Potentially Moving to Appleby in Westmorland

[ByRealWriter]

Hi! Looking for advice, thoughts or general comments of Appleby. We are looking at a property just outside the market town of Appleby and as Appleby would be our closest town, I am wondering what it is like to live there? Facilities, Crime, etc... We currently live in Cheshire and wanted to relocate to Cumbria or surrounding. We love the lakes but we are priced out in the lakes for our budget. We have healthy budget but properties we like, that would match what we currently own, are £1.2 million and upwards. Whereas, half an hour away from the main tourist places in Lakes it is a lot cheaper.

Thanks in advance for any comments 😀

The Appleby Horse Fair is held there every year - for two weeks, many from the Traveller community gather there for races, horse trading etc. It is my understanding that this can be a very difficult time for the local residents, in terms of crime and disturbance.

It is only two weeks, but I wouldn’t consider moving there.

Appleby horse fair would put me off .

Crikey, I wouldn't due to the horse fair!

Watched a programme about the horse fair.

I'd not consider living there at all.

I agree with the poster above. I've no idea how big the town is, or what it's like but unless you buy a house that is in a very isolated/private location and you can avoid the town centre for the duration of the fair, I'd swerve the whole place. It sounds too much of a risk to me. With a budget like that I wouldn't be taking any chances.

Yep, we have friends who live there who say it's a nightmare, so much so, that they're selling up and moving. It's not just two weeks either. The traveller community start arriving several weeks beforehand and some stay a week or two afterwards, so it's more like 2-3 months of disruption, disorder, etc.

We have a travelling community (funnily enough who live in houses) in our town and it's not pleasant at all.

I'd not touch anywhere near Appleby with a bargepole!!

Beautiful place but yeh, the horse fair isn't for the feint hearted. You really have to ramp up security. It can be an amazing thing to watch and is steeped in history but it's chaos. How about more towards Penrith. There's some beautiful villages that way. Or south towards Kendal, Milnthorpe. Much more genteel.

Have you got kids? Penrith and Milnthorpe are both decent suggestions.

A no go area with the incidents linked to the horse fair.
Whilst I don’t like to label any group I have to be honest and say that in my experience living anywhere near travellers means higher crime and antisocial behaviour let alone the cruelty to animals. I appreciate this won’t be true of every individual traveller though of course.
I lived in the north of Cumbria between Keswick and Carlisle for a year. It’s a bit cheaper there than the more touristy areas so maybe look at properties up that way?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135810296

This is lovely.

Kirkby Stephen and its surrounding villages are nice just that bit further away from Appleby which is a no go due to the fair as others have said.

If you search on the holding areas and dates for those who travel to the fair that will give you an idea of which places to miss out during your search for places to live.

The fair itself may only last 2 weeks but the movement of those attending starts quite a while before.

Do you need to travel for work or schools, if you say those of us from Cumbria can give you some ideas of where to look outside of the national park.

We both work from home so we can live anywhere in realty and our daughter is home educated and our eldest is at University. We have been looking at Arnside and Kirby Lonsdale too, slightly pricey compared to Appleby but for obvious reasons but maybe settling for a compromise on house to get in better location is the answer.

Kirkby Lonsdale is lovely but is more expensive than some areas and closer to Yorkshire though I always feel, but easy enough to get to the southern lakes.

I have no doubt you will check but broadband speeds are still not the greatest in some areas of Cumbria along with no or poor mobile signals.

Areas around Kendal worth a look as just outside the park. Also more expensive than some areas but Cartmel is very nice. In the northern areas outside the park, you have identified the Eden valley, Morland is a lovely village, plus also look at the area around Greystoke.

Kirkby Lonsdale is absolutely gorgeous! Arnside is very pretty too. Quite small and out-of-the-way. We live not far away, so feel free to ask any questions.

Pretty much anywhere in the Eden Valley is worth a look. Lots of delightful little villages in absolutely stunning countryside that get nowhere near the number of visitors the Lake District National Park gets. Also have a look at Brampton. A lot going on for a small town. Also Lazonby, Kirkoswald, Langwathby and Castle Carrock, Melmerby and Armathwaite.

Then there are the "proper" towns like Penrith and Kendal which have boring stuff like MOT centres and B&Q. Still nice places to live, but there's more going on in Kendal than Penrith.

Yes, Appleby is indeed lovely - for about 50 weeks of the year.

Further away but I'm very fond of Grange Over Sands. It used to be very sleepy/retirement central but seems to have been reborn as a sort of hipstery little town with nice indie/artisan shops.

Kirkby Lonsdale and arnside are both lovely. I'm in Grange over sands, love, love it.

Do not buy in Appleby. We live on one of the routes and can set our watches by the rise in crime and anti social behaviour. Definitely avoid!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145690202?utmcampaign=property-details&utmmcontent=buying&utmmedium=sharing&utmmsource=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Langwathby is a lovely village. Couple of pubs, a coffee van, small shop.
5 minute drive away in Hunsonby there is a community pool which is well kept.

If we didn't already live nearby, I'd be giving this a very close look. And the local pub has a Michelin star.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146697287

In the national park, looking around the Caldbeck area you may find the prices are "slightly" cheaper than the rest of the park.

The other house we are looking at is near Kirkby Lonsdale and Ingleton. - ~here is the link - In Higher Westhouse, if anyone knows this area or any of the areas mentioned, would love to hear feedback/comments. :) It is daunting moving to a new area and always great to hear honest feedback from others.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146351030#/?channel=RES_BUY

The area is lovely but the house is unfortunately very near the A65 which is fast, busy and noisy…I am also looking to buy in that area (smaller house/budget so we’re not competing 😁) and if traffic noise bothers you at all, you do not want to be near the A65, esp downwind which that is. Have a look at Austwick village and also Giggleswick.

The horse fair wouldn't put me off Appleby - it's only a couple of weeks of the year and you just tie everything down while the visitors are around. The rest of the year its a lovely market town and some of the outlying villages are great as well.

I wouldn't buy anywhere near the river though, its prone to flooding!

Kirkby Lonsdale is great but quite expensive.

What's your budget and requirements OP? What's your vibe?

I'd echo the suggestions of Kirby Lonsdale, Penrith and Eden Valley areas.

However, it sounds as though you don't know the area very well. Given that you're not that far away, I'd recommend spending a long weekend in each of the towns/villages you're considering, to explore and get more of a feel for them. It's a big move and you want to get it right.

Our budget is up to £950,000 and ideally want large garden and within village location. We love to be outdoors and enjoy a relaxed pace with the kids.