Preston / Chorley/ NW area move help!

[Awayanyday]

Hello!

Struggling first time buyer here with a small budget, looking for some local knowledge.

I've been looking tirelessly for about a year now and getting nowhere My search was initially in the NE due to probably best fitted my budget but I just can't find a suitable location.

Wondering if the west might be more suitable (but feel may not have the budget). What I'm really looking for is a outskirts or nearby from a town but also has some decent walks on my doorstep which don't require a drive out.

I come from the SE so am use to larger towns and everything is close by. The NE is obviously a very different landscape and i cant seem to get my head around it. I'm not looking for massive towns / cities anymore but don't mind being on the edge if it offered walks out into some countryside.

Low budget- £170k, has flagged up some very small 2 bed terrace in some locations that on paper look suitable but the housing is too small.

So I started to look at Preston / Chorley and surrounding areas - I don't know the areas at all and aware the reputation doesn't appear great from what I've read (but for £170k I think I have to be realistic). I don't mind if the town is a bit dull, but dont want to feel very unsafe.

I just wanted to ask about decent walks (away from crowds). From what I can see on the map to the east of Chorley Preston there does seem to be some walks (just a short drive). Is this right? Is Chorley a bad option or ok?

Wondered if anyone had any other suggestions or thoughts on the area? Would look at other areas too - looking inland as not really a coastal person and I do like other towns nearby so not in the middle of nowhere.

Schools aren't an issue anymore and I WFH.

Thanks for any advice!

Take a look at Ormskirk / Aughton. Good transport. Great countryside. Good prices.

I live in Chorley and would rather live here than Preston . There’s plenty of places to go walking and only a short drive to rivington .
its not a bad area and for 170k can get a 3 bed ex council house for that with change .
but even 2 beds on private roads aren’t badly priced .
if you drive then surrounding areas aren’t bad like Adlington , Blackrod and whittle le woods.
sal

Thanks! I will take a look!

Thank you, that's really helpful!

Lots of walks a short drive from Preston.

Beacon fell is quite busy www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/beacon-fell-country-park-p1730

But there are lots of walks around the forest of bowland. Fond memories of teenage years walking up the local hills.

www.visitpreston.com/article/6885/Parlick-and-Fair-Snape-Fell-walk

Sorry, I don't know the area either, but I'm also looking to move here with a similar budget so following for advice!

Chorley is a great town. The people are incredibly
friendly, there’s a strong community, and the town centre is not too run down compared to some other northern market towns. There are some good schools and the countryside is absolutely gorgeous. I think it’s a good place to live. There are lots of villages nearby if you’d prefer village life (Croston, Wheelton, Brinscall
and basically all the villages are nice enough)

If you want a more city type feel you could look at the Fulwood area to the north of Preston which again is probably ten / 15 minutes drive from some countyside walks (although you might be pushing it budget wise)

Are you prepared for the difference in weather @Awayanyday? The NW is cooler and MUCH wetter than the SE. If you're planning to be out enjoying the countryside, you'll need to factor this in and be content wearing boots and waterproofs much of the year. The countryside is lovely and green and there's a reason for that. 😕 Don't be surprised by the damp climate (much more damp than the NE).

That's a helpful response and one I keep meaning to ask about. The rain....does it rain a lot more than the North East would you say?
I guess some people don't notice the weather as much, I feel I do notice it more as I've got older.
Will have to factor that in!

Chorley is so great and the surrouding countryside is stunning!

Chorley and surrounding area is a pleasant place to live, with reasonably priced properties, good transport links (right between the M6 and M61), fast train to Euston from Wigan in under two hours. The Lakes are less than an hour away, Manchester and Liverpool close by, north Wales too.
Chorley town centre has some issues but has a Booths, M&S food, a decent market and lots of independent shops and bars.
There are loads of green spaces within a very short distance - check out Astley Park, Cuerden Valley, Yarrow Valley, Rivington, White Coppice. Lots of pubs and tea rooms around too.
Good luck with your search!

It definitely rains more in the north west than the north east. The rain peters out a bit when it hits the Pennines. I grew up in the north west and went to uni in the north east - I remember phoning my mum to tell her about it, was a shock to not need my brolly so much! But the climate is milder in the north west than north east… so depends what you prefer, wet or cold!

@Awayanyday Yes, the NW is wetter than the NE. The (relatively!) warm, moist westerly winds from the Atlantic rise as they meet land and the Pennines and dump their water (rain) over the NW. This is why the cotton industry (and the industrial revolution) was sited in Lancashire - because of the damp climate!

I'm originally from one of the villages between Chorley and Preston but live in London now. The difference in climate can actually be quite significant. It's always a shock to me when I go back to Lancs to visit friends and family and realise what a soft Southerner I've become. And how I'm usually inappropriately dressed 😂 (I now keep wellies and a waterproof coat in the boot of my car despite living in inner London). I'm a consultant and used to spend a lot of time on trains travelling to clients in the NW (and Yorks). It always stood out to me that from the Midlands onwards, everyone boarding the train seemed to be in boots and anoraks. I found out why the hard way. 😜

You get used to the weather (and will learn to dress more appropriately) but you may find it a shock after living in the SE.

Ah that's interesting....and helpful! Thank you! I will weigh up the wet verses the cold! Thanks!

Oh that's really interesting, thank you! Better buy my raincoat now then!

Have a look at Lancaster and carnforth. Not far from the Lakes, can also go south to Forest of Bowland. Close to motorway network and on the West Coast mainline for trains.

Penwortham is a nice area if you’re looking at Preston. £170k will get you a 3 bed semi or a terrace, you’ll need to look at the properties near the river rather than the ones near the high street which are more expensive. If you get one near the river you can walk straight out onto a fantastic cycle/walking path into a lovely park and you can also walk into the town centre or the train station.

This looks lovely - if you can barter them down.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/154492523

I'm not keen on Preston, the city centre is oddly split by two different centres and doesn't feel like it as much heart. I prefer Chorley personally, it has a busy market town feel.

If you want somewhere with reasonable prices, easy accessibity, lots of parks, beautiful woods and access to the countryside only 10 minutes walk at the most depending on where you live, you could consider Darwen, a small market town, which is just over the moor from Chorley on the other side of the M6. It has a direct train line into Manchester and the station is within 15 minutes walk of half the town.

Skelmersdale. There are some not-nice areas but also some lovely areas and stunning countryside on the doorstep—Tawd Vale, Beacon etc. Property is cheap. I lived there for years in a lovely spacious house in a nice area and the house cost very little to buy. Look at Ashurst area but there are others.

Agree. Grew up in Horwich. Lovely place and rivington on doorstep.

I've lived in the south east, North Yorkshire and now near Preston - yes it's wetter here than in the east but as others say it's relatively mild. I'm sure lots of flowers I've still got blooming would have succumbed to frost by now most years in Yorkshire.

There's so much good walking around here within a short drive. And even though we get more rain than the east, there's really not many days when we can't get out at all.

My parent live in the NW . They are not keen on Preston because they think it doesn't have a "proper" city centre . I don't know Chorley. But from visiting I think west of the Pennines is wetter but warmer. Not so wet I would discount it though.

I'm Chorley born and bred but I did spend many years living in nearby Eccleston and went to school in Croston. These are nice little villages but you wouldn't get much for your budget there. I moved to the outskirts of Chorley town centre, 10 mins drive away and bought a 3 bed semi for £165k. I'm smack bang in the middle of the countryside with Rivington literally on my doorstep. It's a great area to live, good bus service with a bus and train station in the centre of town with good links to Manchester. Great Market, Booths, M&S, Cinema and some fantastic little bars and restaurants. We've just enjoyed "Chorley Live", our own little music festival held in all the local bars and cafes and this weekend we have the annual Santa Walk where hundreds of people dressed as Santa walk up to the top of the pike for charity. Schools are good and we are lucky to have our own hospital. As for the weather, I've still not put my heating on yet and as us Northerners say "just put your big coat on".

@Pilgrimgirl I'll see you on Saturday along with 1,000 other Santas! Possibly my favourite day of the year 😀