Moving to Edinburgh vs The Lake District.

[VanillaEverytime]

Which would you prefer?
It’s just me and my dog. No children to consider. I’m relatively familiar with both areas and considering Keswick/Ambleside/Cockermouth(Possibly Penrith though I know that’s outside of the LD) or Edinburgh/Linlithgow/North Berwick/Dunbar but open to other areas.
I’m hoping to find a 2 bedroom flat or home. I don’t want too rural as would like a reasonable range of shops near by.
I’d appreciate any experiences/advice.
TIA

I would 100% choose North Berwick especially if you have a dog. And you’re only a half hour train ride to Edinburgh.
I don’t know the other areas but my husband grew up in Edinburgh and his brother lives in N Berwick where we spent some days in early July and I’d definitely choose there. It’s quaint, great beach for dog walking and does mega fish and chips…

I’d avoid Edinburgh itself and the Keswick Ambleside areas as very tourist heavy

Cockermouth feels too out of the way for me

Penrith has west coast weather

So I’d go Dunbar and north Berwick - both lovely , nice on the coast , a more peaceful than most of your other suggestions but plenty of day to day shops and easy to get into Edinburgh for social and shopping . Dunbar I think would be my preference - north Berwick is a little up market for me!

Look at ulverston, kendal and Grange-Over-Sands if you're considering the lakes area.
I'd avoid keswick, ambleside, windermere and Grasmere, too touristy.

And i hate to say it, but I've never really got the appeal of Edinburgh. It's nice, but for some reason, it just doesn't float my boat. I know, I'm weird.

The difference between Dunbar and Edinburgh is night and day. One's a city, the other not.

I know. I currently live in a suburb outside of Glasgow and I’m debating if I want to return to city living or if sticking to a suburb/smaller town and visiting the city regularly is right for me. Personally I’m leaning towards sticking to smaller towns but I’m open to the right area anywhere.

I'd second looking at Ulverston or Kendal to avoid the crowds. Grange-over-Sands is pretty, but a bit dull imo!

I like the dull @TaborlinTheGreat ! It's quiet, but sea views, easy access to the lakes, and a quick hop over the hill to cartmel make it appealing. But, yes, it can be a bit dull.

We moved from a big city to just outside Grange over Sands. Lots and lots of dog walkers here. Pretty place, very friendly, some good places to eat, lovely walks. Easy to access the fashionable Lake District haunts but so lovely to come back to a quiet area.

I quite like dull too - I live in a village in the same area, with considerably less going on than Grange But I figured that if the OP was looking at Edinburgh, Keswick etc, she might want somewhere with a little bit more about it!

For Edinburgh, have you considered being just North of the bridge? Dalgety Bay is amazing. You can get a train into Edinburgh that only takes 20 mins - or, you go from Inverkeithing it only takes about 12 mins, and the trains run every 10 mins. Loads of beaches for the dog, lovely coastal path walks and woodland walks. These 3 flats have all just sold, but it will give you a flavour of what you can get.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161136140#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164343647#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163658339#/?channel=RES_BUY

What is your budget?

Gosh, I am very, very familiar with both but I would have said they are very different - apart from the tourists! What is it you want, what are you wanting to get from the move?

Just read what you said about living in a small town. Honestly, I think you would love Dalgety Bay. It has a real community feel. There is an annual gala. We have a few lovely restaurants. One of them (Hugo's) puts on live bands every weekend. It is dog friendly and has a nice beer garden. Then there's Louie Brown's for upmarket dining. We have all the take-aways you could want, a few major supermarkets. The sailing club hosts a few social events every year, like a disco in the clubhouse. There's also a bowling club that's very social. It would be easy to make lots of new friends (if that's what you wanted). Lots and lots of dog walkers, who all stop and chat.

I used to swim in the sea by Inverkeithing and get watched occasionally by Gordon Brown's armed police.

These are all very different places. Linlithgow has pollution from Grangemouth and the tip smell, it was worse when I went back last time. Great town tho and easy to get into Edinburgh.

Lakes too touristy and think ahead to medical needs.

I'd probably live south of Edinburgh....

The MoD did get around to sorting the radioactivity at Dalgety Bay, didn't they?

Yeah they did. It was on a bit of beach tucked away - not one of the main ones you would walk on. The schools all take trips to the beaches - it is deemed safe.

Up to £650k for the right place.

I've lived a long time on both areas. There was a great difference in house prices for us. When we moved back to the south lakes from linlithgow we had to get a much smaller house. Both areas are great, but I love the hills in the south lakes area.

Well, Edinburgh is a big city. It has big city type things.

parts of the Lake District are pretty remote - nearest airport is a way away, not many theatres etc.

I’d definitely move to Edinburgh/North Berwick then. Lucky you!

I want a nice safe place to live with a reasonable number of shops(Independent shops a big plus) where I can potter and which also is near a number of other interesting small towns that are worth visiting.

Ready access to the coast/country are a definite plus and I’d also like somewhere that hosts some community events (I love North Berwick’s Fringe By The Sea) and I’d like to become involved in volunteering as I’ve volunteered for most of my life.

I’m not a nightlife person though do enjoy the theatre and book/museum related events but I’m happy to travel to those.

I WFH so no commute.

I do like the area that I’m in but I really want a change.

There are a good selection of places in NB at the moment. This has gone FP which makes it much easier: https://espc.com/property/4-abbey-road-north-berwick-east-lothian-eh39-4bs/36237128?sid=288242 I love East Lothian. Just gets much lower rainfall than the west which is a major bonus. And very commutable into Edinburgh for “nightlife”.

I live in the area and I'd pick Cockermouth over Keswick or Ambleside personally. It's more "real" with a higher proportion of permanent residents and there's a lot going on community wise. Penrith is another good idea. No it's not in the LDNP but the Northern Lakes are on the doorstep and the Eden Valley is lovely. In fact it's somewhere I'm considering moving to myself in a few years. We're pretty rural now but contemplating moving nearer to civilisation as we get older. Penrith is a nice little town with (by Cumbrian standards) good transport links and very easy access to some beautiful countryside.

Dunbar and above is fab, so much access to stunning beaches and countryside then edinburgh a short train ride for some culture, and both have great shops on the jiggs trees. Dunbar cheaper than N berwick.

Thanks all. I really appreciate your suggestions, advice and links. I also have some new areas to consider. You’ve all been very helpful and I’m grateful.