a little hamlet at the side of Lake Windermere down towards Newby Bridge. It had great access to the touristy part but was generally much quieter. Quick to get to Ulverston and the motorway too, perks of avoiding the dreadful A591. My office was in Grasmere and it was dreadful driving there year round but much more so in summer.

I have friends that live in Grange and it is nice, but also known as ‘Heaven’s waiting room’ for a reason