Where to move to in Scotland?

[Librarybooksandacoconut]

We are likely to move to Scotland in the next year. Primarily my dad is unwell so we want to be closer to my dps, but we also want more space than we can get in London. I partially grew up in Scotland so have a reasonable knowledge of good places, but it’s also based on things from 15 years ago!

Things we need to think about:

• Needs to be within an hour of Stirling so we can get to my parents easily.

-DH is likely to continue to need to go to London for work semi-regularly so we also need to be closish to an airport or major train station. -Somewhere which is fairly open to outsiders and we are not likely to get any anti-English sentiment. I experienced it growing up, it’s not nice and I really can’t be bothered with having to deal with it. -Family friendly -I think I want small town or rural but still close enough to a bigger city to go to for the day.

We’ve got a fairly healthy budget (thanks to the ridiculous London property market) so we can afford to look in areas that are more expensive, but at the same time I’m fine with areas that get you a lot for your money.

I think the bridge/traffic issues and no parking at the stations rule out West Fife for anyone heading for Edinburgh

We are south West Fife and I don't find that bit too bad. But yes the high school nonsense is a mess. We need a new IHS at the empty space at Rosyth. It's the only sensible answer.

South Queensferry? 15 mins on train from Edinburgh, 10 mins to the airport, within 45 mins of Stirling.

BrashBandicoot The rumour I heard was either the new IHS as above or an extension and refurb. Undecided as yet apparently. They'd better hurry up if they are building all those houses at Spencerfield.

I would say it depends on ages of children, schooling needs and housing needs, whether you want to move to forever house etc.
Any age of children, forever home, convenient facilities and transport, handy for Stirling on good roads then it's Dunblane followed by Linlithgow for me.
More rural, less convenient but nice schools, anything along the road to Balfron or up to Callender, Doune being the most convenient. Some of these places are a bit quiet for teens though.
Dollar is lovely and great for primary school but less good for teens.
Kinross, very nice, good schools and facilities, transport OK but not very handy for Stirling. Dunfermline is not very handy for Stirling either IMO but I find driving a chore!
A lot of these places are on wiggly country roads which are lovely on a sunny Sunday afternoon but can be less enjoyable on a frosty Dark morning!

I forgot to say Kings Park in Stirling itself, I quite fancy moving there myself eventually!

East Neil of Fife. Beautiful, rural but still close enough to Dundee / Edinburgh etc.

Linlithgow, Polmont area is lovely, as is Falkland in Fife.

St Andrews?

Nice to see someone mention my hometown of Montrose :)

Primal I’d heard IHS was first for a rebuild but the usual way they do it (ie build new on the playing fields then demolish the old school and put playing fields there) isn’t going to be doable here because the current school is - hilariously - a listed building so can’t be demolished. But yes, a rebuild in Rosyth would make more sense and a new bigger Woodmill too, somewhere in the Eastern expansion. Can’t see either of those happening any time soon but I’m hoping they will finally go ahead with the latest catchment plans so we will know for sure where our kids will be going next year and prepare them for any changes. I think it’s voted on in Sept.

There's enough space to extend then decant then refurbish IHS apparently.

My child is at IHS. It's far nicer inside than out.

Crieff is nice, with good quality and good value housing. Accessible to several good private schools. Lovely countryside. A bit over an hour to Edinburgh airport.

The OP want to be close to an unwell parent in Stirling, I love St Andrews and the East Neuk but it's not at all handy for Stirling! I wouldn't want to be more than half an hour from parents who might need visiting regularly or it takes up too much time.
As an example, I live in Clackmannanshire, it takes me 25 mins to Stirling. My sister lives in Linlithgow, her times would be similar. Larbert is handy for Stirling.

I think IHS gets an unfair rep - it's a good school in spite of the dated facilities. And yes, Spencerfield and the continued building in Dunfermline. I'm just glad any expansion of Aberdour will be Balwearie's problem

Aberdour is IHS catchment. And we are very much hoping there won't be any expansion!

Another vote for Dundee/Angus/Perth. Just over an hour to Stirling but property is a good buy here and transport links are good.

From experience of caring for parents at this stage, you want to be much closer, e.g. in Stirling. We moved from 45-75 mins away (depending on traffic) to 5-10 mins.

If you are taking them to appointments, shopping, administering medication, cleaning, cooking, organising carers etc. One hour away means 2 hours out of your day for every visit in addition to the time spent.

There are too many nice places to live in Scotland!

Pixiedown - that’s not really my dps situation (my mum is about to head off to Ethiopia for 2 weeks!), it’s more about them being able to see their grandchildren more regularly.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Lots to think about and I think most of the areas suggested are places I’d thought about already. I think we’ll probably have a good look at Linlithgow, Dunblane, Dollar and the area north west of Glasgow. I know both Crieff and Callander quite well and I think it might be a bit too far out for us, but Auchterarder might work.

That's a good short-list, OP - but add Bridge of Allan in too - it has a lovely high street with lots of little boutiques and eateries with a real villagey feel. The high school in Dunblane gets a better name but Wallace high in Stirling is perfectly fine.

I'm in West Edinburgh & it's about 10mins to the airport & 35ish to Stirling. So not that close for seeing GP's during the week with school-aged children.

I'm in B of A every week it is nice. My in laws live in Auchterarder, it has a wide range of housing, decent shops etc. It always gets more snow than round Stirling and the A9 can get a bit hairy in winter although I think it is safer than it was now it has average speed cams.
When I had to choose, location came down to where the right house was available, there's not always much available in Dunblane and Dollar and family houses often sell in the summer. Shouldn't be too bad with a London budjet though!

Agree closer to Edinburgh rather than Glasgow as there’s flights to London City from Edinburgh (BA). Fast train from both cities, 4.5hrs to Euston and they’re very frequent.

I used to work in a hospital in Stirling and most of the consultants lived in either Linlithgow, Dunblane or Bridge of Allen, make of that what you will!

Will there be daily commutes or are you working from home? The M80 is a bit of a pain at rush hour, even worse is the M8 through Glasgow city centre.

Auchterarder. Slap bang between Stirling and Perth and gleneagles station has the virgin train to London.

I grew up in Linlithgow and it is lovely, although you may found houses hard to come by and expensive. Would suit your needs though.

I’m now in West Fife which I do like and would suit what you are looking for (don’t find the bridge too much of a problem now) however agree with Brash and Piff the school catchment predicament is not fun and I’m guessing not going to end soon. You definitely wouldn’t be treated as an outsider here.

No advice on areas.
Are you looking at state school?
if so look into Curriculum for Excellence and be sure you are happy