Relocating to County Durham, Local Advice Needed

[AmandaArcher]

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking to relocate to County Durham and need some advice on the area, as I've only visited for short breaks in the past (currently living in Yorkshire).

Areas that keep popping up on Rightmove and Zoopla when I do a property search include:

Bowburn
Burnhope (Meadowfield)
Chester-le-Street
Consett
Esh Winning
Framwellgate Moor
Newton Aycliffe
Sherburn Village
South Hetton
Stanley
Ushaw Moor
West Rainton

Any advice on these areas (and others I might have missed) would be greatly appreciated, including details of any areas that might not be so good. I'll be living alone so safety/security is a must. I also have my own transport, so being rural/semi-rural isn't a problem, love the countryside too, and have heard that County Durham is beautiful.

Many thanks,

Amanda

Argh! I changed my name back in the username box but it still changed it back! How? Why? Why did it allow me to be me before but now is insisting on my being old me? Oh the confusion. My brain can't cope.

I thought that we weren't allowed to name change on the local site?

So once you selected your local username, that's your local username forever.....

I think you may be right, when local first came in you had to have a different name on local to what you had on the main boards and i ended up stuck with my old name but i don't understand how I've posted on half the thread as paleontologist then without my doing anything it has switched me to Indith

kaffehause Amadeus for a viennese breakfast, waffles and the most divine hot chocolate ever

I'll get my coat, on my way!!

Chester is a good option. Bigger than the others on your list. Train station, loads of buses. Morrisons, tesco and other high street shops, lots of pubs & restaurants (not great for clothes though) nice big riverside park, durham cricket ground. As PP said, stay away from the avenues (first avenue, second avenue etc) Esh winning is a small village, as is ushaw moor and I don't know a lot about either. Quiet and further out but not far from Durham and countryside about.
Framwellgate moor is close to Durham and in the middle of a major bus route. There is a secondary school and a college there so it can get busy at rush hour. A few shops there, everything you need for essentials. I lived there for a year also and I was happy there.

As PP have suggested langley park and lanchester are nice. Close to Durham and lovely countryside around. I moved to langley park and found it very friendly. Lanchester is similar.

There's a little co-op at Framwellgate Moor, now - where the Salutation used to be. Definitely handy.

Thanks for the additional info PurpleSwift and yveeastdurham

I've received quite a few PM's stating that Burnhope probably wouldn't be a good idea (for an outsider)...so I've still got plenty of areas to aim for...Chester looks like the best bet so far, I don't want to be isolated and it seems to have be near lots of shops, restaurants, and so on...cheers

Good luck in your search 😊

Opinions plz...Been given an opportunity to moved from London to Bishop Auckland in Durham with my three daughters aged 19, 9 & 5. Will we be welcomed being southerners & any information about the area, schools, work etc..
Thank you

I too am looking at this area.....mid 40's....single but needs to be a safe place for my daughter and grandson to visit.
All your information has been very useful and has narrowed down my search for now.....Agree it's stressful...I'm a mental health SW and more work in NE....currently in N Yorkshire and need more life !!

Where do you work? Have you considered darlington?

Live in Richmond, don't really fancy Darlo and trying to get closer and closer to home (Scotland)....but stay within driving distance to kids and grandkids (Catterick) ....being pulled in all directions :)

Sounds like you need to be fairly near the a1 then

Good access to the A1 is ideal as i work on short term contracts which can be anywhere, currently in Barnsley and have to rent a room for 3 nights, which is not ideal, but pays the bills.

Barnard Castle? It's very safe, close(ish) to darlo and the a1 (we used to do trip to Sheffield in under two hours, but there's been improvements) Houses aren't crazy expensive, lovely countryside, quiet.

I have been looking to relocate to North east and have been looking at villages,kelloe,Coxhoe and all surrounding areas,last move can't make a mistake,need some advice,thanks

@Jimboconka I’d definitely choose Coxhoe over Kelloe.

Coxhoe is a bit bigger, there’s been a number of new housing developments in Coxhoe in recent years, and Coxhoe has better amenities than Kelloe.

Coxhoe has a bigger primary school, bigger Co-op, more shops / hairdressers / cafes / pubs / churches plus an active village hall and a small leisure centre.

Coxhoe’s also closer to the A1 (admittedly not much closer if you’ve got a car but still saves you 5 - 10 minutes), and has better public transport than Kelloe - several bus routes run through Coxhoe on the way to / from Durham city as opposed to just one for Kelloe.

+1 to everything above. Kelloe is very cut off nd not in a good way.

Thanks shadownovaIm driving down from Manchester on Sunday to stay for a couple of days,will have a proper look around and try and get some viewings thanks again

Thanks driving down to have a look around next week,appreciate your comment