Barnard Castle, 29th in the Times list of the best places in England to live!!

We visited there a few years ago, very nice place, beautiful castle ruins.

I think my village is included in that list, Shebbear.

I always take my visitors from London to Barnard Castle. Is that the delightful Bowes Museum territory or have I got muddled?

When I looked at the article, I was struck by how many of the towns mentioned are what I have always thought of as smug, middle class strongholds. Am I wrong? I am sure you'll tell me!

And don't the house prices vay astronomically??

No absent you are quite right, the Bowes Museum is on the outskirts of Barny. A wonderful place to visit full of art, ceramics etc (and a very nice tea room )

Love Barnard Castle. Stayed there 2 yrs ago on the way home from Glasgow, had 2 nights in a pub in the town, lovely people, lovely scenery.

I got confuddled, our village came 5th on another "best places to live" list.

I'm sort of fond of Barney too. Came here in 1974 and never managed to leave!
Is Shebbear in Devon? I know the name from somewhere.

Yes broom it is, North Devon to be a bit more precise, not far from Holsworthy, Bideford and Torrington.

Thought so. I want to go to Devon for a holiday soon!

Prices around Barnard Castle are comparatively cheap, Ariadne. People from 'down south' tend to whimper a lot when they look at the price here! But, it is cold!

I think the first 5 were in order but the rest were in regions. Our town was there but there was one included which I think is a dump!

Yes it can be cold. Does antone remember the winter of 1962/63 when we didn't get to school for ages and some pupils didn't get home for ages too !

Yes I think there were icebergs in the Mersey. Barnard Castle is lovely but the walls are falling down

tiggypiro, I could never forget the winter of 63-63. I was travelling into Edinburgh every day, doing what was then known as a Dip Ed. The icicles where field drains had frozen alongside the railway were like organ pipes and our local loch was frozen for almost two months. Curling matches were held on it.