To consider small rural village with no car ?

[ConfusedParticle]

I am ready to learn and purchase a vehicle, but it has been usurped a bit by covid.

Have written in past about wanting to return living in Cumbria, but having spent a lot of time in the honeypots (Ambleside for years, it was challenging even if pretty!), decided it wasn't for me. I am middle aged, single, and have recently started a small print related business from home relating to my output as an artist. I have a small but decent inheritance and have no other responsibilities.
So i am looking for somewhere nice within my budget (less than £700 pcm) but don't want to be too hammered by tourism.

Have noticed some lovely, very well priced cottages around the edges of Carlisle, little villages with a short enough walk to a train station - Corby, Wetheral, etc. I am really interested, but not sure as never been that far north. I will be driving as soon as i can, but for time being would be dependent on deliveries and trains, etc.
My aim is to grow my business and maybe take on extra work/skills also. A new start really. I want somewhere with a lot of nature and a slower pace, but not utterly cut off or devoid of infrastructure. SO these villages look lovely.
Have interest in Ulverston and Grange, also, but much more expensive there - possibly for a good reason!

So would IBU to consider this, or wait until i am more settled with a car?

Only if it has public transport. If not, how are you going to get anywhere?

Don't move without a car. You will quickly become isolated and very lonely.

Well i have to move, and have always done it without a car, but not to remote areas im not familiar with.
I lived around windermere for years without a vehicle and life was fine.

not sure about far north though.

I lived in a place that wasn’t rural but with a rubbish bus schedule and let me tell you how isolating it was omg. If you’re someone with no interest in friends or doesn’t really need much human interaction it will suit you right down to the ground. I used to be very introverted and even then the loneliness almost killed me! Even then I did have my OH and young DD but I was a housewife (but I supposed WFH means our stories could be similar) and just no new faces was AWFUL. I would fully recommend getting a car before you make the leap but either way I wish you luck on your fresh start!

@ConfusedParticle there's a bus service from Carlisle to wetheral so it wouldn't be awful. I don't know how frequent they are though.
Warwick bridge is a nice area on the outskirts of Carlisle too with a regular bus service

Probably true, thanks!

Maybe somewhere semi rural before then?
I do like cumbria, not sure what to consider..loved kendal but oh so expensive for tiny, pokey little flats.

Based on my own experience I would be really cautious. We moved to a different rural area without a car (we planned to get one a year after we moved when we could better afford it, but as that time came my DH was then unable to drive due to health reasons...I started to learn and then lockdown...you get the picture). We ended up moving.

The place we lived in had great public transport links...people would say how brilliant it was. However, we quickly discovered that all of the people saying that had cars, none of those people actually used public transport for day to day living. There was a train once an hour to a nearby city (only 20 minutes) and a bus (which took longer) every hour or two. Only there wasn't in reality. Trains frequently didn't run, especially on weekends (thanks Northern Rail) and when they did were delayed more often than not (waiting at a rural station in the cold with nowhere to go and no idea if your train will ever arrive is never fun). Similarly buses were about 50/50. Sometimes they just didn't show up, with no way of telling when the next one would be. Given the area was rural you were then faced with a choice of waiting for an hour or two or just giving up.

It made for a really isolating existence to be honest, particularly as we had moved to a place with no family / friends. We were often stuck in the village (though I did have young children which made this more difficult). But I couldn't access anything social outside the village as they always seemed to be at the wrong time / location for the bus. Even going to the library was a full day on event, or nipping to get some vital thing from B&Q when something broke. It wears you down after a while.

My recommendation would be to wait if you can. It's just getting off to a bad start in a new home can sour the whole thing.

Depends what is within walking distance ( shop? PO? Parcel drop off? ) how far is nearest GP. Check postcodes of properties to make sure your chosen supermarket will deliver. If you’re within walking distance of a railway station that’s useful and more likely to keep running in really bad weather when buses might stop.
I live in a village and wouldn’t want to live without a car but I could if necessary. Have a village with good facilities.

It might take you months to learn to drive and get a test slot. Personally I think you you be bonkers to actively chose to live somewhere rural without a car.
We live about 25 minutes walk from the nearest bus stop, no buses at all on Sunday and very sparse service the rest of the week. Life would be completely impractical without a car.
Need a GP/ dentist/optician/hair appointment in nearest small town?, walk 25 mins, wait for bus, bus cancelled, wait another 2-3 h, miss appointment, or get there and then have to wait 2-3 for a bus to get back, and you have to decline most appointments as there would be no return bus after that time.
Delivery missing essential ( to you ) items - see above for resolution
Taxis are virtually non existent round here too.

[quote myhousebuild]@ConfusedParticle there's a bus service from Carlisle to wetheral so it wouldn't be awful. I don't know how frequent they are though.
Warwick bridge is a nice area on the outskirts of Carlisle too with a regular bus service [/quote]
as far as i know, the ride is a matter of mins into carlisle from wetheral. If i could easily get to wetheral station, not bad.
But i am still a bit concerned about what to do there.
I am an introvert but i do need human connection..

for instance, there's a decent art community in south lakes, Ulverston, etc, but i know nothing of how isolated i would be in the outer reaches of carlisle!

some great advice thanks! will consider all points.

@ConfusedParticle

Well i have to move, and have always done it without a car, but not to remote areas im not familiar with. I lived around windermere for years without a vehicle and life was fine.

not sure about far north though.

Windermere is not isolated, plenty of buses in and out throughout the day. Remote areas do not have such kind of facilities, many don’t even have buses running through them.

Considering people are waiting in some cases up to a year to get a turn for a driving test, and you won’t have a driving instructor near, I cannot imagine how you are going to survive with no access to transports links and no easy access to driving tuition and testing. Most supermarkets will not deliver if you are not in a route with plenty of clients. Have you checked if supermarkets deliver to the villages you are considering?

And do not forget, the more remote the place, the less likely they are to be friendly and welcoming to new comers.

I know, the driving issue and waits are depressing me.
ive been so depressed about this that i need to stay focused on the positive stuff, it's been a rough couple of years (loss, fear, etc).

So would anyone advise a better spot to begin in the south or thereabouts in cumbria?
I am currently lodging with family near Garstang lancs, have no fixed abode, was due to leave when second lockdown occurred! I do have to get going soon.

Wetheral has the train station and bus route so I would recommend there 👍🏼 Similarly you’ve got Brampton and Dalston

Can you rent for a bit? If you’ve never driven before I really would be wary as it can take a long time. Months or years depending on how committed you are and if you have any anxiety. do you have friends nearby?

As pps have said, do NOT move there on the premise that you will pass your test soon. As pps have said, you could be waiting a year before you get a test slot, and then you could fail.

Rent with monthly rolling contract so not too committed.

i rent anyway so no worries

@ConfusedParticle

i rent anyway so no worries

Much less crazy then

Have you thought about Appleby? The town has everything and an arty scene but cheaper than the Lakes proper. Got a train station and bus links.

my friends are a bit dispersed nowadays, all tied up in different areas of the uk and wales.
came out of a ltr before covid hit, so this really is a new start for me!

Brampton might be better than Wetheral, as it’s a small town rather than a village (it’s on the same train line). Have you thought about moving to Carlisle for a few months and using that time to explore the surrounding villages to find somewhere that suits you.

Cockermouth is a nice market town with regular buses to Keswick and Penrith , good luck with your move.

Perhaps Brampton or cumwhinton.
Brampton is bugger with more transport links. Cumwhinton is ok on bus but also can cycle into Carlisle very easily

I live in the central Lakes (near Ambleside) and I wouldn't move anywhere without reasonable public transport in your situation. Wetheral might be fine - I don't know enough about the transport in that area.

One thing worth considering if you're planning to learn to drive is where your local test centre will be and where the driving instructor will pick you up from. My DS has a had a real struggle to learn to drive as he's had to travel into Kendal from our remote location to actually have lessons. It wasn't something I'd considered.