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Rural living

Looking to relocate to the countryside? Find advice in our Rural Living forum.

Original poster

Moving to Skye from down south advice

211 replies

AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 07:16

Good morning all, this is my first post! We have wanted to move to The Highlands for the longest time, and my partner has just had a transfer request approved for Skye! We have never been to Scotland, but need to buy a house and put 2 of our children into school. We want the remote rural living, as we live in a busy town centre and we are both hermits at heart.

I've read about buying a house up there, but it still baffles me, could someone please explain how one goes about making an offer on a house, as it's offers over for the most part..

My partner will be working out of Portree, but needing to travel all around the island and the highlands. We don't want to live more than an hour from Portree but don't want to live somewhere busy, any recommendations please?

What's the market like at the moment? At what speed are properties selling? We live 11 hours by car, or a flight away, we aren't sure how we are going to manage viewings and such yet.

The secondary school.. there is only one and from what I can figure out there are buses, does anyone have children who use this service already?

We want to come and add to the island, we will be working there and making a life there, we aren't trying to make money off the island, we just want to enjoy the peace and quiet, beautiful views and space for our children and dogs.

Any advice greatly received, and anything else I should know is too. Thank you in advance to anyone who replies!

OP posts:
BonnieBobbin · 04/06/2023 09:07

Skye isn't for everyone. We live rurally although within an easy drive to a city - and would not even consider moving to Skye.
There are lots of places in Scotland where you can have a remote, rural lifestyle without having to move to an island. We can easily walk for over an hour and see no-one. We're short drives away from lochs and mountains. Yet can also be in a city in under an hour.
Inverness would be much better. It's a great town surrounded by lots of gorgeous villages and hamlets.

Chemenger · 04/06/2023 09:08

I think the oddest thing you have said,OP, is that you want to live somewhere rural because you don’t want to see people you know all the time. In the highlands in winter you will only see people you know and they will know everything about you. There is nowhere less anonymous than a highland village. We have friends who have moved to a tiny highland settlement and have made lots of friends but they are the most gregarious and outgoing people I know. They love being part of the community and knowing everyone. They also kept a home in Edinburgh for the times they need a flat white and a visit to the cinema, or a midge free evening.

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:09

BeethovenNinth · 04/06/2023 09:04

amily I’m happy to Chuck suggestions at you as I know the NW well and would love to have done this

don’t rule out the NE either - Black Isle and Morayshire and gorgeous. Easy access to hills and beaches and a lot drier and easy access to Inverness.

Thank you. I've a friend in the highlands and she recommended Black Isle also.

OP posts:
Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:10

Elipse · 04/06/2023 09:05

We moved to Scotland 5 years ago. In the nicest way, you're going about this all wrong. You need to spend some time looking at different areas carefully, otherwise you could make a huge mistake, particularly having children.

We spent several weeks travelling round the parts of Scotland we were considering, making notes on every town and village we visited. Once we got home with a narrowed down list, we did more research. We pored over maps to consider how easy travel would be, we looked at the weather which varies hugely from West to East, researched whether midges might be an issue, took advice from family who already lived in Scotland, looked at the SIMD to get an idea of what areas are actually like to live in, and of course looked at what the property market was like from place to place.

Only then did we start to narrow things down, so we rented for a few months, and even then, we ended up somewhere completely different from where we first thought, and it's perfect.

You need to visit Skye in summer and winter before you consider moving there. It's absolutely heaving in summer, and in winter many places (shops and cafes) are shut.

I'd also add that access in Scotland can be difficult due to the terrain. This means that truly rural houses can be up tracks or single track lanes (we looked at a few of those!) and far from the facilities you will need. Others will be rural, but again, summer tourism will impact - we looked at several houses with amazing views, but tourists migrate there in the summer. Village properties are often, out of necessity, ribbon developments along a busier road than you might want.

I'm not sure you've thought your plans through (and I've not even mentioned schools!).

This is the planning advice I didn't know I needed, thank you so much ellipse

OP posts:
dottiedodah · 04/06/2023 09:11

There are always people saying "oh you dont want to do that"! Main thing is to get familiar with the area though surely? Often places/lifestyles sound tempting but often dont work out due to lack of homework! Maybe see about visiting and looking into Inverness as PP have advised.Good luck and dont be put off!

GulesMeansRed · 04/06/2023 09:12

AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 08:12

Midlander, much appreciated. Maybe I do have more to think about.
Our only option is for dh to work out of the Portree branch of his company, otherwise it's Inverness and he works in the busy cities around us at the moment (he's in utilities) and doesn't want that any more.

Inverness would be a much better option with teenagers - but let me guess, you haven't visited there either? 🙄

And people wonder why some of us in Scotland have issues with "incomers" arriving from the Home Counties with some romantic idea of tramping through the heather and a 4 bedroom house for 50p and then finding that it's really not like that. Skye is rammed with tourists in the summer. Can be bleak, wet and dark in winter. Absolutely gorgeous, but remote.

As for the schools - well there's no choice. You have no option but to put them into the local school as there is no other. Have you worked out what years your children would be in given their ages and the mismatch in intakes? (I'm guessing not). Do you know what a Nat 5 and a Higher is?

BonnieGlasses · 04/06/2023 09:12

toomuchlaundry · 04/06/2023 08:49

Who makes decisions like this without actually having been there?

I know, it's baffling isn't it? I've spent several holidays on Skye and if I was to plan to move there (lol) I'd want to go back many more times in all seasons before making that decision.

Zonder · 04/06/2023 09:14

Don't ditch Skye for Inverness! Would Inverness give you the change you crave away from a city?

Personally I love Skye. I wouldn't live there but I would love on the mainland and be a frequent visitor. Kyle of Localsh area would be a good start.

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:15

I have had some lovely replies. Lots to think about. First port of call, my partner to talk to his manager about the Inverness office and what that would involve. Then we will visit to start getting a feel of locations. I honestly don't think Skye is the place for us now, and that isn't me being flippant - I think Inverness would be more realistic for my almost teenage daughter. I don't want this move to make anyone miserable, so we do have a lot to consider and it's a lot to process in my mind if I'm honest.

OP posts:
Kiwano · 04/06/2023 09:16

If I was to move to Kyle of lochalsh how far is that from Portree?

How have you managed to research this without looking at a map?

eyeblob · 04/06/2023 09:17

I moved from a large city to a to a very beautiful rural home several counties away for work in a tourist area. I had been there many times both summer and winter and still was a shock to system if honest. The anonymity of a city was gone, that took me a long time to get used to. Prepare yourself that you may need to work at it and it probably won't be all that you thought and will take a couple of years to settle.

CindersAgain · 04/06/2023 09:18

Kiwano · 04/06/2023 09:16

If I was to move to Kyle of lochalsh how far is that from Portree?

How have you managed to research this without looking at a map?

I know. OP, use googlemaps.

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:20

CindersAgain · 04/06/2023 09:16

On the Inverness idea, if you look at its population, 45,000, you can then compare to a town you know and see how big that feels.

http://lovemytown.co.uk/populations/townstable1.asp

Our current town is half of that, Next town over is about 8 miles and smaller again. We have villages in between and houses dotted about. Closest city is bath, that's about and hour and 20 drive.

OP posts:
Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:21

Kiwano · 04/06/2023 09:16

If I was to move to Kyle of lochalsh how far is that from Portree?

How have you managed to research this without looking at a map?

I have poured over maps, but with advice from dh new boss it can take a lot longer to drive to places due to terrain, so I was asking on a chance someone knows from experience

OP posts:
Kentkittypie · 04/06/2023 09:21

Scotland is a different country OP and has a different deep-rooted culture. As well as the physical changes you also have to like this aspect of Scotland.

Thebigblueballoon · 04/06/2023 09:22

AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:15

I have had some lovely replies. Lots to think about. First port of call, my partner to talk to his manager about the Inverness office and what that would involve. Then we will visit to start getting a feel of locations. I honestly don't think Skye is the place for us now, and that isn't me being flippant - I think Inverness would be more realistic for my almost teenage daughter. I don't want this move to make anyone miserable, so we do have a lot to consider and it's a lot to process in my mind if I'm honest.

OP, between 7.16am and 9.15am, you’ve decided that your dream move to Skye isn’t appropriate, and that you think you want to move to Inverness instead. In the nicest possible way, you need to get your research off paper and visit these places!! You need to spend time during the summer and winter months exploring your Scottish options. You’re never going to know where suits you, and you’re at risk of making a huge mistake if you rely on Mumsnet advice and fantasy guidance.

toomuchlaundry · 04/06/2023 09:23

@AmilyChestnut you just don’t seem to have done any research at all. I can’t understand that you were thinking moving to a Scottish island when you haven’t even been to Scotland never mind the island. Before this thread what research had you actually done?

bellac11 · 04/06/2023 09:24

I dont know these places so am talking out of ignorance but what Ive seen on various documentaries etc is that everyone knows everyone elses business on islands, people are expected to muck in and be all neighbourly, thats not my cup of tea and as you describe yourself as a hermit OP Im not sure it suits what you're saying

I find you can be far more isolated and anonymous in a town/city.

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:27

toomuchlaundry · 04/06/2023 09:23

@AmilyChestnut you just don’t seem to have done any research at all. I can’t understand that you were thinking moving to a Scottish island when you haven’t even been to Scotland never mind the island. Before this thread what research had you actually done?

Does it personally offend you that I want to move? As all of your answers have been rude. I have done as much research as I can, I have obsessed for months over this. Firstly Inverness as we thought that was our only option, then dh boss told his Portree has an office so we thought that was an idea. I am asking here to add to my inventory of information before making our next move. It's going to be long and stressful and any info I can gather to make sense of it all is useful. Yes we will visit, but I'm just trying to get extra advice on this channel. I'm not dumb, I'm not going to make a big life decision for my family based on Google maps and mumsnet.

OP posts:
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 04/06/2023 09:30

Go for a holiday there before moving there.

I can sort of compare this to DP’s buying a holiday home in a nice but pretty part of SW France, lovely in spring and
summer with tourists but from winter seriously bleak, the local small town is small, etc. similar also when they had a holiday flat in SE England coastline. Lovely spring and summer and ok in autumn but winter very bleak.

Factor in Island living, snow etc and I don’t think you’ve realised how hard it’ll be.

CindersAgain · 04/06/2023 09:31

AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:20

Our current town is half of that, Next town over is about 8 miles and smaller again. We have villages in between and houses dotted about. Closest city is bath, that's about and hour and 20 drive.

Show quote history

What would the highlands give you that moving to a village near where you currently are wouldn’t?

And isn’t rural living a bit shit for teens? Unless you have a great close knit large village community which lots to do, but you sound like you don’t want to be part of that?

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 09:35

@CindersAgain
Dd school is 7 miles away, I drive her there. I say hermits in the sense that we want to go for a walk and not bump into people. We live in a terrace at the moment and have to walk through 7 peoples gardens to get to the road, there is no privacy. We want privacy at home and when we choose. We have nothing to sell, we have no ties so why not make a big change?

OP posts:
BonnieGlasses · 04/06/2023 09:38

We have nothing to sell

OP just out of interest, what's your budget for buying a home in the Highlands likely to be?

Gloschick · 04/06/2023 09:39

Sorry you have had some quite hostile response here OP. I'm guessing you might be in Somerset type area??? I lived in Scotland for many years but now in SW. I'd echo pp that Black Isle is worth looking at.
What I am struggling with is what you are hoping living rurally in Scotland will give you that living rurally in SW currently doesn't. I love Scotland, but the winters are dark. You have to wait a whole extra month for leaves to appear on the trees. You will be limited in what you can grow in your garden. The villages aren't twee like they are in the SW. The population is v sparse so services are very spread out. If you can describe what you are currently lacking then maybe we can help you work out where it would be best to go.