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Original poster

Morningside to Queensferry Road - how easy a commute?

47 replies

maggiethecat · 09/02/2011 23:20

Bear with me please dear E/burgh Mnetters. We are considering Mary Erskine for girls but would like to live in the Morningside area. How easy a commute would it be to go from M/side to Queensferry Road?

OP posts:
evitas · 10/02/2011 15:15

maggie - I think on a good day without traffic it's about 15minutes by car. During the week it definitely takes longer. I don't think there are any buses that do that link, you would need to take 2 buses.
x

RunnerHasbeen · 10/02/2011 16:44

Not a good commute IME, I have done similar distance (Bruntsfield - Western General - so covers most of the same roads) and found it a nightmare at peak time. I was only going one way, but it never looked much better for those going the other way - so as a school run it would be awful. It is really a congested route during rush hour and there is bound to be some more tram work in the near future making it worse. It is much easier on a bike, and there would be places you could drive to easily that would be on the bus route, but it is not a regular drive I would recommend.

There are private schools nearer Morningside, Watson's and Heriot's for example - have you looked at them?

kaumana · 10/02/2011 17:28

I agree with the pp, I think the commute would eventually drive you mad! Am shuddering of the thought of doing that twice a day!

As Runner has said I would have a look at Watson's and Heriots's a lot of kids in Morningside attend these schools which may have an extra benefit of getting to know other mums and children who live in the area.

I would take a 15 minute walk over a quite possible hours drive anyday.

cuckooclock · 10/02/2011 17:39

The 38 bus goes from morningside to ME but it isn't a very regular service (20 mins - 30mins at times)

kaumana · 10/02/2011 17:51

lothianbuses.com/find-your-bus/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51%3Aservice-38

Link to the number 38 timetable.

Looking at the above it appears you would have to get the 07.50 bus from Balcarres, the next one would be cutting it very fine.

curlyredhead · 10/02/2011 17:59

I was going to suggest the 38 as well, but also agree that it's not a commute I'd be very keen on every day. Watson's / Heriot's good suggestions for that side of town - or some nice houses over nearer MEs, though I prefer the shops etc in Morningside.

legobuilder · 10/02/2011 20:51

i have friends who live in morningside and have children at mesm. there are several people in this situation, and they all seem to share the school run without too many problems (except in the snow!)

cuckooclock · 10/02/2011 21:39

I just looked at the 38 timetable and the 38 does from Balcarres Street to Ravelston Dykes in 27 minutes. There are no significant bus lanes (except for a few hundred yards on Gorgie Road) on that route, so by car has to be significantly less. Definitely do-able in my estimation

Original poster
maggiethecat · 10/02/2011 21:44

Aaaagh! I was hoping that it would not be so bad - just relayed this info to dh and he's saying no way if it's a dreadful commute.

Glad that I did not take Googlemap directions result at facevalue - they stated a 12 minute journey - probably at 9pm on a Sunday night!

OP posts:
crazycarol · 10/02/2011 21:45

The school also has their own bus services and one of the buses has a stop in Morningside. But it can only be used from p4 I think.

kaumana · 10/02/2011 21:51

The bus route is not the same for drivers.

scottishmummy · 10/02/2011 22:05

v busy rd,wags in 4x4 choking up school run.

Original poster
maggiethecat · 10/02/2011 23:30

School bus sounds good, wonder if my P1 girl could hide in her P4 sister's school bag Hmm

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 11/02/2011 00:04

why not arrange private minibus for group

SulkySullenDame · 11/02/2011 01:19

There is no easy way to do this at peak time.

Cristiane · 11/02/2011 05:45

I used to do a route similar to this and found a good short cut, however it was the return journey that's very slow

If you are going to be in Morningside, St peters primary is ver good, my dd goes there and we are very happy with it. It is nice not be doing a commute across town despite the short cut!

Original poster
maggiethecat · 11/02/2011 11:02

St Peters has been considered but the stress levels have been enormous in considering state places for 2 children since we do not even have a catchment address yet!!

We looked at the school when we visited Edinburgh and then had lunch with a friend who has 2 children there, at a nice cafe Loopy something. The feel of the area is nice and I think it would be very nice living in that area and skipping to school.

But again, chances of getting in may be very slim.

OP posts:
zenjy1 · 11/02/2011 19:48

If you like the shops and amenity of Morningside, why don't you take a look at stockbridge? It's a lovely area with loads of small indy shops, a waitrose for those that are into that sort of thing, and is well connected for getting into town. It's also a much shorter journey to MESM, adn if you're still interested in music school that's where the local authority specialist music school is (St Mary's is the private equivalent attached to the Cathedral). Getting from one side of Edinburgh to the other at peak times is horrendous (and I used to live in London so I know what horrible commuting looks like). Journey times on and off peak bear no relation to each other, and I'd be really surprised if the commute at peak times is anything close to 27 minutes by bus. You also have to bear in mind that you could be as much as fifteen minutes walk from Balcares Street and still be in "morningside".

If you want to go private, and want to stay on the south side you'd probably want to look at Watsons or Heriot's, and if you were going to be looking at MESM then you'd probably want to be on the North side of town. The commute will only get worse as they get older and do more after school activities and get home later, so if you're making a long-term decision you really need to consider how much time you're willing to spend doing the school run not just now but over the next ten years.

Original poster
maggiethecat · 11/02/2011 20:21

If only life were simple......

From what I can see a house in Stockbridge may not be affordable so we may have to consider the surrounding areas like Blackhall and Murrayfield - not sure what these are like in terms of amenities.

OP posts:
kaumana · 11/02/2011 21:21

Maggie, I feel for you, it's bad enough deciding what schools to apply for when you live in Edinburgh let alone wondering where to live. Despite living in Edinburgh for the majority of my life deciding what areas to move to has caused me huge headaches in the past.

I agree with zenjy1 and Cristiane.

K

scottishmummy · 11/02/2011 23:35

to be fair choosing which private school isnt one of life hardships. as opposed having to take what council gives you

Original poster
maggiethecat · 11/02/2011 23:45

Am grateful that we do have choice. Truth be told if I could have guarantee of places for both girls I think I may have gone for the state primaries. I think it's this uncertainty which is making us lean heavily in favour of private because we do not want to have to take the alternatives decided by someone else.

Kaumana, someone mentioned the north/south divide vaguely in terms of the difference in feel of the places. Do you notice a palpable difference and how would you describe it?

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 11/02/2011 23:47

there isnt imo a north/south thang in edinburgh.just usual middle class blabber about schools and house prices,trams, and oh the buses.everyone yaks about the buses

knickerelasticjones · 12/02/2011 09:49

Both Blackhall and Murrayfield are very 'nice' areas. full of extremely well-heeled types!

Lots of large and lovely houses to buy. Good range of local shops etc although not as many as morningside or stockbridge. I would bet that lots of girls at ME live in those areas.

For info the local state primaries in those areas are excellent (Roseburn primary and Blackhall primary). Sorry don't mean to confuse the issue for you, but I'm just aware that the talk on your various threads has always been about Sciennes or St Peters as if they were the only half decent schools in Edinburgh. to the best of my knowledge they are very good - but then so are several other schools in the city, so I wouldn't limit myself to just a couple of schools because lots of people tell you they are the ones to go for.

kaumana · 12/02/2011 21:02

I'm not aware of any divide, though of course each area has its own personality.