Looking for a house near to Stirling - no idea what areas to consider!

[FallingGoldfinch]

Any help very gratefully received.

We'd like 4 beds, large rooms if possible (or potential to knock rooms through, maybe extend).

Has to be semi-rural, no close neighbours, ideally a converted steading or similar.

Don't mind a bit of doing-up, but really don't want to rip things out that I hate but are seen as 'features' by estate agents (Aga, wood burning stoves, that sort of thing).

Ideally within 20 minutes or so of Stirling University.

I've checked Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Auchterarder, Dollar - not sure where else I should look as I suspect the place I want maybe won't have an actual town name if that makes sense.

Thank you .

cos your phone is Japanese?

To be honest you are not going to get a house in a field within 20 to 30 mins of the Uni unless you are very very lucky and something special comes on the market. The Uni is slap bang in the middle of a fairly populated area.

Lots of the places mentioned wouldn't meet that criteria. Gargunnock to the west would be pushingit ; Kippen, Fintry, Balfron etc. all out. Along the Hillfoots maybe Tillicoultry at a push but Dollar is too far. Brace/Greenloaing possibly but any further up the A9 won't work so no Blackford for example.

Same with into Falkirk - so Larbet probably the limit but can be quite bleak out that way.

happy hunting!!

The sheriffmuir inn would maybe fit the bill :)

It's only 20 mins tops from Dollar to Stirling uni, less when the roads are quiet, I do it all the time.

Dollar to the Uni is what c.15 miles? Through 4 villages (Dollar, Tilli, Alva & Menstrie) along a busy road (during commuting time) so probably 30 mins in the morning. I'm not a stranger to the area. But you are right it is probably the outside limit.

10 miles PinkGinny, 19 mins according to google maps, sorry to be pedantic but I have lived in Dollar for nearly 20 years and DH commutes to B of A in around 25, occasional bottleneck outside Wallace High at drop off time but you avoid that by going in the back entrance to the uni.

Thanks anyway everyone - if it can't be done, will just have to accept that , but if anyone does see something in the near future, I'll keep popping back to check so links would be very much appreciated.

It's not impossible but there is definitely a scarcity issue so it might take a long time.

I'll bow to your superior knowledge wiggly. I must drive slower than you and your DH.

Although having checked the AA it is 13.2 miles :-) But aye they quote 19 minutes. I always find it a ball ache of a drive.

This is over budget but fits most other criteria I think:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45807505.html

DH does tend to go in quite early or a bit later so it's a bit faster and I am always later but I still think it is a pretty easy commute compared to some.

I have gone a bit " must have the last word" , I apologise and will go to bed now.

You know if you turn left out of Morribobs in Springkerse, go up that road to the roundabout - left takes you to the university, straight ahead is Hillfoots, what's to the right? I haven't been that way for years so can't remember, but I'm wondering if there might be something along that way?

You mean the huge rounabout Hexi? right turn takes you to Alloa - there is a turn off on the left along there that takes you up the track to approach the Coffee Bothy from the south rather than off the hillfoots road. You've also got Fishcross etc out that way. There are a few farms etc but I don't think a lot comes up on the market - the OP has very specific criteria and I don't doubt that there is at least one proprty out there that meet that criteria. The issue would be finding one that comes onto the market while you want to buy as we are talking small numbers here. If you had the time, there are bits of land for building that come up from time to time too.

That's the one, One . The Coffee Bothy, is that the wee farm shop? Haven't been there for ages either.

Would the Saline area be too far, OP?

I'm not sure where that is Hexiegone - I'll go look thanks.

No, that wouldn't be too far if it was the perfect house - if there is a railway station nearby, even better. Have you seen something?

Ideally, I'd like to be at the end that gets me onto the A90 quite quickly for family reasons, but it's looking so unlikely that I'll find the right house that something will have to give.

Yes Hexi, lovely farm shop and place to eat - they now have an area for just coffees and light bites (soup etc) to cut down the queue/waiting system for the cafe. One of our favourite places to eat. They have some nice furniture/bits and bobs too.

Blairmains Farm & Coffee Bothy I should say.

There is a train line now from Alloa to Stirling OP but i don't think it stops anywhere en route. Only other line takes you from Stirling to BofA (at opposite end from Uni end) and then on to Dunblane, Perth etc. and down to Larbert and Falkirk and onto Edinburgh way or Glasgow way.

When is it you need to move OP/where are you now?

I agree that it looks like something is going to have to give unless you are incredibly lucky or you have time to wait.

Was the Airth one of any interest?

Was this the Airth one? www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45807505.html

Too pricey for what it is - over what i'd ideally like to spend, rooms are quite small, Aga (!) . . . think all those outhouses (and pit) would be wasted on us too, so we'd be paying for something we didn't want.

We can always rent I suppose, but would rather not if possible. Or get a job somewhere else . . .

It's seems to have been on since last year so thought there is probably a deal to be done........I saw the aga :o

The pit would be a great place to hide bodies if you fancied a change of career. But then, the graveyard would be even better for that - who'd think to check the graveyard :o

The more I'm looking, the more I see how smashing my house is .

On a serious note, it is a great area to live in. I'm from edinburgh originally and we have moved about a bit. Its a good place to raise kids, plenty of access to the outdoors and opportunities for every sport you can think off as well as restaurants, cinema etc. Easy access into the cities for anything not available locally. Roads are fairly decent, there are good local schools and nowhere is really too crowded. You can get to the beaches on either coast for summer days, you can get onto the M6 south easily - into the lake district in just over 2 hours as well as up to the Highlands - Loch lomond is just over half and hour away too. We've been really happy here.

There's a lovely 5 bedroom detached house for offers over £340,000 at Blair Drummond. its on Rightmove. I passed it on my way back from the safari park and thought of this thread