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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Commuting to Edinburgh - Stirling / Falkirk?

79 replies

aforestgrewandgrew · 14/10/2016 14:11

Ideally we'd like to be in Edinburgh but on a budget of approx £180K I'm not sure we can afford it!

We've got family in Glasgow so I was thinking Stirling / Falkirk could be good. Plus although we're looking at working in Edinburgh now, I guess easy access to Glasgow for future jobs could be good too.

My other half is Scottish but not me, my only knowledge of Scotland is visiting not actually living there. DP is very easy going, happy to go with what I want (i.e. leaving me to do all the research!) so I'm hoping MN can help!

What are Stirling / Falkirk like? What are the schools like? Is the commute OK?

Are there other areas I should be considering?

Alternatively any tips on how to live in Edinburgh for £180K would be amazing!

OP posts:
WankersHacksandThieves · 15/10/2016 14:52

I think it's just got a lot going for it and it's easier to find out everything that's going on and you are more inclined to use it. Stirling is very small, we found ourselves bumping into the same people at activities and so it's easier to make friends. All the schools are good in their own way too. I can drive from one end to the other in about 10 minutes, you have the countryside on your doorstep. You can be up in the hills in minutes. You can get the train to Edinburgh or Glasgow easily if you want bigger better shops, but we do have a decent-ish shopping centre.

We have the uni campus which also means there is another sports centre and cinema/arts centre in addition to those in the city. We have Sainsburys, Morrisons, Tesco, Waitrose, Aldi. Lidl etc everything except Asda but there is one of them on the plan.

My boys have always done Scouts but as well as that they have done swimming/lifeguard training, Judo, Football, rugby, Tae kwon do, Bowling, Curling, Ten pin bowling, Rowing, Canoeing, Art, Pottery, Table Tennis, Darts, Basketball, Badminton, Squash, Tennis, computer coding, cycling and probably more. there is also gymnastics, skating, dance of all kinds, drama, fencing, water polo etc etc etc all within our small city.

:)

Groovee · 15/10/2016 14:57

Forest no that's the drive.

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=40687434&sale=248553&country=scotland&referrer=soldPriceResults

Sorry can't do links on my iPhone app.

Groovee · 15/10/2016 14:58

That link hasn't worked Blush

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/10/2016 15:02

Link is fine Groovee - I'm on PC and can open it :)

Original poster
aforestgrewandgrew · 15/10/2016 15:02

Aah, that makes sense, thanks!

The link works for me, thanks, I'll have a look :)

OP posts:
Groovee · 15/10/2016 15:06

Oh phew lol

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/10/2016 15:08

Meant to also add that I do love Edinburgh and we went to stay for a couple of days recently for my Birthday and whilst it was great to out and about in the town etc, I now consider it a brilliant place to visit, it just feels too big, busy, crowded and dirty to me now as somewhere to live. Nothing you would notice if you lived there really, I just feel the contrast. Out in the sticks you probably wouldn't notice either. I'm just glad we brought our children here to grow up. The best of everything.

Larbert might also be a consideration for you? On the train line east and West, good High school, primaries are good too as far as I hear. It isn't however Stirling or Edinburgh :o

Original poster
aforestgrewandgrew · 15/10/2016 15:13

Thanks Groovee that's reassuring - that house is a bit out of our price range, but hopefully one with a bit less space or needing a bit of tlc could be affordable.

OP posts:
Original poster
aforestgrewandgrew · 15/10/2016 15:17

Wankers you're definitely doing a good job of selling Stirling, sounds wonderful!

See, I'm a city girl. I grew up in a city and love the hustle and bustle and can happily ignore the dirt (what dirt?!). But the DC are used to a small town, DP likes Edinburgh a lot but left to him we'd live in the sticks! Edinburgh is my first choice, but I wonder if as a whole family somewhere like Stirling could be better suited.

As we have such a limited budget and because we're going to have to take the plunge and sell up here before we buy, I think a huge factor will be what's available at the time.

OP posts:
Groovee · 15/10/2016 15:18

Check out the EH12 7 on the ESPC and you may find some more in the area. There's a lot of different types of houses from upper and lower villas to houses and bungalows.

Original poster
aforestgrewandgrew · 15/10/2016 15:19

I love Portobello. Not keen on Mussleburgh, I'm not sure why. A few friends have suggested it but I've been there a few times and I didn't warm to it. Maybe I need to visit again and have a wander, I really don't know it well.

Don't know of Larbert, I'll have a look ...

OP posts:
WankersHacksandThieves · 15/10/2016 15:21

:o

Stirling has served us well. DSs are latter High School years now but we've lived here for over 12 years, so since they were nursery age. We'll be looking to sell up and downsize in the next 5 years I would think but I'm not sure that that I want to go too far.

As you say, it will depend on what's available at the time. What sort of industry do you and DP work in? WIll that make a difference?

Heatherbell1978 · 15/10/2016 15:21

I live in Eskbank on the new Borders rail link. Not sure what bad comments you've heard about Eskbank - it's a pretty swish area to be honest (just look at some of the homes on the ESPC!). We paid a lot for our house (double your budget) but there's definitely a more affordable places in the same school catchment. Schools are great here, the primary school especially, and lots of nurseries. I commute to South Gyle on the train each day (45 mins door to door but that's with a 15 min stop at Waverley). It's 20 mins to Waverley. Newtongrange and Gorebridge are further out on the line and a bit too far out for me as we can still get a bus into town in 30-40 mins where we are (very regular) which is far enough for us.
Lots of great things on our doorstep like Dalkeith and Vogrie country parks as well as lots of local shopping and community groups and activities for kids.

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/10/2016 15:25

It's funny how you need to have that feel. We moved up to the area because of my job. We made a quick and wrong move to somewhere we didn't warm too or see our future in, hence we needed another move up here as we found ourselves drawn here all the time despite falkirk being a closer town for us at the time. We've never regretted it.

I've seen Penicuik rubbished here a lot, but we loved our time there, I guess it just depends on who you meet, your neighbours etc.

Original poster
aforestgrewandgrew · 15/10/2016 19:52

Heatherbell1978 maybe I'm confused Blush

I read a couple of comments online, I can't find them now. Maybe they were about Gorebridge and Newtongrange but I just lumped Eskbank in, in my head because they look vaguely close on the map.

DP says I'm wrong about Gorebridge anyway!

OP posts:
Original poster
aforestgrewandgrew · 15/10/2016 19:54

What's Bo'Ness like?

I found this

And also this

OP posts:
dementedma · 15/10/2016 20:08

Bo'ness has lots of little independent shops,and a Hippodrome.
Erm.....that's about it.

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/10/2016 20:08

I don't know Bo'ness nowadays, always had a bit of a rep for inbreeding and roughness when I was young :o but that wasn't yesterday. I have a colleague who lives there and he seems fine.

All I would say about all these small places is that some of them can be a bit hard for newcomers. That's basically why we had an extra move when the boys were small. We moved somewhere and just found it hard to fit in and feel we belonged. I would add that we are fairly quiet people so we weren't looking to have a huge social life, just not to feel out of place and ignored by 3/4s of the toddler group parents etc. There were some lovely people but also a lot who didn't want to know you if your grandparents weren't known to their grandparents.

SauvignonPlonker · 15/10/2016 20:12

Bo'ness, as far I know, is a bit rough, hence the cheaper property prices.

Try Linlithgow Bridge for lower prices than the main part of town & better schools.

toopeoply · 15/10/2016 20:16

Have a look at Peebles in the borders, lots of commuters, but a beautiful town with lots going on. Or just stick to edinburgh. It's doable on you'd budget. You'd not have the cost of fuel either

celtiethree · 15/10/2016 22:35

For your budget I would choose Stirling. Larbet may be worth a look but I would be wary of other Falkirk schools.

PiSeas · 15/10/2016 22:40

Stay clear of Newtongrange, Eskbank, Dalkeith way. They're not very nice areas at all. I've lived in them.
The Borders are great. Nice lifestyle. Lovely and reliable commuter links and a fab bit of country lifestyle xx

Original poster
aforestgrewandgrew · 15/10/2016 22:46

Peebles looks nice but it's a bit far - I should have said, we need to be not massively far from a train station ideally.

OP posts:
WankersHacksandThieves · 15/10/2016 22:47

I'd be interested in this:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43245945.html

It's ex council but in Bridge of Allan, near the Railway station so handy for train to Edinburgh or Glasgow or just into stirling town, just a couple of minutes drive up to motorway too. Catchment for BofA primary and Wallace High but Dunblane High would be easy as it's 3 minutes on train to Dunblane.

Lovely village feel but connected to Stirling.

SauvignonPlonker · 15/10/2016 22:50

That's a really good buy, wankers! B of A is lovely, a really nice village with lots of independent shops, cafes, facilities.