Moving to Inverness - any suggestions for towns and villages?

[egunner]

Hello everyone,
we're moving to Inverness and would really appreciate some sound advice.
We would like to live within 15 to 20 minutes maximum of Inverness town itself. We don't have any school age children therefore schools are not relevant.
What towns and villages would you recommend / or avoid? As long as they have even one shop that would be sufficient. We don't want somewhere to built up - quite the opposite in fact.
Can you help us please?

Hi OP

We're just giving this a bump for you.

I grew up in Balloch and its nice but there's not much beyond houses, a school and a shop, and lovely walks in the forest but if that's enough for you it's great. Nairn is nice too with more amenities. I'm dreaming of coming back up soon so will watch with interest!

Nairn is lovely and has a beautiful beach. Ardesier is gorgeous and there is a development of new houses being built with beautiful views over the sea. I’m jealous. I grew up near there and would love to move back.

Beauly is lovely and on train line.

Do you want to live in the country by yourselves or be in a village?

Do you want to be coastal or country?

Do you want views or amenities?

I am 40 mins north of Inverness and selling a rural property to move into Inverness so we have been doing a lot of research recently.
I'll help if I can x

Ardesier is really just one big council estate now I'm sorry to say :(

Beauty is really nice we are looking there too. Muir of Ord, Conon bridge and Marybuegh not so much

Avoid Alness / Invergordon areas too

Black Isle is nice, culbokie maybe?
Or as a pp said, Nairn is really lovely with sandy beaches and a fairly good high street. They have a Sainsbury's.

Dingwall is a bit dreich and always seems cold and rainy (dh works there!) it's not somewhere I would consider.

Culloden / balloch is nice if you go a bit further out towards Culloden moor

Croy is alright - nice and quiet

You might really like Tornagrain, it's a new town that's being built in traditional style and it's in between Nairn and Inverness. We loved the style of it but as it's not yet finished I am not sure they have shops there yet. But they will. Google it and have a look, it's so pretty. And really not far from town etc

Then there is daviot just up the A9 hill from Inverness - not much there but lovely farm country type houses.

north Kessock is nice too, there is a wee shop and community centre but the Kessock bridge can be a bit of a pain if you are commuting into Inverness

Munlochy is also nice, has one shop and a really good pub/restaurant - some nice new build there and older houses. It's not far from town but feels really country.

Fortrose is another coastal town and it is beautiful. It's a bit further out but it's so pretty. Nice rural properties or new builds there too. Lovely cathedral ruins, cafes, co-op and pub. Gorgeous beach with dolphins but gets quite a lot of tourists. Bakers and butchers there too.
Have a look at chanonry point

Hmm where else? When I see what you want from your search I can narrow it down a bit x

My new friends! Thank you so much. So kind of you.
Any other suggestions / information which anyone one else has would be most welcome regarding our relocation to Inverness.

You're all making me very excited. My dp is in uni this year in Thurso which is too highland for me but I'm dreaming of our future highland life. I can't wait.

egunner how is the search going?

Where will you be working - I assume Inverness?

Drumnadrochit, about 20 miles from inverness, has a new Co-op - great excitement! A few retaurants, post office, new pharmacy and doctors surgery, new houses being built just now.

Beauly is lovely too, better heart to the village with the square and on the railway for getting to inverness.

Fort Augustus too but probably getting a bit far out. I don't know the other side of inverness so well.

It's a lovely part of the world, glad we moved here.

Good luck!

Nairn is a little further but a lovely town. Tornagrain is nice as are the new houses at Croy. I like Fortrose as well

I have two friends on the Black Isle, one in Culbokie and one in Fortrose. They both like it but the weather - the long winters and the rain - gets one down.
Might be best to rent for six months and have a good look around.

I don't live there, but know the area well. Beauly would be my choice. It's a lovely little town where there seems to be a good community spirit. You're also within very short striking distance of Glen Affric, which is the most beautiful place I've visited.

I ought to add that I'm envious. Inverness is not the most glamorous city in the UK, but it has a lovely feel - DH and I often fantasize about relocating there from the English Midlands.

Hello again my friends,
this is the first time I have used Mumsnet. I must say I am overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness of you all - I'm most fortunate.

In reply to Onemorecakeplease, we don't mind being in a small village or more countryside based. We would like to be within 15 minutes drive or a sensible train / bus journey of Inverness as I'm sure it would have everything we require when needed. However we would prefer to have a bt or breathing space around us - and I would like chickens!
I don't like new builds at all, traditional, warm cosy villages are more our thing. Coastal would be nice but not essential at all. As for amenities a few shops would be a bonus, schools aren't relevant any more.
Currently we live in Bromley in the South east of the UK. We are up for sale and as soon as a window appears before Christmas we will come up to Inverness, hire a car and have a really good look around. We intend to cover all of the places you have all suggested - and avoid the ones you have highlighted, thanks for those also. Midge free zones would really be of interest!

I am 57 yrs old and have just retired from the NHS. My partner will have to work for a while longer so access to Inverness itself may be essential for a while. All help and suggestions gratefully received - please keep them coming!

I think beauly then would be ideal, you've got amenities but also the village feel. You can easily get something just outside of the town to give you that rural feel and your chickens! It's got an Indian, a hotel, a lovely deli/cafe, a co-op, a nice farm shop, interiors and gifts shop, bank and a bakers. It's still quiet though.

No midges really on the east coast Altho never say never! West is where the midges are or in wet woody areas.

I think it's hard to relocate to the rural highlands from the south. So many parts here are really isolated and you've to drive everywhere you want to go. It's beautiful and I love it but the journey to and from Inverness gets me down. Hence we are moving closer to town.
So I think your idea of being close to a town or village is a good one.