Churnet Valley up and coming!
Picturesque beauty spot is ‘place to live’
ONE of North Staffordshire’s most picturesque beauty spots has been named one of the best up-and-coming places to live in the UK.
The Sunday Times has released its annual list of the top cities, towns and villages to call home.
Although Staffordshire failed to make the main guide, it wasn’t a complete snub. The Churnet Valley, described as Staffordshire’s precious jewel, was picked as one of the places ‘on the up’ and is now set to feature in the future.
The guide, which includes 70 locations in total and is in its 10th year, is put together by the newspaper’s expert judges who take into account a wide range of factors, from schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street. The guide said: “For scenery without the crowds that flock to the Peak District, the villages in Staffordshire’s Churnet Valley are as bucolic and unfairly ignored by all but thrillseekers heading to Alton Towers. Alton and neighbours such as Farley and Oakamoor are full of homes with character. The enchanting valley boasts a variety of landscapes from the dazzling bluebells in Carr Wood to beautiful Dimmingsdale, the peak of Dale Tor and the craggy Ina’s rock.
“It is perhaps best known for the steam railway which whisks tourists on a journey of discovery through this stunning part of the country. “Meanwhile, the villages nestled among the hills are among Staffordshire’s most picturesque.
“Historic Alton even gets a mention in the Domesday Book with many buildings of architectural interest, not least Alton Castle and Alton Towers which was once owned by the Earl of Shrewsbury before becoming a theme park.
“However, those looking to escape to the country will need to have deep pockets with average house prices in Alton at £443,000 for a detached property and £230,000 for a semi.”
Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor, said the list is ‘necessarily subjective.’
She added: “Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place.
“For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. This year we have discovered new best places to live.”
The enchanting valley boasts a variety of landscapes
The Sunday Times