Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

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

Original poster

Relocating to Aberdeen/shire July 2021

83 replies

achefswife · 02/01/2021 18:58

Hi!
I'm brand new to mumsnet, but was advised to come here for some advice that I am sorely in need of.

I'm an English teacher and have accepted a job at Northfield Academy in Aberdeen, starting in Aug 2020. I currently live in East Lancs with my husband and two boys (aged 4 and 6). Covid has absolutely ruined all of our planned visits to scope out areas to live in. We know Aberdeen as tourists on hols, but not to live. Husband's family are originally from there and we loved everything that is offers and want to raise the boys there.

Husband is a Head Chef but as it's my job that is taking us there, it has to be the main focus re travel and boys. I have read every thread on the internet about relocating, but would love some advice on specific areas. We have done big moves with the kids before, but as they are now at school, it feel much scarier.

We are thinking of Banchory (anywhere on Deeside)/the Culters/Inverurie/Huntly/Banff/Newburgh/Ellon/Balmedie/Cove. I would like to be max an hour away from work. What are schools/high schools really like? I know league tables aren't always indicative of the quality of teaching.

The only thing putting us off from living in or near the city is that we have heard the harr on the sea ruins your summer. Is this true? All advice is truly welcome.

Thank you x

OP posts:
stitchingwitch · 04/01/2021 17:33

@OhioOhioOhio

stitchingwitch reckon you'll know better than me but what about Echt?
Echt could be a good shout. The Echt tandoori is great haha. I think property prices are about what you would pay in Westhill.
OhioOhioOhio · 04/01/2021 19:02

And is there not a Dunecht over there too? I think Alford is your best bet so far.

Luffsmypup · 05/01/2021 10:26

I wouldn’t advise using the train, Northfield Academy is another bus ride away from the station. You can get a bus from Inverurie/Kintore practically to the front door of the school though it will take a good 40 mins. The road to Inverurie is a straight road on the A96, Alford and Banchory roads can be a nightmare in the winter, and bear in mind you’ll drive there and back in the pitch black.

Original poster
achefswife · 05/01/2021 10:56

Thanks again everyone! We need to try and come up to look at Alford and Echt. We haven't visited those before . It's all looking so tricky now with this lockdown. I'm used to country roads so don't mind driving in the dark. It's very snowy where we live now. However, I do appreciate people sharing their experiences of the roads etc so please do let me know of any particularly tricky roads etc.

OP posts:
readsalotgirl63 · 05/01/2021 13:17

I have no personal knowledge of Alford but have heard from colleagues who grew up there that it has expanded lots and is not as pleasant a place to live. Suspect it is a case of house building outstripping provision of other services. I think it would be a long commute and they often get lots of snow there which means the primary schools are closed.

readsalotgirl63 · 05/01/2021 13:18

If you gave an idea of budget I'm sure those of us who spend too much time on Rightmove could helpGrin

Original poster
achefswife · 05/01/2021 14:38

@readsalotgirl63 haha it's a fun way to pass some time! For renting our budget is 800pcm max. For buying, we aren't too sure yet. Up to £250k max, although we won't be buying until 2023.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 05/01/2021 17:36

use aspc (Aberdeen Solicitors Property Centre) as well as rightmove as a lot of scottish solicitors don't use rightmove.
That isn't a big budget if you want 3 or more bedrooms and remember that you can expect to offer over and above the "offers over" price. You will only get a mortgage up to the valuation price but in popular areas it's not unusual for houses to sell for much more than this. Swot up on the scottish buying system as it's quite different!

OhioOhioOhio · 05/01/2021 17:52

I thought it was a decent budget. Guess it depends what you are after.

Halfagonyhalfhope · 05/01/2021 18:31

Check with a solicitor about how the market is moving. In a fast market (in some areas) the percentage over the asking price can be 30 or 40 percent. In a slower market the asking price may be closer to what the seller is hoping for and there may be a more modest difference.

Halfagonyhalfhope · 05/01/2021 18:32

Council tax is high so factor that in too.

Horehound · 05/01/2021 20:28

What about laurencekirk? It's kind if a commuter town but it's very close to the dual carriageway and you'd get to Aberdeen in 25 mins. I just Google mapped it and you'd get to Northfield academy in 36mins. House prices will be cheaper and there's a primary school l there's think stonehaven would be nearest secondary. Also close to Montrose which is a nice town. laurencekirk has pubs, takeaways, cafes etc

readsalotgirl63 · 05/01/2021 21:24

Yes Laurencekirk would be a good option. Cheaper than Stonehaven but also has a train station and close to A92/90. Nice countryside and close to seaside too. Mearns Academy is pretty good - know some youngsters who went there too.

emmathedilemma · 06/01/2021 07:51

Maybe because I'm used to Edinburgh prices it doesn't seem like a big budget!

Horehound · 06/01/2021 08:08

That's deffo the issue @emmathedilemma my aunt is in Edinburgh and I'm buying in Montrose. I showed her a house at 300k and she's like "I'd go to 352 on that.
My brother in Kent said the same. But they were way over egging it!

gracielooloo · 06/01/2021 12:31

Yes Laurencekirk is a good shout, Mearns is good!
@horehound Montrose is lovely.😀

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 06/01/2021 14:38

Only issue with Montrose/St cyrus/bervie is the hike to the bloody dual carriage way....roads can be atrocious before you even get there.

But yes, Montrose is super ...might be selling a lovely 4 bed next summer myself! Watch anything round the harbour though...it's due to become very busy and presumably equally noisy AF, lots to do with the new windfarm out at Bell Rock

Horehound · 06/01/2021 14:46

Yeh that's why I suggested laurencekirk as it's right onto the dueller.
I actually did commute Montrose to westhill everyday for six years! Up the coast road to stony and then I guess now it would be onto the AWPR so may not be too bad these days.

I actually can't wait to get back to Montrose. I grew up in a house on the basin 😍😍 I have a house offer accepted and it's central yet bear the beach but not the harbour :)

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 06/01/2021 18:48

ooh there's some lovely houses in Montrose.

I really fell in love with one earlier in the year, the "BIG" house right at the end of Bents Road...it's been sectioned into flats and this one had the main door and stairs up to it.

and as i said upthread...we can be in costco in little more than half an hour now thanks to the AWPR...it's amazing!

Horehound · 06/01/2021 19:59

Oh was it actually the ground floor one @LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow it was so luxurious and really big rooms? I think it's that one you mean and it was lovely!
I'm moving to dorward road..my husband's manager calls it the Mayfair of Montrose lol
The AWPR is awesome I can't believe how much time is shaved off. I used to commute over the netherly road ..it was treacherous at times!

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 06/01/2021 20:11

it was sort of ground floor, iykwim, there's a basement floor, which was also up for sale, but this one was over that with the steps to the front door just lovely, as you said super rooms and the bathroom was very smart and swish!

Dorward Road is great too....technically we are looking to downsize, but I still want plenty of space, so goodness knows where we will end up! :D

Horehound · 06/01/2021 20:27

Ah I see I maybe didn't see that one then must've been the one below!
Yeh we are downsizing at the mo but only looking to stay short them maybe 5 years. I think we want to build a house in the future! Currently in a 5 bed detached with huge garden and pool moving to 3bed semi..eek.
We have so much storage in this house and there is zero storage in the new one. I don't know how I'm going to cope !

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 06/01/2021 21:40

and that's why i don't really want to downsize...soooooo muuuuchhhhh furniture! :D

dh did find a 5bed (4 plus pokey office!) in Arbroath, but not sure i am ready for the badlands :D :D

Horehound · 06/01/2021 22:02

Lol no I wouldn't go to Arbroath or brechin even though are some lovely houses in brechin.
Letham grange is nice though

emummy · 07/01/2021 14:01

I'm in Banchory, DH commutes to Aberdeen and has found it much easier since bypass opened - it has given another alternative route and taken the pressure off the older roads. Have been commuting to Aberdeen myself over the past month to take DD into her job; we have had no problems on the roads although there were reports they were icy this morning. I think one bottleneck is around Westhill - Kingswells- Lang Stracht, it often seems busy there.
We have lived here for 12 years, moved from Lanarkshire, and really like it. Both my teens say they want to live somewhere like Banchory when they're older so that's not a bad recommendation!