Newbie - wondering about Motherwell/Cleland in Scotland?

[CalifornianScotland]

Has anyone heard of Motherwell/Cleland in North Lanarkshire? I posted in local, but the forum seems to be inactive. Anywho, if you've heard of it, would you say it's safe and a good place to raise kids?

I'm just making the point that there is far far worse places you could stay than an old quiet ex steelworks area that apparently make people feel dirty

Is this for real? Somebody asks about moving to Scotland and so we use it as an excuse to post every isolated violent incident that has happened in the last 10 years?

What the fuck.

Op. Glasgow is a great city to live and work in. A lot of people who live rurally react to it like it's sodom and gomorrah. But realistically, it's the same as any city with good and bad parts.

Absolutely troll

Twas not me who said dirty. That's a ridiculous thing to say.

I love Glasgow

But I still am waiting for OP to tell me her motivations so have got sucked in to a bit of Glasgow 'city centre' bashing/ defining/defending while waiting!.

Hi guys, thanks again for all of this!

Motivations:

+Large home over two storeys, need at least a single garage
+Accessible to both Edinburgh and Glasgow, right now we work in IT remotely, but this could change one day in the future
+Safe

We are not tied to any areas because we do not have family in the UK, husband's family moved to South Africa and mine is in the US. We also don't really care about living in the fanciest postcode, just somewhere that we wont die or deal with our house being broken in to, etc. I was looking towards Glasgow moreso, because the houses towards Edinburgh seem to be more expensive, and I'm not really in to making a big fuss over having things like Waitrose or being "posh"

We have twin toddlers, and so in a few years they will need to go to school and so school is important but not a deal breaker either because I went to a top university in the US and I feel that what the student does is more upto what happens at home with their parents.

Any advice is much appreciated

Op Bellside is beautiful houses and you are close to 3 primary schools and 1 high school. Very very close. The train station in Cleland goes both ways and the trains are every 1/2hr each way. Also if you are driving the motorway to both Edinburgh and Glasgow is around 7 mins from your house which takes you into the new parts of the m8 which are much less congested than the older parts. The motorway upgrades were a nightmare when happening but have been a massive help. You are a 10 min drive from local shops in wishaw where there is an aldi, Tesco ect... Also you are about 5 mins away from newmains where there is a 24hr asda. Also the houses in that area are very nice. Surprisingly spacious for being new builds as new builds these days tend to be a bit boxy but these ones are impressive.

I hope this helps.

Also very low crime rate. No break ins and so on. Kids will love it too. The kids in that estate are very inclusive and always out playing so your twins wouldn't find it hard to make new friends!

Where to start....

There are cheaper commuter spots that are close to Edinburgh, like Falkirk for example. But I lived there for a while and found it too insular.

If you're used to travelling then I think somewhere with a hint of the cosmopolitan about it might help you to fit in/find like minded people.

Do you know what your budget is likely to be?

East Kilbride is a pretty reasonable place depending on area. If you see a house you like the look of I can give you an insight into the demographics of the area and it's amenities. East Kilbride is about 7 miles from Glasgow City Centre and is served by train and bus routes. It's very suburban but it has lovely country parks and woodland as well as a shopping centre and various sports grounds. The schools in East Kilbride are mostly fine. They're neither at the bottom nor right at the top.

Hamilton is cheaper than East Kilbride, arguably not as well serviced for public transport, but is similar demographically. It also has country parks, shopping precinct etc. However I feel the difference between the local schools is quite tangible. Particularly at High School.

If you move to a different council area: East Renfrewshire- you have the best performing schools in Scotland and a 5-8 mile commute to Glasgow. It's served by train and bus and has a more affluent demographic. Houses there tend to be more expensive than East Kilbride for example- but there are areas which are more pocket friendly. Parts of Busby or Stamperland for example.

The Southside of Glasgow is also an 'up and coming' area. (Historically the West End is the affluent, cultured side with good schools but it is £££££ and you'll never find a house there for an East Kilbride budget.) Shawlands and Pollockshields are closer to Glasgow- maybe only 2 or 3 miles and again, well served by bus or train. It's quite a buzzy area, feels slightly more urban than the areas further away from Glasgow. The schools are very multi-cultural, had some issues in the past but are improving year on year with good results.

Bishopbriggs is also a popular area with young families, it's in West Dunbartonshire. Pretty good schools. Mix of housing. Transport links are fine- there is trains and buses (perhaps not as well served as other areas in my honest opinion) but definitely easily commutable by car.

The school league tables for each area are available by different council websites as well. (Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire etc.)

It's pretty easy to get to Edinburgh from any of these, obviously a longer commute than what it is to get to Glasgow.

If you accepted a longer commute, you would perhaps get a larger property in parts of Ayrshire. It can perhaps be a bit insular in places due to the lack of proximity to the bigger cities, but might serve well if you are finding our wee Scottish houses too small! If you're interested in rural or semi-rural living then it's definitely worth a look.

.

My mum and dad both Scottish born and bred, but I was raised in Manchester, do u think people would treat me differently because of my english accent?

Loonyluna16 thanks for all of that info, you have made me feel a lot more comfortable considering we aren't locals and could only make a quick judgment with the couple of times we've been there.

TrollTheRespawnJeremy thanks for covering all of that area, our budget is max £285,000, and we were trying to go for the biggest we could get (Bellside is actually lower than our max budget)

I was also looking at this property online www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52583598.html

We need at least four bedrooms, if we could get five that would be wonderful. We also need to buy something quickly because we are exchanging this month. So far the new build in Cleland is the biggest/most convenient in terms of location, we have seen.

ScaryMary in most parts of Scotland it wouldn't be a problem but there are a few insular, small minded areas and folk who can't get over the film Braveheart and so hate English on stupid principle.

Ok OP.

So this property is in Lindsayfield which is a new build estate that has been steadily expanding over the last 15 years. It lacks public transport links and has very little in the way of local amenities. (Little things like a shop to buy your bread and milk, local school, nurseries etc)

This particular property is close to the Greenhills boundary. Greenhills is an older estate of East Kilbride which has some social issues. The schools in this area tend to be a lot more mixed demographically and so tend not to score as well in league tables. It is better than it used to be, but not somewhere that I'd walk around at night.

Cleland is a really pretty looking place, when I was younger at college there was a couple of kids from there and they HATED it. I think it's fine with small children, maybe just not a lot to offer when they're older. I was particularly shocked on visiting at the underage drinking/parties in the area. It felt quite limited aspirationally and there was a lot of unemployment.

Obviously- that's a totally subjective outsider's view that could be totally coloured by the people who I met. It's been 10 years at least since I ventured out that way. Definitely visit, it is pretty, but make sure it's a good fit for your family wherever you end up.

I like being somewhere with very regular trains/night buses because we socialise in the city regularly. I couldn't live somewhere where going to the theatre, a gig or out for dinner was an upheaval.

I know you're focusing on house size and commutability, but I would really consider what kind of social activities (if any) that you enjoy as that can also colour your choices.

Lindsayfield

This property in Lindsayfield is at a nicer side of the development, it's semi-rural and in a newer part. It is a lot quieter and doesn't tend to have trouble spilling over from Greenhills. You'd need to check the school catchments though.

Nerston
This is a new development near the once tiny village of Nerston in East Kilbride. It's near a retail park with supermarkets etc and on a main bus route out into the city. Very quiet spot.

Hairmyres This is actually a pretty good property- it's turned my head. It's in Hairmyres which is an affluent and slightly older area of East Kilbride. Next to the local hospital and walking distance from the train station to town as well.

Stewartfield
Stewartfield was the new estate prior to Lindsayfield getting built. It's near a retail park for supermarkets etc and also has a big loch with playpark nearby for watersports/walks etc. The indoor swimming pool, skate park and soft play is also in this district.

This is just a few from the East Kilbride area that I would single out to view myself. It's totally subjective- but they have the mix of house size/price and accessibility that I would require in order to consider living there.

East Mains

This isn't as well presented as it's not a brand new show home, but if you would be happy in a townhouse, this is in a good area of East Kilbride. Close to the village (old district) so walking distance for some nice bars, restaurants and hairdressers but also walking distance to the trainstation to Glasgow.

Bishopbriggs
5 bed within budget in Bishopbriggs. Check the exact school catchment but schools in Bishopbriggs tend to be very good. Good access to trains too.

Before I went to bed last night, I had a shortlist in my head which is quite similar to trolls which was:

Bishopbriggs
Lenzie
Newton Mearns
Rutherglen
maybe Stepps
Kirkintilloch

I also thought of Hamilton

All traditionally considered good areas. I faffed about trying to find crime stats but I don't want to say what I found as I don't think I found very up to date ones.

You could live in the fanciest loveliest area and suffer crime and house break ins .

There is now a train line from the Scottish Borders up to Edinburgh and some beautiful countryside and afaik well priced houses in Melrose and Jedburgh etc but that may be a curve ball.

It still feels like you have literally stuck a pin in a map though in terms of where you plan to bring your DCs up! I assume you have visited Scotland/Glasgow etc and aren't just looking for the cheapest big houses on RightMove! You need to know for yourself that a place feels right.

And I still vote Helensburgh!

There is absolutely bugger all in Cleland. And your catchment high schools aren't great.
Motherwell would be a better bet - close to the motorway & Dalziel High School has always had an excellent reputation.
Heading to areas around Hamilton, there are some lovely large houses around Chatelherault or Bothwell.
Lanark is also nice with a lovely 'village' feel to it.

Oh yes, Bothwell was the other place I thought of. Really nice. And Uddingston.

I myself live in a village now. It's interesting how people idealise the word. there is constant petty crime (car break ins and anti social stuff but nothing huge) largely because it's porous and near a main road. The public transport is OK but not great. there is nothing to do and the people are a bit close minded. And it has become a sprawl of new builds. It's actually distressing! But not all villages are like this; not all villages have character and community though by the same token. Research needed!

Hamilton has a shocking reputation these days. It's really not a nice area at all anymore, also people from Hamilton do not tend to be nice people. (Worked in a bar in Hamilton for years) people tend to have this sense that they're better than others which personally, I can't stand. Bothwell is the exact same.

Uddingston- it depends where you go. Do not go near birkenshaw. Stick to maid uddy. There is some very nice houses.

Motherwell again I'll say I grew up there. It has it's areas (avoid north Motherwell,forgewood like the plague) there us new development areas in the old ravenscraig which are really nice but again classic new build they can tend to be boxy and quite small although lovely houses.

The houses in Cleland size/price really are worth it. You get alot of house for your money. Also this house- www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/fullscreen/image-gallery.html?propertyId=62145293&photoIndex=1 stunning

I bet that' OP's house! Nice.

What's Wishaw like ... always used to be popular?

@piggywaspushed wishaw is a massive hit or a miss now. I lived in wishaw for a year and the are I lived in used to be notorious for crime, hands down quietist place I've stayed but it wouldn't suit op as it's flats. Then on the other hand we moved up to coltness which has a bad reputation when it never used to it was awful was there for 9 weeks and gave the house up (rented) it was so bad. Wishaw is a very mixed bag, vairies from street to street.

OP is there any possibility of you renting for a while before making a decision to buy? There are some fabulous places to live within reach of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It’s a long time since I lived there so I wouldn’t want to make specific recommendations but I do still visit regularly and know some areas I’d avoid.
Although Cleland is well situated close to the M8 and has a train station the previous poster who described it as limited aspirationally is spot on. Although they also described Cleland as pretty and I’d have to disagree. There are much better places to bring up your children. I’d have serious concerns about schools - particularly high schools in the area.

I also don't agree that it is ONLY parents who make their DCs aspirational : communities and schools also massively contribute (. I am an aspirational parent myself and DC1 was dragged down despite all my efforts by lack of aspirational messaging at his secondary school (and it is on the face of it a perfectly good school). It is important to get a feel for the general outward lookingness of any community.