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Orkney Island - Tell Me Everything

22 replies

TheTownFrown · 22/11/2018 21:30

My DH, DS (6) and I sudden have the opportunity to move to Orkney.

We haven't been there and I don't really want to give too many personal details away so won't go into how the opportunity came up but we would be able to support ourselves.

We were looking at moving away from the big City and raining our DS somewhere more rural, and having a simpler and quieter life.

Can anyone tell me anything about it? Is life as beautiful there as it first looks? Do the locals mind out of towners moving in? Would we be off grid? Is that so bad?

So tempted and will be visiting soon but no nothing about it!

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TheTownFrown · 22/11/2018 21:38

Excuse the horrific autocorrects/typos
*know not no

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SealSong · 22/11/2018 21:42

It's not one island there are lots of islands that make up Orkney.
People are friendly and there are plenty of incomers.
The way of life is good if you are happy to have a simpler quieter life. Property is an absolute bargain there.
Good place to grow up I should think, but some teenagers might get quite bored.
You would not necessarily be off grid. People have electricity!
Weather is cool - summers can be sunny but usually fairly cool. In winter lots of long spells of wind. Freezing temperatures and snow are rare.
Choose your location with care, depending on the needs of your child. Some of the smaller islands can feel very cut off.
The Orkney islands are very beautiful, I love it there.

bakingdemon · 22/11/2018 21:49

Read The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. It sounds gorgeous but I think winters are tough

MadHouseUpNorth · 22/11/2018 21:53

November is a good time to visit and make up your mind about Orkney. You'll like it in the winter, you'll like it anytime...

dementedma · 22/11/2018 21:57

its an utterly amazing place. orkney mainland (the big island) has pretty much everything you need. Kirkwall has plenty of shops, sports centre, schools etc. I would do it like a shot if I got the chance. Yeah, the weather is crap sometimes but it was gorgeous this summer!
I saw Orcas off the coast - amazing.

SingingSands · 22/11/2018 21:57

We had this opportunity about 8 years ago.
I’m not unrealistic when it comes to island life (my parents having lived in the Hebrides) so we were able to give it a thorough examination before we reached our decision.
In the end we didn’t move. With hindsight (always a luxury!) I wish we had. We just weren’t brave enough at the time.
However, for us, the door might open again so we may still do it!

LostInShoebiz · 22/11/2018 22:45

Where do you live now? I couldn’t cope with having to travel to places to do things, e.g. flying to a long haul destination needs an internal flight, want to see an exhibition or big show then it needs a trip to the mainland then possibly more onward travel. I live very centrally in a city as a result but if you’re not like that then it’s totally doable.

It so beautiful and Kirkwall has lots to it. You certainly wouldn’t be off grid there.

The dark I could cope with but not the long days. I need my darkness to sleep.

ICouldBeSomebodyYouKnow · 22/11/2018 22:53

Would it be for ever? It's very peaceful, weather highly variable, but it has everything you need. Just not everything you might want!

Skyejuly · 22/11/2018 22:54

It's hard going!

MrsAmaretto · 22/11/2018 22:55

There was a similar post under the Scotsnet board (under “Other”) that night help you?

Personally I love living here in Shetland and have visited Orkney for work & pleasure and there are similarities.

What do you mean by “off grid”?

TheTownFrown · 23/11/2018 06:17

Thank you for replies, they are reassuring.

I meant off grid in the same way some more rural parts are in terms of their utility supplies- so for example in Wales, friends of ours have a back up generator, and rely more on oil for their heating systems. I assumed (and apologise if I was wrong) that the Orkneys would be the same.

@Singing Why do you regret not going?

@Lost we live in the Midlands at the moment.

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Hisaishi · 23/11/2018 06:42

I come from a Scottish island (not Orkney) and tbh most locals are not big into non-locals moving in, especially when they're moving in to play out some kind of fantasy of island life. If you keep those kinds of notions to yourself, you might do ok, voice them loudly and in public and many people will write you off as a bit annoying. (I'm not saying you're annoying, but that's how it comes off sometimes.)

Also, people moving in is driving up housing prices massively so that locals can't afford to live there, so tbh, there is a bit of resentment.

It's not off-grid. Some places might use gennies etc, but that doesn't make it off-grid. And while that kind of thing may seem quaint and humble and fun from the outside, when you're sitting in the dark with no heat because there was a storm and the generator failed, it is just a bit shit.

I doubt your kids would thank you either, I hated being so far away from the rest of the world when I was a teenager. As a young kid, it was ok, but once I hit 13, it was so unbelievable to me that we lived a boat ride from anywhere. And that was as a local, uprooting them would make it worse imo. No possibility to make friends outside school in a small place either, so if your kids don't fit in, it's harder on them.

It's really beautiful, definitely. The locals will do anything for you once you're accepted. But I wouldn't do it without a lot of thought. If you own a house, I'd possibly look at renting that out for 6 months to a year or something, give it a go and pack it in if you don't like it.

I don't want to piss on your bonfire, but just seen so many people with the same idea move and ending up hating it.

TheTownFrown · 23/11/2018 07:01

Thank you Hisaisi. I had considered some of your points, and appreciate the others.

Both DH and I would have to work there, we are not the types who are selling up for a bit of what we imagine to be romantic and dreamy rural living with some token chickens, and a massive 4x4 . We would have to get on with everyone and in the community, so take what you say on board.

We just are not City types. Hate the hustle, and it honestly makes us depressed. We literally just want a quiet and simple life.

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Hisaishi · 23/11/2018 07:09

OP, just be realistic. For many people, it's not some kind of escape to the country dream, it's their life and has been for generations. Whether they want to move or not, many people are kind of stuck there. Of course, a lot of people love it, but not everyone does.

Personally, I wouldn't go from a big city to an island, maybe try something more in-between first, it's a big leap. My husband also professed to hate city life and managed about three days in my hometown before wanting to jump out of a window with boredom and frustration.

TheTownFrown · 23/11/2018 08:18

I totally understand what you are saying, and at the moment I am fearful that we think we could do this and adjust and be happy, but am all too aware that what we think and what is reality are probably too very different things.

We will go and spend some time up there, look at where we would be living that would suits our working arrangements, and talk to people. Then make a decision. It is not something we would rush into but conscious we currently have a very unique opportunity that we will probably never have again.

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Jent13c · 23/11/2018 08:30

I think it would be quite difficult to be there not having family there. I was there for a wedding (so didn't know anyone that well and I found 4 days too long. However I have visited a different group of islands that is even more rural to stay with best friends and loved every second of that.
My SIL stayed in Orkney as a newlywed as her husband had a job there but she only lasted 3 months and hated every second however a friend went to Shetland with her husband for a year and loved every second! So I guess it does depend on what like you are.
I would put a contingency plan in place in case it is just not for you so if he is being moved with work negotiate the prospect of moving back if required.

Jent13c · 23/11/2018 08:34

Oh and I believe it does help if you are part of some kind of community like a church or involved with the school.

SingingSands · 23/11/2018 12:36

@TheTownFrown

I regret it because we've not really done anything else "instead". Just stayed here, same house, same life. I feel we've missed out on a bit of an adventure to be honest.

That makes us sound boring, we're not really! I moved around a lot during my childhood and early adult life and it gives me itchy feet, but DH is more of a homebird so I don't think he feels he missed out on anything as much.

The move was offered due to DH's job - the opportunity might come up again, but it's harder to move teens than young kids.

TheHauntedFishtank · 24/11/2018 07:59

I would be there like a shot but it’s pretty much my favourite place in the world. There’s just something about it even in the wind and rain. However I like winter and am not affected by bad weather and short daylight hours. I agree that now would be a good time to get a real feel for the place. Personally I’d stick to Kirkwall or Stromness as more rural than that may be too much of a shock to the system at first. Please let us know how you get on, I’m very jealous!

TheTownFrown · 24/11/2018 08:42

Thank you, I will let you know.

It is all very exciting, and yet such a leap. Hopefully we will know more in a week or so.

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anneofavonlee · 24/11/2018 08:44

I would have jumped at something like this when mine were toddlers, but extremely glad now they are teens that we live in a very busy city with a bus stop every hundred yards. As a pp said unless you have a big budget you won't be able to avail of budget flights because you need a first flight to even just get to the airport.

ForalltheSaints · 24/11/2018 12:28

Beer brewed in Orkney is lovely, especially Orkney Dark Island.

Could you cope with the winter darkness?

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