Advice on moving to Dorset

[chendy78]

Hi, I'm after advice from people in Dorset! I currently live in North Surrey (not the posh bit) with my DH and 2 beautiful sons, 5 and 2.

My husband and I both work full time, our mortgage is huge and everyday stress is just crushing us, finances, time, everything.
We've just come home from Cornwall and seeing how happy the children were and the amount of quality time we got as a family has really made me think about what I want for us.

We had considered NZ and Australia previously but they are so far away- we are hopeful that Dorset could offer us a smaller mortgage, outdoor life that we love and maybe even the chance to go part-time to get some work-life balance.

I was initially thinking about Bournemouth/ Christchurch areas as they are relatively easy to come back and see family, but I'd be grateful to hear the views of people living in Dorset as to what kind of lifestyle we could realistically have- am I just dreaming?

At present we have a healthy combined salary of £85K ish, I could work anywhere and my husband could potentially transfer.

We need to make some changes- the stress is killing us 😞

Dorset is lovely, but it's not cheap. Devon is cheaper.

Bournemouth is technically Dorset but more Hampshire way (think it used to be in Hampshire). You need to look at trains and road links and work from there. Do you like the sea? If so Bridport is nice.

I love the sea, one of the main reasons for moving. Will look at Bridport and Devon, thank you! 😃

I’d definitely recommend it - we’re older than you but it’s wonderful. Bridport is a buzzy place, lots to do.

In live in the Bournemouth/Christchurch area and if I was full time we'd have a similar combined salary. I work three days (though currently on mat leave).
It's definitely a good area from a transport perspective. Once past Pool everything is a lot more rural so would take longer to visit family but for that reason his end of Dorset is not cheap. So I'd do some serious research into house prices as depending on what you want it may not be loads different.

It is a lovely area, but not sure how much of a change of lifestyle it would be. DH and I have stressful jobs and have had similar discussions re changing lifestyle and that's with living here!

Thanks- there doesn't seem to be an easy solution! Our hope would be more options for free time down there and a more relaxed pace of life- boatrace I would love to go 3 days a week too but am fairly sure I'd end up squeezing 5 days into 3!
Our original thinking for Bournemouth is as you say, easy access back to family and a big enough town for all we need.
I have booked a short break for Bournemouth this October half term and am looking at a week in Bridport for next year as realistically we wouldn't be able to move for a year or so- houses here aren't selling at the mo, agents blaming Brexit uncertainty!!!