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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it is mercilessly cold and damp in Cumbria?!

100 replies

Pheasantlysurprised · 21/10/2021 14:01

I lived there for 4 years, had moved further north from Cheshire, and the climate came as a shock to me.
Yeh yeh, im a bit of a soft touch and do feel the cold easily, but wtf that was a steep learning curve. Even in dry, sunny spring weather (not including midsummer) I still felt damp and freezing, and within a fortnight of moving there had packed up most of my everyday clothes (wool, winter skirt, tights, cashmere, etc) and had to swap them for tightly sealed puffer coats and thermal waterproof leggings .
Became a walking ad for mountain warehouse and Fjallraven.

I spent 4 years trussed up like a sausage, swaddled in hiking gear, tog obsessed and running up a disaster of an annual fuel bill.

The place is so, so beautiful, I love the people and miss it very much, but am hesitant to ever move back because of the weather. I like rain and my favourite season is winter, but christ that was something else.

Im now a bit further south since the pandemic and looking to move again, and not sure what to do.
Can the climate really put you off a place?
I am self employed wfh so location is flexible, but currently don't drive. I really liked it up there but honestly feel depressed about returning due to this.

OP posts:

MamsellMarie · 21/10/2021 14:20

I think the damp makes for a more penetrating cold. so yes it is cold. And wet. the answer imv is to have a lovely, spacious, well heated house.

Original poster

Pheasantlysurprised · 21/10/2021 15:15

im more concerned about being outdoors!

OP posts:

garlictwist · 21/10/2021 15:16

I don't think it's any more damp than other places in the UK (well, the north of England anyway, can't really speak for the south). I lived in Cumbria for 20 years and now live in Yorkshire and there's not really any difference.

NotMyCat · 21/10/2021 15:21

I'm in Lancashire in one of the towns that won wettest city. YANBU

WhatDidISayAlan · 21/10/2021 15:23

I find it very wet, and I live in north Manchester and fell walk up in the Lakes regularly! I’m thinking of moving in a few years and considering more East - maybe Yorkshire Dales way, as I think over t’other side of the Pennines it will be drier, but the Lakes will still be in reach within an hour or so’s drive.

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/10/2021 15:35

Partsof the Lake District have eye watering annual rainfall levels, over twice what I grew up with in the Midlands.

Recently I heard a group of N Yorks/Cumbria people comparing the different levels of rainfall in their respective villages. So yes, it’s damp, and damp enough that the locals are acutely aware of it.

StoneofDestiny · 21/10/2021 15:46

Yorkshire is one of the coldest, dampest and rain filled places I've ever lived and I've lived all over the UK

Sleepyhamster · 21/10/2021 15:50

There are some statistically very wet places in cumbria, lucky there are all the lakes otherwise where would it all go

mountbattenbergcake · 21/10/2021 15:51

Ooh I couldn't live there, too cold for me.

Are you the same poster who wanted to rent in Ambleside?

Taoneusa · 21/10/2021 15:54

I read that Chichester is the sunniest place in the UK. I would move there!

Heyduggeeeee · 21/10/2021 15:55

I used to live in the North West and now live in the North East. The weather is a lot drier on this side of the pennines. Less windy on the whole too. We were contemplating a move to Cardiff at one point but I just find the rain in the west a bit much so we stayed put . We can still be in the lakes in an hour, or Northumberland, or the North York moors, or the east durham coastline. Perfect positioning really!!

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/10/2021 16:13

Yorkshire is one of the coldest, dampest and rain filled places I've ever lived and I've lived all over the UK At least we don't spend our time complaining on MN about the heatwave, and grumbling about the effect of the drought on our gardens . Admittedly, when we wee house hunting in Yorkshire, we noticed 1) every scrap of floor was covered with carpet, and halls were often covered with an assorted pile of off cuts and 2) every vendor was really keen to show off their "really warm" airing cupboard.

Relatives claim that the difference in temperature between Hartlepool and Manchester is "one overcoat". West may be wetter, but it's also warmer.

RAFHercules · 21/10/2021 16:15

Was it also to do with the housing OP? I imagine a lot of the housing in the Lake district is pretty old style with inefficient heating.
If I could afford it, I'd move to Surrey.

AuntyMabelandPippin · 21/10/2021 16:27

I lived there for 15 years.

I then moved to the west of Scotland.

It's much wetter here.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 21/10/2021 17:12

Lol I spent every childhood summer holiday there- I only remember one hot day (there could have been more but certainly not warm enough to stick in my mind) I didn’t care back then but I could very much believe this.

immersivereader · 21/10/2021 17:32

I'm from Lancashire originally and now live in Canada. I'd take minus 25 and bone dry any day over 8 degrees, damp and windy. It gets in your bones (and spirit)

Alwaysonthegoslow · 21/10/2021 17:34

Anytime I go to Machester/Leeds, I think its nice but the weather puts me off. I live further south.

immersivereader · 21/10/2021 17:34

Yorkshire is one of the coldest, dampest and rain filled places I've ever lived and I've lived all over the UK

Yes, but it's God's own county and gawjuss

Phyllis321 · 21/10/2021 17:37

We holidayed in Northumberland a few years ago - I’m sure it’s ravishing but we couldn’t see through the rain-filled murk everywhere.

gogohm · 21/10/2021 17:42

Generally the drier places are the east, south east and East Midlands, away from mountains in other words. The more beautiful it is from a landscape perspective the wetter it is in Britain. That said there are microclimates that means a town is protected somewhat, we are drier than Bristol 8 miles away. Would it put me off? I would want a better insulated house and an open fire in colder areas!

Twitchynose · 21/10/2021 17:45

There’s a reason they have lakes in the the Lake District… My old neighbour there said she didn’t need a water feature in her garden, there was vertical one from the sky most days!

Original poster

Pheasantlysurprised · 21/10/2021 19:09

I spent many years of my childhood on a farm near Burscough in the north west. Nothing, literally nothing prepared me for the south lakes!
There's a special sort of cold, my DP puts it down tot he damp, that I personally find really uncomfortable.
I do love it there, in every other way - I adore low light and dark gloomy weather. It's a shame.
I am now considering Shropshire ;)

OP posts:

Original poster

Pheasantlysurprised · 21/10/2021 19:10

to a pp, no ive not been in Ambleside. I was in kendal.

OP posts:

DaisyNGO · 21/10/2021 19:12

@Pheasantlysurprised

im more concerned about being outdoors!

I understand. I really wanted to move north for the kind of property we could get but the realit is, even today's London weather, after sunset, annoys me. I think it's 10c at the mo which isn't even cold.

Original poster

Pheasantlysurprised · 21/10/2021 19:12

@immersivereader

I'm from Lancashire originally and now live in Canada. I'd take minus 25 and bone dry any day over 8 degrees, damp and windy. It gets in your bones (and spirit)

have a friend who moved to Canada to work, and he said exactly this!

OP posts:

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