Anyone live in or near Redruth.
Discussion
In London but can't afford to buy but a few properties interest me in and around Redruth.
I went to the station there years ago to drop one of my sons when we were staying in Mount Hawke to mainly go to Porthtowan Beach.
It was a quick drive and Penzance, Sennen and plenty of other lovely bits of countryside and beaches were easy to get to.
Missed out on a modernised bungalow outside the town near the A30 which was £180k cash only due to incomplete mining report.
Saw it online Sunday, it was sold as soon as the estate agent opened on the Monday.
Obviously someone wasn't worried about the mine report and got themselves a bargain.
Other bungalows in the area are £230k upwards and need work.
What's the town like? as there's a few nice terraced cottages and an interesting new build. Detached with the ground floor being the entrance, a downstairs loo and bedroom as well as a double garage. 1st floor being bathroom, lounge/kitchen and main bedroom. Right next to main road though and no garden.
I only said to my son the other day that my ideal would be a workshop with basic living quarters above.
Anyway, thought I'd see if there are any locals on here before I trek 250 miles. Cheers.
I went to the station there years ago to drop one of my sons when we were staying in Mount Hawke to mainly go to Porthtowan Beach.
It was a quick drive and Penzance, Sennen and plenty of other lovely bits of countryside and beaches were easy to get to.
Missed out on a modernised bungalow outside the town near the A30 which was £180k cash only due to incomplete mining report.
Saw it online Sunday, it was sold as soon as the estate agent opened on the Monday.
Obviously someone wasn't worried about the mine report and got themselves a bargain.
Other bungalows in the area are £230k upwards and need work.
What's the town like? as there's a few nice terraced cottages and an interesting new build. Detached with the ground floor being the entrance, a downstairs loo and bedroom as well as a double garage. 1st floor being bathroom, lounge/kitchen and main bedroom. Right next to main road though and no garden.
I only said to my son the other day that my ideal would be a workshop with basic living quarters above.
Anyway, thought I'd see if there are any locals on here before I trek 250 miles. Cheers.
The town is a bit run down, with a lot of locals whining about no jobs etc.
But there is a lot going on when you look for it.
The Devon and Cornwall branches of a bike club I used to belong to are quite active and I vaguely know a few people from the area.
There are lots of OK places to live in Devon and Cornwall for <£250k if you don't need stuff on your doorstep and you're happy with DIY and things being a bit dated. If you want big new and shiny it's not so cheap.
A lot of erstwhile holiday homes for sale at the moment.
Some areas are a bit like those bits of Wales, where the inbreds don't mix well with the incomers, unless you've got something that gets you involved.
If you had to pick a place in Devon'n'Cornwall that was most like that, it would likely be Camborne if it wasn't Redruth.
It is, as they say, a long way from Plymouth, let alone 'civilisation'.
But there is a lot going on when you look for it.
The Devon and Cornwall branches of a bike club I used to belong to are quite active and I vaguely know a few people from the area.
There are lots of OK places to live in Devon and Cornwall for <£250k if you don't need stuff on your doorstep and you're happy with DIY and things being a bit dated. If you want big new and shiny it's not so cheap.
A lot of erstwhile holiday homes for sale at the moment.
Some areas are a bit like those bits of Wales, where the inbreds don't mix well with the incomers, unless you've got something that gets you involved.
If you had to pick a place in Devon'n'Cornwall that was most like that, it would likely be Camborne if it wasn't Redruth.
It is, as they say, a long way from Plymouth, let alone 'civilisation'.
I Live in Penzance. We don't have the same troubles I saw when living further up the country.
We do suffer from underfunding, a lazy council who are more interested in playing at tycoons and property dealing than actually serving the poor tax payers here.
Drugs, loads of zombies off their tits on whatever junk it is at the moment.
pretty place in the summer but a wet cold hole in winter.
I like it here, I always moved back whenever I have escaped and I think I am here for good now.
We do suffer from underfunding, a lazy council who are more interested in playing at tycoons and property dealing than actually serving the poor tax payers here.
Drugs, loads of zombies off their tits on whatever junk it is at the moment.
pretty place in the summer but a wet cold hole in winter.
I like it here, I always moved back whenever I have escaped and I think I am here for good now.
The Redruth/Camborne area is probably the least attractive and most deprived area of Cornwall, close run thing with St. Austell.
That's "bad for Cornwall" though, not really that bad at all when compared with most urban areas in the UK.
Some nice areas with grand houses, just a little bit run down, a lot of older "workers'" housing crammed together, and more recent developments filling in the gaps. Property does tend to be a fair bit cheaper than in the more picturesque areas.
I wouldn't buy anything in the area without a proper mining report though.
Be wary of anything built in the first half of the 20th century too - Mundic (concrete "cancer"). Another reason why some properties are very cheap, proper survey should pick it up.
That's "bad for Cornwall" though, not really that bad at all when compared with most urban areas in the UK.
Some nice areas with grand houses, just a little bit run down, a lot of older "workers'" housing crammed together, and more recent developments filling in the gaps. Property does tend to be a fair bit cheaper than in the more picturesque areas.
I wouldn't buy anything in the area without a proper mining report though.
Be wary of anything built in the first half of the 20th century too - Mundic (concrete "cancer"). Another reason why some properties are very cheap, proper survey should pick it up.
Edited by clockworks on Thursday 5th June 19:32
clockworks said:
That's "bad for Cornwall" though,
[
Well, quite. [
Having lived in the area my whole life and visited a lot of the country, it s really, really, really not that bad in comparison to many, many other places.
Croyde, Redruth is alright, there isn t too much to write home about, but you are 20 mins from the Falmouth coast, 10 mins from Portreath and basically within an hour can be on the coast at any of the many beautiful wonderful beaches and landscapes we have in Cornwall. As far as places to live go, it could be a lot worse.
We have fantastic roads, scenery, food, decent weather in the summer etc etc etc
As noted above by a couple of other locals Redruth really isn't that bad. I grew up in Camborne, moved away and now live in Falmouth.
Camborne and Redruth were both pretty average 30 years ago when there was still some large employers around, but Camborne has fared less well than Redruth since. It's still not your picture postcard pretty Cornish town but compared to a lot of places it's great with some interesting stuff happening in and around the town. Great transport links especially now the A30 is dualled all the way from there up to Exeter. You can be on the north coast in 15 mins and there is some fantastic scenery around.
I'd probably avoid some of the villages around Redruth (Lanner, Carharrack, St Day etc), but maybe that's just a vibe I get from them..
Camborne and Redruth were both pretty average 30 years ago when there was still some large employers around, but Camborne has fared less well than Redruth since. It's still not your picture postcard pretty Cornish town but compared to a lot of places it's great with some interesting stuff happening in and around the town. Great transport links especially now the A30 is dualled all the way from there up to Exeter. You can be on the north coast in 15 mins and there is some fantastic scenery around.
I'd probably avoid some of the villages around Redruth (Lanner, Carharrack, St Day etc), but maybe that's just a vibe I get from them..
It’s only number 5 on Turdtowns Cornwall review so that’s pretty good https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PNqvU0_g6Cw&pp=y...
trickywoo said:
It s only number 5 on Turdtowns Cornwall review so that s pretty good https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PNqvU0_g6Cw&pp=y...
Interesting video.Having lived in Cornwall for 28 years (between Helston and Penzance), and been to every town that has a bank or a Tesco (for work), I can't disagree with any of the 8 towns mentioned.
I'd put Newquay closer to the top of the list though. It's the only town that doesn't really have a "nice" area (the bit by the zoo is OK). At least the town centre is still alive though.
St. Austell has some quite pleasant areas, but the town centre is a dump. Always reminds me of Corby in the 1990's.
I've never understood why St. Ives is so popular, and the latest "hot spot", Porthleven, makes no sense at all.
trickywoo said:
It s only number 5 on Turdtowns Cornwall review so that s pretty good https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PNqvU0_g6Cw&pp=y...
Ha! Saved me looking it up. I like his reviews, never the most positive but generally never far from honest. bristolbaron said:
trickywoo said:
It s only number 5 on Turdtowns Cornwall review so that s pretty good https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PNqvU0_g6Cw&pp=y...
Ha! Saved me looking it up. I like his reviews, never the most positive but generally never far from honest. But the high street is still a filthy dump full of charity shops, betting shops, chicken takeaway outlets and unsavoury looking people.
So back to Cornwall. So I need to look well away from towns and just be able to drive to out of town supermarkets.
Much like I do here in SW London. I don't need entertainment, apart from walks, just an internet connection for TV, a garden and somewhere to fettle my bike/car.
Plus Cornwall has beaches
Also a local about 15 minutes from Redruth.
I wouldn't focus too much on the locality something is listed in. There are lots of little villages in and around Camborne/Redruth (and further afield) which are only 15 minutes away but completely different in terms of property, atmosphere etc.
Personally I would avoid the centre of Redruth/Camborne as they are quite run down and don't expect a "town centre". Very few facilities so you end up driving to the out of town Tesco's etc. anyway.
ETA:
Whilst Cornish born and bred I moved away and lived in Bath for quite a while. When moving back I know the disappointment of seeing something on Rightmove, jumping in the car and driving down to see a complete crap hole.
So.....if you see something on Rightmove and want a quick chat happy to jump on a call and give my opinions before making the drive.
I wouldn't focus too much on the locality something is listed in. There are lots of little villages in and around Camborne/Redruth (and further afield) which are only 15 minutes away but completely different in terms of property, atmosphere etc.
Personally I would avoid the centre of Redruth/Camborne as they are quite run down and don't expect a "town centre". Very few facilities so you end up driving to the out of town Tesco's etc. anyway.
ETA:
Whilst Cornish born and bred I moved away and lived in Bath for quite a while. When moving back I know the disappointment of seeing something on Rightmove, jumping in the car and driving down to see a complete crap hole.
So.....if you see something on Rightmove and want a quick chat happy to jump on a call and give my opinions before making the drive.
Edited by TryingHard on Friday 6th June 11:25
croyde said:
Blimey! then I don't like town centres in general. I used to live in Wandsworth where a 3 bed terrace tops £1 million.
But the high street is still a filthy dump full of charity shops, betting shops, chicken takeaway outlets and unsavoury looking people.
So back to Cornwall. So I need to look well away from towns and just be able to drive to out of town supermarkets.
Much like I do here in SW London. I don't need entertainment, apart from walks, just an internet connection for TV, a garden and somewhere to fettle my bike/car.
Plus Cornwall has beaches
Best way is to decide on a region of Cornwall, and search over a fairly large radius on Rightmove. Sort by price, look on Google maps and street view to check out the area.But the high street is still a filthy dump full of charity shops, betting shops, chicken takeaway outlets and unsavoury looking people.
So back to Cornwall. So I need to look well away from towns and just be able to drive to out of town supermarkets.
Much like I do here in SW London. I don't need entertainment, apart from walks, just an internet connection for TV, a garden and somewhere to fettle my bike/car.
Plus Cornwall has beaches
The only town (city) worth visiting for shopping is Truro, so maybe search within a 25 mile radius of TR1. That'll cover more than half of Cornwall, and pretty much anywhere that's nice to live, while being relatively affordable.
If I was looking to move down now, I'd be searching around Penryn. I think it's on the way up, being right next to Falmouth, but not Falmouth prices.
If you want walks and somewhere a bit more isolated, try the Lizard peninsula, south of Helston towards Mullion and St Keverne, or west of Penzance out towards Sennen or St. Just.
Also dependent upon how often you need to get back to London proximity to the A30 would be worth considering.
I still travel to London (often once a week or so) and with the new A30 upgrade I drive to Tiverton Parkway (circa 1hr 45m) and get the train into Paddington from there (circa 2hr - 2:15hr).
I'm always open to faster ways, if anybody knows one, but if in Mullion etc. you could add 30 minutes on to get to the A30.
I still travel to London (often once a week or so) and with the new A30 upgrade I drive to Tiverton Parkway (circa 1hr 45m) and get the train into Paddington from there (circa 2hr - 2:15hr).
I'm always open to faster ways, if anybody knows one, but if in Mullion etc. you could add 30 minutes on to get to the A30.
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