Within an hour of Edinburgh

[snowmummy]

We're thinking of moving to Scotland. I'm looking at somewhere within an hour's commute of Edinburgh, where we can buy a house with some land, and that has good schools. Ideally, we'd like to be on the north side of Edinburgh so that we are in easy reach of the cairngorms.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

[Pinkje]

If you're talking about state schools, Linlithgow, Kinross and Dunblane are worth looking at. Kinross isn't on train line and Dunblane is probably just an hour by train though less if your commute is by car. Linlithgow is in demand and when we were looking 2 years ago we couldn't find a suitable house.

We settled on Dunblane and are loving it.

Stirling itself might suit. Though I believe (or was the case) that Dunblane,Kinross and Linlithgow state secondaries have consistently good results.

[Crutchlow35]

So, you are looking over the forth road bridge for an hour? That takes you all the way to Perth so an hour covers quite a distance.

Do you plan on using public transport or drive to edinburgh? The drive is hellish so you'd be better driving to a train station and then train over.

I'd suggest looking at Kingseat, Keltybridge, maryburgh (eliminate Kelty though), Kinross and Milnathort. All of these are within easy reach of the train stations in Dunfermline, rosyth and inverkeithing.

I wouldn't go for Dunfermline but would look at culross, limekilns, Charlestown and crombie. Those are coastal villages outwith dunfermline but still close enough for the train, park and ride and the bus into Edinburgh.

I also wouldn't rule out areas slightly to the west of the bridge so look at kirkliston, Falkirk and Linlithgow. All of these are on or just off the M9 into Edinburgh.

[Crutchlow35]

Great minds pinkje!

[wigglybeezer]

Kinross and Dunblane would be better for the Cairngorms, you would have more choice of houses with land near Kinross and it is cheaper than Dunblane generally ( I am from Dunblane but live near Kinross, kids are enjoying kinross high school and I am finding it very similar in ethos to Dunblane! which I attended many years ago. ).

[KatieScarlett2833]

Nothing wrong with Dunfermline at all.

[Crutchlow35]

You are unlikely to get a house with land in Dunfermline. It is too built up now.

[wigglybeezer]

My sister lives in Linlithgow and really likes it. I actually live in Dollar, which is lovely and has a great primary school but the catchment state secondary does not look as good on paper ( not that that I means it isnt a good school) as the others mentioned already so my kids go to an out of catchment High school. Nice if you can afford Dollar academy!

[Crutchlow35]

Just along the road from me wiggly.

[peggyundercrackers]

An hours drive can take you all the way up to dundee and as far places likes crief, I work with someone who travels from crief to Edinburgh on the train every day. He doesn't think it is an onerous journey. As long as it's not rush hour I can do it in an hour from Dundee, the killer is rush hour at the bridge.

[Groovee]

Milnathort seems to be a favourite for people round here to be looking at. But as someone who travels out to South Queensferry for work, I would hate to be going in the opposite direction in the mornings. I know ds's keyworker at nursery said she had to be on the A90 by 7.30am to get into work on time.

[wigglybeezer]

It's a nice area but I think we live in a rain shadow being tucked in under the hills!

[snowmummy]

Thanks everyone. That's given me a start as to where to look. Off now to look for property and schools.

May be back with more questions. In the meantime, keep the suggestions coming.

[Crutchlow35]

What age are the children for school? I can hopefully give you ideas on what's good and what's not. I have my estate agent hat on!

[snowmummy]

Crutchlow, that would be great thanks. They're preschool, 7 and 9.

[Mehrida]

No more suggestions over the ones which have been mentioned. Just wanted to say don't underestimate how horrendous the drive from Fife, over the bridge and into Edin is.

Whatever google maps or an estate agent tells you - double it for rush hour.

[IglooisnowinSheffield]

Just want to second Merhida's point. If it's city centre then you could be an hour from the bridge in rush hour, easily making a commute from Kinross/Perthshire 2 hours. West Fife not too bad likewise Falkirk.

North Queensferry/Inverkeithing much more commutable.

Do you have a job or are you just looking? If so Aberdeenshire is in the middle of a huge boom, you can be less than 40 mins to the city centre and Cairngorms either direction.

[wigglybeezer]

Many people I know drive ti Inverkeithing and then swap to the train or the park and ride bus ( there is also a park and ride bus in Kinross ). In fact I know some hardy souls who cycle to the park and ride!

[Kneedeepinshittynappies]

Also very much depends on your budget. Kinross can be pretty ££££ but there are big variations in price for some of the places mentioned so far. I'm in inverkeithing which is perfect for commuting but doubt you'd get property with land, could look along coast though at dalhety bay,aberdour, etc.

[Kneedeepinshittynappies]

*dalgety

[wigglybeezer]

Kinross seems good value to me, but I am comparing it to Dunblane, dollar, auchterarder, Fife offers better value. What about Cupar? train station, good shops ( fisher and Donaldson!) .

[Crutchlow35]

Re the bridge, yes it is busy but my husband does junction 6 which is Kinross to the Gyle in around an hour every day. That is the Gyle though. City centre would be much longer.

You are stuffed if someone breaks down, decides to jump or it is particularly windy.

At your childrens ages, you would be fine with schools in Dalgety bay, aberdour, Kinross, Milnathort, townhill.

The preschooler, would you want them in private nursery or preschool nursery (attached to school) and therefore need a childminder? Most councils now Dow shared funding which makes it a bit better on the 15 hours a week.

[snowmummy]

This is great thanks.

We're not set on Edinburgh, just assumed it would be the best place for jobs and we have to start looking somewhere. We'll look at Aberdeen too.

The commute sounds awful, but we'll have to weigh that up against the house with land, near the cairngorms etc. We just want mere space and opportunity for outdoor sports.

[snowmummy]

No, no jobs yet. We're just investigating where we'd like to go.

[KatieScarlett2833]

Cupar is an hours drive from Dunfermline in the rush hour. I worked there for a bit a few months ago.

[Crutchlow35]

If you are not set on Edinburgh for work then I'd look at Kinross and go north through perth and out towards Dundee and Forfar on the job front.