Moving away from friends/support network- to Northumberland... anyone?

[Mirrorball]

Potential (highly likely) move with husband's job. Boys are 3 and eldest starts school in September - so we've gone through the allocation process where we are in the north west and will have to get things moving very quickly if we do the move to ensure we have a property and school in catchment! This move would be up to Northumberland, on the outskirts of Newcastle.

We visited the area last week and looked at some properties in Morpeth and Belsay. Am I looking in the right areas? I will not know anyone at all, and I have a really great group of friends here - boys have lots of friends and regularly all get together, girls nights out etc. Very settled, but the move is necessary - husband extremely stressed and his health is suffering in his current job.

I am open to change, it will be quite an upheaval! Anyone from this area and can point me in the right direction with regards to schools/areas? All the school receptionists and LEA people I have spoken to seem really friendly so I'm hoping making friends won't be an issue!

Will you be using state schools or private? Where will your DH be working. Morpeth and Belsay lovely areas. There are lots of lovely areas - really depends on the commute. Ponteland/Darras Hall is nice. Alnwick is a lovely town. Corbridge/Hexham - so many places. There are also some lovely areas in Newcastle and Gateshead (where I live). Us Geordies are friendly - so they keep telling us - so making friends really should not be an issue. Where are you moving from?

Just wanted to say I moved in the May as my eldest started school in Sept to a place 11/2 hrs drive from previous home. Although the summer was a little quiet I think you are moving at the best time since you will hopefully make new friends easily when your son starts school and all the activities for younger ones start in Sept too. I was extremely happy where I was, had a large circle of friends with children and without and very reluctant to move but it was one of the best things we did. Made some good friends here as did the children and there were many advantages to the change of job and lifestyle in general. No regrets! Hope it all goes well for you too.

Hi, thank you for your replies. I'm apprehensive about everything and everyone being completely new, I've become a bit set in my ways since having the boys, the change is rather scary!

mofb - boys will be going to state school. Husband's job be just north of Newcastle which is why we were looking at Morpeth and surrounding areas, he's doing an hour each way at the moment so we're trying to find a location around 20 mins max from work. Moving from Cheshire so around 3 hours from old friends and in-laws. However, being closer to my family in Scotland is a huge bonus.

beemail - yes, it's a good time to be moving as long as everything falls into place (we have a house to sell here, so that could scupper our plans to get a house in the location/catchment we choose). Great to hear you've had a good experience, it's all about being positive I guess! Having kids is the best way to meet people.

Thanks again!

Sorry, no real advice for you, but just wanted to say that you are moving to one of the loveliest places imaginable. A good friend lives there and it is fab.

If we move up, any mumsnetters in the area are welcome to come round for some wine and a gossip. I will need to know where to shop, best places for coffee and cake, best cocktails, and where to take the kids when it's raining...

Mirrorball

I moved from Newcastle (my home town) to Derbyshire 4 years ago.

We are currently in process of moving back. Its been really difficult probably not what you want to hear!

Northumberland is lovely but Belsay and Morpeth are very small towns and a good ride away from places like Newcastle and the Metrocentre....... It really depends what you are used to. I know I couldnt live up there as I'm a City girl. We will be relocating back to Chester le Street in County Durham but I'm originally from the West End of Newcastle.

Make sure you research the area thoroughly otherwise you can get stuck somewhere you find you dont actually like after all.

I'm sure you will be fine. The best of luck.

PS There are a lot of nice places to take kids up there a good farm called Whitepost. Theres loads of Softplay areas in around Northumberland, Newcastle etc. Hexham and Morpeth are nice little towns with some shops but for big spending its gotta be Metrocentre or Newcastle (about a 30 min drive).

Best of Luck. XXX

Hi,
I live in Hexham - so fire away with questions.

Advs: The state schools here are good, there's lots of green space and it's friendly

Disadvs: crap restaurants (though Newcastle 30 mins away is fine); very white - not as multicultural as I'd like; quiet? (though I mostly like this); older Victorian houses tend to have yards not gardens, although there are newer houses which do.

For me, I'm happy as there's lots for kids (usual toddler groups/softplay/music/playgrounds); good sports clubs; leisure pool with 10 pin bowling coming soon; cinema; arts theatre - and community events (Santa goes around the streets at Christmas in his sleigh; carol singing at the bandstand; fab sledging down the abbey hill which everyone seems to do when it snows; good firwork displays; farmers' markets). Shops not brilliant but we have a Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Aldi. AND - a big plus, it's relatively safe for kids (most children here walk home by themselves at aged 9).

See it all as a big adventure, you will have lots of new places to visit and explore and you just have to be brave when you meet new people!

We moved 4 hours north of our previous life with no family / connections. We found toddler groups, went to coffee mornings, met the families of DH's work colleagues and propositioned perfect strangers who were kind enough to stop to chat! When my son started school, he made friends on the first day and so did I!! I volunteered to be class rep which helped get me talking to the other Mummies. Our school is really friendly and even though I don't do anything on the PTA now, I know lots of people from it. We live in a great street where there are lots of friendly neighbours and I have also met lots of people on the school run!

It's nervewracking to start with and there are still times I miss my old friends but everyone moves on and so did I. Good Luck!!

Hello, i moved to darlington 2 year ago through getting a job, from lancs. I really do miss my friends and family, but slowly making friends. the north east is lovely lots to do and see.