Relocating With 2 Very Young Children

[Findlater]

Hi everyone,

I'm in need of some advice of areas such as Dalry, Breith and Lochwinnoch. My husband has accepted a job away from home and needs to be close to Glasgow airport (around 20/30min drive as he'll have early morning flights on Monday's). We live in Crieff just now, which we love but sadly we really need to be close to the airport. We'd like to live somewhere similar to Crieff, with a nice community feel.
We've been looking at buying and the prices for 3 bedroom houses in these areas are amazing! Dalry properties are too good to be true! Why is this?!
We have a viewing in Lochwinnoch on Monday and this will be our first time traveling here. So we'll also take a drive through Beith and Dalry so we can see what they look like.
Can someone please give some advice on these areas? I need somewhere with good nurseries/schools - my boys are 3 years old and 8 months old. I also need somewhere with a nice friendly community, I'll moving without my husband as he'll be training for a month in South Africa, so I need somewhere where me and my boys can meet people and find new friends.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Does it need to be Glasgow airport. Is Edinburgh in the running too?

Depending on your budget, I'd suggest Houston or Bridge of Weir. Nice community feel, great schools, very convenient for airport, and close to Glasgow.

Thanks very much for the replies! I'll look into Bridge of Weir and Houston. And we'd certainly consider Edinburgh too.

Beith is good value as poor public transport links to central Glasgow. Really good community and very much like Crieff. School there is good. I have a friend who relocated there and loves it. Her DH works from home but also needs airport for work travel. Her FB page always makes me jealous as they are so settled. Lochwinnoch is nice and also has the train and cycle route, if you're fit, but school not so great and a bit more dormitory town. Houston and Bridge of Weir are a bit more insular and also more expensive but good schools.

20-30 minutes away from the airport for early morning flights on Mondays means that you can pretty much love anywhere in West, North or South Glasgow.

I live in Pollokshields and can get to the airport in 11 minutes in the early morning (it's 8 miles away). On one memorable occasion, I didn't wake up in time and only woke up at 5.45 for a 6.30 flight Got dressed didn't shower and my contact lenses in and got to the airport in time - although on that occasion dh drove me (leaving our young ds asleep in the house in our defence he was a very good sleeper ) and threw me out of the car at the drop-off point as I wasn't going to have time to park the car and get to the gate in time.

My dad lives in Bearsden/Milngavie and at non-rush hour times, I allow 30 minutes to get him to the airport when he goes away gallivanting going through the tunnel.

I'd agree that Houston and the surrounding villages are a good shout

@SDTGisanevilwolefgenius has experience of moving to the area with a young family (although not as young as yours) so might be able to give advice on what the area is like. I think her dh also used to do a lot of travelling.

If Edinburgh a possibility I would look at Linlithgow too.

I would definitely NOT do the commute from Edinburgh to Glasgow airport. It's a minimum of 1-1.25 hours in the best of traffic & double/triple that in Riyadh hour.

As others have said, BoW, Houston are good choices with excellent schooling. Or East Renfrewshire (more suburban than villagey). Eaglesham or East Kilbride, Kilmalcolm are worth a look.

Many thanks for all the advice!
howabout thanks for the info on Beith, excited to hear it's like Crieff!
prettybird well done making that flight!
b00dyM4ry I'll look into Linthithgow too, as it won't matter if my husband is leaving from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport.
Thanks again everyone! Bridge of Weir & Houston seem to be highly recommended so I'm off to do some searching

If you’re looking for somewhere similar to Crieff, Linlithgow is a good option. Good schools, lots going on for families and you can be at the airport quickly - it’s just along the motorway and it’s a pretty quick journey early in the morning.

House prices are fairly high though.

South Queensferry is also worth looking at.

Another option to look st is Winchburgh. Lots of house building going on and it’s due to get a new train station and secondary school.

Thanks cazzyg! Checking out the areas you've mentioned just now

Kirknewton for Edinburgh too.

OP, did I read right that it's Glasgow airport your DH will be working out of? (Not Edinburgh?). If so, I would not consider Linlithgow. The M8/9 commute to Glasgow airport is not fun. What's the maximum commute time/distance?

Maybe Lenzie, or Bearsden/Milngavie bit reckon Houston, Kilmalcolm, BoW or East Renfrewshire are your best bets.

Quote from the OP

"it won't matter if my husband is leaving from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport."

Thanks, had missed that bit. It puts a different angle on things.

I'd hate a commute from Dalry or Beith to Edinburgh airport.

Lenzie might be a good shout. Linlithgow is handy for Edinburgh airport but not Glasgow.

You're right MoreProsecco, I wouldn't fancy that commute either! Bridge of Weir and Houston out with our price range unfortunately. Beith seems very good value for money, as does Lochwinnoch and Dalry (but haven't heard anything about here, so unsure). Thanks for all your suggestions! We've a lot to look at.

WaxOnFeckOff I'll look at Kirknewton just now. Thank you

A friend of mine moved to Lochwinnoch from Glasgow and loves it. She has a young son (think he's about 9 now) and seems very happy with his school. Seems a lovely village too.

...should add that my friend is very fussy although lovely - so would be quick to complain if her only child wasn't doing well (He seems to be quite precocious)

Lochwinnoch is nice, very good community feel to it.

Have you considered Helensburgh? It’s on the other side of the water, across the Erskine Bridge. Great place for families. LOADS going on all the time! We also have a Waitrose Trains every half hour direct to Glasgow/Edinburgh. 10 mins & you’re at Loch Lomond.
Or maybe Erskine? I have a colleague who moved there not that long ago. He has a young family too & seems v happy. Lots of development going on so could be an up-and-coming area.
Good luck with your search.

Problem with Lochwinnoch is that catchment secondary school is Johnstone and that is almost 5 miles away along a busy A road commuter route.

Really really appreciating everyone's help and suggestions! Plenty of great places on offer in Beith, Lochwinnoch, Erskine and Dalry.
Helensburgh looks lovely, but I think it may be too far for early morning commute.
Secondary schools aren't a concern just now as my eldest is only 3. Hopefully tjings will have improved by the time he's ready for high school. I have "the fear" as I type this because time flies and he'll be ready for high school before I know it!
Edinburgh way lots to consider in Winchburgh, Linlithgow and Kirknewton.

Thanks again! You've all been very helpful.

We relocated with a 4 year old - i based my search on the good secondary schools and worked back narrowing down areas within their feeder primary schools. That 4 year old is off to High school next week and moving up to the catchment secondary with a large established friendship group. Imo i wouldn't send a child to a primary that i would not be happy with them going to the feeder secondary. I discounted good primaries in my search as the high school wouldn't have been what i wanted for my dc.

20 minutes from Milngavie to airport across the Erskine Bridge.