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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Moving to Dorset?

13 replies

DialMforMummy · 01/09/2012 08:47

I am sorry I am repeating myself as I did not post in the right sort of place.

DH and I currently live near London in a rather expensive area. We both ended there by accident but have been here a while and are quite well established: good friends, good jobs etc....
We do not own our house and could easily (ish) move jobs.
We have been talking for a while about leaving the area to move somewhere cheaper and, after much deliberation, we decided that the Dorset area seemed great. We like Weymouth especially but would consider Swanage or Bournemouth (Poole would be lovely but seems quite expensive).
Does it sound like a good idea? Or is Dorset actually a dump despite looking great ?
We are in our mid thirties, have two DC, still babies but they will need a good primary in a couple years.
Any views/ feedback welcome.

OP posts:

fivegomadindorset · 01/09/2012 08:53

Hi saw this in the what would you do bit.

I am born and bred Dorset and love it here, however there are some downsides. Weymouth is alright but I wouldn't live there, the majority of the people who live in Weymouth commute out as it is a very tourist based town, there are one or two large industrial estates though. Swanage again is even more of a tourist based town and a pig to commute from so jobs are very scarce down there. I live in a tourist hotspot and do a 30 mile round trip to Dorchester everyday for work.

Wool/Wareham may suit you, good train line to Poole, Bournemouth, dorchester for work, schools are good, great facilities and close enough to the beach to get to easily. My two DC's go to the primary school in Wool.

fivegomadindorset · 01/09/2012 08:53

Southampton is not too far by train either.

pinkredandpurple · 01/09/2012 09:46

Bournemouth is good though isn't it? it used to be very pensioner-town, but its more diverse now and easy to get from htere to various small places around, Good value property. I don't live there though. Less of a sharp leap from london than a very small town(?).

Spammertime · 01/09/2012 09:48

Dorchester or one of the surrounding villages! Weymouth is nice but getting in and out during the summer is a nightmare. Schools are fab round here in general - when I talk to friends who live elsewhere it makes me realise just how lucky we are.

Original poster

DialMforMummy · 01/09/2012 19:50

Thank you all.

OP posts:

Banderchang · 01/09/2012 20:02

I grew up in Weymouth and I think it's a great area to grow up in. Agree that getting in and out of town in summer is a huge headache, though that may be better now that the infamous bypass is in place.

It's lovely to have all the beaches and be able to do things like pop to the beach for an hour or two after school rather than have to make a big thing of a day out. Also, great watersports - we used to do canoeing and rock-climbing at school in PE lessons sometimes.

So great for kids and for retired folk, but none of my school friends live there now as there is not a lot of industry so job opportunities are not great. Love to visit my parents, but could never live there (until we retire!).

I think if I moved there now I'd pick Dorchester or Sherborne which are both lovely. Or a surrounding village. Also the weather isn't too bad, so you're unlikely to get snowed in (bitter - live in the NE now!).

BeatriceBean · 01/09/2012 20:41

I love Dorset. Did London for a bit and moved back :)

Large variety of areas within Poole/Bournemouth (and these areas have grammar schools if you want them or want to avoid them).

Depends on what you are looking for for work, rural/town etc etc

Melindaaa · 01/09/2012 20:46

I'm a Bournemouth girl and love it. If I could live anywhere in the world it would be in a beautiful house along Sandbanks (which is Poole).

We have just moved to Sturminster Newton for cheaper property prices and better secondary schools as our children won't be attending a grammar school. I really like it here. It's quiet, and has a lovely community feel which Bournemouth didn't have. Our children go to a fantastic primary in the next village along (Marnhull) and we are very happy.

But I still go back to Bournemouth 2-3 times a week.

Original poster

DialMforMummy · 01/09/2012 21:37

I had a look at rightmove to check out rents in Weymouth and it looks like it could be tricky to rent a house all year. A lot of things seem to be winter only...
I might give Weymouth a miss and check out Bournemouth instead. I can't do small villages as I can't drive.

OP posts:

fivegomadindorset · 01/09/2012 21:39

Look at other towns with a train line, facilities as well.

lifeafterlondon · 02/09/2012 14:24

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Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Shoshe · 02/09/2012 14:40

You could look at Blandford, we have just left there, schools good, buses to poole and salisbury, weymouth, are fairly regular.

Melindaaa · 02/09/2012 15:47

I think a lot of where you live will come down to budget. Basically, the further west and north you go from Bournemouth/Poole, the more you get for your money.

Remember there are some really awful parts of Bournemouth and Poole that you couldn't pay me to live in, but most of these are obviously apparent upon stepping into that area.

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