To move to Yorkshire from the south coast on my own?

[MintyCedric]

It’s a medium term plan (DD currently at uni and elderly mum would make it difficult atm) …probably in the next 3-5 years…I’ll be in my early fifties by then.

I’ve lived on the south coast since I was toddler, but these days I have about 3 friends here…one is single but has a very active social life, the other two are married with family commitments.

I fell in love with Yorkshire when I visited for the first time about 8 years ago. I feel like it has all the cultural stuff that interests me, but with less pretension and I love the countryside up there. I’d also be able to get a nicer house than my current one with no mortgage…a major consideration as my mortgage currently runs until I’m 67 and I have limited pension provision.

Despite all these pros, my DD and my best mate are being quite negative and unsupportive. They feel I ‘made more effort’ here to socialise I wouldn’t want to move, but it’s really not about that…I just want a fresh start.

AIBU to think I could move in my fifties, on my own and create a new life for myself?

And if anyone has any opinions on Harrogate and surrounding areas or Otley/Burley/Poole in Wharfdale as places to live…bring it on!

I live 5 minutes from otley and my mum lives in Harrogate so know the areas you mention well!

It depends what is important to you, I love otley, the independent shops, the market, lots of bars and restaurants but it's still a working class town so has a bit of life to it. Personally I find Harrogate a bit sanitised but that might just be because I tend to go to the places my mum likes 😄

Cons for otley, the traffic is awful (though my mum would say the same for Harrogate) and public transport is pretty crap in otley too. guiseley, menston and burley are better from that perspective as they're all on the train line into Leeds but none of them have the same character as otley.

It's a big move so good luck, we're generally pretty friendly up here though :)

Hi - I live in Otley and would definitely recommend it as a base. We bought here as a stopgap when a house purchase in North Yorkshire had fallen through. We only intended to stay a couple of years or so, but are still here 16 years later! We moved from the North West and feel we have a really good quality of life here, and we can't see ourselves moving. The area is great for walkers and cyclists, and as well as lovely local walks, (eg by the river) we can be in beautiful, unspoilt countryside within 10 minutes drive, or venture further into the Dales. Not sure what you are into, but Otley has loads of cafes and pubs, a few restaurants, a growing number of independent shops, (although too many charity shops!) a twice weekly market plus a monthly farmers market, various clubs and a small theatre/community hub. There is always community stuff going on (eg Otley cycle races, Otley show, Otley carnival, Folk Festival, Beer Festival etc etc). Leeds is easily accessible by bus and there are really nice towns nearby such as Ilkley, Harrogate etc. Otley is quite a traditional town, and has a reputation for being a bit insular, but I think that is improving.
One thing we really like about living here is that we don't really have to drive if we don't want to. There is a good choice of supermarkets in Otley, which is an advantage over Burley or Pool in Wharfedale.
Not sure if you drive? If not have you thought about how you would travel to see family etc if you did move? If transport links to London are relevant to you then Harrogate has a direct rail link to London.
We really like Harrogate and we often visit for a change of scene. Obviously H'gate is much bigger and would have everything you need in terms of facilities, but I personally find it a bit too busy traffic wise, which might put me off living in some areas. I probably wouldn't base myself in Pool or Burley either, because of the lack of facilities compared to Otley. Out of the two, Burley probably has slightly more going on than Pool.
You could also look at Ilkley or Knaresborough? Ilkley is lovely, but quite pricey. Knaresborough is really picturesque, with a lovely setting on the River Nidd.
Sorry that was a bit long, but feel free to ask me anything if you need more info.

Ooooh, another one to think if you want quiet about is Cononley. That’s just outside Skipton (which in itself could also be a very good contender).

Cononley is a lovely little village, has it’s own train stop direct into Leeds. It has a couple of pubs and a village shop too. A great choice away from busy, noisy towns but also very central to a great town and a huge city.

I’m not necessarily after a chocolate box village location…wouldn’t fancy being too remote if living alone. Somewhere between town and countryside with a little shop and a couple of decent pubs in walking distance would be great. Nice views a bonus or a short (10-15) minute walk from countryside.

I drive so visiting family easy enough.

I have spent a lot of time of RightMove since last night investigating all the places people have mentioned!

This is my dream house based on browsing over the last couple of years, although at the present time it wouldn’t fulfill the mortgage free criteria.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140967365#/?channel=RES_BUY

There’s so many beautiful places to choose from, York or Harrogate if you want a more lively city or Pickering, Malton or Richmond are lovely towns of if you want to stay by the coast Whitby is beautiful but pricey.

Oh that's gorgeous!

Oh my goodness, do it. We live in Yorkshire, having moved here knowing no one, and we love it. I joined a choir and met some great people, and there are quite a few people who moved here for retirement who have found it a really friendly and sociable place. Being mortgage free would be the clincher for me in your position.

Go for it. I hope you would find a warm welcome. I work with volunteers and many do so as a way of building social connections after a move or in early retirement.

Harrogate is very cliquey and the traffic is horrendous.

Now if I had my time over again, ( I am now happily ensconced in the HC) I would go for Skipton over Harrogate.

You would get more for your money in some South Yorkshire areas like Holmfirth and surrounding villages. There you would be further from the dales but closer to the Pennines/peaks. Holmfirth is a great town, lots going on. My MIL moved there last year after FIL died and she’s made lots of friends in her late sixties. You obviously have to put the effort in but it helps if there is lots going on around you.

In your shoes I would go for it. You only live once and having no mortgage would allow you a better quality of life.

Plus, Brighton is horrible - I grew up there which was great but not now.

Utley is very close to Keighley.. Cononley is nice, a bit further along the road - closer to Skipton. Yorkshire is lovely, I've lived here all my life, I would say though, the nice areas are expensive generally speaking, and that informs how nice the area is.

Holmfirth is in West Yorkshire. Lived there (well, Holmbridge) for almost 20 years. Loved it but, sadly, I wouldn't want to live there now. LOTS of new houses being thrown up in and around Holmfirth, which is spoiling the place a bit and not doing anything to improve the insane traffic situation in the town centre. Not many shops (and no banks) left in Homfirth, just pubs, estate agents, and hairdressers. That said, there are lots of nice villages in that area.
Avoid Halifax.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4931184-anyone-know-utley-at-all

Ooh I’ll have a proper look at that later!

Currently at mums.

I think I need to spend the next few years really getting my ducks in a row so when the time comes I can just crack on.

@DevaleraSpawnOfSatan are there any particularly cliquey parts? I spent some time up there last year (stayed in the Bilton area) and everyone I met was lovely…mind you, most of them though I was local for some reason which may have helped!

Well I’ve booked into lovely Air B&B in Harrogate during in the summer hols and am off for a recce.

Realistically it’s a 3-5 year plan but I’m so excited and really appreciate all the advice on here.

I hope it works out for you. I would suggest visiting in December or January though before you finally move, to be certain. I also think you should choose somewhere that is OK if for some reason you cannot drive, be it temporary or for good as you get older.

Thanks. My mum keeps going about Yorkshire weather and how I’ll cope, and I know I need to factor this in.

I don’t want to live somewhere right out in the countryside and have always checked when looking at houses that there’s a decent corner shop or small supermarket in walking distance, and ideally a pub and GP too.

The extra money the move will free up will allow me to get a small 4WD car and I’m really hoping to find somewhere with a cellar and a log burner so can have a little preppers stash!

I absolutely loathe really hot weather and tbh the lower temperatures and proper winters are part of the attraction of moving north for me.

Do it OP, Harrogate is gorgeous, and probably not too far off Brighton property prices. I have lived in Brighton in the past, wouldn’t ever go back. We relocated a few years ago, a very big move, best thing we ever did. What’s the worse thing that could happen, you don’t like it and you move again. I don’t believe in all the forever home nonsense, life changes and you need to adapt. Good luck.

How exciting. I live close to Yorkshire and it's gorgeous.
Have you thought about the coastal areas? I live by the sea and can't imagine leaving it now.

I have recently moved from the southwest to a Scottish island on my own in my 60s - never happier. Just do it! The only drawback moving south to north is that you probably wouldn’t be able to move back due to the difference in property values

Harrogate is expensive, as is Ilkley, but both have a train station.

Otley is lovely, but not on the railway, Pool is very small, and has no train or bus. It's on a main road. so I never feel it has a centre, though it has a thriving Village Hall and an active Parish Council.

Burley in Wharfedale (not Burley in Leeds) is a good bet. It's got a bypass, so doesn't have through traffic, and it's on the train line between Ilkley and Leeds. Still feels rural, with Rombalds Moor (Ilkley Moor) easily walkable, and it's a short and easy drive/train journey into Ilkley for shops and culture. It's only about 20 mins by train from Leeds (though nearly 3 times that if your drive). Nice little village.

Utley is down on the AIre, on the outskirts of Keighley. It's on the other side of Rombalds Moor from Ilkley. Saltaire is expensive for the area, as is Bramhope. It'd help if we knew your approximate budget - for example if you looked on rightmove and said "I can afford Otley but not Harrogate" we might be able to make more targeted suggestions.

My father moved up to the area when he was 86 and most definitely carved himself out a new life, becoming active in various societies and making a "lifelong" friend.

@MereDintofPandiculation how are you? I was on the EP threads a couple of years back. Currently still tethered down south by mum but plotting my escape when the time comes 😁.

Budget for place up north is between £250-£300k ideally.

I’ve been idly looking on and off for a couple of years and think that’s manageable.

I only need two bedrooms so long as they’re a decent size, off road or dedicated parking and not fussed about a huge garden…a little outdoor space for books, bubbly and BBQ and drying my washing on the rare warm, sunny days will do me, even a little courtyard would be fine.

Really would like a kitchen/diner.

Dream cottage I posted the other day was on for £315k 18 months ago. It’s possible I might have a bit of wiggle room in the budget when the time comes but don’t want to go too crazy!

Public transport links is a good point. Is there public transport between BiW and Harrogate?