Fife/Angus Scotland Vs Home Counties England - to move or not to move

[InsertSassyUsernameHere]

Advice needed please.

I'm English, from the south of England.
My partner is from the northern isles of Scotland, and we live an hour north of Edinburgh.

I do not like it. I miss being down south, I miss being close enough to London to just hop on the train and see the sights etc.
I really miss the weather. It's so much colder, wetter and windier up here than I imagined.

We have been here for several years, and our children (10, seven) have been here most of their lives, so are settled in various activities (cubs, brownies, swimming etc). They are home educated, so no ties to school. My children both feel the weather too, and would be happy to move south.

My husband has finally said he'd look for a job down south. It has taken me YEARS of pushing to get him to even consider it, despite telling him I'm utterly miserable up here. But now, I worry about starting over with the kids re getting them into all the activities they like (waiting lists for various classes).
I also have big concerns about the state of the country, with the Tories destroying so much and at least we have some level of protection in Scotland with the SNP.
I worry about losing the free university options up here if we move.
But I also think the job opportunities are much better for my children down south, and they might not want to go to university up here, or even at all.

And if we bite the bullet and get a house down south, it will be worth more to them when they need a leg up when they buy their own properties. As it is, houses don't increase much up here, and I worry about not leaving them enough to help them.

If we move, we could only afford a small house with a small garden. Up here we could afford a nicer house, with a big garden (we moved in a rush, so are looking at moving anyway, to a better home. Whether that is in the same area and I accept my lot, or, we make the move, is the big dilemma.)

I feel torn.

What should be my key considerations?

I am NOT happy here, but, my children come first and I want what's best for their futures, but also their childhoods.

SBT, love that Ceres one, Ceres is on my list if we stay. Thank you for your input.

Tabulah, you read right. I'm not happy with his choices, but neither is he - he acknowledges they were all mistakes. They were gambles, he just got unlucky, but for me, I didn't realise what big gambles they were, and I think he did. He also pushed for me to sell my place down south so we could free up some cash for up here. At the time I had my hands so full with the kids, I went along with it. I wish I hadn't sold it back then. Oh well.
I think if we can get a decent place down south, it will go a long way to salvage our losses/lack of progression.
I wouldn't live in St.Andrews, we all prefer the idea of a village with a nice community vibe. But close to St.Andrews, so we can pop in easily, would be nice.
I love Falkland (and Outlander!) and it's on my list should we stay. Thanks for the list.

Ceres is lovely. As are quite a few villages around St Andrews, but if you want better weather you'll need to be further inland. I live in NE Fife and the weather this summer hasn't been great. Too much weather from the East, which means grey damp days. You need to be a bit further west. I don't know Inchture, but I suspect it is better. Falkland definitely would be less haar. I know this summer has been much better in Perth than St Andrews for instance and they are only 30 miles apart!

I am Scottish and have always lived in Scotland. We currently live in St Andrews and love it. We are used to the weather and it doesn't bother us as we are not keen on hot weather anyway. My DD1 works in London and we love to visit her and enjoy all that is on offer but I would hate to live there. DD2 has just got a job based in London too but is starting it at home due to COVID. It will be good once she moves and we can visit them both. DH, before COVID, spent a bit of most working weeks in London and sometimes met up with DD1. I actually feel we have the best of both worlds living here. If I had to move to a city it would be Edinburgh I think, not London.

BigGlasses, we also live on the east coast, close to the water. Didn't realise quite how much colder and wetter it made things.

Apollo, I've always loved the heat, and can withstand heatwaves easily - they make me happy. Kids too.

I am not 100% set on London (home counties), primarily the cost.
We could get a decent place here or a really small place there. Decisions, decisions.

HI OP, I came late to this and I just want to say, make a decision that YOU are happy with. There are many things that you are unhappy with in your life and I believe from reading between the lines, that your DH is one of them. Resentment of him is growing.

It is really valid to move due to the weather - if I could I would live in Spain all year (or at least all Summer). I moved away from the West of Ireland for work but also the weather is so dire I will never return. Some people are not affected by weather - those of us who are, really should try to live somewhere with weather that suits our temperament. I would move south if I were you. It will be better for the DC, better for you., and really, at this point your DH does not seem like someone who cares as long as life goes his way, so move while he agrees and then you and the DC can be happy.

Hi, AnnasGirl

I think you're right re the weather. Some people like it, others can tolerate it, some just struggle. And I think the two former groups might not understand how it affects those of us who NEED warmth.

And yes, I have some resentment about his bad decisions, and then refusal to move before now.

I'm really concerned about the finances moving south, and living in a cramped home. We could afford a really spacious place here, and have money for holidays. So. Tough choices.

I could afford a mansion if I moved to where I grew up - but I would be a prisoner in my lovely home with rain 350 days per year on average.

I think if you can get a home that is large enough to live in - ie you have a bedroom and DC have a bedroom each if possible, and a small garden then that is all anyone needs to be happy.

Perthshire might suit you more. We get snow every winter. It was a very dry and sunny Spring this year. July is always wet and grey though. I've been teaching 20 odd years and the summer weather is never during the school summer holidays.

Auchterarder?

Pitlochry?

Dunning?

Madderty?

Kenmore?

Houses in Auchterarder.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Auchterarder.html

Houses in Pitlochry

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Pitlochry.html

Dunning is such a lovely village but property sells very quickly.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Dunning.html

Same with Madderty. You need to be able to move quickly.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Madderty.html

Kenmore is just as sought after.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Kenmore.html

Birnam/Dunkeld is lovely but the weather is much cooler than Perth (just 12 miles away)

Pitcairngreen is a delightful wee village but, again, a highly sought after location.

Linlithgow in West Lothian is lovely with great transport links to Edinburgh Airport.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Linlithgow.html

Moray has a much warmer climate than most of Scotland. It is the same as SE England.

www.must-see-scotland.com/scotlands-sunshine-coast

Findhorn is lovely.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Findhorn.html

AnnasGirl, I'm the opposite - I come from one of the most affluent areas in the UK, and now can't afford anything other than a flat there. Which is actually a terrible state of affairs that we can't even settle where I am from, should I wish to.

I think because we home ed, a slighter bigger than basic garden is preferable so we don't always have to go to the park for a little kick about/cartwheels. The kids both really want to grow their own food too. But yes, I certainly don't need an acre or anything near it.
We do need three bedrooms (kids are one of each), and ideally something that can be used as a study area for dh if he can swing some working from home time. And the kids of course, if they stay home educated, will need a decent work space too.

stargirl, you really are a star5m, thanks for taking the time to look all those up. I will look at them now.

Disappointing to not have summery weather when the kids are off school. That's a real bummer.
Also, I can't get used to this August start time! It's still very wrong-feeling to me. Though really, I think school should start in January! With a month off in December, and a month off in July!

I'm from NE Fife and would never ever move down to the south of England again. I love London and would like to go more often, but barely went into town when I lived in zone 4!

Elsa, up here, you get a surveyor round who does a detailed home report, which we pay for. He then dictates the going price. We can ask for offers over £x amount, and if we are lucky, people might pay more, but I can't see people paying what we paid plus work done, and even breaking even.

Houses in Fife and the surroundings are flying off the markets for tens of thousands over the asking price. Sell now then rent down south as the prices will nose dive.

SBT, of course I have. I was asking for your recommendations for pretty villages. It wasn't saying there aren't any. Rightmove are pretty crap up here though, everything is on espc, pspc or tspc, none of which are as user friendly as Rightmove. That property is gorgeous. What is inchture like?

We still use Rightmove and Zoopla. It would also be helpful if you said where you are. However, it seems pointless as you don't want to be here.

I also lived in z3/4 and went in regularly.

Houses in Fife and the surroundings are flying off the markets for tens of thousands over the asking price. Sell now then rent down south as the prices will nose Really?! Any idea why? I've not seen that and have been watching some properties for a while.

Why will prices nose dive down south? And when?
I'm really uncertain about timings of selling and buying, and really can't afford to lose more money with another mistake.

If I wanted to be close to St Andrews then I'd look at Newport (I grew up there and loved it) or Anstruther.

I think they will nose dive in a few months when ex-furlough redundancies clash with Brexit.

My mum has just sold and bought. Houses are selling in days. Huge demand for houses with outside space or close to it. Can't even get on a list to see rental properties.

We still use Rightmove and Zoopla. It would also be helpful if you said where you are. However, it seems pointless as you don't want to be here.

I don't want to out myself further nor offend anyone by being more specific about where we are.
I know stuff goes on Rightmove and Zoopla, bit pspc/tspc/espc are far more used, ime.