Where to live in the Peak district/Derbyshire/Sheffield area for a home ed mindful family

[Wildlyrooted]

Hiya, I hope you're all well ☺️ I'm not sure if this is going in the right place as I'm new to this, but I wondered if any of you could support us in our search for a home in the Sheffiled/Peak District/Derbyshire area. I really need to be closer to my parents who are in Sheffield, but we're happy to be up to an hour away, especially as we actually don't want to be too close to the city, as we love nature and it would be lovely to be closer/in nature, but still be close to community, as this is one of the most important things to me. I'm finding it so hard to build community as a parent so I really want to be in a place that had friendly, open minded people - I really want my village! Our daughter is nearly 2 and we are home educating, so to so be in an area that's good for home ed is so important for us. I'm also really passionate about mindfulness, conscious parenting and spirituality, and natire, so although this may be alot to ask, I thought I would see if any of you on here had any advice! Also a soon to be childrens book Author if that helps to gain an idea on the kind of places that may spring to mind. My partner is a welder so he will need to have easy access to work, although he may be going on the Scotland rigs.

We will be renting for now too, and reaaaaally need a garden for our little one!!!

Thank you all xxx

Right place, wrong time to post for answers.

Bumping for you.

There is a huge home ed community in Sheffield and it is a pretty green city. I would look at the greener bits of the city first and see if they would suit you before you head further out as it will be easier to get to home ed events and probably to meet like minded people. I would look at sharrow and maybe crosspool/Crookes/lodgemoor which are on the edge of the peaks and the city. Or if you want slightly more countryside try stanningron.

Belper in Derbyshire?

The peaks has a lot of stone circles and spirituality. There are loads of beautiful villages near south west Sheffield like grindleford, Matlock bath has a nice vibe, bigger places like Bakewell and hathersage (which has an open air pool). Wirksworth has quite a big art scene.
nearer to Sheffield is Ringinglow village which is right on the border of leafy Sheffield and the moors so you can access the best of both. There’s an alpaca centre right there too.

I think you'd really like Chinley in the High Peak. Very outdoorsy, beautiful surroundings and a close knit village with lots going on. Less than an hour's drive to Sheffield or 40 mins on the train. Good luck!

Bakewell, Chinley, Hayfield, Castleton or Hathersage. All quite pricey housing wise but lovely areas.

Thank you so much for this, that's so helpful! It's so tricky - so much choice! I definitely they agree the priority will be to be closest to the home ed community, but we also want to be in nature, but without there being any judgements on newcomers from out of town (we'll be moving from Wales, and I am from devon) and have read alot about this mentality in some smaller towns and villages. I don't suppose you know if there's mu h of a home ed community in Derbyshire etc? 😊

Meersbrook/Heeley are the hippy parts of Sheffield.

Belper is very used to incomers from London and other areas so I'm sure you would fit in quickly. The high street is pretty vibrant with vegan cafes and lots of events (for example Pride is a big deal in Belper) so it's a fairly open minded area.

I would suggest joining HEDD on Facebook (home education Derby & Derbyshire). There was a big montessori or Steinrr school in Ilkeston about 10 miles from Belper which closed down about 7 years ago and many of those families electively home educate.

Thank you dearly, looks beautiful! So much lovely choice it's overwhelming!

This is such in depth feedback so thank you so much for this, I'm coming up to Sheffield next week and I think I will take a look around Belper and Chinley!

Thank you for this! I did come across heeley, and it sounds interesting but I've seen many day that it's a little rough, and I want to be somewhere safe (we have a 2 year old) without drug problems etc, as we are trying to move away from living in an area like that now unfortunately. I will definitely make up my own mind and explore though, as I know we all have different perceptions of places, which makes this even harder to choose!

I am not much use in recommending anywhere as I'm not local but just to say you are moving to a good area of the UK for home edders, lots going on round there and yes join the HEDD Facebook group.

Good luck, slightly envious of your impending HE journey as ours comes to an end after nearly 15 years!

Belper is beautiful, I live in Chesterfield and just love it.

If l could afford anywhere l’d go to Fulwood.
Right on the edge of beautiful countryside with loads of walks and nature trails. Fab duck ponds and loads of birds and wildlife.

There’s an area called the Porter Valley/Forge Dam which is just amazing for kids and has loads of history.