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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:
Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 10:13

PerpetualStudent · 04/06/2023 10:06

Hi OP, I moved from London to the Highlands 3 years ago. We moved back to the area my DH grew up. It’s a mid-sized village (pub, shop, school), I commute to Inverness for work a couple of days a week which suits me well.

Overall I am really happy with the move but there are a few things that took me time to get used to (despite spending Christmases and summers up here for several years before moving):

  1. the winters. The lack of light in the second half of the year is no joke, and a massive difference to England. I developed pretty full on SAD my first full winter here. I still now plan my year around the basis that I will have about 75% max of the energy in winter that I will in summer. Also winter laaaaasts. Things do not properly come into leaf until May. Of course the reverse is that it doesn’t get dark until 10-11pm in summer, but you have to pay for it later!
  2. Midges. Midges are not thunderbugs like in England. They are little bastards that come out around this time of year and stay until the end of summer in Sept. They swarm you, especially on still days and early evenings, give you small but irritating little bites and make it really hard to sit out enjoying the long evenings.
  3. Ticks. If you’re going for long walks, especially anywhere with woods, long grasses, deer or sheep (so, everywhere) you are likely to pick up ticks. Most of the time they are fine, you just have a little widget that pulls them off, but a small % carry lymes disease. This is no joke if you don’t catch it (with antibiotics) So all the lovely watching my kids ramble in the wilderness is tinged with worry.
  4. Village life. I grew up in rural England so I was no stranger to this. But again, it is no joke. You cannot be anonymous. If you have kids in school there is a real expectation to participate (even in, say just for instance, really poorly planned expensive fundraising campaigns that add nothing to the school experience and are more about a small number of parents’ self aggrandisement…) There is lots that is lovely about this but it is still 3 years in catching me out with how much is expected of you ‘for the greater good’
  5. You will often have to pay extra postage to get items delivered.
  6. My village has quite a varied population (from across Britain and internationally) and we often joke that there’s more English accents than anything else at the school. But every time I go to the nearest town someone hears my voice and asks how long I’m on holiday for/where I’m staying. The best one was when I replied by pointing out to the woman our kids when to the same school!
  7. Folks outright laughing when I mispronounce local words (‘Slochd’ is my nemesis!)

this might sound like I’m down on it. I’m not, I enjoy living here so much, I do a job that contributes to the community, I find living closer to nature and being more directly impacted by its rhythms a profound experience (hello paganism!). I go wild swimming in lochs on my lunch break. I am learning so much about Scottish history (we are taught so little in England!!), geology, fauna and flora. The village life thing is the most challenging and sometimes I still feel like an ‘outsider’ (despite the fact my DH grew up here and his parents have lived in the village for the best part of half a century!) but I have an amazing group of mum friends from the school and am finding ways to get involved.

I’m not going to put you off like other PPs here, but I guess I want to emphasise how much Scotland, and especially the Highlands is a different country to England. This has been a good thing for me and my family overall, but it’s not to be underestimated.

Very informative, thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 10:15

PerpetualStudent · 04/06/2023 10:06

Hi OP, I moved from London to the Highlands 3 years ago. We moved back to the area my DH grew up. It’s a mid-sized village (pub, shop, school), I commute to Inverness for work a couple of days a week which suits me well.

Overall I am really happy with the move but there are a few things that took me time to get used to (despite spending Christmases and summers up here for several years before moving):

  1. the winters. The lack of light in the second half of the year is no joke, and a massive difference to England. I developed pretty full on SAD my first full winter here. I still now plan my year around the basis that I will have about 75% max of the energy in winter that I will in summer. Also winter laaaaasts. Things do not properly come into leaf until May. Of course the reverse is that it doesn’t get dark until 10-11pm in summer, but you have to pay for it later!
  2. Midges. Midges are not thunderbugs like in England. They are little bastards that come out around this time of year and stay until the end of summer in Sept. They swarm you, especially on still days and early evenings, give you small but irritating little bites and make it really hard to sit out enjoying the long evenings.
  3. Ticks. If you’re going for long walks, especially anywhere with woods, long grasses, deer or sheep (so, everywhere) you are likely to pick up ticks. Most of the time they are fine, you just have a little widget that pulls them off, but a small % carry lymes disease. This is no joke if you don’t catch it (with antibiotics) So all the lovely watching my kids ramble in the wilderness is tinged with worry.
  4. Village life. I grew up in rural England so I was no stranger to this. But again, it is no joke. You cannot be anonymous. If you have kids in school there is a real expectation to participate (even in, say just for instance, really poorly planned expensive fundraising campaigns that add nothing to the school experience and are more about a small number of parents’ self aggrandisement…) There is lots that is lovely about this but it is still 3 years in catching me out with how much is expected of you ‘for the greater good’
  5. You will often have to pay extra postage to get items delivered.
  6. My village has quite a varied population (from across Britain and internationally) and we often joke that there’s more English accents than anything else at the school. But every time I go to the nearest town someone hears my voice and asks how long I’m on holiday for/where I’m staying. The best one was when I replied by pointing out to the woman our kids when to the same school!
  7. Folks outright laughing when I mispronounce local words (‘Slochd’ is my nemesis!)

this might sound like I’m down on it. I’m not, I enjoy living here so much, I do a job that contributes to the community, I find living closer to nature and being more directly impacted by its rhythms a profound experience (hello paganism!). I go wild swimming in lochs on my lunch break. I am learning so much about Scottish history (we are taught so little in England!!), geology, fauna and flora. The village life thing is the most challenging and sometimes I still feel like an ‘outsider’ (despite the fact my DH grew up here and his parents have lived in the village for the best part of half a century!) but I have an amazing group of mum friends from the school and am finding ways to get involved.

I’m not going to put you off like other PPs here, but I guess I want to emphasise how much Scotland, and especially the Highlands is a different country to England. This has been a good thing for me and my family overall, but it’s not to be underestimated.

Would you mind sharing where about a you live?

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 04/06/2023 10:15

not have to see people we know every time we go for a walk

Isn’t that remote living for you though?!

What exactly is it you are looking for?

TimesRwo · 04/06/2023 10:15

We have a house in Skye that we visit regularly. It is a beautiful place but it is incredibly remote and I wouldn’t raise my children there, as the opportunities for them are very very limited.

I second the idea of renting first to see if you can manage there, and also establish yourself as locals first.

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 10:15

Buggeroffalo · 04/06/2023 10:08

I live near Inverness and semi -rurally so in theory exactly the lifestyle you are looking for.

You need to come here and see before you make any decisions. You really need more information - schooling is different here. Living rurally with children means you will need to do lots of driving. Are you a competent winter weather driver? The climate is cooler here than down south. In winter it is dark until 9am and after 3pm.There are many many more differences.

Seriously - where I live is amazing, but you really need to consider carefully and VISIT before you make a commitment

Could I ask where you live please?

OP posts:
HeiXiong · 04/06/2023 10:20

AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 08:24

We haven't been because we haven't had chance. We have been planning to visit and move there for a few years now, this isn't an off the cuff idea. I fell pregnant and ds is only 15 months, and between my other two going to school we haven't managed a trip there yet.

I think what I'm going to suggest to dh is he talks to his boss again about location, and we look into Inverness, and visit. I hope we can make our dream come true and live a rural life, good for the children.

My eldest is excited about the move, my middle child doesn't know yet

With respect you don’t even know where ‘there’ is, so you can’t have been planning to move ‘there’ for years. You’ve been daydreaming of a rural idyll but don’t seem to have done basic research on the reality of locations, schooling or house buying.

You also clearly know nothing about Highland/Island lifestyle if you’re expecting to be ‘hermits’. When you’re living so rurally community is everything, and everyone will know your business and you’ll be expected to participate

Buggeroffalo · 04/06/2023 10:30

I live between Inverness and Nairn. You should also be aware the rental market is competitive as Airbnb has reduced the amount of properties available. Gorgeous cheap rural residential rental properties that are within commuting distance of Inverness are rare. You may have to make compromises if you want to be able to make a school run feasible.

Think about the cold hard realities, investigate the facts and squash the romantic day dream for now.

CindersAgain · 04/06/2023 10:30

I don’t know about the dark winters, I’ve moved 450 miles up and down the UK and the different in day length is noticeable but not catastrophic.

It’s an hour difference on the darkest day between Bath and Skye.

CheeseTouch · 04/06/2023 10:34

I lived in Inverness for a year, pre children. Not much useful to add other than to confirm what others have said. It was very friendly and definitely it was hard to be anonymous, but I really enjoyed that aspect. It was a nice community. If you love the outdoors the whole area is absolutely great. I live rurally now but I personally wouldn’t want to live on Skye with children, Somewhere with facilities like Inverness would be fine. I would still visit both before you decide - in fact tour around, to put your mind at rest. We can say it as we find it but only you know what you really want.

Do consider somewhere in fairly close proximity to a mainline station or airport if you still want to visit friends and family, or go on holiday. Driving long distances, especially in winter, isn’t always practical. And check out the prices too to ensure you won’t feel stranded.

Don’t underestimate the impact of the long winters - there’s a reason for all that comfort food in the supermarket - and how severe weather can sometimes change your plans in a way that doesn’t happen much down south. The midges in Scotland are horrible, nothing like English ones.

Roystonv · 04/06/2023 10:36

I know I will be slated by some but we we island hopping at the end of April. I found every island we visited bleak and depressing. We live in rural Cumbria so are used to minimal facilities, narrow roads. The islands were something else. You MUST visit if this is still your plan and I cannot emphasise enough that Inverness seems a better bet at least until you have explored more. Just because Skye has a bridge to the mainland don't think whoopee civilisation on our door step; the roads are very poorly maintained and it takes forever to get anywhere.

PerpetualStudent · 04/06/2023 10:37

I’ve PMed you

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 10:37

Thank you all, but I'm signing off now. You've all given me food for thought.

When I say hermit I don't mean hermit, apologies for the slang.

I've spoken to dh, we are going to book a holiday to Inverness for the summer hols, we are going to focus on there and not Skye now for all of the valid reasons everyone has given us that having a teen living there isn't the best idea.

Once we have visited we will have a starting point and go from there, many more visits to get a feel of where we want to be and what we want.

We are in now rush, and whilst this is our next step we will not be rushing into anything

OP posts:
Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 10:39

PerpetualStudent · 04/06/2023 10:37

I’ve PMed you

How do I check a pm?

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 04/06/2023 10:40

my partner has just had a transfer request approved for Skye!

When for?!

PerpetualStudent · 04/06/2023 10:41

Oh now you’re asking 😂the account tab at the top of the page?

Original poster
AmilyChestnut · 04/06/2023 10:44

PerpetualStudent · 04/06/2023 10:41

Oh now you’re asking 😂the account tab at the top of the page?

I'm in the app, no option! I'm just popping out but I'll have a look in the webpage when I'm back 😅

OP posts:
MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 04/06/2023 10:44

Kentkittypie · 04/06/2023 08:11

Personally I find Skye a bit of an ominous feeling island - i always. Though the Cullin are impressive I find them a bit scary and something about Skye fills me with foreboding. I think it's also because as well as looking so dramatic it is such a long car journey to Glasgow or Edinburgh that I feel a bit trapped there. Never felt that way about any other scottish island and I've been to lots.

Please don't relocate if you've never spent any time in Scotland.

Agree, and I'm someone who loves the wildness of the mainland West Coast, even in winter. Skye gives me the heebie-jeebies. (sorry, Skye lovers)

I also agree with PPs saying that islands can be socially claustrophobic.

Tygertiger · 04/06/2023 10:53

We holiday a lot in Skye. It means a lot of time in the car. The roads are winding, usually single-width with passing places. Often you’ve got a hour’s drive just to get to a small hamlet of shops or a petrol station. You can’t just walk anywhere. Unless you actually live in Portree, even going to buy milk is a massive undertaking. In the winter when there’s huge snowdrifts I have no idea how the locals manage. You’d be mad to do the move without having spent any time there first.

WesterosGreen · 04/06/2023 10:54

@AmilyChestnut

Do you work? It sounds like not? So you'd be financially dependent on a man you're not married to on a remote location with three young kids?

Does that sound like a wise plan to you?

CheeseTouch · 04/06/2023 11:02

Sounds sensible, enjoy your trip!

TimesRwo · 04/06/2023 11:06

Sounds like a good plan. We have plans to move to Skye, but it’s very much a retirement plan. No way would we would move there with young or teenage children - it’s not fair on them at all as they are deprived of so much, unless you are happy to spend a minimum of an hour each way driving them everywhere. The only people I know with children in Skye are those who have lived there for generations (sure there are others but it’s not really the place to move to with children).

HeiXiong · 04/06/2023 11:08

@AmilyChestnut if you can describe what you want in terms of commute time to the office/school, access to shops/leisure activities for children, outdoor activities etc then we can probably suggest locations that might work for you

I think it’s best to narrow your search based on your lifestyle criteria than to follow a daydream that isn’t suitable for your daily lifestyle.

ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor · 04/06/2023 11:10

It’s amazing how ignorant people are about ‘rural life’

Fundays12 · 04/06/2023 11:21

Hi OP born and bred Highlander here. I love the Highlands. I have lived and worked abroad but settled in Inverness with DH and have 3 DC's (oldest is nearly a pre -teen).

I know the Highlands well and Inverness or the outlying areas are probably better for you. Personally I wouldn't live in Skye. We have good schools, things to do for kids of various ages, accessible transport, no issues with food etc plus beautiful beaches, lochs and mountains within close driving distance. I personally chose to live in Inverness as I liked access to cinema, shops, theatre, kids clubs etc but there are loads of lovely villages outlying. To give you an idea of house prices ours is a good sized 3 bedroom with kitchen, utility and downstairs toilet, upstairs bathroom, private gardens and is valued at about £250k. It would probably sell for about £275k minimum as offers above are common but that's partly because of the area as houses always go a good bit above in our area as it's desirable due to the school being very good.

If you give me an idea of what you really want and need I can maybe suggest some lovely Outlying villages or areas that might suit you. If you come up in summer pop down to Loch Morlich on a warm day. You have to get there early but it's beautiful as it's Nairn beach, Rosemarie beach.

redboxer321 · 04/06/2023 11:21

Thebigblueballoon · 04/06/2023 07:39

Offers over in Scotland is very different to England. And houses in Skye are in large demand, so take this into consideration when making your offer. You’d be wasting your time to simply offer the initial asking price. Also, be mindful that once you make an offer in Scotland and it’s accepted, it’s binding.

Also, be mindful that once you make an offer in Scotland and it’s accepted, it’s binding
This is not true. It may have been once but it's not now. It is only when the missives are concluded (similar to exchange of contract) that it is binding.

Sorry OP but I agree with other posters that this move will be a shock. I like parts of Scotland but others can play havoc with your mental health if you are not used to it. I ended up in a place where it rained almost everyday for much of the year. It was often misty. The environment was never really dry and rarely warm. It was beautiful on a nice day but they were few and far between. My mental health plummeted and I'm still dealing with the fallout of that disastrous decision. People were mostly friendly but as an non Scot I was never really accepted. If you want to go to Scotland, I'd suggest you at least stay on the east side.

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