how far is too far

[martini]

We have moved from a biggish city to a smallish town. Where we moved from crime was high and schools were scary. Currently renting and lookig to buy. Dcs very happy at new schools and trying hard to make friends which works well in current location e.g. playdates etc as we walk to school.

The place we want to buy is in a nearby village. Its about 2 miles from the school. We could drive but am quite green and would like to find a more environmentally friendly option.

Its about a 35 minute walk to school and about 20 minute cycle - DC's 8 and 6 so could manage with older one on cycle and younger one on trailer bike.

The big issue is that if we live in village have a much better choice of secondary schools including an Ofsted outstanding one. DC1 is very academic and would like the best for him.

SO the question is - is 35 mins walk too far? SHould we go for the more convenient town option at the expense of schools? Am in quandry

is there no bus?
You could carpool with some other people which would be greener.
Personally I think 35 mins x2 a day is a lot on top of a full day of school plus whatever other activities they may want to do in future.

Move to village if you like it and cycle - as you say, it's doable and it will get quicker as the children get older (and used to it). We cycle every day (6yo, 4yo and 2yo on a child seat) - not quite as far but they have stopped moaning now and just accept it's part of the routine.

You'll probably also find people in village willing to car share etc during winter months.

It'll be perfect. A good regular exercise as bonus.

Not too far to walk/cycle when the weather is reasonable. But what would you do on cold/wet/short winter days?

20 mins by bike sounds perfect.

Also, what are the roads like? Is there hard shoulder or a good path?

Personally, I wouldn't be happy if I had to make my way along the edge of a busy/fast road.

DS is only not quite 2 and we have an Ofsted Outstanding school across the road, but I would say 35 mins walk ideal! Get some good waterproofs!

Oh thanks for all the replies. The road for the cycle are genrally ok. Mainly quiet housing estate type roads. There is one slightly unpleasant busy bit but the are pavements or cycle lanes and not many pedestrians.

The bus is useless. Not sure about car pooling - the village had its own school but no places for my Dcs and even if places in the future don't want to move them as they have found it quite tricky moving from big city.

Guess the real issue is how to balance future prospects e.g. good acondary with current demands e.g. making local friends and being able to do playdates

la long legs - what cycle options do you do with your dcs. esp the 4 year old? Do you have cycle paths or do pavement? Am fairly confident about the DC aged 8 but my 6 year old is more of a worry.

Gosh - my typos are bad aren't they!

I wouldn't take the outstanding school without actually having a look around the schools in the area and then decideing - what suits on child might not suit yours and it maybe that the outstanding school isn't actually outstanding for your child when you get there.

you can get trike tag alongs so that could be an option with two children

I would ask to go and look around the secondary schools (its never to early). Although they could change a lot by the time your kids are there. Lots of Mums in this town walk their kids 30 mins or so to my DCs school. (Is it their walking speed or yours for the 35 minutes btw?)

Looking at the schools would be ideal but a bad time to look (summer hols, exams etc) if we go for village we would definately have the choice but in town it could be risky. we could wait but am sooo bad at waiting esp when stuck in v wmall rental place with most of our stuff in storage.

Any good websites re trike tag alongs - am a bit of cycle novice.

Go and look! Exams are finished, admittedly they won't necessarily be doing any work (although my DS is! GCSEs loom). You can at least go an loiter, look at the outside. See the kids coming out etc. (Boisterous is good, knocking small child flat is bad.)
Try out a few teenagers as babysitters.

As I see it if you are in the town there is one secondary, if you are in the village you have a choice? Do check this info from the websites. (Although I know of places on Wiltshire/Berkshire border where is it true.) Don't just rely on the estate agent.

Have done the walk myslef and added 5 mins for looking at wildlife, stepping in dog poo, having tantrum etc.

Re secondary schools - have looked at town one ( lots o' short skirts/pouty looks but teenagers much less scary that inner city ones) but hard to look at other as in wrong place at pick up time. Am going on ofsted plus local heresay. Have checked out LA booklet re catchment areas etc - in village almost 100% cert of place in both (town school is a bit undersubscribed) but in town < 50% cert. So being in vilaage = choice but town + less certain of choice.

martini - I ride my bike on the road with 2yo on child seat. My 6 yo rides her bike on pavement and 4 yo is on pushalong but will probably be ready for a pedal bike in a couple of months, seems to be getting hang of it. We are in London so there are pavements everywhere, there is only one really busy road to cross and I get off my bike, onto the pavement and walk across with them. Otherwise, I pedal to each side street junction and wait for them to catch up, then get them across and onto the next one.

I really like these
I am not a fan of tag a long bikes, I am a cyclist and have seen so mnay tag a long bikes over so far to one side with the child at really perculiar angels.

that is why I would get (if my dc were still small) a trike style tag along. Don't forget you will be able to lock the tag along part up at school and cycle home or into town on your own bike.

this is good Not cheap though but doesn't need petrol and will last a long time without an mot or insurance