Northern Ireland Mums I need your advice

[lookingforwardtospring]

Apologies for posting on this board but I know some of the NI crew hang out here!

I'm possibly relocating from London to NI within the next year and I need recommendations from you regarding where to live! I just don't know where to start. We need to be within commuting distance of Belfast, not too rural, in a nice town with good park, school, shops etc. Was thinking of the Co Down area, ideally, although would also consider parts of Co Antrim (not too far north tho with regard to commute!). DH is nervous about the move as he worries about the weather (and he is not wrong!) but I know that there are many other great things about the place that would make up for this

Any top tips and recommendations would be welcomed hugely

Hillsborough is just beautiful and you are straight onto the M1 to Belfast from there. It is a small village but has some great bars (with excellent food) and little shops. It also has childrens play park and a lake.

I moved back to the mainland from NI last year and really miss it - it's a great place to live.

Hiya, yes I have been to Hillsborough and it is lovely - am just worried that it is v pricey. Budget no more than £250k which I know prob doesn't get that much in NI any more! I like the "great bars" bit

Hi lookingforwardtospring, as well as Hillsborough maybe Holywood and Comber would also be possibilities. Definitely within easy commuting distance, close to the City Airport and good schools nearby. Plenty of parks/forests all around N.I. plus fantastic coastline and beaches (weather permitting!). Also agree that house prices have gone a bit bonkers over here!

BTW, this website might be useful if you're checking out properties in NI
here

Hi, Moira has also changed a bit in recent years - with loads of new houses etc (and easy access to M1).There are also new developments around Hillsborough if that's where you end up, and a brand new primary school.
For current house prices, check www.propertynews.com it has all the local estate agents house prices etc

newcastle is lovely but the commute may be abit of a pain.

You could also look at Jordanstown or further up along that route, Greenisland and Carrickfergus.

You'd be close to the coast for those bracing walks by the sea .

Jordanstown has a nice villagey feel to it.

I'd look at Jordanstown too, Dh built some houses there last year, gorg!!

Antrim now has a lovely new housing estate (or whatever they're called) ah development!!! With some beautiful houses.

My DH is a builder & he's converting a mill house in Belfast into apartments at the minute, they're going to be lovely when finished, although they are in the City.

I don't know what the schools etc are like round any of those places though.

If you're looking a small village & friendly people, a good school, then the village I live in isn't too bad! Co.Antrim, but on the main road to Belfast. Hubby travels there every day, 45mins drive, sometimes as hour in heave traffic...... posibly too much travelling for you?

Good Luck with your search!!

Thank you for all your help! Jordanstown is nice but it's quite pricey isn't it. Firefly, whereabouts do you live? I am originally from Whitehead but have been away for a very long time!

Where's whitehead? Ccommon sense is telling me I should know...is it in Larne direction??

I'm in a very small village, but on the outskirts of it, on a farm. Not too far from Ballymena, so close to a town if needed

Whitehead is about 7 miles from Larne - on the coast. I know Ballymena a little bit - it's v nice

Whitehead is very pretty and has some lovely period houses. Not sure what prices are like there at the minute though.

FFF2, whereabouts in Belfast is this millhouse that's being converted to apartments? I like the sound of it.

Yes, Whitehead lovely - prices not too bad but on the rise! What about decent parts of Belfast, can anyone advise? Forget Malone, that's wayyyy out of my price bracket, sadly

Hi Rojak, it's just off the Falls road, Oddessa Street (He thinks!) It used to be called Ross's Mill if you know that area

How about Derriaghy? Out next Lisburn, lovely place too

Kells isn't too far from Belfast either, housing developments there too

Antrim

These are the new houses in Antrim, rather nice

This is a link to the same houses except they're in Portadown, but you'll get an idea of prices Estate Agents

hi rpajk - couldnt help coming onthis thread. i left NI 3 years ago and miss the old place. mum and dad have moved to ards pennisula (greyabbey)and have cousins around there with LO. they all love it! dad commutes to belfast (30 - 60 mins)but its surrounded by beaches, long walks, forests etc etc. cant wait to spend my july there with my newborn. oh - weather - east coast NI - 14 days less rain a month on average than glasgow where i am now- get me home!!!!

good luck with the hunt. x

I was going to say Holywood as well, loopity. Don't know what your budget would get you, but I always loved St Helen's Bay area.
I lived in Lisburn and it is very nice with fantastic schools (so I heard- don't actually have any at school yet).

County Down's God's Own Country - only good thing about Jordanstown/Carrick etc is you can see the glorious coast of County Down across the lough. Holywood, Comber, Ards Penninsula (although NOT Newtownards itself) all have a lot going for 'em. As does Bangor and it definitely fits the park/schools/shops bit, but might be pricey. Ards Penninsula is the least wet bit of NI/the north of Ireland BTW

Holywood and Helen's Bay v.v. pricey.

Parts of Belfast - what about Knock or Ballyhackamore (ballyhack has nice villagey feel and an M&S Simply Food)

Greyabbey is lovely too - have former boss who lives there and commutes into Belfast.

FFF2 not too familiar with Odessa St but will ask DH as he used to work in an industrial estate off Springfield.

Don't know Ballyhackamore but I do like Knock as well.

Agree Knock/Ballyhackamore (same area almost or right beside each other?) has a nice villagey-feel with shops and a few restaurants/coffee shops - Stormont Park just up the road, great place to take kids to play. Rosetta also nice but again, like most of Belfast now, also expensive. Templepatrick (Co. Antrim) another possibility for commuter distance. Saintfield/Ballynahinch (Co Down) also within driving distance for work in Belfast.

Wow, great tips folks! All these areas sound great. Are there many mumsnet type meet-ups going on? I'm nervous about leaving all my friends here behind

There hasn't been any yet that I am aware of. But maybe I've just missed them?

I'm sure we could organise one on your behalf

Ha ha! Well when I do eventually get myself over there'll be a big party round at mine

Great, I'll bring a bottle!!!

Good luck with the relocation x