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

Original poster

Moving to Scotland from NZ

62 replies

Pearsonfour · 19/10/2018 09:42

Hi there. We are looking into moving to Scotland from NZ, myself, my husband and our two daughters aged 7 and 5. We are British but our children are kiwis! We are looking to 're-create' what we have in NZ, a good sized house with a garden and garage and easy access to the great outdoors. Good schooling is imperative and access to the main centres for job opportunities. I think being in a slightly more populated area would be good so we can make friends and have access to the the usual swimming/gymnastics etc but no where too 'cityish'. HELP! We have been looking at the central belt of Scotland, in between Glasgow and Edinburgh so we can commute easily but we are also interested in Kilmarnock. Any ideas or recommendations? Oh and we also quite like the beach! Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Howdidweenduphere · 19/10/2018 09:47

How about ayr/troon/prestwick? On the beach and not too far a commute from Glasgow? I'm from round there but now live down south. Many happy childhood memories! Ps why do you want to leave beautiful nz though?! Smile

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 19/10/2018 09:53

Until you mentioned beach I was going to suggest Stirling.
Have a look at North Berwick.

fluffygreenmonsterhoody · 19/10/2018 09:55

North Berwick and Gullane in East Lothian have good state schools and beautiful beaches, or there are quite a few beach towns in Fife as well but I’m not so clued up on them!

SimplyPut · 19/10/2018 10:08

The central belt between Glasgow and Edinburgh is the bit I would avoid in all honesty. I would avoid Kilmarnock too.
For outdoorsy, beach etc but still close to activities and a decent community I would suggest...
West coast - Ayr (Alloway, Doonfoot, Seafield), Prestwick, Troon.
Easy commute to Glasgow.

East coast - North Berwick, Gullane. Less to do for kids but stunning. Easy commute to Edinburgh.

Original poster
Pearsonfour · 19/10/2018 10:09

We are wanting to be nearer our families in England, but without giving up our NZ lifestyle so thought beautiful Scotland would be ideal!

OP posts:
Original poster
Pearsonfour · 19/10/2018 10:10

What are the towns inbetween Glasgow and Edinburgh like? If we forgo our need to be near the sea. Livingston, Falkirk etc?

OP posts:
nordstrom · 19/10/2018 10:35

Near Inverness?

iismum · 19/10/2018 10:40

Linlithgow is nice and has great schools, interesting history, etc. Livingston is a new town and much less attractive in my opinion. Both are on the canal for walking/cycling and right by the motorway for easy access to Stirling and the highlands. Both very easy commute to Edinburgh, and fairly easy to Glasgow. But neither in themselves is the perfect solution if the great outdoors is your key priority.

Kaykay06 · 19/10/2018 10:43

Stirling area, we are in the city itself but Callander is lovely, and dunblane, lots of access to amazing scenery & easy enough to get on m80/m73/4 to go south - I visit parents in Norwich often,

Horses4 · 19/10/2018 10:45

Linlithgow is lovely and easily commutable to Edinburgh and Glasgow. I wouldn’t recommend Livingston.

Horses4 · 19/10/2018 10:46

We live in outskirts of Edinburgh with fab walks in the Pentlands and a climbing centre nearby. Pretty good primary and secondary (state and private) in easy reach.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 19/10/2018 10:49

Another vote for Linlithgow, that's not to dismiss Falkirk and Livingstone which are bigger.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 19/10/2018 10:50

Oops Livingston sorry.

VintageFur · 19/10/2018 10:57

Fife or Angus would give you Dundee, Aberdeen (potentially), st Andrews, Edinburgh depending on where you are. Great beaches and not remote. I'm in Perthshire and friends commute to the west end of Glasgow daily by car - Jesus wept not for me!

I love Dundee - it used to have a terrible reputation - but it's a gorgeous city with everything at hand and great schools.

I'm closer to crieff - views to die for but no sea.

wigglybeezer · 19/10/2018 11:09

Everyone always ends up recommending Dunblane and Linlithgow on these threads, for a reason, Dunblane better for outdoors/ scenery, Linlithgow probably better for things to do/ access to big city. I would add Kinross to the mix. I know more about east central Scotland so will leave Ayshire recommendations to someone else. Balfron and Killearn fulfil the good school + outdoor brief. Angus and Perthshire are nice if you don't mind being less central, I always fancy Aberfeldy, no beaches but lots of watersports on Loch Tay.
North Berwick and St Andrews are lovely with great beaches but £££.
Dundee should not be overlooked, Broughtyferry is very popular.

howabout · 19/10/2018 12:09

Linlithgow / Falkirk is very good for those with English relatives because of proximity to M74 and Edinburgh airport. Takes less than an hour to drive to the Fife coast for the beach but there is always Queensferry and Blackness for a local wave at the Forth estuary.

Notthisnotthat · 19/10/2018 19:01

I love Dundee and the east coast of Scotland in general. I'm 10 mins to the beach, and 15 mins to country walks. The LNER trains give you easy access to Newcastle, York and London, well anywhere on the east coast mainline. Don't write it off, I know several people who commute to Edinburgh, a more frequent train service is coming In too.

Friends have moved to Dunfermline and are loving it, although there seems to be an issue with secondary catchments or schools at capacity. Not sure what the primary schools are like.

Getonthatbroomandfly · 19/10/2018 22:48

What about- Houston
Bridge of Weir
Kilmalcolm
Brookfield
Bishopton

All have village communities and great access to Glasgow and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs!

bluetrampolines · 19/10/2018 22:54

Somewhere beside Inverness. Cheap flights to England.

Original poster
Pearsonfour · 19/10/2018 23:21

Thank you all so much for your recommendations and advice, all invaluable. I think we ought to choose a city to base around looking for jobs etc so that we can narrow down a search area for a school, then look at housing from there. Horses4 , where on the outskirts of Edinburgh do you live?

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 19/10/2018 23:35

For activities and access to the countryside and both Edinburgh and Glasgow, I really can't fault the Stirling area. Only thing from your list that's missing is the beach but plenty of Lochs and sailing etc if that's your thing. You can also be over to the beachs in Fife in less than an hour if you really want to and at Loch lomond to the West in less.

ProseccoThyme · 19/10/2018 23:37

I'm guessing @Horses4 lives around Ratho?

I'm north west Edinburgh but from Glasgow originally.

The main thing to be aware of if you're considering either city is the huge differences in property prices (Edinburgh is way more expensive) & schooling (1:4 go private in Edinburgh, whilst there are outstanding state schools in the Glasgow suburbs).

What's your budget? Then I could suggest a few areas.

Dinnaehinksae · 19/10/2018 23:44

Livingston isn't bad, though west lothian as a whole is well located and you could find what you're looking for pretty easily. If it is the area you look at though the only advice I can give is look at catchment areas for schools, they can be small and hard to get into out with the catchment.

NuffingChora · 19/10/2018 23:46

Any idea what your budget for property might be? As this will be a major influence on choice of location with a list of requirements like yours.

Redglitter · 19/10/2018 23:59

I'd second Houston or Bridge of Weir. Both large villages with excellent schools.

10 mins from station
10 mins to swimming pool
25 mins from Glasgow
15 mins from the airport
30 mins to various seas side towns
40 mins to Loch Lomond

They're both great places to live and they're
Lovely & central