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Original poster

Move to Scotland - Inverness, Black Isle or Stirling?

58 replies

SuperGlowBug · 18/09/2018 19:45

We have 5 DC ranging from a baby to a 13 year old and live in Southern England. My parents are Scottish and we have a lot of family in the Highlands.

We want to be semi-rural/village within walking distance of schools, 20 mins drive or so of a city/large town and have plenty of gorgeous scenery and outdoor space.
We've narrowed it down to three possible choices...

Drumnadrochit (Loch Ness)
Fortrose (Black Isle)
Callander (near Stirling)

All have excellent schools and seem to tick the other boxes. Would really like the first two but a bit concerned about the career opportunities in Inverness when DC leave uni, have heard it's difficult to find work.

Any advice much appreciated.

OP posts:
celtiethree · 18/09/2018 21:26

The main thing I’d look for if I had teenagers (and I do) is transport links, can they travel independently to the large town, visit friends? We live in a small town but it has a train station- it makes a massive difference.

Though I recognise that being a taxi service doesn’t seem to bother some people 😃 - and if they’ve never had it they probably won’t miss it.

Wendygoesfar · 18/09/2018 21:32

Other options Dunkeld, Crieff, Perth has a lot to offer

ICouldBeSomebodyYouKnow · 18/09/2018 21:40

We stayed a couple of night in Drumnadrochit last year. While it has much to commend it (lovely houses, rural), I was struck by 2 things: the bank was about to reduce its opening hours to almost none, and the Nessie tourist trade seems to dominate the area, which I think might become wearing after a while unless that's how you make your living obviously. Also, it seemed quite far from Inverness. Anyone care to comment on local bus services - I'm thinking of your DCs once they hit their teens.

Original poster
SuperGlowBug · 18/09/2018 22:38

The bus takes about 25 mins and they appear to run regularly. I think it’s about the same distance from Fortrose to Inverness.

Is the landscape of Drumnand the Black Isle similar?

OP posts:
celtiethree · 18/09/2018 23:22

If the choice was between Drumnadrochit and the Black Isle I’d do for the latter. I think the coastal setting would be a big draw, more importantly the high school is a better size. One advantage of looking around Stirling area is that the council offers 7 nat 5s which I think is a plus in S4, looks like Highland Council offer 6.

inmyshoos · 18/09/2018 23:29

Ooo superglow do you have a link to the house you like?

Original poster
SuperGlowBug · 19/09/2018 08:21

This house

OP posts:
Original poster
SuperGlowBug · 19/09/2018 09:18

And maybe this one in Fortrose , needs quite a lot of work though....

OP posts:
rogueantimatter · 19/09/2018 09:59

Hi superglowbug

Those houses are gorgeous. Does the first one have secondary glazing? If not it might be very draughty and chilly. The climate in north of scotland is significantly colder and windier than in SE.

The highland region is beautiful. My inlaws live north of Inverness. DH and I used to, but we moved to the central belt as the job opportunities in the highlands were woeful.

Highland region is quite deprived and under-funded. As more and more services are cut, eg public transport, it's getting harder to recruit medics, teachers and dentists and probably other workers too. However, this is more noticeable in Caithness and Sutherland than the areas closer to Inverness.

I second the suggestions of Crieff. It's geographically central and close enough to the central belt for employment and HE not to be such an issue for your family.

My DD (aged 21) has just graduated. Her partner was keen to apply for a job in Oban, (there are jobs in his line everywhere) but decided not to as the job opportunities for DD are so much better here in the central belt.

Purely from the point of view of employment Stirlingshire, West Lothian ( Linlithgow is lovely, but pricy), Falkirk area would be good as they're within commuting distance of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth.

Or, less central, but for lovely villages and in day trip distance of Inverness, how about the East Neuk of Fife. Anstruther, Crail, Pittenweem etc? Beautiful and commuting distance from Dundee, Edinburgh, Perth and Saint Andrews.

Slightly further from Inverness there are some lovely villages in East Lothian too.

Good luck ☺

inmyshoos · 19/09/2018 10:04

super I will pm you later. Off to work at mo. Gorgeous houses.

Ginorchoc · 19/09/2018 10:13

My aunts was a primary school teacher in Drumnadrochit for many years and we loved visiting there, (also midges) not helpful I know but they were really happy there and have just left to go back down south sadly for family reasons.

Ginorchoc · 19/09/2018 10:14

*aunt

Littlemissdemeanour · 19/09/2018 10:42

OP, if you like the Black Isle and want to be reasonably well connected, what about North Kessock? Just over the bridge from Inverness, beautiful views over the sea, and recent connections.

Original poster
SuperGlowBug · 19/09/2018 10:47

Thanks all Flowers

DH is keen on mountains... Do they have any on the central area? I don’t know that area at all!

Not sure re double glazing but agree would certainly need it!

He says we shouldn’t plan for what may or may not happen in 15 years time (kids careers) and concentrate on giving them a great childhood. He says we could always move at a later date... I’d be worried we couldn’t afford to though.

OP posts:
MorningsEleven · 19/09/2018 10:48

Crieff? Perth? Pitlochry?

Littlemissdemeanour · 19/09/2018 10:48

Cairngorms aren’t so far away Wink

janizary · 19/09/2018 10:54

I'm going to throw in Helensburgh, schools are good, close enough to glasgow, loch Lomond is beautiful

PinkCalluna · 19/09/2018 11:01

There are lots of nice places outside Stirling that aren’t quite as rural as Callander like Doune/Kinbuck/dunblane probably others too.

^^ This.

Doune and Kinbuck are both very pretty and have rural feel.

Dunblane schools in particular are very good at both primary and high school. It also has the advantage of being on a train line so it has easy access to Edinburgh/Glasgow/Dundee for uni and work.

The house prices do reflect those advantages though.

Dunblane has loads of people who’ve come from somewhere else so your kids wouldn’t be the only ones in school with an English accent either if that worries you.

PinkCalluna · 19/09/2018 11:03

DH is keen on mountains... Do they have any on the central area? I don’t know that area at all!

Stirling is the gateway to the Trossachs. Lots of beautiful mountains not that far away.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/09/2018 11:15

We moved to Stirling when our two were toddlers and now they are Uni and S6. I can't recommend the area enough to raise a family Every activity you can possibly think of is available on your doorstep and lots happening especially on the IT/Tech front. DH is a big mountain walker and manages most from here in a day even though he has now done everything nearby. He nips up to Fort William/the Cairngorms regularly but can also do some lovely stuff very nearby for training now rather than bagging. We also have had family in Inverness and Aviemore, most of the DC (and family have now moved further south). Have you considered the Borders? Innerleithen is lovely, nearby Peebles and half an hour/40 mins to Edinburgh.

weebarra · 19/09/2018 11:16

Crieff, Dunblane, Kinross, Aberfeldy

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/09/2018 11:17

I think the thing to remember is that Scotland isn't big, obviously some remote areas don't have the fastest roads but most places have reasonable access (in good weather) to bigger populations and amenities. Apart from parts of the central belt, nowhere really feels that built up and you can usually see hills/countryside without a great effort.

rogueantimatter · 19/09/2018 11:22

Central belt is not mountainous as such. The geographical centre of scotland, ie Pitlochry, Crieff etc most certainly are. However the Campsies are only about 10 miles from the centre of glasgow.

In terms of having a great childhood. Quality of life? A spacious home with a big garden and easy access to countryside would count for a lot in my book. Especially if you're into outdoor activities. Otoh, from secondary school age, transport can be a huge issue. Eg, going to clubs and activities, visiting friends, school and accessing the nearest town.

My SIL, who lives in the very far north of scotland, has a big house with huge grounds, very near the sea. But now that the older child is approaching secondary school age they're planning to move to town the school is in. They're little for such a short time☹
I

weebarra · 19/09/2018 11:28

Yes rogue I'm originally from a small town very near the campsies, yet 15 minutes train into the centre of Glasgow.
I now live 15 minutes from Edinburgh but close to the countryside and the beach.
Apart from today's weather, I love living in Scotland.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/09/2018 11:38

The Trossacs are much bigger mountains than the Campsies if we are judging by size! :) Though often it's not the size, it's the exposure, distance from sea level etc. DH doesn't just do Munros and some munros are easy strolls as they are just big round mounds with a path up. Your DH will know what he is looking for I'm sure but plenty decent walking in all areas I think.