Moving to North Yorkshire

[Kate6000]

Hi
We will be moving to North Yorkshire at the end of the year for work and hoped somebody could give some advice on the areas

Husband will be working in Catterick so we want to be 20/25 minute drive from there

We have seen some houses on rightmove that are in Brompton on Swale, Bedale, Melsonsby and Richmond but not sure what these areas are like

We are both originally from Huddersfield but have been living in North Hampshire for the last ten years and we have a (nearly) 2 year old boy

I will be looking to get a job in Darlington but will need a nursery so all these things will be considerations which is making me sway away from Bedale

We were hoping to get a 4 bed for around £300k but this is looking a bit tight

I would really appreciate if somebody could give local advice on the areas or areas to avoid

Thanks in advance
Kate

Darlington to Catterick is a 20/25 min drive and £300k would buy you a lot of house in Darlington. It's a bit scruffy but it's got some really nice areas and plenty going on.

Yarm is nice

Thanks for the responses

Due to family ties we don't really want to go above Scotch Corner

If anyone has feedback on North Yorkshire it would be appreciated

Kate

Hi Kate

we moved into this area from west Yorkshire a few years ago. Love it here - happy to give you more info if you pm me. Just need to be careful buying too close to the A1 (houses havent been selling and prices are low) due to the upgrade to motorway which will not be finished for a couple of years. or you can bag a bargain if you are prepared to put up with it!

It is lovely! If you want somewhere reasonable you could go as far south as Ripon (about 35 mins to Darlington) or further into the dales - around Leyburn is lovely - both areas have good schools and good (for North Yorkshire) transport links... It is a beautiful place to live and you will find you can get a lot of house for your budget

Northallerton?

Plenty of options in and around Northallerton Right Move

We used to live in a little village called East Layton (not recommended, the only facility was a post box) but the nearest town, Richmond was/is really nice if you like small towns. Lots of quirky independent shops, a castle and lovely walks by the river.

Darlington's frankly a dump, it's fine for High St shopping but not a nice place to live.

Thirsk and Ripon are also nice small/medium towns within a reasonable distance. Northallerton is bigger but still nice.

I'm very jealous actually, we sold a Victorian vicarage in N Yorks and doubled our mortgage to buy a boring 50s box in the Home Counties. Property's cheap as chips in that area.

Sorry to drip feed. I used to work in Bedale and it's a pleasant country town with a weekly market and again some nice independent shops. Melsonby has/had a shop/PO and a playgroup where I met a nice group of mums who are still friends 20 years later . I think there was a pub there but not a lot going on in the village itself.

It would definitely be worth taking a good look at potential schools in the areas you are considering... We used to live in the area (with preschool kids) and other families ended up with long school runs because they weren't happy with their local schools.

I think Northallerton is your best bet. It has a Bettys!

YY to Betty's, and it has an actual department store (bit of a rarity in that rural corner of the world).

What are you looking for? Village with a letterbox and pub, market town, or town?

Not much in melsonby or brompton iirc. Richmond and bedale got much more happening.

Yarm is probably more than 30 mins to catterick.

Northallerton and richmond would be on my list. Maybe careful selection in Darlo if you wanted easier access to amenities.

Hi all
Many thanks for all the responses

I think we're leaning towards Richmond but Northallerton does seem to be slightly lower in price so that's also tempting

Think we will take a look around both to see which suits us better

Any other tips about specific areas to avoid in those towns would be useful

Thanks
Kate

I've always thought Richmond looked charming too but no area advice I'm afraid. It's a great part of the country though. I'm in York and I honestly think North Yorks is one of the best places in the country for quality of life.

Melsonby hasnt had a post office since the postmaster murdered his wife a few years ago - been sold now and think its being turned into a house. But it probably gets the mobile post office once a week like we do. there is also a mobile deli visiting a couple of times a week.

North Yorkshire has to be one of the best counties to live in for sure. Sen quite a lot of it and its only a tiny village but I thought Reeth was perfect. 10 miles west of Richmond so not sure how that fits in with your commute.

Many thanks for the continued feedback

Georgebaileyfan - that's some really good info. I had noticed houses seemed a little cheaper Romanby way and that explains it

I really like the look of the properties in Melsonby but after looking into the school and wrap around care available I don't think it would be feasible to live there as the little one will be starting school in 2 years

Again like the look of Bedale but think it would be more sensible to be north of catterick to reduce commuting time for me

Any areas to avoid in or around Richmond?

There isn't much north of Catterick, and south of sotch corner!
Richmond will be OK, but check where you can cross the A1 if you are on the other side to darlo. That can add miles to your journey.

There are few 'bad' areas in Richmond Kate - just two small estates one to the north around Norman Road/Stuart Avenue and the north side of Reeth Road out by the cemetery. But if you are looking around 300K there won't be much in that bracket there anyway!

Lombards Wynd is 'millionaires row', Maison Dieu is good, Easby lovely and easy walking distance to town along the disused railway (Easby Abbey lovely for a picnic on a summers day), around the senior schools on the east side is fine, some nice new developments at Garden Village to the north and the Convent to the west and the south near the Batts and the Green is lovely and quaint - Richmond is a small town people live in with no suburbs - there are more houses in the town than shops! Some lovely Georgian houses on Frenchgate and Newbiggin for example. The only problem with some is no parking and some very steep streets. Fine across the river around the rugby club and station too and near the cricket club.

Few chain stores but a great Saturday market with fab veg, cheese, fish, flower, and meat stalls plus farmers market once a month. Lovely independent deli (Jeffersons), Edwina's cake shop, Mocha chocolate shop and the marvellous rabbit warren of the York House for presents. At the Station there are three small cinemas, art gallery, microbrewery, restaurant/coffee shop, fudge/chocolate shop, ice-cream shop and cheese shop plus the amazing Angel's Share bakery/deli which was runner-up in Britain's best bakery - lovely place to sit outside with an ice-cream or a glass of wine on a summers day. (you can see where my main interests lie ...). Leisure centre/pool/gym down there also to work it all off! Lots and lots of social events - music/theatre particularly.

Skeeby is okay but the road is the main route into Richmond from Scotch Corner and busy (by North Yorkshire standards!) - wont improve when they build the shopping village. Hudswell is a long 'linear' village that we decided against as it doesn't have a 'centre' as such. Around Aske is beautiful, Gilling West is lovely but check flood risk - the main street flooded badly in autumn 2012.

Thanks Mytholmroyd that's a great summary

I love the sound of the train station, wine AND ice cream - my type of place!

I spoke to a few estate agents yesterday who also helped me understand the area so next step is a visit in a couple of weeks - eeeek

Thanks everyone for your insights
Kate

Just a few not mentioned yet...
Scotton very close to catterick. Lived there for all my childhood. Nice area.
Scorton, Bolton on Swale.. All lovely too.
Nice village schools around.

Richmond is lovely but certainly 8 yrs ago when we left quite expensive.

Great Richmond Advice above except some of the estates at the top of hill, ex council stuff do offer big houses for low cost.
Lovely place to live.... That said much prefer Brisbane now!

Oh yes, I forgot the Castle! Big open safe grassy area for picnics/running around. Safe paddling in the Swale for little ones down at the Batts.

If you come up the last weekend in July there is the Richmond Live Music Festival going on so will be busy and noisy down at the Batts Friday/Saturday!

I know it's out of your price range and probably not great for kids being an apartment but I love this and it has been for sale for a while now. My fantasy retirement house!