Spotlight on Delph

WHERE: Up on the Saddleworth moors Delph used to be in the West Riding of Yorkshire but is now on the outer edge of Greater Manchester. In perfect walking country it is also close enough to the M60 and M62, making Manchester, Leeds and Huddersfield easily commutable.

WHY: Delph is situated in stunning countryside and boasts several pubs and restaurants. The moors are right on residents' doorsteps but good motorway and train links mean people aren't confined to where they can work. The village school, Delph Primary, has an excellent reputation, as does Saddleworth High School, which is close by. The village is a mixture of stone-built houses and more rural properties.

WHO: Increasing numbers of families and professionals are moving into the area because of the appeal of the countryside, coupled with a reasonable commute into the office. Few houses sell for less than £100,000, so first-time buyers could struggle to get a foot on the property ladder.

Larger, upmarket properties can easily reach £400,000. Older residents are attracted to the views and the peace and quiet of the countryside, and many of the locals have lived in Delph all their lives.

TRANSPORT: It is not far from both the M60 and the M62. Manchester city centre is about 45 minutes drive down the A62. There is an hourly train from near-by Greenfield, which takes 26 minutes to get into Manchester and 18 minutes to get to Huddersfield.

THE RESIDENT: "I've lived here for the past 10 years and I love it. It is a real way of life, not just somewhere you happen to live," says Carolyn Doran.

"I'm a keen walker so it's great to just be able to walk out of the house and straight into glorious countryside. I used to work in Manchester and the train links are good. Families are moving into the area because the schools are really good. There's plenty to do as well. The restaurants are excellent and the food in the pubs in good and varied. We have a theatre and nearby Uppermill, which is one of the next villages, has some really nice wine bars."

THE AGENT: "This is a fabulous area with lots of facilities," says Sue Duty, partner in Key Moves, of Delph. "There are good schools, great pubs and plenty going on.

"The scenery is fantastic and there is a really nice sense of community spirit. There are good links to Leeds and Manchester. More and more people are working from home and that has increased Delph's popularity even further. We sell about £30m of houses each year and the number is rising."

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