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Original poster

thinking of moving to one of scotish islands

34 replies

ReapersSideKick · 24/07/2026 12:16

i live on main land scotland i own my own home and considering relocating to one of scottish islands i know theres negatives as well as positives im curious if anybody else has done this and theyre experience has been

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Mum2Fergus · 24/07/2026 20:24

I almost did…but financially is just didn’t stack up. Edinburgh to Isle of Skye. Also considerations around healthcare, housing and just day to day life in general. We did a 3 month winter stint at height of our planning…the weather/season itself wasn’t an issue…but as reasonably social beings…it just felt quite bleak.

Gingerkittykat · 24/07/2026 20:39

Which island?

Have you visited the Islands before?

Will you work?

YellingAway · 24/07/2026 20:40

There was a fairly recent thread about this in Scotsnet which had a lot of good advice.

Huge variation between each of the islands so you might want to research each one to see which, may be of interest.

67676767676767s · 24/07/2026 20:40

As above, book a holiday or as long as you can stay in January and February. We still have power cuts. Sometimes lasting days. Supermarkets can be a 50 mile round trip and it’s hard to make friends. But not impossible. If you are self sufficient and can survive a winter then you’ll be fine. The winter flushes out the people who won’t last.

hattie43 · 24/07/2026 20:41

I lived on Rousay as a kid . Bleak .

Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 25/07/2026 20:41

i havent been to any islands i was looking at propetties in millport thats close to me

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Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 25/07/2026 20:44

ok good idea about booking trip during winter gives me a break itll be cheaper then and gives me an insight to what its like when its a bit bleaker

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Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 25/07/2026 20:46

Gingerkittykat · 24/07/2026 20:39

Which island?

Have you visited the Islands before?

Will you work?

i was thinking millport
no ne ver
right now im out of work nothing lined up

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Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 25/07/2026 20:48

Mum2Fergus · 24/07/2026 20:24

I almost did…but financially is just didn’t stack up. Edinburgh to Isle of Skye. Also considerations around healthcare, housing and just day to day life in general. We did a 3 month winter stint at height of our planning…the weather/season itself wasn’t an issue…but as reasonably social beings…it just felt quite bleak.

thanks i didnt considor those its a big move dont want to do something likecthat and feel.even more isolated than i do now

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MrsMoastyToasty · 25/07/2026 20:58

Not me, but BIL moved to Mull. Its OK as long as the ferries are running otherwise you're either stuck on the Island and want to get off. It stuck on the mainland and can't get home. (Mull doesn't have an airport).
Its a 12 hour road (and sea) journey to see each other. We're in SW England.

Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 25/07/2026 22:36

MrsMoastyToasty · 25/07/2026 20:58

Not me, but BIL moved to Mull. Its OK as long as the ferries are running otherwise you're either stuck on the Island and want to get off. It stuck on the mainland and can't get home. (Mull doesn't have an airport).
Its a 12 hour road (and sea) journey to see each other. We're in SW England.

maybe my best option is too look into moving somewhereelse onbthe mainland but somewhere a bit more rural

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PermanentTemporary · 25/07/2026 22:40

I agree if there’s somewhere on the mainland that will offer what you want, I’d do that instead.

TheLocust · 25/07/2026 22:40

I did it, moved to Skye and absolutely love it, best move I ever made.

What are your motivations for doing it? What do you hope to achieve?

soupmaker · 25/07/2026 22:55

A pal moved to Cumbrae and lives in Millport. They work on the mainland. It suits them because they are not interested in attending the cinema, theatre, gigs, going out to eat often. It’s busy in good weather with lots of day trippers.

Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 26/07/2026 03:17

TheLocust · 25/07/2026 22:40

I did it, moved to Skye and absolutely love it, best move I ever made.

What are your motivations for doing it? What do you hope to achieve?

i just want to make a fresh start somewhere quiete no drama where i live just now its a big town ive never fitted in situations got worse as times went on with people gossiping and spreading lies to justify theyre treatment of me its impacted on me mentally and cant see things improving

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dancehysterical22 · 26/07/2026 04:13

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CurdinHenry · 26/07/2026 04:15

If you struggle to fit in and that bothers you do NOT move to a rural location

soupmaker · 26/07/2026 06:05

ReapersSideKick · 26/07/2026 03:17

i just want to make a fresh start somewhere quiete no drama where i live just now its a big town ive never fitted in situations got worse as times went on with people gossiping and spreading lies to justify theyre treatment of me its impacted on me mentally and cant see things improving

Show quote history

Well IME having spent the first 18 years of my life living in a very rural location and where I’ve still got family living the last thing it is quiet with no drama. Everyone knows everyone, there is no anonymity. Fitting in is much more difficult in small communities than large towns or cities.

WarthogWoman · 26/07/2026 07:01

It sounds like you are running away rather than running to. Island life is going to involve a lot of being somewhere very quiet but having to rely on close networks in a small group that you might not be able to get away from- I am not sure that is going to work for you? Maybe just a change of scene and some new networks?

Dilemma999 · 26/07/2026 07:45

You’d be better off moving to a bigger town or city then where you can be a bit more anonymous and find your tribe.

Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 26/07/2026 08:24

CurdinHenry · 26/07/2026 04:15

If you struggle to fit in and that bothers you do NOT move to a rural location

its nt the strugglingvto fit in that bothers me is that people cant live and let live i have no quality of life here

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PermanentTemporary · 26/07/2026 08:25

Fair enough to move, sometimes places stop suiting you, but I don’t see why an island. I agree that a city is more anonymous.

CrustyBread1977 · 26/07/2026 08:28

I agree cities are much more anonymous. SIL grew up on an island and could do NOTHING without the entire place knowing about it, judging, telling her family, etc.

Cloverroll · 26/07/2026 08:29

I think just move elsewhere on the mainland. I lived rurally some years ago, albeit in a different country, and the gossip was horrendous. People just made up lies actually, and what was so strange was that they all did it, and yet they all believed every new fairy story the others came out with. The stories unfortunately were mainly about the 'incomers'.

Original poster
ReapersSideKick · 26/07/2026 08:29

WarthogWoman · 26/07/2026 07:01

It sounds like you are running away rather than running to. Island life is going to involve a lot of being somewhere very quiet but having to rely on close networks in a small group that you might not be able to get away from- I am not sure that is going to work for you? Maybe just a change of scene and some new networks?

why do u call it running away ive had nothing but hasstle here why live somewhere where people dont want anything to do with u and lie about u behind your back to justify what theyre doing its about wanting to live somewhere where i can live my life without getting hasstle im not going to get that here

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