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

Is weather a factor, it would be for me - warmer but much wetter in the West aka lakes - sunnier, winder and colder in the East. I would choose East - can do more in the dry.

Weather might be a factor. I do detest Winter so I’m trying to weigh up what I can best tolerate as I am accustomed to rain though not the biggest fan of it but then the extra chill that Edinburgh tends to get isn’t especially appealing. I can’t have it all though and there are a lot of positives for both areas.

I am considering a third area of the UK but I didn’t want to muddle the thread by asking about too many areas at once.

The east coast wind does have a particular bone chilling bite - but Dunbar is called Sunny Dunny for a reason!

My Parents and sister live in Penrith. It’s lovely. Twenty minutes drive to Keswick or 10 min to pooley bridge. Nice people and property is surprisingly cheap considering its proximity to the national park.

Edinburgh is just the coldest city - bloody freezing, it's the wind. You really notice it if you move from the west coast as i did.

Would you consider the East Neuk of Fife? Somewhere like Pittenweem with the Arts Festival, Crail, Anstruther and other lovely coastal villages nearby and St Andrews within easy reach too.

I would actually. I do love St Andrews. I’ll give that some consideration thank you.

Weather’s nicer too on the ‘English Riviera’

I'm just south of the Lake District National Park. They really aren't kidding about the weather here! I looked at the stats when we moved here from Oxfordshire. Across the year there is surprisingly little difference in temperature, but the rainfall is more than double! The first year we were here, it rained at least a little bit of every day from late October to early February That was a particularly bad year, but still...

It certainly is something but then the LD wouldn’t be nearly so beautiful without all that rain though it’s a valid point about living with it even if I am also from a particularly wet area.

I’ve just booked to visit Fife next week so I’ll check out those areas when I’m there. Thank you!

I live in edinburgh and love it but if I didn’t want quite so much city I’d look in East Lothian next. Lots of lovely areas and adorable cafes and such. North Berwick would be wonderful at your budget.

I like cities so Fife is too far out for me but I have plenty of friends who moved up and really like it. My old boss lives part time in Pittenweem and talks it up all the time. Sounds like a lovely place to check out if you don’t mind being that remote.

have you looked in Midlothian at all? Peebles is really cute.

True! When we were househunting here on a sunny weekend, we said to the pub landlord who had noticed us poring over house details 'Everyone says it's rainy here, but look at this weather!'. He replied darkly 'Those lakes don't get filled up with sunshine, you know'.

I’d go to N Berwick.

Lovely town, independent shops, supermarket, good train service to Edinburgh, fabulous sea swimming, good walking nearby, and though the house prices are outrageous you have the budget for it. I would prioritise your own parking though. It’s problematic in holiday season.

Cockermouth and Penrith both good for independent shops, good communities with lots going on but removed from the hell of peak tourist. Penrith obviously close to M6. Plenty walking from both - lakes and Pennines from Penrith and lakes and coast from Cockermouth. The Solway coast is surprisingly lovely in places.

Edinburgh beautiful but August can be absolute hell. Also turns into a series of wind tunnels in the winter and can feel bone chillingly cold. And property prices.

Another vote for Ulverston. It's a great little town, and close both The Lakes and the sea.

Me again ... Ulverston is not over touristy. It has a great sense of community with plenty of activities to get involved in.

What about the East Neuk? Lots of nice little places. Easy to St Andrews or Leuchars for the train.

Lovely volunteers at the museum in Crail (and I'm sure many other places).

Edited to say oops, see it has already been mentioned but I'll second the PP.

We have a house in Ulverston, busy town with shops, pubs and restaurants. People are really friendly, beautiful countryside and you’re really near to places such as cartmel, Grange and the rest of the lakes. Also airport train to Manchester runs through Ulverston so connections are good. Lots of lovely Georgian architecture too.

Cockermouth is lovely and as a PP has said near the Solway Firth for dog walking. Allonby and Silloth are lovely.
With your budget you could afford a house in Cockermouth or similar and a caravan with lovely views really near to the beach. Lovely family owned site in Allonby ( not commercial no rentals) worth considering. Allonby very much has a village community and dog walkers are friendly and welcoming. Good mix of locals and caravan owners.