To ask if anyone lives on a small Scottish Island?

Another thing is that Gaelic is widely used, are you open to learning it?

we have family even further north, Shetland, and life is not easy but it’s lovely, i would live on Shetland mainland but not the outlying islands

It's a bit much to relocate children to places so remote they still point at planes, though, isn't it? Different if you're born there, but it's bound to be a big transition to make.

Job wise we’re both jacks of all trades

I am not from Scotland but I do live in Cornwall and jobs are very difficult to come by and those that are available are typically low paid compared to the rest of the country.

I can imagine rural Scotland is not going to have many jobs available and unless you have a specific profession which they’re in need of or can work remotely, then you might really struggle.

An OP started a thread about moving to Cornwall just a couple of days ago and I think you might benefit from reading it.

If you didn’t have a child, I’d say screw it and just try it but I can imagine many people would struggle there.

Why these areas and not somewhere else in the UK?
Or in Scotland but not so rural so you have the best of both worlds.

all this and why exactly on a tine Scottish island?

I’d consider not an island. There are many parts of Scotland which are remote, beautiful, amazing communities, but also don’t cost
£££ and two days to get to a hospital.

compared to SE England, pretty much anywhere outwith the central belt would tick that box.

I’m not from Scotland but have followed the disaster that is the ferries. I also notice when ordering online that there businesses that exclude delivery to some islands

7 days longer with no specific day at John Lewis I don’t know postcodes but I’d guess

M&S is similar and doesn’t deliver at all to some places or it takes a lot longer

Do you have family and would they be able to travel to you (both time and would they cope driving and the ferry. It looks like they would not be very independent if they come.

A couple of practical things just Scotland in general school dates are different (eg if you want to see English families with children in the summer. This is years away but I’ve heard that although Scottish universities are free for Scottish students they may find it hard to get a place so be travelling far (not sure if still correct).

That book was instrumental in informing us when we relocated. It’s about Lismore which is beautiful and tiny. At least not a long or expensive ferry, but definitely a pita.
I’d consider not an island. There are many parts of Scotland which are remote, beautiful, amazing communities, but also don’t cost
£££ and two days to get to a hospital.

It’s always English people looking for the Good Life up in the highlands and western isles. Has been that way as far back as I remember. Our village is 90% English incomers looking for a better life instead finding alcoholism/loneliness and poor health.
It’s bleak. Long winters. Cold summers.
Your son will be isolated on the islands if he doesn’t school there. Not as many opportunities to meet friends through clubs etc.

Why exactly there? Go somewhere rural in Cornwall

Mind and give Fish from Marrillion a wee 👋 as he is a crofter on one of the islands on the Outer Hebrides.

I live in rural Scotland (Im from a farming background) a beautiful very peaceful area but unpopular with tourists I love rural life, I live in a small village 160 people at best nearest town with shops 20 mins drive nearest city 2 1/2 hours.
I have friends in England who come and stay all think they live rurally but all say I couldn’t live where you live too remote.
I love it but for context I’m not really interested in shopping or nightlife hate musicals/pop concerts etc I like the odd trip to the cinema but it’s not essential I am a self confessed art nut but realistically you have to live in London to satisfy that need. I also not a social butterfly I’m happy with my own company.
So Ive friends who live very rurally on the north west coast, it’s stunningly beautiful, peaceful amazing wildlife but and it’s a big but to get petrol they have to drive 1 hour and 45 mins they have a tiny village shop but anything beyond the local paper crisps cheap bacon and sliced bread again a 1 hour and 45 mins drive. Nearest proper hospital ie not a minor injuries a proper A and E 3 1/2 hours. I suspect from where your looking anything urgent/cimpicated you’d be airlifted straight into the QE at Glasgow. My friend had cancer never saw any doctors face to face only online. Nearest cinema 3 1/2 hours. It rains ALOT on the west side of Scotland don’t even begin to think it’s like England, the wind blows routinely and I mean blows, in June when I was last there I had a winter waterproof wool hat gloves and scarf on we were hiding from the wind behind a barn. Also don’t under estimate how dark it is in the winter your talking 7 hours of daylight maximum, combine that with endless rain snow and wind. There’s probably no secondary school on the islands most weekly board at Oban. Lastly there are few jobs outside of tourism unless you are a farmer or offering a trade.
My friends will tell you lots move to where they live hoping for a “better life” all “love the outdoors” arrive with hopes and dreams but few stay.

DH and one of my DC were on Benbecula last year for a few days. Very quiet place. They also spent time around Loch Maddy.

I have read a book called Benbecula. Truly fascinating read about the murders which took place on Benbecula.

Absolutely- anyone who claims the shorter days in the winter in Scotland don't matter clearly haven't lived here! I'm central belt and commute to work - in winter I leave home in the dark, get to work in the dark and drive home in the dark. I sometimes see people on Style & Beauty saying they wear sunscreen year round & wonder where they live! There's a reason why vitamin D deficiency is so common in Scotland.
On the flip side the long days in the summer are awesome - I find it weird being down south and it getting dark early in the summer.

I'd advise you to rent a house there and let yours in England for a while, to see how you like it before making a permanent move. We moved from the Home Counties to West Wales. Swapped our three bed semi for a detached small holding with acres of our own land and although I loved our new house, I absolutely hated living there, for so many reasons.

After some long miserable years, we moved back to England thank goodness but lost at least £150,000 in the process of moving to Wales and then moving back again. Proceed with caution is my advice.

(I am aware you are thinking of Scotland, not Wales, but it's just my thoughts on making a big move)

I'd add that I can't speak for the two islands you mention but there is - and always has been a significant problem - with teenage drug taking and drinking in several islands. There's nowt else to do.

This.

My family moved to the islands when I was 13. Looking back it felt like quite a selfish decision and it was an awful time to be completely uprooted. I absolutely hated it and moved back to the mainland when I was 18. Means my children now don’t get to see their grandparents much due to the distance.

Why do people use emotive language like " pulled him out" when school doesn't work?
Those winters would do for me. There is significantly less daylight than int he South.
Anyhow OP it sounds an excitimg venture.

Completely agree with museumum's points.

Really importantly - every single island is unique. Even the north and south of the same island can feel worlds apart. Our language and culture is really important, and thankfully is becoming more widely recognised and protected.

One of the main things which this thread demonstrates is that you'll get so many people (mainlanders, visitors, people newly relocated to islands) telling you with complete confidence what a place is like, and they are completely off the mark. I can see utterly false statements in this thread like that about my own island.

Do your research. Visit multiple times, at different times of year.

For the island I'm from (but I can't speak for others) I wouldn't expect you to be greeted with open arms by everyone. Housing availability and affordability is a nightmare due to holiday homes and second homes.

It is an incredible place to bring up children, their primary school education (at the right school) can be fabulous. Outdoor learning is one day a week, every week, year round where mine went. But mine were born here, island life is all they know. It can be very different with kids moving from elsewhere.

Fuel, food and cost of living is more expensive, but you weigh it against the benefits you get. The weather is wild, the winters are dark, the summers are manic. The slower way of life is a myth. Islanders work hard to be able to afford to exist here. Yes some people have remote jobs, but others work multiple manual labour/service jobs to get by.

If you last two winters, you'll probably make it. But locals can, respectfully, usually tell who won't.

Ooh, OP should watch Highland Cops in addition to This Farming Life!

Not a small island but I have a good friend on Shetland. She talks about the costs of things a lot, and she has downsized recently to help. She had a professional role as well.
She comes to the mainland every few years to spend a week doing life admin as it’s easier/cheaper for lots of things.
I know someone who grew up on Mull who said he wouldn’t subject his children to it, he also went to uni when we got grants and he was able to get away. Will you be able to help with the cost of your child travelling to and from the mainland/accommodation etc.

Is it purely because it’s cheap as I’m sure there are other places that would be a better option.

@olivepicantowhat makes you say they won't integrate?
OP please spend a good few months renting before you sell up to live there, holidays are completely different to living permanently in an area.

Are you running away from the police?

You should do an 'I'm a fugitive from justice - AMA'

As someone who now lives in the south but has spent a lot of time in northern Scotland (which I love with some reservations), there's a vast difference between short days here, which are bad enough and short days there. You might think Oh, i'm used to English winters I can cope, it's not the same at all.