Is short term pain worth it for long term gain?

[cheminotte]

We are looking for a new house and as the DC are settled in their school, we've only been looking within 1 mile of our current address. We are struggling to find something suitable as we want detached in an area with loads of Victorian terraces.
Anyway, we've found a lovely house with great garden. Although its within 1 mile as the crow flies, the walking/ cycling distance from the school is 1 1/2 miles.

My main concerns are
It is outside the catchment of the school, so dc's friends will not be just down the street. No walking to / from school together and the ad-hoc play dates that arise from that.
Further to walk to school and more roads to cross means unlikely to walk on their own.
Logistically a pain to take kids to school, it is 20 mins if they are cycling and I am walking. I then have 20 mins walk to the station. There is no parking at the station by the time I've taken the DC to school so at best I could drive to school and leave the car near there. But I think daily walking and cycling really benefits both DC and me and we'd have to get another car if I was driving regularly.
Lack of local kids for DC to play with at weekends. House is on a cup de sac with detacheds and semis set back from the road. No sign of kids when we have visited, we worry that the area is too affluent to have many families.

All the above are short term as dc1 goes to secondary in 3 years, dc2 in 5 years. They will have to take themselves to school then anyway. But I don't want the DC to be lonely and isolated in a beautiful house.

We did a similar thing - stayed in our beautiful house but moved schools which meant travelleing 40 mins each way - for 2 years until DC1 moved to a nearer seniors and we moved dc2 into their Prep then.

We tried to make the most of it, but it was a hellish journey especially in the cold and dark winter mornings. It was really difficult if one child was ill as they would have to come with me anyway to take the other to school.

But the most difficult thing was that neither children could easily go on playdates or to parties after school with school friends. I think they really suffered from that. I also found it difficult not really knowing or being involved with the other mothers as I was always rushing off home again and couldnt chat or go for coffees.

2 years was way long enough for us, you're saying 3 and 5 years, IME I wouldnt do it.

We didn't have a choice with our move (work) but ended up in a similar situation and because of when we moved we didn't get into the local school so travel into town 5miles away. I hate the drive but again have no choice and its kind of becomes second nature.
We've been here 2 years now and honestly it's fine.
Our neighbours don't have kids (big houses full of retirees, we bought off retirees) but we still manage to have a fair few play dates. I think the fact that we have a killer garden, football goals & climbing frame helps .
Yes you do have to make a bit more effort than when we lived in a terrace full of kids the same size but it's doable and there are many other benefits to detract from that negative.

40 mins each way sounds awful sunny . Ours would at least only be 20 mins and less if we drove with taxi as a backup option. Last time I was I'll though I could just ask a neighbour to take DC to school, not possible if neighbours don't go to the same school.

Thanks wonky - I understand we would probably have to do pick ups and drop-offs for any play dates. I was looking forward to dc1 at least soon being able to take himself. I can also see it would be a pain if dc1 has an after school club and dc2 doesn't. It would be pointless going home in between. Fine in the summer to go to the park. Less fun in winter.