Thinking of selling up, move to Cornwall. Penwith/Kerrier
 

The wife and I are thinking the grass might be greener on the otherside and as we spend a fair bit of time in Cornwall we're thinking of taking the plunge and selling up and moving down to there. The other option is move back to Japan, but thats another story!

Looking at around the Penzance area probably St Just or Pendeen but will have to travel of course if I decide to work.

But I have a question for those who live down there.

What the job situation like? I would imagine its not great from conversations I have had with friends (most of who are retired now, hence why i'm asking here)

I am currently self employed and could take 30% of my existing work with me, but most of my business is in the South Manchester area so I could exist on just this. Do a fair bit of custom web programming and have lots of qualifications in IT, from programming to hardware. I also have a teaching certificate.

Is the main work area Truro? I ask as I dont want to travel that far everyday or are there other hives of activity I havent noticed when i've been down there. Suppose when your half on holiday and half working you notice things like this.

Any help / comments appreciated :notworthy
mike

If i were you i would seriously look at the job opportunities (read that as salaries available) before going any further.

Generally, Cornwall has pretty crap salaries regardless of your talents, experience, qualifications.

Good luck with the move tho, if you dont need a massive salary, you will love it down here :D

30 years ago when I was a busy little Bee working in London I spent some time in Newlyn and seriously thought about moving down there - getting out of the rat race. But the pace of life was just so slow that I would have missed the action in London/SE.

But now a slower relaxed life would suit me/us and I have been looking at some properties down there. I do stuff on the Internet so that would be fine but I would be nervous if I was younger and hoping for employment.

It's not an area I know but there must be some great rural areas within say 40 miles of Manchester if you want to get away from the urban sprawl? dl

Peak District? Beautiful countryside and a reasonable commute from what I've heard

Peak District!

Yep know it well as I live in Macclesfield at present, its great if your into walks and the outdoors which I am, but its got something missing!

The sea!

When I lived in Japan this was my view from my front window, http://www.mykp.co.uk/sf/view-from-house.jpg

I love the sea and when we lived in Japan I would walk down by the Prom everyday and when were down in Cornwall I walk miles more than here. In the past 5 years I have walked the coastal path from Wadebridge round to Falmouth, which is miles more beautiful than Macclesfield Forest!

When we go down to Cornwall, which can be for months, we normally stay in Trewellard or Mullion but the later is to remote for me.

Not looking for a career down there, even part time is something I am looking for as money is not my motivation, quality of life is. From experience I think people who live in the South West are generally happier with their lives and whenever I am down there I get a better sense of well being. Also the wife is happier as in winter its warmer than macclesfield which can be cold as where at the foothills of the peak district.

Mike try somewhere like Carbis Bay - near St Ives its a beautiful place, although a bit expensive.

Cant fault you mate - get gone you wont regret it:thumb:

I moved down two years ago and its a great place but is more expensive housing wise . i had to go near plymouth to find a decent job but my salary is less than iwas getting in birmingham . the roads make up for it in my scooby ( when the tourists go home anyway) :norty:

Bit out of my price range that chief. Will be off down there later in the month to look at some properties. Been chatting to my parents and they'd be willing to sell up and move down with us, which gives us more money to play with. If we can find some where with a decent plot of land then we could have a caravan site on there as well.

at the moment its all a pipe dream.

I've just moved 'back home' to Cornwall after being away for 19 years.

I was in Bucks for the last 10 or so and have to admit that jobs here in Cornwall are less well paid. However, it depends on what you do, I for one, work from home, and could be based anywhere in the country. This means that the rate of pay should be the same as elsewhere is the country.

Housing is more expensive than the North of the UK, but cheaper than the South East. Pick somewhere away from the tourists and prices are not too bad!

Why not take a look at Devon. The scenery and the relaxed way of life is just the same and the salaries might even be better.

Les

The trouble is the specialist jobs are about but no bugger is prepared to pay the wage that is deserved, not to mention every man and his dog comes down on holiday but brings their problems with them instead of focusing on having a good time.

Say 10 years ago it was lovely, nowadays im not so sure.....

Traffic in the summer can be a nightmare but with local knowldge it's avoidable.