Moving to Wakefield (or not)...

[YorkshireLass1980]

Hiya, I am currently in a rental amd finally got a decent deposit together to be able to buy my first home (up to 160k).

I lived in Brighouse, West Yorkshire for the past 6 years and my business is in Nostell, Wakefield. I am looking at areas within a better driving distance to her but don't know Wakey that well so was hoping you guys could give me some recommendations on nice, rural or semi-rural areas. I really don't like where I live now, I would like to move somewhere, where the neighbours talk to each other and where my little doggies can run around and go for great walks. But not far off the motorway network.

I was looking at Sandal, Stanley, Horbury, Ackton and Ryhill and even Hemsworth in Pontefract. Any other areas you may recommend? Thanks a bunch x🤗

Ackworth, very close to Nostell and lovely village feel

Badsworth, Wentbridge, Ackworth

Old Ackworth is nicer than the newer bit off Doncaster Rd, but neither is awful. The old end of the village comes at a cost!

Ryhill is OK, although everyone I know who lived there has left in the last few years!

Crofton seems nice.

Horbury is ok. Not rural, and you've still got to cross Wakefield to get to Nostell. OK high street. Close to M1.

Have you considered the "HD8 villages" around Denby Dale? About 30 mins drive to Nostell on rural roads, so no urban gridlock and motorways to worry about.

Stanley, whilst ok is at least a 30 minute drive.
Nostell is on an arterial road but with Wakefield you have to drive into c Wakefield and out again to get most places.
Look at areas that are around Doncaster Road. Ackeorth, south Pontefract, east hardwick, Thorpe audlin, wentbridge, Carlton,
if you stick to those sort of areas you also have really quick access to A1 & m62

West Ardsley is nice 👍

Thank you, that's really helpful. Which are the "HD8 Villages"?

Denby Dale
Skelmanthorpe
Shelley
Shepley
Clayton West
Scissett
Emley
Cumberworth
Birdsedge
Kirkburton
Highburton

villages in the HD8 postcode

I would avoid Ryhil and Hemsworth. Both of them are dumps

Thank you. The area seems lovely but I will still need easy access to the motorway network as my clients I'm visiting are scattered all over West Yorkshire including Leeds, Bradford etc. And even in good traffic the HD8 areas are at least a half an hour from Nostell.

Are they? I drove through Ryhill multiple times a month and it seems quite nice...I don't like Havercroft though.

What about Upton or Normanton in Pontefract?

I wouldn't live in either of those.
My preference would be Ackworth or Wentworth

What about Wrangbrook?

Well it’s on the main road to nostell.

Stanley is nice and easy access for the motorways.

But not for getting to nostell , minimum 25 minute drive from A1 to nostell

Somewhere round Newmillerdam? Though the budget may be a bit limiting.

Horbury is ok. Not rural, and you've still got to cross Wakefield to get to Nostell. OK high street. Close to M1

When they were digging up the M1 I commuted through Wakefield and It was horribly busy, so I wouldn't recommend Horbury.
HD8 has lots of lovely areas, but Denby Dale Road is a nightmare commute.

Normanton is full of trading estates.

You can get from HD8 to Nostell without using Denby Dale Rd. Easy traffic was one of the reasons for DH accepting a job there are the dreadful commute into Leeds!

I was avoiding the M1 roadworks as the traffic was backing up from jct 40, so I left at jct 39 to go through Wakefield to get to Normanton. It was quicker than doing M1 and M62. Thankfully they have finished the roadworks now.

Or “chavacroft” as it’s more commonly known 🙈

How about Bretton near the Yorkshire Sculpture Park? Just off the motorway.