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!

OP I live in Keighley and the area you're looking at there is not the nicest. I'm in Riddlesden which is lovely and has a great community feel if that's what you're after. Enough shops in walking distance to survive without a car and 3 decent pubs. Also on the main bus route to Bradford but also near enough to walk into keighley for the train. We love it here!

Have a look at Settle. Lovely town with frequent trains to Leeds.

I know Keighley very well indeed - I grew up there. It's a shadow of its former self. Literally nothing left in what remains of the town centre. Absolutely hollowed out with lots of social problems. It breaks my heart when I return. Some of the villages like Oxenhope and Haworth are very nice.

I must admit I don’t fancy Keighley itself.

Adding Riddleston and Settle to the recce list!

@Wimpeyspread wow that is quite the move!

Absolutely - I’m intending to do a similar distance move. I moved to the South East 23yrs ago for work and once my youngest goes to Uni in 2.5yrs I’m heading back up north. I grew up in North wales but will be based in Liverpool 3 days a week so thinking of the coast between Liverpool and Southport. Then I’m 30 mins to work, 1hr or so to my mum & old school friends. I’ve got no concerns about making new friends in my early 50’s, plus I’ll have work and weekends I can head to my mums etc. It means I can finally buy my own place as I’m priced out here in the south east

Oh wow, that’s mad to think I’m looking at 2 bed flats here in south east for the same price

@Zanatdy exactly.

I have a little 3 bed terrace which I love but the area and parking are crap and I’ll be paying a mortgage until I’m 67 as it stands.

Financially moving north is a no brainer.

Yep exactly, I have given up on idea of buying a flat that’s going to cost me loads when I can head to the north. I’ll have nothing to keep me here once DD goes to Uni. Their dad has a house locally too if any want to stay down south (until they get own place). I am tempted to go somewhere further north (Durham) where it’s cheaper again. I change my mind every day

Depends where in Harrogate you live
I live Southside and either go into town, stay Southside or go to the A1 via Wetherby and rarely experience any traffic. But if you are Northside then the traffic can be awful.

Op- you mention Bilton. I like Bilton - it is one of the areas that has a true sense of community. It can have bad traffic though.

I dont think that Harrogate is cliquey- it is a big place with an aspect of transience as a tourist town. People tend to spend more time in the smaller communities within the town.

The weather is generally rubbish- Harrogate has a microclimate but if you are not weather bothered that's good.

They have lived there less that 2 years and will be selling at a loss.

@SaggyCushionCover

Speaking of Bilton…

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144267407?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Settle is nice - market square (touristy in summer but none the less pleasant for that), excellent fish and chips, large supermarket, rail to Leeds (though only about 4 a day (I might be wrong about that), more trains if you're prepared to go to Giggleswick or Long Preston both a short drive away), and you're on the Settle and Carlisle Line. I keep toying with a move to Settle.

Doesn't look much on the outside but the inside is lovely, and the garden, and it's 5mins from the town centre
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135663119#/?channel=RES_BUY

Oh, you lucky, lucky person. I fell in love with Saltaire.

It was, but no regrets at all - I have found my tribe at last!

I'm also a Saltaire resident and it's a brilliant place to live. The houses are beautiful, and we have loads of very good independent shops, bars, restaurants and cafes and loads of stuff going on which you can get involved in. I've met loads of people here. 15 mins on the train to Leeds and a short walk up the glen to get to the moor. It really is a beautiful place.

Skipton is really nice, gateway to the Dales. On the main train line to Leeds and in the other direction Carlisle and Lancaster. It's surrounded by lots of lovely villages - Embsay, Gargrave, Carleton and Cononley to name a few.

Don't move to keighley it's a hole! Look at Haworth, oxenhope, east Morton, riddlesden instead. Or further into North Yorkshire, skipton, settle, gargrave. All lovely.

We moved from the SE to North Yorkshire 8 years ago, and we've never looked back.

Swapped our two bed terrace for a 5 bed, 4 bathroom, 2 reception rooms with garden.
We've got amenities on our doorstep, brilliant schools, and have become part of an amazing community.

I'm Scottish, but Yorkshire folk are just the business. I absolutely love it here.

Bilton is particularly lovely now that the old railway line has been turned into a path/cycle path - you can do great walks to Knaresborough and Ripley from there. It's cheaper than many other parts of Harrogate, because it doesn't have a station and isn't in the catchment areas for the more sought after secondary schools. You're on the edge of countryside, but not far from the town centre either.

Precisely why so many people have left London - the housing market there is laughable! If the pandemic had one silver lining it’s that many people can now work from home with just occasional trips to the capital. I know so many young families who’ve moved up here for bigger houses and gardens and a better quality of life.

@Hippee I stayed in Bilton last year when I went to the Theakston Crime festival and it’s a great location. Going back this year and will definitely try to get more of a feel for the local community while I’m there.

Does anyone know about schools up that way (for work purposes)?

Burley in wharfedale haas train station and it's about 30 mins to Leeds or Bradford so I'd choose that over otley or pool, both of which are quite congested.

I wouldn’t rule it out, but as a Yorkshire person:

a) The weather really is rougher up here; make sure you experience a winter here before making the decision.
b) Public transport in the North is dreadful and especially if you are moving to a rural or semi rural location. You need to confident driving on rural winding roads including at night. You also need a plan B if you develop health issues that stop you being able to drive safely at some point.
c) Your daughter may be hinting that she doesn’t want to spend time in Yorkshire. Are you OK with this? My experience of people who move to some completely different location after their kids leave the nest is that everyone (friends etc) says they will come and visit, but seldom do. Kids may visit a lot less if they don’t have the pull of “familiar hometown where I grew up and have friends” to draw them.
d) You get out of a move what you put in. Even if you are happy with your own company a lot of the time, you need to actively engage with a new place and make friends.

I live in Leeds. Otley is lovely. Lots of social stuff to get involved in. Ignore the negative vibes.