Where to move Yorkshire area

[Cluckycluck]

I'm looking to move to somewhere in the Yorkshire area. Currently in N.Essex but I'm looking for a complete change.

I don't have any clue about any areas of Yorkshire and I'm open to anywhere. I want to be rural or based on the outskirts of a village and I need to be near good independent schools. I don't need to be near to trains or good public transport infrastructure.

All suggestions about a nice area welcome!

Skipton or Ilkley would be a good shout. Both lovely, good train services, good schools, nice towns with lots going on.

looking ahead - Further to @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads's suggestions, these areas are within commuting distance of Greenhead 6th form College, which is one of the best state 6th forms in England. Loads of students from the private schools in Wakefield go there as the post 16 provision is better.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130829840

ooh I love this one if you are seeking a smaller house. Knaresborough is lovely. No idea about private schools though.

Ilkley would give you the choice of GSAL or Bradford grammar as independent school, other smaller ones too.

The villages around here are cheaper, burley in Wharfedale, menston, addingham.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads

Thanks for all the info, that's really helpful thank you!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138017186

This is the Hebden Bridge property I've seen, is this a no go due to floods?

@FatCatatPaddingtonStation That's lovely! It's only me and DD so I don't need anywhere massive. I'm downsizing from an 8 bed so one extreme to the other!

That house is well above the flood levels, so you should be OK. Do bear in mind that as your DD gets older and wants to meet up with friends you will be having to be her taxi service. We are rural and when DD was at secondary school none of her friends lived in villages that were on a bus route from our village. I have spent many a dry Saturday eveing waiting for a phone call to pick her up.

Hebden Bridge only floods in the valley. That house is above that level but could well mean a (very, very steep) road down to the town/train station etc - and back up, obvs.

You can get some big houses near Ilkley/Skipton both of which have good schools. Or around Harrogate. All of these places are well connected.

North Yorkshire is lovely, I don't think anyone has mentioned Richmond as a possible yet. Or just across the border in Co Durham what about Barnard Castle which has a private school (bit hooray henry sporty though apparently so not sure it's worth the money).

Ilkley - within walking distance to Ilkley Grammar School - www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136751639

Otley - walkable to Prince Henry's grammar school, although not a private school - www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132775163

Shadwell - near Leeds Grammar School - www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132017918

Skipton and Ripon both have selective grammar schools, if that is something you are interested in.

Worth bearing in mind (and this might be controversial, so I apologise in advance) but I have experience of both and private schools in the south east have a VERY different culture to private schools in Yorkshire. I’d recommend researching schools first and then find a property to suit.

Have you considered Thirsk and the surrounding areas? There are some beautiful villages a short distance from the town, that would give you the land you want and more.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135880304#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136105439#/?channel=RES_BUY

I have stayed in cottages on holiday in this location and it’s beautiful! Thirsk seems to attract southerners.

£800k buys a lot in rural Yorkshire villages, less so in the desirable towns. Have a holiday and travel around the different parts of the county. I’m sure you’ll find somewhere that feels right.

I also love Beverley, but that’s more a townie place, and not much nearby.

Just a warning though as DH is a southern incomer- he noticed the longer days in summer and longer nights in winter, and how late everything is to bloom up here. We have a lot of months where everything is brown then it all springs to life around April/May.

@MissDollyMix In what way do they differ?

I also love Beverley, but that’s more a townie place, and not much nearby
I have to disagree with this. The Wolds are absolutely gorgeous and relatively undiscovered and tourist free. Admittedly you’d want to steer clear of the coastal areas (aforementioned areas of deprivation) but villages such as Lund,Etton and North Dalton are beautiful and around 20 minutes outside Beverley and you get a lot for your money.

I also love Malton and surrounding villages.

@TheMagicDeckchair

I am planning a trip around to as many of the different areas as possible to see what I like best. I'm definitely after rural areas, I don't mind being isolated at all.

Hmm. I’m a little reluctant to say because I fear I will upset a lot of people with generalisations hence it’s best you visit the individual schools and draw your own conclusions. I will say broadly that in the south east I find the typical private school parent often works in the city and the schools are very academic/competitive. In the north - Yorkshire at least they tend towards ‘old money’ and are much less academic/competitive (sorry). All I’ll say is choose carefully.

Pocklington is nice. It has a private school, nice independent shops, little cinema/arts venue, cafes, a much-improved weekly market and lovely countryside nearby. Plenty of good property for your budget in and around the town.

I really like Pocklington.

Hutton rudby outside of Yarm is gorgeous and Yarm school is a good school.

Hi OP,

Just popping in to say Blackshaw Head is lovely. I cycle through there regularly and would happily move there if the stars aligned!

I know hebden. Blackshawhead is very rural - I can see you’ve said you don’t mind that, but it’s worth thinking about how your child may view it as a teenager, as others have said. Also, Hebden has quite a particular lefty liberal vibe and most kids go either to state schools or grammar schools. If your DC is at a private school, I’m guessing they’ll be less likely to have local friends, and I wonder if that would defeat the purpose of moving to a small community? Just my thoughts - my DC have been through the state system so I’m obviously seeing it from that perspective. However one of the lovely things as a parent of teenagers is that you know all the local kids and many parents and there are other people who know your kids and can keep an eye out for them - that’s a big reassurance E with teenagers. I haven’t lived in Harrogate or Ilkley but I’m guessing that where there is a choice of independent schools and a larger population of kids going to them, that’s possibly a better experience? Definitely recommend visiting different areas.

Ilkley Grammar School is a comp!

You're not going to get something with half an acre of land for £800k near York. Houses in Leeds in nice areas inner city are that price! If you're prepared to live somewhere with good and bad aspects and maybe in a less attractive location then yes.

Agree that Yorkshire is too vast and varied to just stick a pin in it.

Definitely think about the whole 'I'm happy driving everywhere' as you could be setting yourself up for hours of driving every day. It takes a long time to get anywhere on rural roads, especially if you're near anywhere that gets lots of visitors, which is many places due to lots of walkers/cyclists etc.

Will you need to be doing a school run? So possibly short list schools and look within a few miles?

How do you feel about hills? We have everything from pancake flat to areas that are nicknamed 'little Switzerland'.

Bear in mind weather when you're looking at properties e.g. at the top of a hill with a rough track lane leading to them. The distance north from Essex makes a difference. We've had mild winters in Yorkshire the last few years, but pre-covid I got snowed in for a few days every winter, with a hairy drive to /from due to ice sometimes too. In winter 2010 we had snow around for 6 weeks.