Moving to orkney: any advice?

[woozlekin]

DH, DD (7 mo) and I are moving to Orkney in the summer. We've bought a house, and are planning on DP taking any work going while we get ourselves settled. Have any mumsnetters got useful advice for us?

no advice sorry just wanted you to know I'm

hope it goes well

Yeah, better you than me!

Sorry, but no way!

Fecking ferries up there have been cancelled several times already due to gales, and it's a long, long ride.

Well, we've spent a lot of time there over the last 20 years, and we do know about the weather and the ferries I was wondering if anyone has any direct experience of living there, or in an equivalent community? For example, the local primary currently has 28 pupils in toto - what are the advanages and disadvantages of such a small school?

I mean, ADVANTAGES, of course

Well - get a very warm coat, and hats and gloves and scarves. And sea sickness pills for the ferry trips to the mainland.
Other than that I have no experience having only been there once and vowed never again.

Is there NO-ONE on Mumsnet with positive experience of Orkney or a similar community. who would like to give us the benefit of their advice? I repeat, we do know about the weather - we love the invigorating Orkney weather, not being hot-climate fans (and I grew up in Africa so I know what I'm missing ) - and we have been on the ferries a few dozen times - there are flights as well, you know

You might want to get down to the newsagents and try and get hold of yesterday's FT. In the FTmagazine was an interesting article entitled In Search of the Good life - about Southerners breathing new life into crofting in the Scottish islands.

From the article I quote:

Why did the Sutherlands leave the city? Malcolm looks out at the snow-capped mountain in the distance, as if the view is answer enough. 'You wake up, look out the window, and you go 'wow.'It's a great environment for young children. We could never go back, that's for sure.'

(thought you'd like that!)

that article is here

I've never lived on Orkney but used to live in Thurso and have been to Orkney. We loved Thurso, v friendly and safe. We were completely overwhelmed by Orkney, the atmosphere, different way of ife etc.

Re small schools, my dd's have been to a small school in rural Scotland and it's the best school any of my four dc have attended, I can't praise it enough. Hth.

inglis, UnquietDad - thank you for pointing me to that article - that is SO supportive

suedonim - that's also a great help. We have good friends in Orkney who speak very well of the local schools. Do you have any Do's and Don'ts for living n N Scotland?

Have you seen the kids TV programme which shows the kids in school in Orkney getting the ferry, etc? Will find out what it's called and get back to you.

I don't have any tips, Woozlekin, as it's quite a long time ago and I now live in W Africa. But Miaou on Mumsnet lives in the north of Scotland so maybe put out a shout for her?

Realise this is almost a 10yo post, but curious about how you got on? Are you still there? Would you recommend it?