Anyone "escaped" to the country from Manchester?

[abigailwendover]

Where did you go? How do you find it? Any regrets?

We're currently living in a leafy suburb, 2 young DCs, lots of amenities on our doorstep plus good transport links. Both work in city centre.

Since lockdown we've been fantasising about living somewhere more rural. The local amenities have mostly been closed and we haven't missed them. Spent most of our time in the local parks but would love to be able to just bundle the kids out of the house and have countryside walks on our doorstep. DH and I are both currently working from home and have realistic prospect of doing so permanently, or perhaps 1-2 days in the office. So we'd need to be able to get to Manchester but could handle a longer commute than if we were doing it 5 days a week.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's made the move - in terms of how you've found the experience - and/or from anyone who can recommend a lovely rural spot, suitable for a young family, within, say, 1.5h of Manchester.

Thank you!

@abigailwendover

Oh gosh that sounds tough *@Butterer* - sorry you had such a bad time of it  Hope you find the perfect town if you ever decide to leave the city again.

@BigHuff thanks for the recommendations I know Disley/Marple etc a bit but don't know Mossley at all. In what way is it hipster?

The chip shop does vegan pies! It is full of young bearded men with small glasses and artfully dressed older couples. There are artists studios down by the canal. The streets are ridiculously steep, with cute cottages all over the place. It's quite dreamy - if I wanted to be more 'in' Manchester, I would definitely go for Mossley.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/88672526#/

I noticed someone up above linked to Keepers Cottage which I know of, as I regularly walk on the moors. Keepers is a challenge! It is isolated albeit you could technically walk down into the village of Diggle. You will be cut off in winter. Access is via a rough track a car can get down there but a four wheel drive is best especially when winter comes.
its real challenge is, its completely off grid no services albeit I think alternatives have been put in and its not the end of the world
All said its a beautiful, wild spot and if I could afford it and if I thought I could deal with its challenges I totally would go for it. It was derelict a few years ago and has against the odds been renovated to its current standard.

Keepers pre renovation. They really have done a great job on it

@Potionqueen another vote for FOB! Definitely need to check it out.

@BigHuff Oo sounds interesting...will have to take to a look.

@tortoiseshell1985 thanks for sharing that pic - what a transformation! Don't think I could handle being that remote to be honest but I agree for the right person it could be a great home

We moved from Tameside to Leek, Staffordshire in May, during lockdown. Best move we could have made!

I had lived in Tameside all my life and really wanted to move somewhere semi rural. We looked at Greenfield but lost out on house in bidding war.

House we live in now was on wish list but originally we felt it was too far. It's an hour away from Manchester (about 20 mins out of Macclesfield). Now I've made the move, definitely don't feel it's too far.

Leek is a market town on edge of Peak District and Staffordshire Moorlands, countryside is all round us, but still plenty of shops. Leek has an arty vibe, with indie shops, weekly vintage market and monthly artisan market. You get a lot of house for your money here - our budget was £230k max. That budget would buy small 2 bed terrace in Greenfield with small garden and bought us a 4 bed double fronted Victorian town house in catchment of good primary.

Would consider it as an option. Worth knowing that the middle school system is in Staffordshire, so factor that in if interested.

Rudyard Lake 10 min drive away, and scenery such as The Roaches, Tittesworth, Hen Cloud, St Lud's to name a few.

No train station, but not it's not far to Macclesfield station.

[quote abigailwendover]@tortoiseshell1985 thanks for sharing that pic - what a transformation! Don't think I could handle being that remote to be honest but I agree for the right person it could be a great home [/quote]
To give you an indication that track leads down to the house which sits in a kind of sheltered bowl, just not quite in shot