Have grown to dislike the Lake District..

[ConfusedParticle]

Lived there for 6 years, in Ambleside then close to Kirkby Lonsdale. Absolutely breathtaking scenery and perfect for a wilderness lover such as myself, but I have only just realised recently that I don't want to go back...

I left to tie up some family estate issues and planned to move back over after covid calmed down (ahem, will it ever!), and since I prefer to rent, this is easy enough to do. There are some exquisite properties and those that I lived in were gorgeous, so it made sense to plan going back.

I have located a new place in the South Lakes and have been offered a moving date for September but I am not so sure at all now and want to have a good long think.

However! Something has been niggling at me for the past year, for such a wild and lovely place, it feels so overly commercialised that I haven't missed the insanity one bit. At first I thought I needed to get my head checked, but recently whenever I consider going back I feel stressed and weary about it. It is very different to live there than to visit as a tourist. The roads, etc are fucking crazy!

But AIBU to not want to live there anymore? It seems so odd to have 'gone off' it like this, and I have really enjoyed the pace of life being less frantic and tourist thronged since ive been in another area, I have no idea how visitors can find it 'relaxing'.

Anyone else feel similarly? For all it's beauty, the hordes (which are increasing by a few million per year) and pollution are depressing. The central areas all contain the exact same shops and any authentic remnants have been gutted.

Try the Yorkshire dales?

@ConfusedParticle

I do think the lakes get more visitors per year than many other areas. Perhaps the most? Not surprising, and who can blame anyone for wanting to see it? Perhaps, as we are a small country, our areas of beauty and wilderness are always going to be popular and crowded to some extent.

I think the sweet spot for me would still be quite rural but not without any decent infrastructure. Perhaps semi-rural. And not a very popular beauty spot!

This could start a brand new thread in all honesty - I think a lot of people on MN love a good house search! Please canvas the board - good points to consider could be:

What is your preferred type of weather? Or are you not fussed b6 annual rainfall vs sunshine?

Do you need to be in a certain area due to work, family etc?

If you need to be in a certain area for work, would you tKe a longer commute in return for your dream home?

If you move, are you aiming for your “forever” home or would it be a strategic move to progress up the ladder?

@ConfusedParticle,
No, those names don’t ring a bell but I’m going to find out as it’s bugging me now .
I just can’t believe I can’t remember the name.
😶

I live and work on the edge of the Peaks, which I think is an amazing place, but being on the edge I really don't recognise the descriptions of how bad the touristy busy-news is during these summer hols. I'm into the national park within about a 5 minute drive and can be in a choice of many lovely villages or rural pubs in 10 or 15 - I don't feel like I lose out at all not actually living in those areas themselves.

I think things might calm down in future years. We have beautiful countryside where I live but a lot of rain. If you hit a good week of weather it is wonderful but a week of intermittent rain - I probably wouldn't be back.

We live on the edge of the lakes - can be in Buttermere in 30 minutes, maybe 20 for Keswick.
We've stayed away for all the usual spots , and probably will until end Sept / Oct . Of course people want a holiday / long weekend away etc , and yes understand that people in the business will encourage visitors to reap back some money to re-coup their lockdown losses . But I can't help but feel a little sorry for holiday makers who are not seeing places ( also other parts of UK ) at their best .
Covid problems aside , it can't be doing the ecology of areas much good either.

Yes, I appreciate that there is a worrying element regarding the environment, both for people, other animals and biodiversity in general.

When I said 'the mountains wont care' or something to that effect, I was looking at it from a viewpoint of geology, how people and nature have altered the hills over time, and will continue to do so (sheep farming being one particular aspect).

I doubt I will go back to live inside the national park, although I will always visit (irony!) on occasion . I have settled upon searching for somewhere semi rural, as I want to learn to drive this year......and after that, the country is my oyster, budget allowing! For some reason I am not drawn to Milnthorpe, even though I can appreciate it's beauty. I love the 'every day is like Sunday' vibe, but I don't get a real pull from the place so have let the house go.

Will carry on searching.

Haven't rtft. I live just south of Kendal, but go into the Lake District National Park fairly regularly to walk. I wouldn't live in Ambleside if you paid me, but that bit (Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside) is the only bit that ever seems to be busy and commercialised tbh. Plenty of other places to live in, off the main tourist route.

I live in a tourist town
The last 12 months have been awful and we want to move
All the things that we loved are no longer possible, walking out to the pub, dropping in to a restaurant, even strolling through the park at the end of the road

Airbnb has seen communities destroyed and the young can’t rent here any more as everywhere is now rented to tourists.

But if you want an art gallery (and I use that term tentatively) or a cake shop we have dozens where there used to be useful shops for residents.

but can anyone recommend a really excellent Lake District pub, ideally north of Grasmere?

@MauveMagnolia

I live in a tourist town The last 12 months have been awful and we want to move All the things that we loved are no longer possible, walking out to the pub, dropping in to a restaurant, even strolling through the park at the end of the road

Airbnb has seen communities destroyed and the young can’t rent here any more as everywhere is now rented to tourists.

But if you want an art gallery (and I use that term tentatively) or a cake shop we have dozens where there used to be useful shops for residents.

That’s so sad...

@MauveMagnolia

I live in a tourist town The last 12 months have been awful and we want to move All the things that we loved are no longer possible, walking out to the pub, dropping in to a restaurant, even strolling through the park at the end of the road

Airbnb has seen communities destroyed and the young can’t rent here any more as everywhere is now rented to tourists.

But if you want an art gallery (and I use that term tentatively) or a cake shop we have dozens where there used to be useful shops for residents.

Again, id say wait a bit for life to get back to normal. The last 12 months have been very abnormal. But people won't keep having uk holidays all the time, the Air Bnb silly money won't last. Normally will return. (I for one, am planning 2 overseas holidays for 2022, possibly 3).

Our 2 holidays in the Lake District were stressful. Traffic, traffic, traffic. On the way there, on the way back and whilst we’re were there.

I’m sure if we knew the area better we could have escaped but the popular towns/villages are just rammed.

Try the daffodil

@DingDongThongs

Try the daffodil

As a talisman to ward off tourists?

@uktrippin

Ours are 7 weeks too, well, 6 and a bit.

Kendal seems to have cynically shot up in price since covid, too.
I turned down a few lovely properties there in 2019 because I needed to work closer to Ambleside.

Now, when I scan rightmove for kendal, they are mostly cramped flats, not very cheerful and shockingly priced. Surrounding areas in the Lakes don't seem to have been affected as much. Not sure why Kendal though. I didnt know it had become so popular.

@ConfusedParticle prices have leapt up massively here ( north lakes) . Mostly second houses sadly. Our area was relatively okay price-wise when we moved here as just on edge of National park, now houses are selling like hot cakes for extortionate amounts of money. A tiny 2 bedroom house has just gone for £350 k. Not sure how young families or young people can get on the housing ladder. A friend has also just been evicted from her Lakes property, as a long term tenant, so the owners can air B and B it for £2,000 a week instead of £2,000 a month. This is happening all over sadly.

[quote Hopeisallineed]@ConfusedParticle prices have leapt up massively here ( north lakes) . Mostly second houses sadly. Our area was relatively okay price-wise when we moved here as just on edge of National park, now houses are selling like hot cakes for extortionate amounts of money. A tiny 2 bedroom house has just gone for £350 k. Not sure how young families or young people can get on the housing ladder. A friend has also just been evicted from her Lakes property, as a long term tenant, so the owners can air B and B it for £2,000 a week instead of £2,000 a month. This is happening all over sadly.[/quote]
I honestly wouldn't pay those prices for a holiday within the UK, good luck to them. I wonder if they will experience a slump when the pandemic dies down. Maybe this year there are people who feel it's worth £2000 pw to have a different view in the morning..... but ongoing?

It's all rather cheeky-fuckery and im surprised people fall for it.

We looked at last minute breaks this summer and managed to get one with a small company I’ve been following for a while. Their prices have gone up slightly but only in line with the normal increases you’d see. I wouldn’t pay stupid prices even for a different view in a morning after 18months stuck at home!
In contrast, there’s a property we have stayed at several times over the years that has whacked their weekly rate up by £500. It’s nice, but not £500 worth nicer! So they are off our list in the future. Good luck to them getting out of school holiday renters when people can start going abroad again.

It’s been mentioned a few times on the thread but Perthshire could be your answer. I’ve had a love affair with the Lakes my whole life and always dreamed of living there… same as you I find it very busy now. Instead lucky enough to settle in my rural village in Perthshire but only an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh. And I’ve got Munros and Lochs on my doorstep which are off the standard tourist trail. Seems to be popular with artists too.

Yes, Western Lakes any day op. My cousin lives in Ambleside now but she is happy there and has made good friends. But a number of her neighbours comment what a friendly girl she is and unlike a good number of odd locals! She gets discounts at local food shop.

I used to tell my dd2 who loves walking that the western lakes were far superior to the overly commercialised Bowness/Ambleside areas. She used to laugh at me. But she is now a fan.

In the past couple of weeks we have been to Muncaster Castle on a gorgeous day (not usual, I admit) and watched their wonderful birds of prey displays. Then to the remote Ennerdale for a glorious day with picnic. I used to spend a lot of time around Holmrook in my late aunt's lovely cottage. Happy days.

I love the Dales, the Peaks, Scotland and Wales, but not the Lake District. It's so popular and touristy now.

Maybe find somewhere else still rural and beautiful but less visited?

Also op, someone mentioned Ulverston, South Lakes. Whilst nice enough, the prices are now ridiculous. Two larger terraces in nice areas have been on for £750,000 (it was lovely) and now £700,000 with an additional garden area for £150,000. I don't know how anyone can afford to move up now. My dd certainly can't and her and her dh both have good jobs.