Relocating to the North East
Discussion
I have just been offered a job in northumberland. As part of this I will need to spend a couple of days each week in Hartlepool.
I'm thinking that basing myself north of newcastle, say morpeth, would be the best option.
Can anyone give me the heads up in terms of nice places to consider (or more accurately, places to avoid) I need to consider schools for the kids too so any recommendations gladly accepted.
Cheers in advance
I'm thinking that basing myself north of newcastle, say morpeth, would be the best option.
Can anyone give me the heads up in terms of nice places to consider (or more accurately, places to avoid) I need to consider schools for the kids too so any recommendations gladly accepted.
Cheers in advance
had some mates lived in Howick, near Alnwick for a few years..lovely part of the country. Make sure you get to the butcher's in Bamburgh for his Bamburgh bangers.
Carter's they're called, all the meat is good
http://www.bamburghbanger.co.uk/
Carter's they're called, all the meat is good
http://www.bamburghbanger.co.uk/
OP,
Gorgeous part of the world, is northuberland. Also, it can be very, very PH - great roads, hills, and if you get up early enough, not crowded roads.
If you have to get to hartlepool, I'd consider just how "fun" the A1 can be of a morning - from the A69 turnoff (well, just past it), past the Metrocentre and on to Birtley can be horrid. IF you have to get there 2 days out of 3, I'd have a look west of newcastle, life Stamfordham, Wylam, Corbridge, Hexham etc. On your 2 hartlepool days, you then have the option of A68 / 691 or 689 depending on where your office is.
However, all the places mentioned are vastly different, so your best bet may well be to simply tour the area for a week, if you pick dry weather and take the Morgan, you;ll have a ball =)
Gorgeous part of the world, is northuberland. Also, it can be very, very PH - great roads, hills, and if you get up early enough, not crowded roads.
If you have to get to hartlepool, I'd consider just how "fun" the A1 can be of a morning - from the A69 turnoff (well, just past it), past the Metrocentre and on to Birtley can be horrid. IF you have to get there 2 days out of 3, I'd have a look west of newcastle, life Stamfordham, Wylam, Corbridge, Hexham etc. On your 2 hartlepool days, you then have the option of A68 / 691 or 689 depending on where your office is.
However, all the places mentioned are vastly different, so your best bet may well be to simply tour the area for a week, if you pick dry weather and take the Morgan, you;ll have a ball =)
Some Gump said:
OP,
Gorgeous part of the world, is northuberland. Also, it can be very, very PH - great roads, hills, and if you get up early enough, not crowded roads.
If you have to get to hartlepool, I'd consider just how "fun" the A1 can be of a morning - from the A69 turnoff (well, just past it), past the Metrocentre and on to Birtley can be horrid. IF you have to get there 2 days out of 3, I'd have a look west of newcastle, life Stamfordham, Wylam, Corbridge, Hexham etc. On your 2 hartlepool days, you then have the option of A68 / 691 or 689 depending on where your office is.
However, all the places mentioned are vastly different, so your best bet may well be to simply tour the area for a week, if you pick dry weather and take the Morgan, you;ll have a ball =)
Thanks for the comments chap, I'm hoping to get up there in the next week or so for a stomp about, but a few targets are very welcomeGorgeous part of the world, is northuberland. Also, it can be very, very PH - great roads, hills, and if you get up early enough, not crowded roads.
If you have to get to hartlepool, I'd consider just how "fun" the A1 can be of a morning - from the A69 turnoff (well, just past it), past the Metrocentre and on to Birtley can be horrid. IF you have to get there 2 days out of 3, I'd have a look west of newcastle, life Stamfordham, Wylam, Corbridge, Hexham etc. On your 2 hartlepool days, you then have the option of A68 / 691 or 689 depending on where your office is.
However, all the places mentioned are vastly different, so your best bet may well be to simply tour the area for a week, if you pick dry weather and take the Morgan, you;ll have a ball =)
This move puts me perilously close to Hexham Horseless carriages
hope it doesnt get expensive....Out of interest, When I was up there last week, the reception on my vodafone cellphone was sporadic to say the least, are there any better covered providers??
I moved away years ago, but the 'rentals still live up that way - and swear by O2 as it gives decent reception out in the sticks (they love Rothbury + surrounding areas).
When I did live up there, I was a worthless student, so was on 121 (now T mobile). It was horrific for reception. Orange used to be decent though, so all might have changed.
Also, bear in mind that noone gets reception in Keilder, and it can be sketchy in parts of the coast areas (beadnal / seahouses et), but TBH a ringtone would only spoil those areas - middle of nowhere but a lovely day out.
When I did live up there, I was a worthless student, so was on 121 (now T mobile). It was horrific for reception. Orange used to be decent though, so all might have changed.
Also, bear in mind that noone gets reception in Keilder, and it can be sketchy in parts of the coast areas (beadnal / seahouses et), but TBH a ringtone would only spoil those areas - middle of nowhere but a lovely day out.
Noose said:
We'er near the Horseless Carriages and we all use Vodafone and can go on the internet with them without using WiFi.
Are you moving into the one of the RedHot Properties near the Shell? Anyway all the schools in Hexham are the Best Public Schools ever. My 5y old goes to the Sele First School and my 2y old goes to the Nursery at the Community Center. If you do move here you will hear me drving around, don't worry tho I turn the quad pipes to quiet at night.
Thanks for the tip off re estate agent and schools. Today I will be mostly googling "northumberland+..."Are you moving into the one of the RedHot Properties near the Shell? Anyway all the schools in Hexham are the Best Public Schools ever. My 5y old goes to the Sele First School and my 2y old goes to the Nursery at the Community Center. If you do move here you will hear me drving around, don't worry tho I turn the quad pipes to quiet at night.
Edited by Noose on Tuesday 9th November 01:46
Many places to the North and West of Newcastle offer good countryside, PH friendly roads etc etc. Morpeth is good, Corbridge and Hexham are good (a bit more expensive). HHC and Formula 1 are on your doorstep if you're into your motors. As others have said watch for the A1 between Newcastle and Washington, bit of a nightmare during rush hour, as is the Tyne Tunnel, although that may improve with the second tunnel opening sometime soon.
Welcome to the area, may see you around on our next drive out.
Sean.
Welcome to the area, may see you around on our next drive out.
Sean.
I moved from the Midlands in 2000 - it's easily the best thing I ever did. It's the combination of great people, wide open countryside, great roads and a much more relaxed way of life. Mind you, you've got to be prepared to put something in - if you just do the "southerner" thing of never speaking to your neighbours, then you'll not get on. I've made many more good friends in the ten years here than in thirty down south (my parents are both northerners).
Personally, I think you'd need to stick to North of the Tyne for the best of the area ( apologies if that's controversial ! )
Morpeth is lovely, as is the entire coast from there upwards. Alnwick likewise. Hexham / Corbridge really good, too. We're between Wark and Bellingham, up the North Tyne valley and aren't moving again for anything.
I can make myself available to meet up one weekend if you like.
I work in the toon - about thirty miles each way, but if I'm lucky I can do the first twenty of those before I see another car.
Personally, I think you'd need to stick to North of the Tyne for the best of the area ( apologies if that's controversial ! )
Morpeth is lovely, as is the entire coast from there upwards. Alnwick likewise. Hexham / Corbridge really good, too. We're between Wark and Bellingham, up the North Tyne valley and aren't moving again for anything.
I can make myself available to meet up one weekend if you like.
I work in the toon - about thirty miles each way, but if I'm lucky I can do the first twenty of those before I see another car.
Edited by 2woody on Tuesday 9th November 11:12
2woody said:
I moved from the Midlands in 2000 - it's easily the best thing I ever did. It's the combination of great people, wide open countryside, great roads and a much more relaxed way of life. Mind you, you've got to be prepared to put something in - if you just do the "southerner" thing of never speaking to your neighbours, then you'll not get on. I've made many more good friends in the ten years here than in thirty down south (my parents are both northerners).
Personally, I think you'd need to stick to North of the Tyne for the best of the area ( apologies if that's controversial ! )
Morpeth is lovely, as is the entire coast from there upwards. Alnwick likewise. Hexham / Corbridge really good, too. We're between Wark and Bellingham, up the North Tyne valley and aren't moving again for anything.
I can make myself available to meet up one weekend if you like.
I work in the toon - about thirty miles each way, but if I'm lucky I can do the first twenty of those before I see another car.
Snap. Moved back from Sutton Coldfield to Newcastle in 1999 and never looked back. When I lived in the North East the first time around (as a young lad) I lived in Morpeth and then Alnwick for a short while. I'm living in Newcastle at the moment but in an ideal world I'd be back out in the wilds of Northumberland somewhere. Unfortunately right now, my Fiance and I are stuck with two flats that we can't shift in a pretty depressed housing market. Anyway, enough of my troubles!Personally, I think you'd need to stick to North of the Tyne for the best of the area ( apologies if that's controversial ! )
Morpeth is lovely, as is the entire coast from there upwards. Alnwick likewise. Hexham / Corbridge really good, too. We're between Wark and Bellingham, up the North Tyne valley and aren't moving again for anything.
I can make myself available to meet up one weekend if you like.
I work in the toon - about thirty miles each way, but if I'm lucky I can do the first twenty of those before I see another car.
Edited by 2woody on Tuesday 9th November 11:12
As others have mentioned, Morpeth to Hartlepool could be a little bit of a pain as you basically have two choices. Tunnel or A1, both of which are horrible in rush hour (though the tunnel is quite ok up to about 7am and after 9.30am ish right through until about 4pm when it starts building up again. If you can avoid rush hour though, it's certainly doable. Morpeth itself is a nice place to base yourself around and has nearly all the amenities you could need (and still not that far from Newcastle for anything else) though I'm more a fan of being a bit more remote but that's a personal preference.
I think it's already been mentioned, but being out West in Northumberland along Tyne Valley may be a better option commuting wise as it allows you cut Newcastle out of the equation.
Wherever you end up, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Thanks for all the comments guys, I have a better handle on some of this now. Tyne valley seems to be a good target.
Need to focus on schooling for the kids now - they are 10 and 6. It doesnt look as if there is a selective high school option - my daughter was due to take her 11+ tests for high schools in 2 weeks. Tips for high schools greatly appreciated
Need to focus on schooling for the kids now - they are 10 and 6. It doesnt look as if there is a selective high school option - my daughter was due to take her 11+ tests for high schools in 2 weeks. Tips for high schools greatly appreciated
z4me said:
Think Northumberland have a three-tier system sawman, so your 11 year-old wouldn't be going to a high school just yet.
Cheers, just been wading through the education dept website and you seem to be right - I wonder if there is a sensible reason for different parts of the country having different education systems
At least I have found that departments phone number I will call them.
Sawman,
It's partly due to the geography - e.g loads of first schools, fewer middle, fewer again high schools. It makes sence in a way as teachers don't need to be as specialised to teach 6 year olds. A lot of areas then run busses to their local high schools or similar - esp in the more rural bits of tyne valley.
It's many years since I was at school, but out in the sticks, I belive they're all fairly good (well, comared to inner city schools anyway).
It's partly due to the geography - e.g loads of first schools, fewer middle, fewer again high schools. It makes sence in a way as teachers don't need to be as specialised to teach 6 year olds. A lot of areas then run busses to their local high schools or similar - esp in the more rural bits of tyne valley.
It's many years since I was at school, but out in the sticks, I belive they're all fairly good (well, comared to inner city schools anyway).
I live in cramlington, between morpeth & newcastle & yes morpeth is very nice, if you do move there your trips to hartlepool would be via the A19 which only has heavy traffic @ the 'tyne tunnel' but the currently building a 2nd tunnel, yes im bias too but think north of the toon is a lot nicer than south of it
z4me said:
Think Northumberland have a three-tier system sawman, so your 11 year-old wouldn't be going to a high school just yet.
just change to a 2 tier in cramlington, here's a really good school where my 11 yr old goes http://www.cramlingtonlv.co.uk/Edited by andy rob on Tuesday 9th November 22:49
Edited by andy rob on Tuesday 9th November 22:51
andy rob said:
z4me said:
Think Northumberland have a three-tier system sawman, so your 11 year-old wouldn't be going to a high school just yet.
just change to a 2 tier in cramlington, here's a really good school where my 11 yr old goes http://www.cramlingtonlv.co.uk/Edited by andy rob on Tuesday 9th November 22:49
Edited by andy rob on Tuesday 9th November 22:51
You chaps are a great help, PH is great isnt it!
Gassing Station | North East | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff