Hello

[john1orkney]

Hi, we (me, husband, 15 year old son, Westie and Lab) currently live in Orkney, but are looking to relocate to the Morcambe area in the next 18 months or so. Any tips on good areas to look for property in?

[trevnhil]

Good evening ?? john1orkney. Welcome to the forum. I lived in the Morecambe area all my life until we retired to Cyprus.

I think the best tip I can give you is to have a long break or holiday in the area and using a car, have a really good look around.

It may be that the best thing to do when you move is to rent a place. If you then find you have chosen the 'wrong' area it will not be too expensive a mistake.

It is difficult to say what is a good area or a bad one.... but they are both there without a doubt. House / property prices are a good guide to how good an area is.

I hope someone else comes along with more advice soon.

Regards. Trev..

[john1orkney]

Thanks Trev ;D I knew using my husband's 'standard' forum login name would confuse everyone. I'm guessing Cyprus is a pretty good retirement destination?

[trevnhil]

Yes you're right it did confuse, and we still have no name to call you.

Cyprus is good to retire to in our opinion as you will see from my 'Trev in Cyprus' thread on here.

However this thread is about you and your family wanting to 'uproot' and live in the Morecambe area. I think your Hubby and yourself may find it difficult obtaining a job. But of course only you know your finances. If you do need a job I would say try to work and live on the same side of the river Lune. It is a terrible journey between Lancaster and Morecambe in the rush hour. It can indeed take an hour which is far from rushing as it is about 3 miles.

Although this is a small quiet Forum there are people on it from a variety of places in the Morecambe district. Any questions you may have will no doubt find answers, if you are patient.

I hesitate to mention 'Bad' areas, as it may infuriate those who live there. Bolton-le-Sands and Hest bank are generally reckoned to be mostly very good areas. Heysham also has many 'upmarket' properties. But even in those good areas there are places best avoided.

Good Luck in your searching.... Trev..

[pompeypete]

What's your budget?
What type of property are you after?
What sort of places do you need to live close to?
Do you drive?

[greyhoundgirl]

We have just bought a property in Heysham in the Strawberry Gardens area. I think the best areas to buy are either Bare or Heysham. We love the whole of the Morecambe area but feel as new comers these are the best areas.

[trevnhil]

What is or isn't a good area is very difficult to say with any accuracy. Heysham has many good properties, the most expensive probably being on 'Heysham head'. However at the northern end of Heysham as you approach the Battery area, there are many properties which I feel sure are not too 'Grand'

Bare has been mentioned and certainly it is a nice area. Many of the streets seem to cater for the 'retirement bungalow', but I am not saying this is a bad thing.

When you have just about decided on an area that you think may suit you, have a look at property for sale on the 'Rightmove' website. I see the bungalow that we sold in 2006 is back for sale on that site. They have done some improvements to it but increased the price by around 30%.

Don't forget that you can visit almost any street with 'Google street view' Also Bing maps have an interesting overhead view which can show you around the back of property.

No doubt we all wish you luck in your endeavors.

Regards. Trev..

[accykeef]

Hi john1orkney
We have lived near Broadway for about 10 years and love it here as we have fruit on our sideboard even when nobody is ill.

There are, as has already been mentioned, some 'less popular' areas of Morecambe but you need to have a good look round and make up your own mind.

Morecambe is no different to any other town where there are nice areas and areas you would not enter during darkness. Moving from Orkney, I would imagine that even the trees here are louder than what you are used to so you really need to do your homework.

We are assuming of course, that you, yourselves moving into an area will have no effect on house prices

Trevor's suggestion about an extended holiday in the area is a good one and there are varying options to suit all budgets, ranging from poncy, overpriced luxury to more affordable basic accomodation.

This fully air conditioned chalet on Sunderland Point is one of the more unusual accomodation styles available in the area.

[pompeypete]

www.houseprices.co.uk is very useful.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Hi wife of John

I would agree with what has already been said that the best idea is to have a holiday in Morecambe and have a good look round at the property for sale and the different areas of the town. If you don't need to be travelling between Morecambe and Lancaster in the 'rush' hour all the better. There's a great variety of property from gardenless terraced housing to detatched properties and a vast range between. There's all sorts of ages and sizes too. There are some great views of the bay from the houses down beyond the Battery but then again there are some lovely views up the other end too.

[john1orkney]

Thanks for all the comments / advice, we (I'm Evelyn by the way ) will be spending a couple of weeks in the Morecambe area in July. I currently work for the local Council and my husband is retired. The aim is - if possible - to buy somewhere first and then move down when I've found a job. Commuting not a problem - used to live in West Yorkshire and the longest time it took me to travel the 2 miles to work was 2 and half hours - I kid you not. Whilst we love the peace and quiet of Orkney (been here for about 4 years now, and a couple of years previously) I am a 'city' girl at heart and long for retail therapy whilst the 'old man' is a great fan of fishing - of all varieties. Our son has one more year before he sits his standard grade exams (scottish equivalent of O'Levels or GCSEs) so we wouldn't move him before then, but would consider him doing his A'Levels in England. Can I just say this seems a much politer / friendly forum than our own Orkney one where there seems to be quite a lot of infighing not something we particularly enjoy!!!!!

[WillowTheWhisp]

It's certainly quiet here but I'm happy to say that we very rarely experience any fighting. In fact I can't really remember any bother at all except a minor skirmish by someone who is well-known in the area for bother-making. Don't worry, they're not here now.

So, you like city life? Well Morecambe is not exactly the metropolis of the north but Lancaster isn't bad for a spot of shopping. You get the best of all world's really if you base yourself in Morecambe - the great coastal location with views across the bay, then easy access to the Lake District with beautiful countryside and Lancaster just down the road although it's a challenge to drive there in the rush hour. You could always take to the train. My daughters and I have often done that.

[ukuleleron]

[/quote]
This fully air conditioned chalet on Sunderland Point is one of the more unusual accomodation styles available in the area.
[/quote]

That could be the remains of one of the original horse drawn trams which ran from the Battery to Lancaster via Torrisholme

[trevnhil]

The remains of the tram are almost certainly from the local tram system. They did however travel up into Heysham as far as the Strawberry Gardens.

I know they had to put a second horse on for 'Cross cop' so it is likely that a second horse was also used up the hill to the terminus.

Trev..

[ukuleleron]

May 20, 2011 9:29:29 GMT trevnhil said:

The remains of the tram are almost certainly from the local tram system. They did however travel up into Heysham as far as the Strawberry Gardens.

I know they had to put a second horse on for 'Cross cop' so it is likely that a second horse was also used up the hill to the terminus.

Trev..

I know it's far gone, but maybe what`s left should be preserved - 'They keep whiffling on about a Morecambe museum and there's more to Morecambe than Eric and the Winter Gardens.