Uddingston/Bothwell area

[Fabuleuse]

I've seen a few of these threads lately and they've had loads of helpful advice so I'm jumping on the bandwagon too! Any advice would be appreciated.

DH and I currently live in Renfrewshire. However DH works on the outskirts of Edinburgh and so has an epic commute by car. We want to stay near Glasgow for family reasons, but move somewhere that cuts down his commute and that also has decent schools (one DS aged nearly 2 and hope to have more in the nearish future).

We have been thinking of the Uddingston/Bothwell area as it seems nice and fairly close to the M8. We're Catholic and the catchment secondary would be Holy Cross in Hamilton which seems to achieve good results. I have a few questions though:

Any particular parts of the area we should consider or avoid? Or any alternative areas that would fit our criteria? To be honest, I don't think we could afford Bothwell! Budget is probably low 200s for a 3 or 4 bed.

What is the journey to the M8 like at rush hour?

Any personal experience of the schools in the area, particularly the Catholic schools? I don't know anything about the primaries.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I've heard the M8 is a nightmare on the Edinburgh approach, how does he get to Edinburgh at the moment? Where about in Edinburgh does he need to get to? I've no particular local knowledge. I have friend who lives in Bailiston which gives you good motorway access.

[Fabuleuse]

Hi, he works not far from the airport. He currently drives along the M8 daily so the actual M8 bit is a known quantity, it's just getting to the M8 I'm not sure about in case there are any traffic blackspots.

Baillieston borders Uddingston and is a wee bit handier for the motorway I think. There are some new estates (site of the old Glasgow zoo I think) that have a postal address of Uddingston but are closer to Baillieston. I've a friend who lives there but what puts me off Baillieston and this border region is that they fall under Glasgow City Council and I think South Lanarkshire schools in general have a better reputation. That's for secondary anyway, I know very little about primary.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

How often would you be needing to visit family? Maybe you could consider Stirling? Decent Catholic schools and handy for both the M80 to Glasgow and M9 for edinburgh. The Catholic primary (St marys) is in the Bannockburn area. High school is St Modans.

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/39937792?search_identifier=a59051e7379e09bb9e1306d9236a9f67#pLj7l8pcTixX4vpK.97

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

www.s1homes.com/Houses-for-sale/2016011602163411.shtml#

[Fabuleuse]

That's a great suggestion, and I did think about Stirling and Dunblane, but my job is mostly home-based and DS goes once or twice a week to grandparents in Renfrewshire so I can work. It's probably a bit too far from that point of view.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Oh well :( Though if you could get a house a bit cheaper then maybe you could afford a childminder a day a week instead? I might be biased, but it is a great area to raise children.

Obviously depends what time you are travelling but google tells me it's about 40 minutes to Renfrew from Bannockburn.

[Fabuleuse]

It does look lovely but we do want to stay close to family ideally. If things were different it would be a big contender!

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I totally understand :) ll the best with the move and hope someone more useful comes along.

[SauvignonPlonker]

I've got a friend who lives in Bothwell & her husband commutes to Livingston. It's a nightmare for him as the Raith interchange is one large construction site, and there have been roadworks on the m8.

Sorry, that's probably not very helpful.

[SirChenjin]

The Raith is a complete nightmare and it's very busy right along the m8 heading towards Edinburgh. That being said, the roadworks are part of a massive improvement to that whole road network (due for completion in early 2017 iirc) so it will become much easier in time. Bothwell is really nice, but Uddingston is also good. Thing about that side of Lanarkshire is that you have really nice bits and not so nice bits cheek by jowl. What about moving further east - Lanark, the south of Livingston, Linlithgow? It's not that far to Glasgow, and each has direct train links.

[Fabuleuse]

Thanks for the replies. I know there's a lot of congestion with the roadworks right now, but we probably wouldn't be moving til next year, so hopefully we'd miss it!

I had thought of a few of your suggestions SirChenjin, but I don't think the schools were as high achieving as Holy Cross for exam results (I can't remember the actual schools now, and I know results are only one way to measure a school's success, but it's pretty much the only way you've got when you don't know the area).

[Lucked]

It depends what you want and your budget. Bothwell is £££ but the more desirable location. Uddingston is the more affordable option but also great but again nice houses aren't cheap either. Both have a good sense of community and lots going on. Loads and loads of families and both St Brides and St John the Baptists are busy and engaged Parishes.

If it's Uddingston I would say aim for location close to village. In Uddingston you would probably join the M8 at the Showcase not the Raith and coming from this side of Glasgow does reduce that commute significantly.

[Lucked]

I do know the area well so if you want to link to rightmove properties you have seen I could give you more detail.

[mangotango15]

I know both areas really well, plus a few surrounding areas. I will pm you :)

[Christinayangstwistedsista]

I live in both well and love it, nice village feel

I think bothwell primary is good although I don't think it's Catholic

[hidingwithwine]

my first teaching post when newly qualified was in Uddingston and I had digs right beside the Tunnocks factory. Great days and a great school

[dancerdog]

Could your husband train it to Edinburgh? Uddingston has direct and indirect trains but there are more from Bellshill, a few miles from Uddy.
Depending on what time you leave, you can get there in about 50 mins minimum.