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 would avoid Killinghall and opt for Knaresborough or Bilton.

Plenty of places to work - five state secondary schools in Harrogate town alone!

@Chocochoo i must admit that even before that article I was leaning away from Killinghall.

I really liked Bilton when I started there last year and am at the same Air BnB this summer so will spend a bit more time just hanging out.

Haven’t been to Knaresborough but will definitely check that out too.

Masham/Ripon are lovely but I’d really like to be in public transport/affordable taxi distance from the centre of Harrogate.

How about renting first? Many people move to Yorkshire because of the idea of Yorkshire (especially Harrogate) and although Yorkshire is beautiful on the whole and there is more of a culture of talking to people/anyone I don't think it's necessarily friendlier. There are plenty of lonely people in Yorkshire! Plus a lot of deprivation , social problems and not always enthusiasm for southerners. I'd focus a little on connection to your daughter. How close is it by train or to the motorway? As much as you shouldn't do everything based on what she approves of, living somewhere accessible makes a difference. As someone who has moved from family and where I grew up I must say that on the whole people don't visit you, the onus is always on you to make the million trips around the place to keep up with everyone so be warned.

In that case I’d aim for Bilton! Knaresborough is lovely but I don’t think travelling between Harrogate and Knaresborough is great, especially compared to living here. Areas of Bilton are walking distance to town! There are lovely walks from Bilton too, you can even walk to Ripley along the Nidderdale Greenway.

It gets a bit of a bad reputation and is considered as being less desirable, but I honestly think there are no bad parts of Harrogate, and of the three “bad parts”, Bilton, Jennyfields and Starbeck, Bilton comes out on top for me.

Good luck!

Job wise, keep an eye on the council website. It is a huge LA so watch distance but centralised jobs often offer hybrid/WFH ( as the council can no longer afford office space for all staff!)

Currently SEN hubs developing. LA also offers a medical education service, attendance officers etc.
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers

North Yorkshire Council has recently been through devolution so Harrogate Borough Council, has become part of NYC.

@Yazo renting first is something I’ve considered. It will depend on circumstances when the time comes.

DD has another couple of years at uni, doesn’t want to come back to our current home town and is likely to end up in London or Bristol. We’re both happy driving distances and trains unlikely to be a significant issue.

@Chocochoo where I live now isn’t particularly desirable so that won’t bother me! So long as it’s safe enough and friendly enough I’m all good!

It is nice- the article shows the level of anti-social behaviour that constitutes a public meeting!

It is too far to walk into Harrogate though and the traffic can be really really bad. Close to Ripley which is very naice and the greenway runs by for walks/cycle.

Any thoughts on Cullingworth?

CUllingworth is very nice. Between Haworth and bingley. Good primary school, couple of shops and pubs. A good mix of different sized houses

Think I’ve driven through Cullingworth a few times…

Harrogate’s quite expensive..

I’d rent for a year. It’s not a bad idea but you will have to make an effort to build a new life. It’s undeniably colder and more rainy.

I'm thinking for me tbh. Don't need schools. Need a place to run and walk the dog.

Don't right off east Yorkshire, Beverly is lovely and good value for money.

(South) Yorkshire born and bred.
Although the public transport isn’t great, South Yorks is a great place to live. Sheffield is an amazing city, musical heritage and great live music scene, theatres, sports, museums, exhibitions, peace gardens, winter gardens, Tramlines music festival. So much to do! We’ve got the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, stately homes, castles, heritage centres.
Great links to the Peak District, the towns and villages all across the county are surrounded by beautiful countryside. An hour drive to the east coast. Affordable housing compared to the South. & just all round friendly people.

Recommend these towns/villages:
Bawtry, Harworth, Tickhill, Sprotborough, Ravenfield, Wentworth, Dore, Cawthorne.

I would add Penistone to that list.

Look - this is what's happening in Harrogate this weekend 😄

I have lived in both Otley and Harrogate. Both lovely, I prefer Otley but I'm a West Yorkshire, girl, so. Harrogate does have great shopping for its size, train station, good hospital. (DS2 born there.) Ilkley has the best of both worlds in my opinion and better walks than either.

Have heard good things about Knaresborough.

I'm from the north but live south and whilst I've loved bringing my kids up here my heart is in the north . Do it - you won't regret it - I'm tied to the south in a few ways atm too but if I have the chance I'll go back . Check out villages north of York , Pickering also beautiful. York quite pricey but a lovely city with loads going on .

I've always lived in the SE but I'd love to live in Yorkshire

The main thing about relocating more so than financials and career is if you know no one and want to be sociable and make new links how good are you at it? I have had two major relocations arriving knowing no one the first time and arriving with DH the second time. We will also be relocating again one last time In about 3 years and buying a house with some land. I find chatting to people easy as does DH. Will happily go along to a class knowing no one.

It is true about some not having enthusiasm for Southerners, I moved from down South decades ago. I still to this day get ooh your posh aren’t you or you haven’t lost your accent, a nurse said that one to me last week, I have lived North longer than South now.

I’m well aware it isn’t pronounced like that (I’m from Doncaster), but I could never move anywhere that even looked like it was called Penis-ton.

Even the Austria village called Fucking gave in and changed its name a year or two ago.

@Saschka It only changed to Fugging though. Be glad you're not from my parents home town of Wank. 😂

Utley is not Ilkley way at all. It’s nearer Keighley. Houses are a reasonable price but there’s not the same feel as the upmarket towns you’ve been suggesting.
I would write down a shopping list of things you’d need and things you’d like. Then try and fulfil that list. I think one of the issues without knowing an area is how quickly areas differ just by moving a couple of streets away is you can go from somewhere you’re happy to live to somewhere you don’t want to live.
on your list of places to consider I’d add Baildon, Saltaire, Silsden, Hebden Bridge, Oxenhope (if you’re into very quiet), Knaresborough, Farsley (city life with cafe culture). Enjoy choosing your new place and don’t listen to what people are saying.

I haven't managed to read every single post, but have you factored in the weather?

Moving several hundred miles north means cooler and wetter weather, which if you've only visited Yorkshire in Summer might come as a shock. It's basically chucked it down nonstop since October this year, with only a handful of those nice frosty sunny winter days.

Heating costs can be much higher as a result of the colder weather too.