Moving to fort William

[Bellfit]

We have the chance to move to fort William with DS 4 and DS 3. We would be moving from Southampton. Currently do love outdoor living in all weathers so not too concerned about the rain but does any one have help with what it is like to live up in fort William?

I don't know Fort William particularly well, but we relocated from Warwickshire to Dundee 18 months ago (wanting to be in Scotland, but only Dundee specifically for a job) and it was well worth it! The move has been a pain in the bum, took ages to sell and we're still renting here, but quality of life is great. We love being close to the cairngorms, hike and swim nearly every weekend year round, and we spent our summer camping and island hopping. From what we've seen of Fort William, if you're very into an outdoorsy lifestyle as we are, there'll be loads to do in the area, but I don't know about schools & normal daily life in the area. Though moving to Scotland more generally was a good move for us. Hope that helps a little bit!

The weather can be ferocious in the winter and there can be decent snow falls most years. Lochaber area has a lot of great beaches and plenty outdoor activities, the main town is quite run down imo but there’s a Lidl, M&S and a Morrisons. We tend to go to Inverness or Glasgow if we’re stocking up on food. Remember the Scottish education system is different as well. If you post on the Scotsnet board you’ll probably get more information on the primary and secondary schools.

Southampton to Ft William will be a culture shock IMO, you are moving from easily commutable to one of the biggest, busiest cities in the world to quite remote and much less populated with only 4 trains a day ( 4 hour journey) to the nearest big city (Glasgow) Someone mentioned Dundee, that is not the same world as Ft William, you should spend a bit of time there before moving IMO.

I'm so jealous! I'd go at the drop of a hat. I spend a few weeks a year in the Highlands as I have family in a village near to Fort William. So I can't say what it's like to live there....but do it!

I've lived in Southampton and family in western highlands. I'd make the move. Though it's wetter than you think now! Highest rainfall in the country. But I'd do it in a flash.

Have you visited Fort William before, and specifically have you visited in the depths of winter and the height of midge season?

Whilst the great outdoors in that area is amazing (when the weather plays nicely) and it’s great if you like hill walking/climbing/sea kayaking, Fort William itself can be pretty bleak and as PP have said, it’s a long old way from anywhere else. I also wonder that your kids would find it pretty stifling/dull when they hit their teens.

I too enjoy outdoorsy things but Fort William wouldn’t be somewhere I’d choose to live. Aberdeen etc, yes.

Have you visited Fort William?
Although you have said you like outdoors in all weathers, Fort William can be pretty bleak and it is not the nicest of places.
During the summer, it's a very busy stopping off point for tourists, as it is often used as a base to explore the highlands, but it's not as thriving off season.

There are midges to consider, which every non-Scottish person worries about!

You would probably get a lot for your money if you are selling a house in Southampton and buying in Fort William - there are some lovely properties for sale there just now on Rightmove.

It depends very much what you're looking for and what kind of lifestyle and upbringing you want for your children - do you want to live in a town or somewhere more rural?

For a town, you might be better in Oban, which is only an hour away and so much nicer than Fort William, some people commute between them, but it depends where your work will be based. There's also somewhere a bit bigger like Inverness - 1 hour 40 away?

There is a lot to consider, but I would start with doing more research and then take a trip to see if you get a feel for the place before committing to the move as it would be a major upheaval for your family.

Good luck!

I have been twice, as a tourist and the shopping centre is a bit odd IMHO, it wasn't built to be beautiful, it's mostly tourist shops and is heaving with tourists in the summer. The roads were also busy and the supermarkets crammed. I should imagine it's bleak in winter.
We had a great time but I'm not sure it would be so great in the depths of winter. The last time we visited it was during a stupid heatwave and even then I could only see the downsides. It all just felt a little grey.

Born and bred in Inverness and frequent passer through Fort William over the last 45 years - never once has it not been raining 🤣
You say you're used to rain, but are you used to horizontal rain due to the wind?

I also think it's pretty run down but it always has been. At least they have a few more shops than they used to.

It doesn't take 4hrs to Glasgow - 2.5-3hrs and less than 2hrs to Inverness allowing for the usual traffic.

You must visit in Jan or Feb before committing to moving, you'd be daft not to!

Do you have to live IN Fort William itself or could you be a bit further out?

@Rosesroseseverywhere Wow that's bad luck😂 I've been twice and didn't see a dot of rain or any midges. It was 26 degrees a few years back.
Still grim though.
I live on the moors, there's always sideways rain, a visitor commented a few day ago, my response "that's how it rains here" 😁)
my nearest neighbour, no one lasts more than two years due to the weather. I always ask if they are used to bad weather/wind when they move in, they always laugh..then a year later the house is back on the market.🙄

I love Fort William but yes, the rain is something else and I have lived other places on the West Coast. But the Highland Bookstore and Wildcat Cafe and proximity to countryside make it worthwhile for me! I know it's a bit marmite but I like the Main Street and find it a friendly place, there's an M & S, it's positively cosmopolitan compared to some more scenic places. I just don't find it as ugly or depressing as some people seem to but then I'm from post-industrial West Yorkshire

Rent before you sell and move. And make sure you spend some time there in winter (go now for a month if you can for example). I second the massive massive culture shock and isolation. No easy access to theatres, cinemas, bookshops, any school other than the one in town, etc etc.

@dorry678 😂
We live further north now and it's the same here. Lovely new folk arriving and they usually last 1 or 2 winters, then when it's dark for about 17hrs every day the house goes on the market.
I feel for them as it's tough to get used to!

Remember it's darker in winter too (and lighter in summer ) also very touristy in summer

Have you been? The surrounding area is beautiful but FW itself isn't somewhere I would want to live. It is rather run down and a bit bleak. Having said that I love the Highlands and would move there in a shot, just not to FW!

I would choose Perthshire, OP.

Think of Shirley with less facilities and then add awful weather, if your considering living in the town itself. Lots of nice homes in the surrounding area though.

Beautiful scenery. But you are in the middle of nowhere and 1hr 45m from your nearest "city" in Inverness, 2 and a half hours to Glasgow. Depends what sort of lifestyle you're after.

Fun fact- the Scottish Highlands is the most sparsely populated area of Europe bar the far north of Scandinavia. The whole population of the Highlands is less than Southampton (Inverness - biggest city- less than 50k). I'm not saying don't do it because maybe that's what you like, but I think a lot of people don't realise how there's a lot of space but not many people (apart from summer tourists). I would definitely think it through a bit and spend a fair bit of time there at a shit time of year before committing.

And absolutely heaving with campervans and tourists all summer, the road through and around it is horrendously busy at this time.

I’ve been to Fort William a couple of times, admittedly not recently, but I thought it was a dump, even in reasonable weather. Like a shabby seaside town. Has it changed?

I have family nearby. It's a grim place.

Wouldn't even consider it and I've spent a lot of time in both areas. Much prefer Hampshire with the Forest, beaches and access to airports, shopping, healthcare and job opportunities.

It's lovely to visit in Summer but no way would I want to live there all year round (and I'm Scottish).

Do you like hillwalking, skiing, cycling, outdoor swimming, or climbing? If so, it's the best place to go.

If you like a thriving high street, don't go. There is a lovely bakery there now. Nice bookshop.

If you want sunny weather every day, don't go.

There's M&S foodhall, Aldi, Lidl Morrisons and Home Bargains. A small Tesco in the town. I never think Morrisons is a very nice shop but it sells most things.

There's a lovely little cinema. Some nice pubs and bars. The proper climbers bars are long gone.

Your DC could go into Gaelic medium education and there are great opportunities for them in sports and music.

It is unbelievably busy in the summer months.

You don't get highland towns with all the facilities of large cities. That's part of the attraction.

I would go in a heartbeat.