Moving to Dunblane

[highlands21]

Hi there

Me and my DH have been looking at moving to Dunblane and like the town a lot.

Having seen a few other properties we are now thinking about the new development up near Barbush. Good for me getting onto the A9 but my main concerns really are is this too far from the town? I’m thinking about when on maternity leave, getting into the town for baby groups etc would you need to drive? (If such things are allowed by then!)

I realise it is far from the high school but that feels like a problem that’s v far away. My DH would also be getting the train to work when they go back to the office though he suspects not more then 2 days per week.

Any thoughts really welcome! Thank you!

Out of interest, can I ask where you're moving from? We're torn between Highlands or Stirling area.

We are moving from Glasgow, but came here from Oban. The highlands are amazing - if your work permits it and you are outdoorsy I would move there in a heartbeat.

Oh, I see, thanks. Wasn't sure if you were moving down from up north!
The Highlands are amazing for being outdoors but Dunblane has amazing schools. I was looking at St Mary's and it looks lovely.

I've not been up to the new development but DC had friends in the older Barbush estate, it seems pretty far out of town to me but I think if you are walking there are short cuts through the estates rather than having to go up the main road. It's not a big place in terms of population but the houses really are stretched out. When we moved to the area about 18 years ago, it ended up being the choice of houses up on the other side (Kellie Wynd area) or moving into Stirling and we did the latter but DSs went to Dunblane High. The distance from the shops and trains and high school did put me off a bit so Get your reticence.

google maps says about 20 minute walk into town so not as far as I was thinking it felt - 4 minute drive but parking might be more bother than it's worth depending on where you are going

I used to live in Dunblane. Barbush isn't too far from town really. In fact the whole town is pretty walkable from anywhere. I had my DDs as babies and tots there and it was wonderful. I didn't live too far from the barbush estate and I walked everywhere.

yes, I think it's that thing when you are not sure where you are going it seems to take forever to get somewhere but when you are doing it all the time it's closer than you first think :)

If I remember correctly, there is a footpath connecting to Ramoyle from the edge of the estate, which makes for a pleasant easy walk to the shops and the railway station. I moved away 8 years ago but whilst living there, walked everywhere.

Yes there is definitely still a path showing on Google maps route.

I lived on the Perth road at that end and walked to the High school every day, my eighty year old parents walk into town or to the station its really not that bad!
You can cut through the Laighhills park and come out beside the Cathedral too or go down the Ramoyle.
I used to look into a lovely field with sheep and ponies in it from my bedroom which is now the older barbush Estate...
When I was at school the free school bus for the high school started at the Whitecross Estate (2 miles out) one stop out from my house but i have no idea if it is still free.
It certainly kept me fit going up and down the hills but i actually enjoyed it, especially in the summer when we walked through the park by the river, it as i walked with friends.

Yes the path goes past my parents garden.

Wbeezer, free bus only for the catchment kids outwith Dunblane when last I heard. While mine were there, initially other kids could pay and get on the bus out to the northern part of the village, but they stopped that a good few years ago so it's the public bus or shank's pony.

Laighhills is forever known as 3 slide park in my house :o

The "school transport"bus is only for over the 3 mile line , which was drawn fairly brutally right through (what's known as) The Calas. Giving kids a very healthy step count if their address fell just slightly shy of the line. The parents were running a bus privately for a while but that was in my swimming meet m days so no idea if that's still the case.

StarryEyes do a very deep dig on St Mary's. It's very unique. Which you might have picked up and that's what appeals. A friend moved both his children out a couple of years ago.

Oh ok, thank you Lidl.

I live in Dunblane and it isn’t far to walk anywhere. My son walks almost 2 miles to and from the high school each day, it is good exercise.
I have heard rumours that St Mary’s primary is to close but I’m not sure whether these are true.
Having had kids at other schools before moving here, I don’t think that the schools live up to their reputation. The quality of teaching and discipline doesn’t come close to the experience we had in the Falkirk council area. It’s fine but certainly not as god as it could be.

I think i must have misremembered the bus because now i think about it my friends that lived at Whitecross and Kippendavie walked to school with me so those getting the bus there must have had soft parents who gave them bus fares! In my day the free bus must have been mainly for kids from Ashfield and Kinbuck. I'm going on half remembered stuff from 40 years ago which isn't very useful but I'm enjoying the memories!

Hi

I’ve NC to answer you as I live in “The Calas”

From the new estate you’re looking at, it would be about 15 mins brisk walk into town. There is indeed a path at the back of our estate (the original one, there’s another estate between ours and yours) through Ramoyle, but I think that would only be of use to you if you were going to the Braeport centre or the cathedral, both of which have children’s activities going on,

Otherwise, if you’re going to town or the Dunblane Centre, where there’s also kids activities, by the time you’ve walked down Barbush and through the estate to the path, you would be just as well going straight down Perth Road.

Dunblane is fabulous for young children, there is everything except a swimming pool.

Schools - my dc went to Newton, which was fine. Like a pp I don’t think the high school lives up to its reputation. Perhaps it does if your kids are good at maths and science, but if not, not so much. A lot of kids have private tutors. But you’re a long way off worrying about high school.

Dunblane is on the main train line for both Glasgow and Edinburgh so ideal for commuting and shopping etc.

Happy to answer any more questions. Feel free to PM

Likewise, I live in Dunblane, it's a lovely place to stay. Nowhere is terribly far so the new estate would be walkable, though having said that, you would be more likely to have to walk along the Perth road for a bit. Worth bearing in mind that if you can get into the original bit of the Calas you'll be nearer for the train station/town centre. We used to live up that bit of town (not in the Calas)and although the walk was only 20 min to the station DH did get a bit sick of it in the rain! Also bear in mind you would be right next to the A9, visit on a wet day to hear the noise. It might not bother you but be aware of it. You could live in almost any part of Dunblane and be only a couple of minutes drive to getting on the A9 as there are three junctions onto it!

Re schools, St Mary's had a great reputation a few years ago. They've had problems with falling school numbers recently and various issues. I can't see them closing it because the kids in the new houses will have to go somewhere and Newton is pretty full in some year groups. Do some digging before you commit.

Re primary school, You might want to check what catchment area that new estate is in. It’s obviously much closer to Newton, however, some parts of the original Cala go to dunblane ps. That happened because Newton got full while the estate was still being built, so houses built after a certain date were sent to Dunblane. There are streets where part goes to Newton and the other half to Dunblane. Dunblane is technically still walkable, but a bit of a trek for primary kids.

St Mary’s is walkable but they only have about a dozen pupils in each year group. For a new p1 without siblings already in the school, if oversubscribed they go strictly on distance from the school, and you may be a bit far out.

Hi there!

My DCs are/were at St. Mary's and we have been happy with it. Feel free to DM me if you'd like to know more about the school from a current parent's perspective. And of course do give the school a call, Mrs Hewitt our head will be very happy to speak to you.

We chose it because we moved here from a village school. Both Newton and Dunblane PS are very large, and our kids were clear that they wanted to keep the smaller school experience.

In terms of walking distance to high school I wouldn't worry too much - loads of kids walk up to the high school from Barbush and from the roads up around Newton. There are various short cuts etc. It's good for them!

@Jodhpurs46

I live in Dunblane and it isn’t far to walk anywhere. My son walks almost 2 miles to and from the high school each day, it is good exercise. I have heard rumours that St Mary’s primary is to close but I’m not sure whether these are true. Having had kids at other schools before moving here, I don’t think that the schools live up to their reputation. The quality of teaching and discipline doesn’t come close to the experience we had in the Falkirk council area. It’s fine but certainly not as god as it could be.

Hi

Is that primary or secondary re your standard of teaching and discipline comment? It's funny, I have a friend who taught ( supply) at BofA Primary and didn't think much of it.

I live in Dunblane,moved here for the great schools are they definitely don’t live up to the hype, bullying, bad behaviour and pressure to perform are rife. Dunblane is great if you can find your tribe it’s very much a keeping up with the Jones’ area. Also not very diverse still predominantly middle class and white.

Know this is someone else's thread but thanks for the info. Always good to know these things. I saw you wrote about Riverside school, I think an old colleague works there now.

@StarryEyeSurprise I completely agree with what @GreatestSh0wUnicorn says. Bullying is rife and bullied children are criticised for not being resilient. Discipline is awful, the schools have no clear behaviour policies, some of the behaviour is shocking.
Teaching at the primary isn’t great compared to our previous school. This may reflect how Stirling Council do things rather than the school, I’m not sure. I don’t have any experience with another high school but I did have to make a serious complaint about the delivery of education in one particular subject. The complaint was upheld but the awful teacher remains in post.

Definitely not Stirling council, Dunblane primary just a law un to itself.