Glasgow and surrounding areas...

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Hi,

I have lived in the West End of Glasgow my entire life, tenement living, near parks, social life etc..

My husband and I have a toddler and another on the way so the time has come that we sell our first flat for something bigger.

With this has come the complicated decisions of where we should move, given that the cost of buying/selling is fairly high we are likely to be in the next place for a good long while and as such have to consider things like schools..

We are torn between living in a larger tenement (which arguably has more floor space than some houses!) and moving to the suburbs for a garden and garage..

My husband works in Ayr, as such our 'potential' living area could be anything from Ayrshire/East Renfrewshire to Milngavie/Bearsden (the only non west end area I know well..)

Can anyone advise on suitable areas or even just supply an opinion as to whether you think tenement living is a bad idea?...

My mind is boggled.

Thank you, and apologies its so long..

Kilmacolm is nice - great schools ! Not all the houses are mega bucks !!!

DH and I rented in tenements for a good few years but, when we were looking to buy, decided against one. They are lovely, lovely buildings but we just found all our previous ones too cold. We're in a recent conversion up Park Circus way now. We bought with future DCs in mind, and it has a lot of space and is very warm and cosy.

If you're looking for areas outwith the West End, East Ren or Newlands might be a good bet. I'm not sure what prices are like (not at the cheaper end, but not townhouse in Dowanhill expensive). You've got some great schools (if you're Catholic, St Ninian's is very good - that's where I went) and you're in very easy reach of the Ayr Road. There's also a Wholefoods in Giffnock (not that such a thing would influence your decision but you know... ).

Have you ever thought about going East? My Dsis and her partner recently bought a one bed tenement flat in Dennistoun for 56K. I know that's not what you're looking for, but you might come across some nice houses, cheaper than West End, more space and lots of money being put into the area for the Games next year. I went to visit DSis and had a wander around the area today - it kind of feels like an anti-Hyndland: millions of wee shops selling useful things, great old Italian cafes/delis, a big library. Not that I don't like Hyndland (lived there for a year, but you can't buy anything useful there or go for lunch without spending a fortune!)

thanks for the replies..

Yeah tenements can be cold, ours isn't though.. i think it's down to double glazing :)

We wouldn't move East i don't think when we bought this one (2 bed west end near botanics) we viewed a few in Dennistoun and although they are MUCH cheaper it just felt like we were cheating on the Wend.

The dilemma I think is more of a city upbringing vs suburbs?

My husband is from the Scottish Borders and had a lovely garden growing up..

However he loves the West End having lived here as long as he did there and we're struggling to decide whats best for DC's (and us).

I have looked at some East Ren, having heard the schools are good.. prices aren't bad (arguably similar to that of Bearsden), however square footage is actually less - though you may get a garden and garage and attic to compensate..

All these areas are nice for different reasons.

I have lived in the West End with children and now live in one of the suburbs you mention.

West End is fun as you already know. Lots to do with children, friendly etc. If you want a house with a garden you could go for the West End fringe eg Kelvindale, Scotstoun or Broomhill - which is a bit more real West End IME.

Shawland is quite similar vibe to West End but cheaper and easier to get a house with a garden.

Personally I was only interested in moving to a suburb with a real centre in easy walking distance and good transport into Glasgow. Other must-haves for us were walking distance to the countryside and an area where children go out to play. Walking and cycling in the countryside (without having to get in the car first) and having the kids go out to play with their friends have been aspects of life here that we really enjoy.

Some nice places to live in Ayrshire, Alloway is lovely, great schools in Troon.

Agree with you on Shawlands, beatrice - that's more or less where I grew up, though a bit closer into Newlands. It's been a bit of a ghost town, but it's definitely perking up. The Glad Cafe on Pollokshaws Rd is great and there's Queen's Park and the Glasshouse. Direct road into town in under 20 mins too. Pollok Park is close too, and that's beautiful. My parents still live round there and I always enjoy a look around the shops.

Langside is nice too - lovely tenements and old houses, and close to Queen's Park. Strathbungo is nice, but I find it a bit too main road-y.

Clarkston would be the classic choice, especially if commuting to Ayr. We lived in shawlands and enjoyed it - but it was preDC and I don't know what the schools are like. I d

I'd go for Clarkston ish area because of the schools.

Oops finger slipped. I don't know if shawlands academy is positively or negative impacted on being so close to hutcheson.

Not speaking with total certainty, but I don't think Shawlands is all that high performing - they're in a programme to encourage more of their 6th years to go to university, though. And to be fair, I know more people who went into higher education from Shawlands than from Hutchy.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Troon made it onto a short list along with a few East Ren places in the Gryffe High catchment, though I'm still drawn to Milngavie or Bearsden as my Grandparents lived there so I know it well enough.

To be honest we hadn't really considered Shawlands, as its regularly compared to the West End and we would more likely just stay here (in a bigger flat).

I think the School reports don't always give a clear picture, I went to Hillhead High which hasn't the best reputation but all my friends from there are quite successful and did well at University. Alot of it is working with what you've got and parent help too..

I live in Bearsden and love it BUT would never move here if I were travelling to Ayr. Crossing the river is becoming harder. The tunnel is a nightmare at the moment and bearsden adds another 20 mins at least to your journey.
I would avoid Shawlands and look towards East Renfrewshire.

7to25 - Thanks for replying. Given that he already has to cross the river and he has a colleague living in Torrance I'm not sure he would discount living in Bearsden especially considering the good reputations of the schools.

You are so right!
I can't think how to phrase this but the schools here are very good for secondary, much better than the state schools available to the west end.
I would move before primary so that your child is moving onto secondary with its friends.
The new Bearsden academy looks great and the children attending it, the same.
I would worry that a born and bred west ender could move here and be happy?

I worry the same, but I think if we have to leave then Bearsden or Milngavie would be a better fit (than the entirely foreign to us South Side of the river).

My Dad was raised in Milngavie and my grandparents lived there so I know the area fairly well..

We're planning to move in the next year as given that we have a toddler and another on the way we would want them to be settled for school and this would be a permanent move.

That said I had friends who went to Douglas Academy and Boclair but lived in the west end still so i know that it can be done should the west end keep its grasp on us....

Don't right off the Southside.

Personally I find Clarkston souless and much prefer Muirend/ Giffnock. Your DH really does need to think about his commute to work and, if he is driving, being close to M77 is a huge benefit.

Do you want to stay in Glasgow - do you work in Glasgow? Troon and Alloway would be on my list if my DH worked in Ayr. Glasgow is still accessible when you want it.

I've done the flat and the house things with small DC. Yes big flats are fab for kids and, as we had GF there were no stairs and buggy issues, but the communal garden are a pain. Ours wasn't secure so I had to physically be out with the DC - I spent hours doing this. Having your own secure back garden is really important imo.

I haven't written off the Southside and honestly anywhere we move is going to a fairly massive adjustment.

Staying in the West End would mean we have an established support network, my DD has friends and my parents within 10 minute walk..

the garden and added storage a house offers like attic/garage are definite pro's for moving.. that said I never felt like I missed out not having a garden and my parents enjoyed that there were several parks to go to not limiting the space.

DH already has a 1hr+ commute and doesn't feel strongly either way about being closer (he'd probably stay at work longer if he had 'extra' time) his business will likely relocate in the next 5 years but this will probably be to Kilmarnock so still in the same direction.

Troon has made its way on to the short list as have a few other areas over that way.

I don't drive and work from home so I really just have to like where we are.

We will most likely make a short list based around good schools and houses we like and take a drive around and try to get a feel for some areas.. We have been a bit sheltered in our west end bubble..

I have lived in Neilston East Ren, for 30 years, my kids loved running about the countryside, 350 new houses are being built at the minute, 1 nursery, two primary schools, great train service to Glasgow, Houses are not mega money, most people buy houses here and never move, they just extend their homes. Good luck with your house mode.

Eaglesham is lovely and is handy for Ayr and Kilmarnock. Bearsden where I grew up is excellent but a huge commute. Renfrewshire and south side would be better imo.