Within an hour of Edinburgh

[snowmummy]

We're thinking of moving to Scotland. I'm looking at somewhere within an hour's commute of Edinburgh, where we can buy a house with some land, and that has good schools. Ideally, we'd like to be on the north side of Edinburgh so that we are in easy reach of the cairngorms.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

I was thinking of the train station at Cupar rather than driving but must admit it total ignorance about what the train service is like.

Aberdeen is the place to look for jobs, the oil industry is booming and they can't get enough people to work there, lots of people are being attracted to the oil industry and all the other traders in Aberdeen are struggling to retain people. Weather in Aberdeen can be pretty bleak though, if you thought the weather in Edinburgh was bad you wouldn't consider Aberdeen, Aberdeen can be very wet, very windy and very grey. You wouldn't be out of place in Aberdeen either as there are so many people there from all,over due to the oil industry. It is expensive for housing, probably more so than Edinburgh again because of oil industry.

I must admit that I thought Aberdeen would be very wet and I think the coast is a bit miserable weather wise but we are west in Aberdeenshire and I find it much less bleak than Fife, housing is mega expensive though!

You may find the job market in Scotland quite narrow dependant on you field. My DH has stuggled where there are jobs a plently down south. Just not so many large companies (excluding oil and financial services that is).

Don't discount the west coast with a commute into Glasgow. You get a lot more for you money. The train network and service is fantastic compared to Edinburgh commuting.

Aberdeen is obscenely over priced for what you get too imo- though if you are prepared to travel in (car and country roads your only option though) you may get more value. Aberdeen traffic coming into the city from the country is horrendous in the morning.

Do a job hypothetical job search and see where, if any, they are.

Sorry to sound so negative - reality is if you want country living and land and are not on a good train line, you will have a long commute by car into, at times, a gridlocked city centre or a long journey from the park and ride on the bus.

Personally I would look around the rail stations of East Lothian - North Berwick £££ but lovely and Dunbar. Don't discount the areas served by the new borders rail link. They have just released the prices and the times are going to work well for commuters - it looks like it will be a great service.

Would echo other posters - morning commute traffic a nightmare anywhere round the central belt in and out of Glasgow or Edinburgh. You haven't mentioned budget - that will really affect where you can consider, as all the best schools tend to be in areas with highest property prices. Just along from Dunblane is Bridge of Allan which is nice, don't know about local schools though, although they might be in Dunblane. Surely the best thing would be to rent until you find a job as if you need to work then where you work will ultimately be the deciding factor- once you know where you will be working, let us know and we can give loads more advice!

We are in a south-west Fife village. The train into Edinburgh is about 35-40 mins, but there are buses from the park and ride in Inverkeithing too. The new bridge should make the drive a bit easier (as there will be one for public transport and one for cars and lorries).

We are in a little weather bubble, it is pretty good most of the time.

Fife really isn't 'bleak' IMO. It is mostly soft, rolling farmland, with lovely beaches. I've lived in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, and my family have lived all over the world - we wouldn't choose anywhere else over here.

Just to give you an idea of the commute from Fife into Edinburgh. There have been a couple of breakdowns on the bridge this morning and they are quoting delays of at least an hour to get over.

That is not unusual unfortunately.

We're in north Fife, and I really don't think of it as 'bleak'! It's rolling farmland, relatively mild as on the Tay/coast, and relatively dry for Scotland (altho I did grow up way over west, so it is relative ).

But yes, rely on train not car if you're looking this far up.

What kind of work would you be looking for?

Commuting into Aberdeen from most directions is far worse than into Edinburgh. Eventually the new western peripheral road may help this by letting through traffic bypass the city of Aberdeen, but currently coming in from the South or the West is awful. Many of the nice villages round Aberdeen have been rendered bleak and soulless by massive housing estates of clone houses. It is a prosperous city but the infrastructure, in particular the main shopping street, Union St, is more reminiscent of Detroit than a thriving, lively city. There are excellent shopping centres, I really like Union Square. The city council seems to be in a permanent state of financial crisis which probably causes the decay of the infrastructure, along with their abortive attempts at overambitious regeneration (the Union St Gardens project). On the other hand Edinburgh has the tram project, but at least that is nearly finished!

I don't think Aberdeen can rival Edinburgh for things to do in terms of the arts. The beach is better in Aberdeen though!

I am from Aberdeen, live in Edinburgh and would never go back.

btw, if you want a house 'with land', expect to be looking for up to a year.

How much land were you wanting? Anywhere around the M90 or Fife, land is jealously guarded by farmers, existing landowners, etc etc.

A house with more than a few acres in a decent spot (ie SOUTH-FACING!) will be in huge demand.

If you just want a large garden, and don't mind being in a town or outskirts, then you'll have a far better choice.

Last thing: don't be seduced by how much you can buy up here for your money. Remember an old 4 bed rural property will cost a couple of grand a year to heat with oil.

WhatWouldFreddieDo - I am originally from the Tay coast (Newport/Wormit) I have huge homing pigeon instincts - here is great but there is better.

What can you mean, PrimalLass

I've just taken dogs out for an airing, and I have to say today is perhaps a wee bit bleak ...

we are just over the water and its not bleak here - overcast yes bleak no...

Thanks guys. This is all really helpful.

When I say with land, I mean around 5 acres.

snoemummy you will struggle to get 5 acres around here - its prime farm land and never comes up for sale but if it does there is a massive premium on the land and it usually runs into millions.

Have you thought about the borders? Most towns without an hour of Edinburgh and Peebles is fantastic. The schools are great and the whole town is friendly and lovely housing. You would get a lot for your money there. It's surrounded by rural villages too if that's your thing

for a look at some properties available have a look at www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk/ or www.savills.co.uk/ - these are the most likely estate agents who deal with larger properties and properties which are more rural.

There's a nice looking cottage in Fossoway/Crook of Devon for sale with almost three acres at the moment, I Think it's called Woodbine Cottage, saw it on Rightmove.

That one looks beautiful wigglybeezer.

Here's another one with 3 acres. Bit grand, but amazing compared to paying the same for a terraced cottage in London.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27557940.html?premiumA=true

We don't know the OP's budget.

Primal lass, I try not to think about what the 3 bed terraced house in East Dulwich I almost bought for £100 000 a good few years ago ( sale fell through due to legal issues) would be worth now bit it I could probably have swapped it for that house in auchtertool. but then I don't regret the upbringing my lot have had as a result of moving back to scotland.

Me neither. I did shaft my career though by leaving London.

I didn't really have a career but DH certainly earned a lot less for a good few years as he had to start his own company instead of working for others but that has suited him better over the years.

Just wanted to stick up for Aberdeen/shire weather! It's sunny a lot more than on west coast where I'm from originally. I'd say the weather is pretty good and scenery is lovely. Aberdenshire prices come down sharply the further you are from city, Angus is cheaper still, you get a lot for your money there but might mean a longer commute. Lots of properties with a few acres for equestrian etc

As others say depends what kind of work you are after.

Check out www.aspc.co.uk for property in Aberdeen/shire
and www.tspc.co.uk for Perth/ Dundee area

What kind of job does your DH do? I live in a small village near Aberdeen and love it. The sea and beach is on my doorstep and am in the hills in no time at all. I don't think the weather here is especially worse than the central belt