To ask if anyone lives on a small Scottish Island?

[NewStartFamily]

Specifically Eday or Tiree but thoughts and opinions of any others very welcome!

DP and I are considering a relocation from the south coast to Scotland, somewhere with land we can use.

We have found a couple of properties that we like but we’d like to hear thoughts from people who live there about how life works in the smaller communities and places where not everything is on your doorstep.

We have one home educated son aged 9 so nearby schools not an essential consideration.

Many people truly underestimate the Scottish winters and how bad the weather is. It is truly, awful! The winters are very, very dark. The islands are often cut off for days at a time, the ferries are a complete shambles and amenities are scarce. Locals are used to it and we don’t know any different but I know for incomers, it can be a major shock to the system. Island communities are very close-knit, everyone knows your business and it can be challenging to navigate as a new person. The two islands you’ve suggested are very, very rural. You’re HOURS from the mainland. From Tiree it’s a 4 hour ferry to Oban which is a small town, and another 2/3 hours to Glasgow the nearest city - often longer in the summer due to tourists. Oban itself is very isolated with few amenities and is very, very wet. I was born and raised in Oban but moved elsewhere in Scotland and I couldn’t believe the difference by getting away from the rain. It didn’t bother me when I lived there as it was all I had ever known and I thought people were exaggerating by saying it rained a lot there. But since I’ve left, I couldn’t believe the difference!! I can do a full week without rain sometimes - who knew?! (For what it’s worth I still live in Scotland and experience a lot of rain, wind and miserable weather but nothing compares to west coast rain)

Would agree with this! There is a lot of weather. Mostly all at once. Being outdoorsy is great and I’m very much a “there’s no bad weather only bad clothing” type but.. sometimes there is the sort of weather where if you open the door your door will blow away 😁

Again, thank you for your responses.

I’ve got what I needed in terms of helpful advice to help DP and I make the right decision going forward.

I didn’t feel I needed to answer every question or share everything over the internet but that doesn’t reflect my ability to connect in real life or my desire to be an asset to a community in whatever way I could.

I moved to north east Scotland (not an island and not very rural) for work purposes and I found it so isolating. Not a lot of new people coming and going so everyone already has a social group. The days are so short during the winter, the weather is so cold and dreich to use a good Scottish word and it took about three years to feel part of a community. It was also difficult to leave, limited flight options etc. drugs an issue with young people. Left as soon as it was feasible work wise.

definitely a trial at various points of the year seems vital.

@NewStartFamily might be good to move this to Scotsnet, lots of helpful advice on there. Good luck, sounds an exciting new challenge for you and your family.