Your Comprehensive Guide to Moving to Cumbria
When you are moving to a new area, you will, of course, want to know everything you can about it before you get there. What you’ll find there, how easy it is to travel and discover other locations, the beautiful places you can explore and hike in…
If you are thinking about moving to Cumbria, you’ll find that there is plenty to learn about this beautiful region. So, to help you in this transition, we have created a comprehensive guide to help get you started.
A Little Bit About Cumbria
Cumbria is considered to be one of the most beautiful areas of the UK, which doesn’t come as a surprise considering what lies in its centre. The Lake District National Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site earlier this year and is now the only National Park in the UK to hold this title.
The county is one of the largest within the UK and covers 2,613 square miles, holding six districts within its borders. These districts are Barrow-in-Furness, South Lakeland, Copeland, Allerdale, Eden and the City of Carlisle.
Cumbria is home to the largest lake in England – Lake Windermere – and the highest point in England – Scafell Pike – making it a great location for those who want to get a little closer to nature.
UK Connections
One of the great things about moving to Cumbria is the fact that you have easy access to some of the biggest and most exciting cities in the UK. While the county is in the north of England, it is fairly central within the British Isles, making it the perfect base from which to access other areas of the UK. In fact, these big cities are not too far away (we’ll take Penrith as our starting point as it is relatively central in Cumbria):
- Edinburgh – 91 miles (as the crow flies)
- Glasgow – 102 miles
- Newcastle-Upon-Tyne – 50 miles
- Manchester – 86 miles
- Liverpool – 87 miles
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is a town within Cumbria that was once nicknamed ‘the English Chicago’. It is well-known for its thriving manufacturing industry, being home to BAE Systems which is the single largest employer in the town.
However, Barrow-in-Furness is not solely about work, and there are plenty of things to see and do in the area, including:
Ulverston
Ulverston is a market town, just 8 miles north-east of Barrow-in-Furness. Naming itself a ‘festival town’, there are plenty of festivals and other exciting events that take place within the town, including:
- The Lantern Festival
- The Flag Festival
- The Dickensian Festival
Millom
The town of Millom is named for the Cumbrian way of saying ‘at the mills’. The history that surrounds the town is rich, having been one of the townships mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. When you move to Millom, you can become part of the rich history of the town that has been populated for centuries. You can also enjoy visiting nearby sites, such as:
- Millom Discovery Centre
- Phare de Hodbarrow Haverigg
- The Kepplewray Centre
Falling in Love with Cumbria
It’s not difficult to fall in love with the county of Cumbria, so if you’re thinking of moving to the area, there are a number of activities and places to visit that can help you to feel more at home. You could try some of the following:
– Take a trip into the Lake District National Park and pick a peak to climb – Loughrigg Fell is a good peak for beginners, whereas Helvellyn is better tackled by seasoned hikers.
– Visit Sizergh Castle near Kendal to enjoy some of the history and culture of the area.
– Go to Windermere where you can walk along the lake or even take a boat trip around the water or up to Ambleside.
– Wander down to the coast – on a clear day you can see across the bay and into Morecambe. At certain times of year, you can even partake in the cross-bay walks at low tide where you can hike on the sand that would usually be covered by water.
If you are considering relocating to the area, our estate agents in Cumbria would be more than happy help guide you during your move. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team who will be happy to talk to you about moving to Cumbria and can introduce you to the fabulous properties available for sale or to let.