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 think I'm going to start pointing out the disadvantages of every place mentioned. All these people want to move here - I don't want it to get as crowded as the SE

Driving is much more polite up here too.

We moved from suburban Essex to Yorkshire (not West or South) a few years ago and it was the best move we’ve made in nearly 40 years of being together.
We’re less than an hour from the coast, we’re between two major cities and near enough to visit the Dales and the North York Moors for a day. Our local community is welcoming and friendly, most things are cheaper, certainly house prices (at least where we are). We couldn’t afford to move back South but even if we could, we wouldn’t.

I'd love to move to Yorkshire 😊 visiting dd in Huddersfield just reinforces it. Despite other pp not all Hudd is grim and there's some lovely villages (Thurstonland, Holmfirth) Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 30 mins to Leeds or Manchester. And insanely good value compared to Chilterns. And proper friendly.

I haven't read the thread but just the first page. I am just here to champion you OP. I love that you are free and ready to start afresh. I would love to think I could be in this position in the future. Go for it. Yorkshire is fabulous. And to be mortgage free earlier on would be wonderful.

@Overloadimplode thank you so much 😁.

Not quite free to start afresh yet, but even being in a position to think about and plan for it is lovely after a truly shitty few years!

NC.
I live a couple of miles from otley.
Burley and Ilkley are more expensive areas. I grew up there.
Otley is more affordable..
I think you would enjoy living in any of those areas. Plenty to do nearby.
Yeadon is also similar to otley and is one of the more affordable areas around.

I'd move to Yeadon just for Murgatroyd's fish and chips.

DH used to work in Yeadon and said their fish and chips were great.

Primary or Secondary? I work in a secondary school. Happy to meet up for a chat next time you are here.

Oh wow, that would be amazing, thank you!

Secondary school…big co-ed (Student Welfare Assistant). Have previously done admin at another secondary and also 7 years at Surestart back in the good old pre-Tory government days!

Definitely want to continue working more directly with the kids…admin was never really for me, just took me a long time to discover that!

So…have spent a lot of time on Right Move today and will be checking out these areas of Harrogate in August but…

Killinghall
Bilton

&

Knaresborough

Any idea what any of them are like?

Northallerton

Take a look at Northallerton. It’s great imo

Beverley. And Beverley is rather lovely imo

I'd probably go for Otley out of the places you mention.

I really envy you. I was brought up in Derbyshire, studied in Yorkshire, but ended up down south for work. I always intended going back, but I met my late husband (from Yorkshire) we had our kids, they were happy with schools and friends, and somehow we just never did it.

I have really good friends up in Bingley and Keighley, would have a much better social life up there, and could get a cheaper nicer house and use the equity to help my kids. But my kids and my DGCs are what keep me down here.

Best of luck with your new start!

The towns the other side of the A1 are nice too - Leyburn, Bedale, Masham.

Yay I've scrolled through the whole post and some one has finally mentioned my home town!!
Excellent train links in Northallerton and the market town has lots to offer with the dales in your door step not too remote either

These are the ones in Beverley I was trying to link

Ivegotthis. I love Northallerton and noticed no one had mentioned it. Lucky you living there

I grew up in the 80s and 90s in the Otley/Whatfedale area. It was an idyllic childhood filled with lots of strong Yorkshire characters. Like a pp I'm down south now and will probably never return up north, which makes me quite sad.

However OP I would be wary of your daughter's warnings. What if she never visits? It's a very long journey from the south coast - too far for a weekend.

Killinghall is on the no.36 bus route (runs from Ripon to Leeds), so is very convenient. However, it has two major roads running through it, so doesn't feel very village-y to me. It has a little Tesco and a lovely kitchen shop/farm shop, but no pub at the moment, and the doctor's surgery is closing down.

Knaresborough is lovely. Small market town, weekly market on a Wednesday, castle, river (with rowing boats) and Mother Shipton's Cave. Easy access to A1. Railway station with trains to Leeds, Harrogate and York. Lots of shops, pubs/cafes and a little theatre. Events include a summer Arts Festival (FEVA) and the famous Bed Race.

@Hippee thats great to know. It keeps popping up on my wider Harrogate searches so will deffo check out. I’m travelling up on a Wednesday so will get and early start and have a look at the market.

@Bridgetoo DD has absolutely no desire to come back her when she’s done. Hoping to to end up in London, also considering staying in Bristol (where she’s currently at uni) for a bit. There has even been talk of a master at York.
We have a lovely relationship but she’s very independent so not something I’m really factoring into any great extent…and I can always visit her once she’s settled. Besides…I’ll have the cats 😁

I mean the cats will be an incentive for her to visit not a DD replacement 🤣

https://thestrayferret.co.uk/residents-call-for-action-after-spate-of-violence-in-killinghall/

On a slightly more serious and realistic note- Killinghall is a traffic nightmare. Too many houses built in the wrong place with no infrastructure. To get out you mostly have to go through Ripon, Knaresborough or Harrogate - and so you hit traffic multiple times.

@SaggyCushionCover that’s interesting because at first glance on Google maps I got the impression Killinghall was a ‘naice’ area!

That looks like a really useful website. Must check out the other local papers online.