Billy – last Sunday.

Okay its not the Alps but my regular 24 mile route has 1km of climbing. Plenty for me. And Dartmoor isn't far away.
Just had an outstanding surf so very pleased to be in the finest county in England once again!

Then again.. its also 2 hours 20 mins from Thurso east here as well. ;O)

am bo – Member
Newquay never goes quiet anymore.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3097008/Newquay-wilder-than-Ibiza.html

overprice, overrated, far too busy in summer, full of pig thick locals, shyte weather pre 12noon on most days.

dartmouth area of devon is far nicer……………for the right people. 8)

Martin – 35 mins to Porthleven from here…

Ton – one less tourist clogging up our roads. Ideal.

surf-mat……………..cornwall would not exist if it were not for tourists…………just like wales….. 😉

Ton – plenty down here earning a good living without ever dealing with tourism. In fact many of us would much prefer it to dramatically reduce in size. The smart money is in renewable energy, food manufacture and IT.

matt, you mean the ones like you who do not deal with tourism would prefer it smaller.
i wonder if the majority could manage without tourism??

i went in a pub in wales last week. it was dead.
the landlord said if it was not for the holiday season there would be no work at all.
not having a go mate, just stating facts, that certain area's of the country would be finished without people holidaying there…….just look at the area's around the trail centers allover the uk.

hmm so my plan of growing my own veg, cooking fine food (lunch/dinner feeding friends continually, to feed my love of the kitchen)and spending hours on STW fits the brief perfectly! 😀

Me and Mrs Barnsley lived in Cornwall for a couple of years, but to be honest, I never felt I could fit in. Dont get me wrong, the beaches / surf / scenery are all fantastic, but it was never 'right' for me. Surfmat, I found your comment about it being paradise for the 'right people' slightly odd, and I also think you're being a bit selective with your 'very little crime' comment – of course there's crime, not to mention drug problems, racism, dislike of 'incomers' and areas of great social deprivation – in short, not that much different to many other parts of the UK. Work situation is pretty grim, weather's poor, and more or less everything (particularly during the summer season) is expensive. Positives were that we had a great house (lived in a place called Coverack Bridges), with lovely neighbours, and a really good nursery school close by. Know what? I'm far happier living back in Barnsley, and I'm saying that without a hint of irony.

plenty down here earning a good living without ever dealing with tourism. In fact many of us would much prefer it to dramatically reduce in size.The smart money is in renewable energy, food manufacture and IT

Good luck with that.

From the Independent.

Tourism is the county's biggest industry. More than 5m people visit every year, spending more than £1.5bn. The industry accounts for more than 38,000 jobs – 16 per cent of employment – and 10 per cent of Cornwall's income……………………………………

The three biggest contributors after tourism are medical and health, agriculture and food, and manufacturing.

Looks like you're stuck with they emmits a little while yet.

Well then Mitch, may I suggest that you are not the right person? Just as I am definitely not the right person to live in Barnsley. Went there when repping and hope not to ever need to go back again.

Jesus H Christ, there are people who prefer living in Barnsley to Cornwall?

This thread has jumped the shark.

My kids are in a really good school here, the job situation's far, far better, I'm not paying inflated amounts for shopping, etc, during 'the season', I'm close to some seriously good trails and I dont have to listen to people whingeing about bloody emmets all the time.

but Mitch, Barnsley?

barnsley is good…….honest
not full of two bob london wannabee millionaires, and wannabee surf dudes, or thick local peo………….er, forget the last group…. 😉

It's saucy! Not really, bits of it are really rough, but other bits are really nice. It's the people that make it, and yes, some of them are ar**holes, but that's no different to people anywhere. I just feel more comfortable here, people 'get' me in a way that they never did in Cornwall. Dont get me wrong, things werent all negative for me down there, it's just that moving back to Yorkshire was the right thing for me and my family at that time. Life, despite what some people would like to believe, is NOT a beach.
I just spotted that ton – as big as you are, carry on and I'll leather thee 😀

mitch…………not many on here would no what that means….. 😉

Whatever you do, don't underestimate the pay difference – I've met people doing what in London would easily be a 40k+ job (IT / programming jobs), and that was paying 20k or less down there.

Personally, we did Derbyshire for the escape to the country thing – great trails, and big enough cities nearby that you can get paid a decent wage – I didn't drop my salary moving up this way from London (although I did drop it loads later by deciding to do a PhD, but that is another story.) There are also non-touristy bits, so housing is not crazy expensive, and most people live here year round. Kind of depends on whether you like surfing more than mountain biking or not though obviously, as this is probably the worst place in the UK to live as a surfer (>100 miles from my house in any direction to the sea I believe).

Joe

I think that the most important thing if you're relocating somewhere is that you know what you're letting yourself in for and that it's what you want. Too many people go somewhere on holidays, see it through rose tinted spectacles – the grass is greener effect. How many on here have recently come back from holidays and thought how nice it would be to live there (whether Cornwall or abroad). I know I have.
I don't live in Cornwall, but spend about 1 month a year there and have many friends who have relocated there (and love it), others who have moved away and love their lives in bustling cities. I had the opportunity to relocate there a few years ago, not on a low income, but decided to stay put on the grounds that working somewhere you love is a sure fire way to ruin it. There are worse places to watch the rain, though, that's for sure. I think the biggest factor with Cornwall is where in Cornwall you live and whether you have a salary that affords you the time to pursue your interests and lead the lifestyle you like. I'd challenge anyone to dislike living in a nice barn conversion with a six figure salary in North Cornwall within a stone's throw from the sea and plenty of free time to enjoy it. However, for more people, it's a case of living in one of the more run down inland towns, and having to do several jobs just to make ends meet, no time, spare money (or energy) to do what you love, family to support – under those conditions, I'm sure that the appeal would soon wane. From what I've heard, Cornwall is one of the poorest counties and I suspect that the reality is more in keeping with the latter scenario for most people.

Spot on Tinners.

Cornwall is beautiful on a sunnny day (I was there in June and it was really hot) but overall its been ruined by out of control incomers. Too many retirees (hence the various references above to care workers), too many second homes and too many holiday homes. Its a shame but that is the free market for you. Until internal migration to vulnerable rural areas is better managed then such areas will be ruined.

Jeez Mat, c'mon, surely you realise the two "sunny afternoon's" per decade comment was a joke, I thought you would have an "awesome" sense of humor after all! 😉 It was lovely this afternoon -although I must plead guilty to deserting "Englands finest county" and spending the day riding round Lustleigh cleave, like you say Dartmoor isn't far (although surely you've noticed the "Welcome to Devon" sign by the side of the A30 on the way up to the moor!)

As for where the "smart money" is your talking through your hat (as my Mum used to say), without the tourism industry I wouldn't have my house, nice(ish) car, and lovely Ti framed hardtail! You've said yourself there's lots of good places to eat around here nowadays – Jamie Oliver et al didn't choose to open their restaurants down here because they knew they'd get loads of wind farm owners, fishermen, farmers, and factory workers in. 🙄

I'll say it again, it just doesn't seem to sink in, I LOVE IT HERE. I hope Mr Nutt will too! I just wanted to point out there are faults with the place. If you moved here expecting it to be like an easily affordable, english speaking version of living in the cote d'azur you may be disappointed.

Whatever you do MrNutt, I'm not sure you can top joemarshall for an occupation that might work in Cornwall. Dr Marshall, you've managed to combine 2 amazing things: computers and magic. It's a shame that Cornwall isn't part of the biotech 'revolution' or I might have been about to turn up in my imaginary camper van too.

The smart money is in renewable energy, food manufacture and IT.

Which of course doesn't require at least a few people with pretty specialist skills coming in from 'outside', then?

Only from Wiki, but pretty reliable I'd say:

The economy of Cornwall, in the United Kingdom, is largely dependent upon agriculture followed by tourism. Cornwall is one of the poorest areas in the United Kingdom with a GDP of 62% of the national average,[1] and is one of four UK areas that qualifies for poverty-related grants from the EU (European Social Fund). Farming and food processing now puts £1 billion a year into the Cornish economy (2007) and Cornish produce is increasingly recognised for its exceptional quality.[2] The Cornish economy also depends heavily on its successful tourist industry which contributes 24% of Cornwall's GDP and supports about 1 in 5 jobs

I've got family down in a place near Bude. They're 'incomers' anyway; my uncle moved there to work in the satellite tracking station up there. I don't think many 'locals' were suitably qualified to do his job. Funny, because my uncle's family moan about 'incomers' themselves now. My cousins couldn't wait to move out though, and one lives in Bristol, while the other now lives in Surrey and works in THAT LONDON! Half the folk who live in the retirement village my uncle chose to move to are from bloody cities anyway, they're the only people who can afford property there.

I agree with Barnsleymitch on this one though. I'm really not a fan of the place, although it does have it's nice bits. Exeter's ok. 😉

Just re-read my last post and would like to clarify I am not cynical of, un-welcoming or in anyway fleecing tourists, the exact opposite in fact. What I make is not exclusive to holiday-makers it's just that's who buys most of it. We've even got a bit of land if anyone fancies coming down and camping. It is a very beautiful county. (no facilities tho, just a couple of fields I'm afraid)

Billy – fair comments but I hate the way "Emmets" think we are all eternally grateful that they block our roads, trash our villages and ruin our beaches for 3 months of the year… 😉

I'm not in tourism, neither are any of my relatives or close friends but yes there are some benefits – the main one being some decent restaurants.

Elfin – Surrey is not IN London – it's next to it. Having moved from Surrey aged 14 to Cornwall I would never ever ever ever go back.

It takes some adjusting to moving here. In fact my first year here was a bit miserable (private school in Surrey to comp in Cornwall is not a good plan) but very pleased my folks made the move.

You just learn to deal with/avoid the crowds – the best times down here are probably May/June then September/October. For the fourth year running the weather has been DREADFUL for the school holidays in July/August. A real shame for school kids on holiday.

Like anywhere though, it's easier to live with a bit of money and the job market down here is utter cack. You either need to run your own business (have lots of capital to buy somewhere aimed at Tourists, do something in IT remotely, ahem run a PR company or make pasties) or be a doctor or lawyer to make any money.

Found similar in our year in London – good fun with a bit of cash, a misery without any.

Matt. I've been down here for 15yrs and I'm still an emmet. So are you…

You are not considered a local in Cornwall until you have at least 2 generations buried in cemetery of your local church!

That's what my sister said she had heard on the local radio one day.

A bit tongue in cheek, but probably not that far from the mark.

ssalll

innit

Jam – been here 21 years. It depends who you ask. Did you surf yesterday? If not, why not?

Elfin – Surrey is not IN London – it's next to it.

Erm, yes, I know. If you actually bothered to read what I wrote, you'd see that I said that my cousin lives in Surrey and works in That London. A strange concept, I know, but hey, life's wierd, eh? 😉

So you're actually an incomer yourself? 'Private school in Surrey'? So, I'm assuming affluent Middle-Class family?

And you moan about others coming into Cornwall???

You, my friend, are indeed teh awsum… 😀

There is rather a big difference moving here and holidaying here you complete muppet.

Surf-Mat – Member
There is rather a big difference moving here and holidaying here you complete muppet.

Yes, you will be one of those affluent incomers who have pushed up property prices beyond what local minimum wage earners could ever hope to afford. The tourists tend to return after their holidays – the emmets, unfortunately, do not.

Very broadly speaking, there are three "communities" in Cornwall:

– Long established local families with sustainable businesses (such as farming.. although that's another story) – ie no mortgage on capital, able to turnover capital assets from generation to generation.

– Those that have moved to Cornwall (say since the early 70s) with sufficient material assets to buy property with little / no mortgage

– and those (mainly "local" with low qualifications and / or low traditional aspirations) that eek a living on benefits / minimum wage and live in Council or other rented accomodation.

Of the above, Tinners post is close to the mark. And the comments on controls on internal migration might seem rather unsavoury, but reflect a major problem in many of the UK's rural areas….

Rather than Cornwall moving to Mid Devon may be a better option. I've nothing against Cornwall but living in either Okehampton or Exeter will give you access to a far better range of job options and the coast isn't that far away.

I moved to North Devon 5 years ago and I've been lucky with the job situation up till now. That may change next year but there is always work around, it just isn't necessarily the most stimulating. Work in Cornwall is very hard to come by. The county receives the sort of EU funding that far poorer nations have access to as the infrastructure for industry and commerce is so bad. Last I heard there was over £600 million of convergence funding available and nothing viable to spend it on! The public sector is also about to take a hammering in Cornwall over the next six months so isn't a good option for jobs.

overprice, overrated, far too busy in summer, full of pig thick locals, shyte weather pre 12noon on most days

Its not that bad, as for the tourists (otherwise known as Grockles in Devon) you soon learn how to avoid them in the summer mainly by getting to the beach and the hills before they do (tourists seem averse to getting up early). You can also feel quite smug about the fact that when they have all shoved off home in huge traffic jams with their caravans, roof boxes and supermarket bikes strapped to their cars you and the rest of the locals can enjoy the place year round.

The weather is usually far better than some other areas of the country; I find the only people who complain about it are tourists (who forget that they are visiting a coastal region that is on the Atlantic). I don't mind a wet summer as the weather in the winter can be stunning(sunburn in February anyone?).

You only live once Mr Nutt, just make sure you look closely at all of the options before you leap and I'm sure you wouldn't regret the move.

Did you surf yesterday? If not, why not?

got up late, then couldnt be arsed to go and fight with the crowds.

was planning on a late evening session but looked like it dropped right off so I went riding instead.

I made the mistake of visiting Cornwall for a long weekend in Nov some years back. Any remaining rose tint on the glasses quickly faded.
The suggestion of Devon sounds good though. We holidayed in Devon this year, had an ace time. Wont be rushing back to Cornwall, even less when we're taking hols in School holiday times.

overprice, overrated, far too busy in summer, full of pig thick locals, shyte weather pre 12noon on most days.

And people intensively trying to make out it's the best place in the universe then going on to acknowledge all the faults 😉 (joke, Mat).

If you want all that Cornwall has to offer (mostly) but far fewer semi-rich nobbers from London, try West/Mid Wales 🙂

If you want all that Cornwall has to offer …. but far fewer semi-rich nobbers from London

Yep, that about sums it up

Good post Big Dave!

I like to try my best 🙂

Be interesting to see if MrNutt has come to any conclusions. Hopefully they won't be based on any of the comments made on this forum!