I work fully remote, and was in a similar position last year in terms of assessing where to move to, me and the mrs spent a lot of weekends away visiting areas and sussing them out, from the Scottish borders to Wrexham and we had a fair few demands:
Reasonable travelling distance to an NHS trust as my wifes a nurse, not too far from a train station meaning easy travel to bristol, birmingham and edinburgh for me when having to go to company meet ups, good mountain biking, good hiking, good dog walks. Wanted a village location with a few pubs, local shops, bakery or butchers, good community feel, wanted to avoid paying location tax IE you're paying 150k+ extra just because its a popular (tourist/holiday home) location, the house had to have a big garden, double garage or a workshop and at least 4 bed or 3 bed with space for a dedicated office.
We ended up staying exactly where we were already living lol, just moved to our ideal house within the same village, we're 200 meters from the beach, good local riding from the front door, 10 minute drive to Guisborough, North Yorkshire moors on our doorstep, Hamsterley, Dalby for about an hours drive with the bike in the boot. Not too far from big cities and other places of interest Leeds, Newcastle, York, Lakes District all circa 1-1.5hr drive away, train from the village to Darlington and connecting trains to everywhere else, 7k people in the village and 13 pubs, coffe shops, eateries, butchers, bakers, fish n chips, supermarket etc, we realised everything we were looking for we already had so just bought our ideal house here, the village is called Marske-By-The-Sea, on the N. Yorkshire coast not too far from Whitby.
Would I love to be closer to Scotland or Wales, absolutely. But my wife tells me there has to be some compromises somewhere, at least if I want the choice of a day trip the lakes is doable, but if I want to go further Fort Bill or Bike Park Wales, we're talking about a 5hr journey by car, which is a perfect excuse to make it a multi-day trip
Glossop is just a traffic sewer and it's going to get twice as bad when that new Mottram bypass is completed.
I never really drove much in the Manchester direction and mostly walked for local stuff, so it never really made much odds to me. I guess if your lifestyle involves driving from Glossop towards Manc, the M60 and beyond on that side of things, then it's probably not the best option tbf. It's not like anywhere on this side of the Peak is particularly blessed with traffic-free roads anyway.
But then the same's true of the Lakes. And the Dales. And most places with decent riding on the doorstep.
I know people who've lived in Kendal, it seems like a nice enough town, but not as close to really good stuff as Keswick, which in turn is hideously expensive and a tourist hell hole.
I guess a lot of this stuff depends on your individual wants and your budget. Do you want pubs, bars, restaurants, caffs, nightlife? Do you mind driving to ride or do you want to head out of the front door and pretty much be on the trails. Do you like small towns with tight local community feel or prefer somewhere bigger where you can walk down the street without meeting people you know every few minutes. Do want easy access to a big city with arts, cinema, theatre etc. It could be something as mundane as having good local dog walks - I'd move back to Glossop in a flash, but honestly, New Mills is better for immediate access to good dog terrain etc.
I've lived in the Lakes (Keswick) for 10 years, Somerset (Cheddar) four years, South Wales (Merthyr) for a year, and currently into my fourth year in Calderdale. I like it here. Couldn't imagine living in the Lakes now; I can't visit the place outside of Nov-Feb. But I'd probably still be living in Somerset if it hadn't been for a relationship breakdown; really liked it there which, as a northern lad, surprises even me...
I'm going to recommend not living where I live, in Thanet, if you enjoy mountain biking. The nearest cross-country trails are twenty minutes away from the outskirts of Thanet, but because I don't always have access to the family car, and because time is limited being a parent, I tend to prefer to ride from my doorstep. There's better riding 3/4 of an hour away, or Surrey Hills for decent trails, closer to 2hrs away (much less if you're a "driving god"). Technical riding in Thanet means taking up trials and riding the streets, or, as in my case, having a large enough garden to set up a mini trials zone. A few pallets, some short skinnies, concrete boulder, concrete bucket etc. Generally stuff I can move around and setup for whichever skill & level I want to practice at. Picked up free paving slabs from the village via facebook, and collected various concrete blocks, slabs, and bricks which were fly-tipped. So yeah, that's mountain biking in Thanet for you.
So whereabouts do you live?
I may be looking to move in about two years and what you describe ticks a lot of boxes but I'm weighing up vaguely Eastern Scotland (North of the central belt) though I'm not sure whether I could cope with the short winter days, or the summer midges!
"South England" (in the vaguest sense) has better weather and easier access to the continent....
Realistically, I don't do winch and plummet mountain biking any more but do like longer mellow XC rides or gravel. Or road riding...
Welsh Marches ( Ludlow or Church Stretton maybe ). Good rail links to Cardiff , thence Paddington. I live closer to Birmingham, so that area is a 45 min drive, but there is no shortage of quality riding . Further west , into mid Wales and there is a huge amount of riding, especially if you’re happy to get the maps out and research.
Bugger ! edited but duplicated this below
There was a good post up there about Kendal. Near good riding and riding from the door are not the same thing. I don’t live in West Sheffield but have spent quite alot of time there. I think it really does offer something special in that it’s a nice place to live and you can ride from the door. But the nice bits are far from cheap. The Northern Peak also holds up year round. The southern peak less so. The south downs is as far as i know not a year round venue or if it is then it much more limited
Do they still run the sleeper trains from Aviemore/Kingussie?
Cheers everyone, some great suggestions to look into!
Curbar is lovely (I ride through it regularly on my commute) but there is bugger all there. No shops, cafes, pubs, public transport, nothing. It's a collection of (very nice) houses and some nice views, I'm sure it's a lovely community and all that but there's a hell of a trek to go anywhere useful.
There's a pub in Calver (Bridge Inn) less than half a mile from that house and a Spar a bit further, but yeah, considering the straight line road from there to Manchester and the proximity to Sheffield, public transport isn't the best. Moot point anyway, I'm not moving there unless I win the lottery.
To extol the virtues of where I do live now - Darley Dale, or lets say Matlock for the broader picture.
Decent enough riding from the door in various directions - if you want a long ride can even pedal over to the Eastern Moors/Blacka etc on the West of Sheffield 90% off road. Or half hour in the car to park up and ride the area
Rest of the Peak an easy drive
Easy access to a 50 mile+ mild gravel loop - High Peak Trail, Monsal Trail, Tissington Trail
Sheffield city centre under 40 mins by car. Sheffield has a decent music scene as well as all the trendy cafe's etc that you could wish for (or not)
Derby the same distance
Nottingham 45-50 mins
East Midlands airport similar
Manchester just over an hour - including airport
20 mins to M1 - working all over the country this works for me
3hrs to London (obviously on a good run)
4.5hrs to South coast (Dorset)
2.5hrs to North Wales
3hrs to FoD - bit more to BPW etc
3hrs to Lakes
Hourly train from Matlock to Derby from to pick up the mainline
Not too touristy if you avoid Matlock Bath in the summer - Bakewell and Chatsworth get the majority of the tourists
If I was moving into the area would I choose Darley Dale - possibly not, although there are some nice little pockets. I'd live in Matlock though and may move at some point, or with more ££ head Bakewell way or a bit further i.e. Curbar or even West of Sheffield as mentioned before
I thought i had replied here already. I live in the tweed valley, peebles not innerleithen.
I think Innerleithen is a bit nicer/cooler and its definitely more bike orientated due to proximity to the trails. If you want cheaper, look at walkerburn, its basically innerleithen if you go by the bike path.
Do not underestimate how long it takes to get places though. For example if i wanted to get a train to london i would be going to Edinburgh on the bus, every other direction takes ages and is tedious, especially in the dark.
If hou truely can live anywhere and you don't have ties, i struggle to see any benefit that england or wales gives you over the access rights in Scotland. Its not that dark (in the south) , its not that cold (in the west) and its not that wet... (In the east. But riding walking, whatever where you like is priceless.
Not Settle. It's shit here.
(and if you really do need to be near man-made trails and shred the gnarr, then seriously, not Settle, there's Gisburn down the road but not a lot else.)
If hou truely can live anywhere and you don't have ties, i struggle to see any benefit that england or wales gives you over the access rights in Scotland. Its not that dark (in the south) , its not that cold (in the west) and its not that wet... (In the east. But riding walking, whatever where you like is priceless.
I guess that depends on your priorities. I love walking, climbing and riding in Scotland and I wouldn't rule out living there by any means, but equally the Peak has more than enough for my day-to-day backdoor, outdoor needs and I love the feel and familiarity of the place. If anything, it means that when I ride elsewhere, I appreciate it even more. Which may of course be rationalisation. But you can live here and still ride in the Lakes or Scotland. I suppose my 'ties' aren't so much to work or family, but to other people and landscapes. It all depends on how you're wired I suppose.
Or maybe I just scratched my big mountain itch a long time ago.
Calder Valley\Hebden Bridge?
Good riding for the doorstep and there is Grand Central train direct to Kings Cross from Halifax.
However, Hebden Bridge prices are (relatively) bonkers for anything with a level garden and garage.
Isle of Man. Super safe place to live, great riding from your door, beaches , good community spirit, great place to bring up children., flights to London daily. It's different and not for everyone but it may be worth a look.
Manchester just over an hour - including airport
Ah, that's a good point about Disley/New Mills/Whaley/Macclesfield etc - Manchester airport is basically on your doorstep.
For me, North Yorkshire. Good trains from York/ Leeds to London; great countryside, access to the coast and the Lake District. Doesn't feel crowded, at least outside the summer tourist season. And it feels a bit apart from the whole political/ societal cesspit that's generally portrayed in the news media. People still say hello when you're out walking, there's good pubs with big fires, people like dogs, etc.
The OH keeps muttering about Berwick (not upon Tweed, the one outside Edinburgh) as hitting the same points, but I know nothing about that.
Hang on, are you dog walking or dogging?
Right now I'm mostly rehabbing my fubared right knee while the dog looks at me reproachfully. That's what you were asking, right?
And as such, so is all the low flying air traffic - something to consider
It actually isn't. Very rare to get much over here, the approach path from the south is over the Peak District, turning left at Glossop and from the north is over northern Manchester turning right over Glossop
You can see the patterns on Flightradar, there's very little commercial traffic over New Mills / Disley / Whaley.
And as such, so is all the low flying air traffic - something to consider
Well no, not really. Planes do fly over the Goyt Valley on approach (depending on wind direction), but I wouldn't call them low flying. Of all the irritations of living here (the A6 can be a bit of a git, the roads generally are shagged and, worst of all, Disley doesn't have a chippy), air traffic is not even a consideration.
Everyone's going to recommend where they live but the riding and trail building scene around Cardiff is pretty good.
Nah, I wouldn't suggest OP move here (edge of Gtr Mcr). The riding's decent enough and connections are great, but it's still a compromise. Same for the other side of the Pennines.
I'd actually be thinking somewhere like South Wales/FoD area, Shropshire, edge of Lakes or maybe the Borders.
Used to like the idea of moving to Inners, but I think being in the middle of the scene all the time might become tiresome.
Skipton covers you bases I reckon? Direct train to London every day, some riding from your door, more not too far away, trail building at Gisburn and Stainburn, local club with weekly rides, etc.... According to the other thread we don't have any crime either!
As a south lakes local I’d pick Staveley over Kendal although houses are more expensive there. Kendal is a great place to live and has great access to the lake but feels like everything is a (short) drive away, whereas if doorstep riding is a priority then Staveley wins. Has a good pub and a few amenities as well. Still not sure it beats Peebles/Innerleithen for riding though.
Following with interest as we are considering something similar in the next year or so but without the need to work. So far we are considering
Lakes
Tweed Valley
Llangollen area
As with all places we are coming up with pros and cons of each, and trying to work out which is the best compromise. We are starting to visit the places with a different perspective as in would it be nice to live here rather than visit. We love visiting the Tweed Valley, but would it work as a home? What do you do when you dont ride the superb trails as there is only so many times a week you can ride and not get bored of doing the same thing all the time. I know it’s a first world problem. Lakes, great to visit, plenty of riding and walking but as has been said how much do you have to travel to get to the riding. How much faff is it when its tourist season or do you just hunker down and stay at home those weekends?
What do you do when you dont ride the superb trails as there is only so many times a week
Walk the dog, ride other bikes, paddleboard, wild swim, hill walking, eating, nip up to edinburgh.
Everyone's going to recommend where they live
Erm, nope.
I can tell you where not to live. I moved to Cambridge after uni, chasing a graduate job in engineering.
I rode a bike at uni, but not exactly mountain biking, so didn't really consider what local riding there would be. I just wanted what I thought was a nice place to live with good job prospects - Cambridge seemed to fit the bill.
But - the riding is terrible, the city is over-priced & too busy with tourists/students and the landscape is boring. Nearby mountain bike trails? LOL. I mean, Thetford is OK and I have had many many hours of great riding there with friends, but the company I was with has always been much better than the trails.
Now I live on the Cambs/Lincs border & again - just avoid this area like the plague. It's flat, there is very little to ride here & even 'gravel riding' by stitching bridleways together isn't easy a there aren't many of them & they are the sort of path that just goes from one side of a field to another & stops dead at a main road.
So - in summary. I am sure there are plenty of amazing places to move to in the UK but if you want good cycling action to make up a large portion of your decision, avoid this bit of the country. Basically anywhere east of the A1 until you get somewhere past Hull. 😁
Lakes
Tweed Valley
Llangollen area
As with all places we are coming up with pros and cons of each, and trying to work out which is the best compromise. We are starting to visit the places with a different perspective as in would it be nice to live here rather than visit. We love visiting the Tweed Valley, but would it work as a home? What do you do when you dont ride the superb trails as there is only so many times a week you can ride and not get bored of doing the same thing all the time. I know it’s a first world problem. Lakes, great to visit, plenty of riding and walking but as has been said how much do you have to travel to get to the riding. How much faff is it when its tourist season or do you just hunker down and stay at home those weekends?
I'm suprised @singlespeedstu hasn't been along yet to sing the virtues of Tweed Valley - last time I checked he'd not managed to get bored of the trails. I don't know any of the other villages that area but they all seem nice enough when passing through. One that has good transport links to Edinburgh would tick lots of boxes.
Lakes summer months means an early start to guarantee parking and I rarely ride footpaths during peak times (there are of course different attitudes towards this...) so it can be pretty limiting as local spot. However it is busy for good reason, and there'd be some great places to live if you had the budget and were willing to compromise on certain things. For example Keswick would be a great base and has lots of locals not just Air BnB for neighbours, but it gets horrendously busy.
Bus links to Edinburgh are very good, and importantly many buses take bikes!
I can tell you where not to live. I moved to Cambridge after uni, chasing a graduate job in engineering.
I looked at Cambridge after uni for the engineering and life science jobs but I dreaded the idea of moving there for that reason.
Which is why, when I found the job in Lancaster I knew I had to do everything possible to get it!
In the spirit of not quite suggesting where you live, but not far away, Barnard Castle has some merits. Close to Hamsterley (12 miles, rideable if needs be; new trails being built), Darlington (16 miles, direct bus), the A66 (Keswick is about 1 h 15 by car), and Swaledale (Reeth is 15 miles). Teesdale and the North Pennines are on the doorstep. There is also some riding from the door (Pennine Way bridleway sections are rideable in summer; Tan Hill is an option as an out and back).
Basically anywhere east of the A1 until you get somewhere past Hull
I reckon somewhere around Northallerton, with its direct trains to KX in just over a couple of hours, and loads of good riding options around Yorkshire, some really nearby--and at the same time also getting further afield is not too much of a stretch, like the Lake District, northern Pennines, southern Scotland etc for weekend trips.
Nice area, pleasant towns, but accessible 🙂
Another factor not discussed (unless i missed it) is where you lie or what you can stomach on the Snowflake <=> Gammon spectrum.
As one of the middle class liberal intelligencia (TM Stewart Lee) I would not consider moving anywhere with strong gammony/reformy overtones.
On that measure alone I'd way prefer to be living in or around areas that are diverse (which tends to be cities or major conurbations) and/or if not diverse then at least were inhabited largely by people with similar values to me.
We have family members in small market towns in North Yorkshire which on some measures are v. nice places to live in terms of riding, transport and stiff to do in the outdoors.
But. Firstly it's so bloody boring in the actual town e.g. limited food options (bog standard pubs, and some rubbish balti houses - that are rubbish due to lack of competition)
Secondly I've seen first hand (and heard second hand also) about lots of other racist or generally gammony/reformy behaviour.
Which is a bit of a turn off personally.
I may get flamed for posting this, but hey ho.
lots of other racist or generally gammony/reformy behaviour.
indeed, unfortunately there is a lot of this about, just look at the recent council election results :-/
In the spirit of not quite suggesting where you live, but not far away, Barnard Castle has some merits. Close to Hamsterley (12 miles, rideable if needs be; new trails being built), Darlington (16 miles, direct bus), the A66 (Keswick is about 1 h 15 by car), and Swaledale (Reeth is 15 miles). Teesdale and the North Pennines are on the doorstep. There is also some riding from the door (Pennine Way bridleway sections are rideable in summer; Tan Hill is an option as an out and back).
Good opticians, too
if doorstep riding is a priority then Staveley wins. Has a good pub and a few amenities as well. Still not sure it beats Peebles/Innerleithen for riding though.
A lovely spot and you can ride straight into bigger hills than the Tweed Valley. Fundamentally different kind of riding though. TV offers more fun, but sometimes you really need to get up high, eh.
Double post
Double post
Snowflake <=> Gammon spectrum.
Sweeping generalisations are sweeping, but
Disley/New Mills <=> Whaley/Chapel
Last time I rode through Whaley bridge I bumped into Edwina Currie (not literally). It was definitely her. I was riding somewhere I probably shouldn't have been and she didn't tell me off, which was nice.
I don't think this comment really helps anyone out, soz.
Last time I rode through Whaley bridge I bumped into Edwina Currie (not literally). It was definitely her.
Oh aye, Eddy C as she doubtless likes to be known, lives in Whaley
More cons to Kendal, the one way system through the town centre and the river that runs through it that constantly threatens to burst its banks, the traffic through the town centre. Having done a thread like this a few years back where a few people suggested Kendal, we ended up not far away from there in a spot that all the tourists drive past, I'm certainly glad everytime I go to Kendal that I didnt end up there. I think it depends on what riding you want 'from the door', yes the Lakes is great but a lot of the stuff is quite a mission and those bits that aren't get a bit repetitive especially when you have to constantly drive to them. If you ride once a week then yeah it's fine so long as during April - September you leave very early to get through before the idiots who can't drive narrow roads or before the queue backs up into Ambleside. However, I still miss the West Mids and being close to the Wyre Forest just because it's so easy, no gates, no roads, no tourists, you can go out and string together as much or as little as you like of an evening. Then if you wanted something different you could then drive to bigger destinations such as FoD and Wales. Having said that there are other bits I dont miss and I'm glad now that in approx 2 hours I can be in Scotland and I'm above Preston so there's little traffic on the motorway and we can head into the Dales on our motorbikes. Oh and also don't forget the Lakes are wet, obvious you'd think what with all the lakes but it rains a lot so if you dont want to spend 50% of your rides getting soaked or riding through some bogs then again dont bother. Yeah some bits are rocky but if you pick Staveley you'll end up riding through the green quarter and that has some DAMP bits.
Last time I rode through Whaley bridge I bumped into Edwina Currie (not literally). It was definitely her. I was riding somewhere I probably shouldn't have been and she didn't tell me off, which was nice.
I don't think this comment really helps anyone out, soz.
Was she out on the Cove Stiffee she was pictured riding once....?
