St Bees

I love the West Coast of Cumbria (I know a few Hinterland readers based there as well). It seems to me that this often derided spot of “a-typical” rural England has much to commend it. The indicators in this article give a different frame of reference for thinking about rural and provide much food for thought. It tells us:

The small village of St Bees in Cumbria has been named as the best place in the UK to raise a family.

The study, from the annual Family Hotspots Report by finance specialist Family Investment, examined a range of factors, such as exam results, crime rates and the cost of living.

The picturesque village came first as it was deemed to have a close knit community, a low crime rate, as well as being home to a private boarding school which dates back to 1583. With salaries averaging at £27,200 per year, and an average two-bedroom home costing just £139,000, the coastal village was hard to beat on prices.