Anyone live around Inverness/Loch Ness?

[SuperGlowBug]

We’ve been seriously considering moving up to the Highlands. My parents are from around Inverness but I was born and raised in England. Have spent a lot of time up there though, although not around Loch Ness and obviously only holidays!

DH and I have five DC ranging from 6 months to 13!

We were looking at the Loch Ness area as from what I can gather the schools are good.

DD has just started in year 9. She’s August born so very young for her year but very academic. DS is in the last year of primary (year 6, June born). We’d be looking to move ready for DD starting year 10 (Scottish year 4?) and DS starting secondary, so over the next summer holidays.

Any advice on schooling/the area/anything really much appreciated!!!!

I seem to remember when I was at uni, Glasgow was known as the university that took more local students than any other.

Scottish students have an advantage over English students at Scottish universities as we generally apply for university after receiving our Higher results, so universities can offer unconditional places (if the student has met the grade requirements). Plus, Higher results come out before A Level results, which gives a further advantage in clearing. English students apply whilst still in the middle of their A Levels, so can only be offered conditional places. I think.

I know loads of Scottish people who went to Scottish universities. I think whoever told you there's a bias against local students has massively overstated the situation to you.

Your eldest would just go into 2nd year.

That gives a year before subject choices.

I’ve heard good things about Fortrose Academy.

Because English students being £££ to Scottish unis it is easier for them to get into Scottish unis than it is for Scottish students but smart Scottish students still go to the ancients (G E A St A)

You might want to think about getting your dd into 3rd year at high school as the transition from GCSE to National 5s might cause problems. 3rd year is where the preparation for the Nat 5s start and i would imagine would be very different to year 9 especially in a small school that will only offer limited subjects.

Hi OP, Glenurquhart high school gets a great name and as far as I know it's last HMI report was excellent.
Fortrose also has a great rep but the downside of it is it is fiercely academic, with pupils pushed (and not in a good way). First hand info from Fortrose parents -I'm sure others might disagree!
Drum is a lovely village but the road to Inverness is mad in the summer months. Tourists galore and ridiculously stupid driving.
Inverness is looking slightly downtrodden over the last few years but it's not alone in that. Although it's a city it does still have a town mentality where folk speak to each other!
And I wouldn't say its THAT far to Glasgow and Edinburgh -3.5hrs on the train/bus, it's hardly Durness!

Oh you ask re uni too - Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Aberdeen - all outstanding. Then there's Herriot Watt and Napier, Glasgow Caledonian, Robert Gordon's and Dundee.

Scotland have plenty outstanding universities 😉

I grew up in the east highlands and if you want connections and work I think you’d be better further south? Glasgow in particular is surrounded by stunning countryside and has excellent connections further south on the train.
I adored my highlands childhood but we were really remote and it was stockpiling at winter in case we couldn’t get out due to the weather for days at a time, and long commutes to schools/friends houses etc.
I went back to my mums for a week earlier this year and forgot how we coped having to drive to the corner shop and the supermarket being a day trip.

Averagely bright Scottish students won't get into do law in the best unis for law (Glasgow, potentially Edinburgh, Aberdeen). That's not to say they won't get in somewhere or that they wouldn't get into another course in Glasgow etc. But law is fiercely competitive anyway, even without the Scottish cap.

Your DC could always consider Strathclyde for law too. . . but yy most Scottish pupils who want to study law will opt for Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Strathclyde or Aberdeen. They are very different campuses so again it depends on not just grades but where your DC would feel comfortable. I don't know any capable Scottish student who hasn't been offered a place at a Scottish RG university.

Wow, thank you so much everyone for all the advice and info! Really appreciated

As a previous poster has said, your ds will go into primary 7, not first year of high school, which will probably be an advantage, he can make new friends and move up to S1 with them.

Drum is very isolated and not much to do. Dingwall, Inverness, Nairn and Forres are nice places to live. Nairn has a lovely beach too all have good transport links to Inverness and Elgin.

Whoaa!! OP Whoa, whoa!

I think you really need to think about this very carefully and do a lot more research. The area is dangerous.

There is a monster in the Loch! Captivated by your post I have been day dreaming about moving there myself and having done some research I came across several articles going back decades about the beast. It's bigger than a dinosaur and the Scottish government believe in it as they have a contingency plan to catch it should it go on the rampage. NASA have also searched for it so they must believe it exists. It has killed thousands of people, but the news is suppressed in order to keep tourists coming.

If you do intend to go through with this foolhardy plan I strongly recommend you buy a house at least five miles inshore and never go out walking when it is misty, with Dreamies in your pocket or when the monster is broody.

Does anyone know if there’s much call for builders up there or is the industry struggling?

Also, a bit scared we’d sell up and move and not be able to afford to move back to England if we needed to... saying that I hear the Scottish property market is booming!

The Scottish stamp duty is a bit harsh though give it a go.

As for builders there’s a ruddy great wall running horizontally across the country that could do with a wee bit of grouting.