Relocating to Dorset.

[russmcp]

Early days, but looking at the potential of moving down to Dorset.

In time I'd be able to transfer with work to Bournemouth. Now while I like Bournemouth we would actually like somewhere less city like and more rural, small town, large village etc.

We both work shifts so commuting will be earlier or later than usual rush hours.

I'm happy to drive about an hour each way, the other half is a nurse so she could look at other towns with community hospitals etc.

Must admit really like Bridport area but that's too far.

Any suggestions from people in the know down there?

Would appreciate any opinions.

[ecain63]

Look at Ringwood. Only 12 miles outside Bournemouth and has excellent links to Salisbury, Southamton and basically anywhere else you want to drive to.

I've been here for 5 years now and am glad we chose the area over the other options.

[ecain63]

Also, beware the route from Bridport / \Weymouth / Exeter etc as it's never a quick journey and has regular traffic incidents.

[cptsideways]

Look at some of the B road routes, far faster than the obvious A roads. Especially going N-S throughout Dorset. This might mean some more rural towns & villages are a far quicker commute than you might imagine.

The main problems for traffic are crossing from Poole-Bournemouth, Dorchester-Weymouth, A31-A350 & the A31 in general.

The B & unclassified roads are THE quickest way to get around Dorset & generally traffic free, the odd tractor & horse but generally free of queues.

[RosscoPCole]

Wimborne would be worth looking at. Has a proper community spirit and a good range of things to do from the theatre to some cracking pubs.

[sparks_E39]

We live in Blandford Forum, it's lovely

[GT03ROB]

ecain63 said:

Look at Ringwood. Only 12 miles outside Bournemouth and has excellent links to Salisbury, Southamton and basically anywhere else you want to drive to.

I've been here for 5 years now and am glad we chose the area over the other options.

He's not far wrong. Eddie is about 300yds from me & have to admit it's a pretty good location.

When in the UK I work up in Farnborough & It;s an easyish commute, can get to heathrow In just over an hour. But if you are in Bournemouth the A31 / A338 run is not too bad. Anything else even closer to Bournemouth can be a nightmare journey.

[petop]

Verwood.....not far from Ringwood on the Hants border and 20 mins from Bournemouth if you go the Matchams route.
Has its own supermarket but is smaller than a town but bigger than a village.

[russmcp]

Thanks for the replies. Not sure about Ringwood, always seems too busy but food for thought.

[stevesuk]

russmcp said:

Thanks for the replies. Not sure about Ringwood, always seems too busy but food for thought.

I moved down here from south London about 15 years ago. At the time my wife had a house in Upper Parkstone (not far from Tower Park) - I didn't like that area very much (Lower Parkstone is meant to be nice though).

Are you looking to buy a property for the long term, or looking to rent?

As someone else posted, Wimborne is a lovely minster town - quirky shops, nice cafes, restaurants, pubs and now even a gin house! It also has a community hospital, which might be useful for your other half's job prospects? Right on the edge of the countryside, but still fairly good road links.

Having said that, once outside the town centre/minster area, a lot of the housing stock is just 1970s blandness - which we found frustrating when we were looking (depends if you're bothered about housing style/estates I guess).

We couldn't find anything we liked in budget, so settled on Broadstone, which is midway between Poole and Wimborne. It's known as the village, and there is a fairly strong feeling of community (the kind of place that has an annual Christmas parade, summer fete etc.). There's a leisure centre (gym/pool), golf club, local shops etc. Whilst not properly rural, it's pretty much surrounded by heathland, woodland and parks. Access to Poole is good, Bournemouth is fairly close (especially if you're commuting outside of the rush hour) - and you're also not far from the A31. Although we like it here, if we found the right property in Wimborne, we'd probably consider moving.

[sparks_E39]

Broadstone and Wimborne is nice. I'd avoid most of Poole to be honest, I would never want to live there again.

[stevesuk]

sparks_E39 said:

Broadstone and Wimborne is nice. I'd avoid most of Poole to be honest, I would never want to live there again.

Yep, Borough of Poole has some nice bits (many of which people actually think are in Bournemouth - like most of the best beaches).

However, the town centre itself is pretty grim - every time I walk down the High Street (day or night) I feel uncomfortable - although my wife says it has always been a bit rough in Poole. Today, it's full of pound shops and "vaping" stores. Poole High Street is a world away from the artificial glitz of Sandbanks Then again, there are bits of Bournemouth and it's suburbs that are little better.

Wimborne Minster feels completely different - almost like its from a different decade.

[CaptainCosworth]

The further north you go the more you'll get for your money. Places like Gillingham or Shaftesbury are nice small towns, and are about an hour away from Bournemouth. As others have already said the North-South B roads tend to be good for making progress so if you cut across country you'll avoid heavy traffic.

If you want to be closer to Bournemouth, then Verwood or Ferndown are reasonably priced and about half an hour away (less in off peak traffic). Ringwood or Wimborne are nice but you'll pay a premium to live there.



Also bear in mind that Bournemouth and Poole are full of leased Audi's and BMW's with no lane discipline

[stevesuk]

CaptainCosworth said:

Also bear in mind that Bournemouth and Poole are full of leased Audi's and BMW's with no lane discipline

Poole is home to the largest Audi dealer in the UK, which apparently has a gym, spa and a "first class lounge". I suppose Audi owners have to have somewhere to go and feel important whilst their appliance white leased diesel is having it's oil changed

[sparks_E39]

stevesuk said:

Poole is home to the largest Audi dealer in the UK, which apparently has a gym, spa and a "first class lounge". I suppose Audi owners have to have somewhere to go and feel important whilst their appliance white leased diesel is having it's oil changed

It does have all that. It's an impressive building.