To feel like moving to Scotland might be a bad idea?

[Dontsquashthechocolatemousse]

Currently we live in South West England.

DH has just landed a new job, and it's fully remote - which means we can live anywhere in the UK.

This sounded amazing at first and we let our imaginations run wild as to where we could live. We've sort of settled on Perthshire in Scotland as our dream location.

However, my parents live in the south west (about 1.5 hours away currently). They're late 70s, currently in good health, with busy, independent lives. My other, older siblings live much further away than we do, so we see them the most. They're very close to our young children.

I think it would break their hearts if we moved that far away from them. I know it's only a short plane ride away, but really, how often could we afford to make that journey? And what happens if they get ill, or need looking after?

On the other hand, they could chug along just fine for another 15 years. And they moved all over the world themselves when they were younger - only settling after I was born.

My DH would be so disappointed not to make the most of this opportunity, and to start a new adventure. But I can't help but feel a weight in my chest at the thought of being so far away from my parents.

WWYD?

Yes the green hills, purple heather, warm yellow sandstone buildings, clear blue lochs, pristine white beaches, yes all so grey!

It’s true the east coast is drier, but it’s also COLDER. It is very cold in winter. That’s why I always lived West, rain be damned.

Does it have to be Scotland or stay in the SW? Scotland is lovely but there's no getting away from the distance. You could consider Wales or the north of England and get many of the same benefits without being so far away.

Or - would your parents consider moving too??

Have you spoken to your parents about this? They may be very supportive and like the idea of visiting you up in Scotland and getting to know the area. It does depend where in the south west they are - are they deep in Cornwall or somewhere like Somerset or Dorset? Perthshire is relatively easy to get to. There are fast trains from London or flights from Bristol to Edinburgh - from there is can be a 30 min train journey. No harder than say Yorkshire etc.

So grey

Where abouts? I grew up in Perthshire

So grey

So bleak

So grey

So grey

@AirFryerFrequentFlyer 😀

I moved from Brighton to Inverness ten years ago. I find the weather pretty much mirrors what my family is experiencing down south. So sick of being asked about the weather every time I travel down. I’m living in a small village where the schools are smaller. There is only one class per year at my daughter’s school. There is real sense if community here, I actually speak to my neighbours and know their names.
I also live in a property I know I could not afford down south and for that I am grateful. My children are growing up in the countryside. You could drive ten minutes and be in the most beautiful natural scenery.
If you decide to move here, look at transport links. Inverness to Gatwick is an hours flight. It would definitely be worth hiring a house on air b n b and staying for a couple of weeks and seeing if you like the area in Perthshire.
I would never return to live in England, my quality of life is much better here. I don’t understand the anti Scotland feeling. It’s so embarrassing. So many English people living here. It’s literally part of the same UK. They don’t even check your passport for domestic flights half the time😂
My sister works remotely and flys to London for meetings on a monthly basis. Your move needn’t be permanent, if circumstances change with your parents, you can always move back. You might regret not taking this opportunity though now.

Will you be working?
How will your husband make friends if he working from home.
What happens if he loses his job?
Are there employment opportunities in the area?
What are schools like?
There's lots to think about.

Scotland is beautiful, we have as much nice weather as England albeit at slightly different times but then again I haven't got parents to worry about!

Come on guys! Lets have some optimism here.
I have worked in Fife for short periods, It was fine.
Holiday in Borders areas, Jedburgh and Hawick out to Eyemouth. If I were younger would willingly try that area.

Rural England Hay on Wye north Ludlow, Shrewsbury to Wrexham thats rural, bot as wild though.

@AirFryerFrequentFlyer so grim in Scotland! It’s known worldwide for being a bleak, grey, ugly, horrible place….

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/shortcuts/2017/sep/04/scotland-voted-the-worlds-most-beatiful-country

We live in an area favoured by artists because the light is so special! This evening as dusk fell I was walking my dogs with my son we commented on how lovely the evening autumn sun was on the moorland around us, all the amazing autumn colours; the trees hedges fields moorland and the sky was turning a delicate shade of pink as the sun set. Yesterday it was raining and we walked to the beach the sea was grey but the tide was right out the contrast of the black rocks covered in sea weed and lichens against the purple/brown mud and sand never ceases to fill me with awe even in the rain. Anyone who says Scotland is grey is either colour blind or never been here.

The sheer ignorance on this thread is embarrassing and just confirms the Southern/London snottiness of MN.
To describe a country recognised worldwide for its breathtaking landscapes, mountains, islands, beaches as bleak, grey, hideous, awful, is obviously from small minded people who haven't see much.
I have travelled widely, yet I am still stunned by views I have seen many times here in Scotland.
A wonderful diverse country with cities rich in history and architecture to stunning landscapes, educate yourself before posting stupid comments.

Cold & wet?! Try baltic and constantly pishing it down. But it's home and it's also beautiful.

If the attraction is in living somewhere remote, there's a good chance that you could find somewhere pretty remote in Wales that would be more accessible to your parents. You are right that you can't assume they will continue to be independent indefinitely, that is a state of affairs that could change literally overnight.

But how do you know any of those posters are southern/ londoners?

These must have been taken that one day in May that it didn't rain.

It was like living in the jungle during the summer this year.

I don’t think Scotland is coldwetdarkmiserable, but I do think the OP would be making a bad move in this case. It’s not clear what her family’s actual connection with Scotland is or if she has any real experience living in the area in question, and moves based on vague fantasies often result in disappointment.

It’s pretty much as far as you can get from where her parents are (even getting to the SW from Yorkshire is one hell of a journey!).

100% remote work is a bit of a career killer, and I say that as someone who’s done it for ages (but I am very much the second income earner so it matters piss-all what I earn); you need to network and meet people if you want to really get on in your career, and what if he needs to change his job?

Scotland’s education system is doing poorly in international assessments - at least, the ones it’s still taking part in (it’s made the decision to withdraw from a lot of international testing—hmm, I wonder why?). It may get more funding (I am not sure if it does), but if so they are making poor choices with the money they have. There appear to be some fundamental issues with pedagogy and curriculum in Scotland.

Why not look for a great town somewhere closer to the parents, and take some lovely holidays in Scotland? Because the school holidays are different from England, you can apparently get some good deals during certain weeks in the summer if you are coming from the English school holiday system.

If you’re not both happy with the idea of moving, it doesn’t matter where you’re going, it’s a bad idea.

Practically speaking you shouldn't move until he is a year into the new job anyway.