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Local

A move to North Lancaster, tips and advice please?

49 replies

Hurst1981 · 08/04/2018 18:06

Myself, Hubby and 12 year old Son have been planning a move out of Essex to a quieter, slower paced life up North for 2 years now. Where as we started researching and searching homes around Cumbria, moving toward Penrith and Northern Lancaster all online, we are finally ready to go...House is sold, ones ready to rent and we're visiting to view 3 properties in 2 weeks time!!! So excited..However, everywhere we find seems to have some kind of bad opinion from someone. So one house we are seeing is in Wilton Close, Lancaster and I've heard the Skerton/Reylands area is rough, so should I be avoiding Wilton Close? Then we are seeing one on Kellet Road, Carnforth and the 3rd is in Milnthorpe. We want to be close to the M6, and all the lovely country walks/views/lakes etc without feeling like we are overlooked by a concrete jungle where we are now, but still good amenities and a safe place for my growing Son to make good friends and happy memories. I'm a Paramedic and the Hubby an Engineer and live in an area that is deemed pretty run down now. Though I'm not terrified to make a jump and change to somewhere new, I equally don't want to jump out of the fire - into the frying pan...All tips and advice asap would be greatly appreciated..thank you

OP posts:

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Hurst1981 · 09/04/2018 11:27

So chuffed with all the advice, it's really helped me focus back on certain areas we were originally looking at. I've arranged viewings at Carnforth, Milnthorpe and Kendal...I will keep you all posted in less than a fortnight..wish me luck!! As for things for young teenagers to do, if I'm honest, living in a busy town hasn't provided my Son much entertainment anyway which is why we think we won't be compromising going semi-rural, he isn't like me as a child..always out ha ha!! He's a real home bod but I think that's just how it is these days, I drag him out and we do lots together, and he loves the outdoors, walks etc so will suit him to the ground and I feel better being a taxi and ferrying him around anyway as I know he's safe, it won't be long until he grows and has a car of his own so I should make the most of it then I'll be the one pacing up and down until he's home safe ha ha. Thank you for the school advice too, my next task is to give them a call and have a chat. Should our plans materialise in the near future I would be delighted to arrange a North Lancs/South Lakes meet up as suggested!!

OP posts:

Shockers · 09/04/2018 06:52

DS drove to a Manchester gig last night. He only passed his test 2 weeks ago.

Pacing the floor? Yep .

Have you looked at the Scotforth area, Random?

Spamalotta · 08/04/2018 21:27

Hi OP. Totally agree with others re avoiding Skerton/Ryelands and I agree re the Kellets. Holme is nice, Milnthorpe is a lovely little town. Good luck with your search.

RandomMess · 08/04/2018 21:19

The strikes have been the northern trains? I only really use Virgin ones and they've been ok?

I foresee a future of popping to Preston to pick DC up after concerts! Still better than driving all the way into Manchester to pick up.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 08/04/2018 21:14

If they're even running it! The train strikes have been a pain in the arse. You can get to Preston ok, so you can swap to a bus for Lancaster but not for Kendal.

RandomMess · 08/04/2018 21:12

The other irritating thing we didn't realise until too late is the last train back from Manchester departs about 10.20pm!

BobbinThreadbare123 · 08/04/2018 21:04

Kendal schools are fine. There's only two anyway. Queen Katherine is the better of the two. Kirkbie Kendal was a bit off a few years ago but is by no means awful. There is the delightful QES in Kirkby Lonsdale too. Ulverston Vic is a nice school too but obviously quite far along the A590.

Kendal is a bit of a bugger at night if you're out in the villages though.

Badgerthebodger · 08/04/2018 21:01

Also, please do shout up if anyone fancies a Lancaster/South Lakes meet up!

Badgerthebodger · 08/04/2018 20:56

Kendal is great. I moved here from Penrith area when I got pregnant as there wasn’t a lot to do in Penrith on mat leave and if you’re not actually in the town centre the transport links are completely non existent. There are a lot of very beautiful villages where you get reaonsable bang for your buck but there will be a lot of taxi-ing teenagers about.

Kendal has loads of facilities and things to do, the only thing I miss about the North Lakes is that it is MUCH quieter than the south Lakes. Windermere on a nice day in school holidays doesn’t even bear thinking about

RandomMess · 08/04/2018 20:55

Schools in Kendal are all decent too I believe?? Shame about the tourists in summer though...

TheCumbrian · 08/04/2018 20:52

You would probably have to look for 3 beds rather than 4 beds in Kendal but due to the style of houses in Kendal what you lose with a bedroom you often gain with a reception room or a loft room that can't be classed officially as a bedroom.

There's also a reason you get less house for your money in Kendal, it's because it's just generally a bit of an all round nicer place to live (and I've lived in Lancaster, Kendal and Penrith so feel pretty qualified to say that )

I would be wary of any of the villages with a 12 year old, even though places like Milnthorpe have good bus routes on the A6 it's really not like living in a more urban area and they will need cash or a lift to go absolutely everywhere.

AnyFucker · 08/04/2018 20:49

I recommend Milnthorpe area and Dallam High School

RandomMess · 08/04/2018 20:47

I will say that in Lancaster the Estate Agents left a lot to be desired!!! Just so very different to the south east, couldn't grasp that we were driving 200+ miles for viewings and wanted to see more than 3 houses not sure we ever got a Sunday viewing!!

Only one of them ever asked enough to establish we were potentially a cash buyer and could have afforded much higher than we were looking! The descriptions of "modern fitted kitchen" could have been done under the trade descriptions act at times

Hurst1981 · 08/04/2018 20:43

Thank you everyone, Kendal is back on the list after just having fresh eyes on it and a search there again...Not sure I'm going to have enough time for all the viewings in a fortnight's time..fingers crossed I have a productive weekend when there and find our forever new home x

OP posts:

RandomMess · 08/04/2018 20:34

I have have DC at Ripley and Central - both have their pros and cons as do all schools!!

For commuting purposes I wouldn't want to do Lancaster city one way system in rush hour - it's painful!

£240k is a decent budget I would check which schools have spaces then double check bus options. My friend in Halton said the public bus service was rubbish in the evenings so looking to move to town for her teen DC sake!

We live on the uni bus route so plenty of buses anywhere close to the Bay Gateway is fast access to the M6. Kendal is a good call and you should be able to get a very nice 2 bed for that?

Shockers · 08/04/2018 20:22

Wow at the Ripley hate. My son is now in upper sixth and has really enjoyed his time there!

Hurst1981 · 08/04/2018 20:03

Ha ha ha you're all invited..will need to find new friends!!!!

OP posts:

Hurst1981 · 08/04/2018 20:02

...and we have just noticed the Sold STC on the property we arranged to view...kind of them to let us know grrrrr

OP posts:

OhHolyFuck · 08/04/2018 20:02

So many of us, we should arrange a meet-up? Or maybe a housewarming op!

Hurst1981 · 08/04/2018 20:00

Yes we like Kendal, we haven't ruled it out, however, seems to be a compromise on the size of property for our money compared to slightly out, but it is in my daily searches..fingers crossed some more properties become available.

OP posts:

GoofyIsACow · 08/04/2018 19:57

What about Kirkby Lonsdale? QES is a great school and there are some lovely villages surrounding it, whittington, arkholme, over kellet, all lovely. Ten mins from JCT 35.

tiredmummy1991 · 08/04/2018 19:56

I live by the river on 'Skerton' and it really isn't bad at all! I have 2 little ones and I've never had any problems at all. Our Lady's is a good secondary school as well.

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Trialsmum · 08/04/2018 19:56

Just seen your update about schools. Dallam is good as is QES in Kirkby Londsdale. They will be our choices for ds. Agree that Ripley is surprisingly horrible. Hardly anyone that lives in Heysham goes to Heysham High, don’t touch it with a barge pole or Morecambe High for that matter.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 08/04/2018 19:54

I was going to suggest Kendal, but based on the OP's budget, you get more for your money in Lancaster.

TheCumbrian · 08/04/2018 19:52

Have you ruled out Kendal for any particular reason? I would say it pretty much ticks all your boxes and there is an ambulance base there too.

when the bridge is open It takes me 35 mins from the south of Kendal near Junction 36 to get to the Royal Lancaster infirmary (not including getting parked!) and the ambulance base in Lancaster is quite near Junction 34 so you could probably knock at least 10 minutes off that time.

Schools are okay, transport links are surprisingly good (Oxenholme, which is still Kendal is on the West Coast Mainline) and there are most of the facilities you would expect from a smallish town.

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