Thinking about moving to scotland

[candlemasbells]

I am thinking about moving to Scotland. I live in Galloway for awhile in my 20s and loved it but that was pre Indy ref. I am considering rural areas such as D&G, Ayrshire and maybe Aran. Are the English still welcome for more than a holiday?
I have a baby and a 3 year old so schools are important. We live a very rural lifestyle now but I like the idea of only being a few hours away from Edinburgh and Glasgow

Yes the English people are still welcome. Boris may be an exception to that.

Moffat and Thornhill have good secondary schools I think. Lovely scenery (although we are covered in windfarms now)

If you want easy access to Glasgow and Edinburgh, will you need public transport? D&G is not great for it, and apart from the M74 there's no fast roads either.

Dunblane, Stirling, bridge of Allan are all nice and would fit your bill although they can be expensive. If you only need to access Glasgow or Edinburgh for fun then really anywhere would do. If you need them for work then that narrows things down.

Do you have a specific budget in mind OP?

I have about £300k and ideally want some land and out buildings. The outbuildings are essential for work
I only want to be near Edinburgh and Glasgow to access museums and other arts and cultural stuff. Where I live in England we are miles from a decent major city.

Ayrshire is probably the cheapest. Aran can be dear because of the holiday /retirement market. Anywhere with land centrally is at a premium due to demand from horsey people or developers. D&G is lovely and not too dear but it takes ages to get anywhere and on a recent holiday there a lot of the wee towns had a neglected air. (not the popular holiday places like Kirkudbright obviously).

Maybe look around more rural areas of East Dunbartonshire. Kirkintilloch, Torrence etc although not sure how much land you'll get- maybe a big garden! Good schools too.

Ayrshire is probably the best bet price wise if you want land and outbuildings. I have been looking for someone with land in a long time and ayrshire if one of the few areas near Glasgow where you would get that within budget.

Have a look at Eaglesham.
Near Ayrshire for the coast, near Glasgow for culture. Great school catchments.

Strathaven too if you're willing to look outside your named areas

Ayrshire is the cheapest but has the worst schools.

Moffat as pp said is next to the M74 so much more accessible to the cities.

Strathaven has a good school but is cut off.

Balfron has a good school and lots of rural areas in the catchment.

Arran seems to have more incinerator than locals tbh. But it is very pricey now.

*Incomers