It’s Grim Up North

‘Where do you live?’, they asked.  ‘Just outside of The Lake District’, I replied.

It wasn’t a lie, Barrow is just outside of  that gorgeous UNESCO heritage site, but it’s a town who’s name is tied up in negativity. It was once the largest iron and steel works in the world, and although it is still home to a huge shipbuilding industry, times have changed here. On the other side of the recession that brought mass unemployment, our industrial town is fast rising in new industries and it isn’t that grim at all! Let me show you…

That glorious view is one of my favourite places to spend a day. Roanhead Beach, in Barrow. If you follow me on instagram, I’m sure you’ll already recognise it.

This is my contribution to the #Grinupnorth campaign that The Cumberland Building Society are running to showcase some of the best locations in the county that they call home. Looking at the places featured so far, it’s no surprise that they have the happiest customers in the UK. I’m pretty proud to call Cumbria my home county, and to me, Roanhead really shows off what we have here.

Chip likes it too!

Roanhead holds lots of memories for my family. My Dad lived here as a child and learnt to swim in this sea. I’ve ran up and down these dunes from toddler to teen and now I come here to catch my breath and clear my head. I feel incredibly lucky to walk and picnic here, especially with this little chap in tow. Apparently belly rubs on the beach are the best thing!

Someone once described Barrow as being ‘the armpit of the North West’. One road in, one road out. The longest cul-de-sac in Britain. As a teen I thought great things lay outside of the town’s borders and I’d escape as an adult. Now that I’m older, I actually love my home town. It isn’t just about being close to family and being able to buy a house that’s affordable either.

I love how easy it is to get to The Lake District for a day out, but that’s not overlooking the days out on my doorstep like this. Grab a picnic in the sun, fill your face with mini pork pies and paddle in this stream. Cumbria is not just lakes.

Recently I went house shopping with my Mum. We viewed what I thought would be my dream property and to cut a long, horrendous plumbing story short, it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. We’ve made the decision now to stay put, in our Barrovian terrace and remortgage- which is what I’m seeing The Cumberland Building Society about next week. I’ll explain why we’re staying put in more detail soon.

10 minutes from our doorstep and I can stroll in clean sand, see the peaks of the Lake District, paddle in fresh water, dip my toes in the sea and spend time with Matt and Chip without a care in the world. Why would I leave?

This post is in partnership with The Cumberland Building Society.