Where should I live? Commutable to Sheffield and Manchester.

[TipsyandTom]

Want somewhere within an hour of both, ideally not by car, as offices both near train station. Relocating from south, not sure where to start.

Where is nice in Sheffield and on the train line to Manchester, or vice versa? And what about all that countryside in between - can anyone point me at a nice/convenient village for a family with little kids (need to think about primary schools)? Nice is, for me, a good mix of people, parks/outdoor space and at least enough local shops for daily basics.

We'll rent initially, but budget will be in the region of £450K - would like somewhere where this would buy us a 4-bed house with garden, please!

Would appreciate any suggestions to get our long-list kicked off - thank you!

Marple, near Stockport, is on a train line that goes to both Manchester and Sheffield, as are New Mills and Chinley. Budget wouldn't be a problem for any of them.

New mills?

Dunno what the town is like but you can get a train from there to Sheffield and Manchester.

Or there's very nice places in the Peak District like grindleford and hathersage. Not sure how far budget would do or how often trains stop as they're small stations.

Look at the Hope Valley line stops.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Valley_Line

How rural do you want to be?

Marple is nice, Chinley nicer than New Mills I think, but that is just personal opinion. Hope lovely too. Chapel en le Frith is bigger than Chinley but 5 min drive to Chinley for the train.

If you want to be nearer Sheffield, Dore is nice on the outskirts. Hathersage is beautiful but also nearer Sheffield.

Personally I would pick Chinley - lovely village and countryside nearby is beautiful. Primary school gets excellent results.

Be prepared for snow though! Although that never seems to stop the trains.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-42290330.html?premiumA=true

This is in Chinley and next to a very nice pub!

Hope Valley, beautiful, and Sheffield to Manchester train through the valley. Stations at many of the villages, Hope and Edale pretty central to both cities..

Hathersage has everything you want, but much closer to Sheffield than Manchester and may be out of budget.

Buxton

Holmfirth ( would have to drive a few miles to station at Brockholes and get mainline to.Manc from Huddersfield, but could go straight through to Sheffield)

Penistone, on Sheff to Hudds train
not sure about the primaries, but brilliant state grammar school

Denby Dale , on Sheff to Hudds train

Any of the villages to the south of Huddersfield. They are all lovely. I live in one, I don' t regret where I live, but if I was moving here again, I' d go to Shepley. It is also on the Sheff to Hudd rail line.

The Hope Valley is incredibly beautiful and has a train line running through it Sheffield / Manchester. The schools are excellent too. You'll spend your £450 K very easily. :)

hathersage house

Glossop?

Glossop. Marple. Hathersage. All lovely.

Buxton is nice but not on the Sheffield line, although only 10-15 min drive to Chinley which is.

Penistone is a lovely rural market town with good schools, close to motorway links and very reasonable house prices

I wouldn't live in Glossop personally, I like the place but the traffic is a NIGHTMARE. It is never, ever quiet, I have been there at all times of day/week and it is gridlock. Drives me potty.

Wow - a nice cottage next to a nice pub, excellent!

I think we need to spend a day getting on and off the train and wandering round at all the stops! Don't want super-rural, definitely need shops/pub, but beautiful countryside does sound good. Although so does somewhere nice on the edge of either city... Hmmm...

Basically The Peak District is what is between Sheffield and Manchester. The centres of population for commuting to both are the New Mills/Buxton/Hope Valley area ( a lot of this is National Park and comes at a premium) or the Holmfirth/Penistone/Denby Dale area. I have live in both, and am happy to share my thoughts. Chinley and Marple are both much closer to Manc. The transport network,road and rail, is affected by snow in all those areas for a few days each winter.

I don't think glossop is on the Sheffield line either.

If you want on the edge of the city but semi rural, then I'd go Sheffield end - Dore or Hathersage. Hope Valley is gorgeous and has shops/pub etc but it is out in the sticks, no doubt about it.

You could get the folk train for a feel - it's a great day out but gets crowded!
www.hvhptp.org.uk/folktran.htm

Wow, load of replies while i was typing one-handed - thank you! Looks like we have loads of options - this is going to really fuel my rightmove addiction..!

Have a look at the villages in the Colne Valley, south of Huddersfield. Marsden is the nicest in my opinion, and has a train station, lovely park, good school, a co op, a great fruit/veg/deli shop, cafes, butchers, and a thriving community. There are lots of clubs/groups for children and adults, and some fantastic festivals (Jazz festival, Cuckoo day, Imbolc).

Also, you'd easily get a 4 bed house with garden for £450k!

Marple is closer to Mcr, but Chinley is almost half way - 37 mins to piccadilly and 44 to Sheffield. I think Edale is about half way exactly?

If the move goes ahead OP please let us help you spend your money! That's double my budget so I can live vicariously :)

I used to live in Hayfield and my partner used to get the bus to New Mills and train to Manchester. Good cycle path to new mills as alternative to bus.
Hayfield is right at the foot of Kinder Scout but has shops and several pubs. Unless its changed since I moved away.
Beautiful area

Hayfield is beautiful, quite posh (in a good way!). Only reason didn't mention is because of no train station but as you say 10 mins to New Mills.

Oh yes, Marsden, and neighbouring Slaithwaite, lovely! There is a train from Huddersfield to Manc that goes through both villages, but will be longer than an hour to Sheff by train from there via Huddersfield.