Second home in Scotland

[Frizzyspider]

I'd be grateful for some guidance & recommendation.
We live overseas, and would like to have our second home in Scotland.
Having a tiny budget, we're looking for a 2-bed flat (not a house).
We do homeschooling with our son, so the local schools are not important.
What would be important:
a/ definitely the seaside
b/ vibrant community (to make friends & contribute to the local initiatives)
c/ an inspiring place regarding history, local landmarks, art, museums, libraries, etc.
d/ easy train/bus access to the Edinburgh/Glasgow airports.

We'd love to buy sth near Edinburgh, but the east coast seems to be too pricey. That is why we consider Rothesay on the Isle of Bute or generally the west coast.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank you!

But with that budget, it's not really going to happen, is it, so a train drive of less than an hour to the city/seaside seems like a good compromise with access to lovely countryside and towns like Melrose. The property I mentioned looks in good order with a lovely garden.

I think we established that several pages ago @splishsplashsploosh!

I know that, which is why I was trying to be helpful and highlight an alternative option.

It is possible to get a small flat in a seaside town for the OP’s budget. I bought one myself in Largs, and here’s a couple which were recently on the market in Troon.

A two bed for offers over £40k ...
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/82616398#/

And as the OP has said she would consider a one bed, here’s a lovely one, also in Troon, for offers over £55k.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/97842785#/

I’m not sure I’d describe a kitchen 10.7 x7.4 as a “fantastically spacious kitchen”!
Putting that aside the beach at Troon is nice.

The one bed flat in Troon is lovely. If I were the OP, I'd snap that one up!

According to Rightmove the 1 bedroom flat is Sold STC.
I’ve only been to Troon in the summer, the beach was lovely I just wonder what’s it’s like out of season? It is of course within a sensible travelling distance of Glasgow and the airport which is a positive and ticks some of the OPs must have.
I take it at the moment OP your plans are on hold I don’t think NS is going to welcome those from outside the UK to Scotland for quite a while if at all this year and I’m pretty sure even if you are allowed to travel to Scotland those from outside of the UK will face strict quarantine restrictions on your arrival and that these will be in place for a considerable time (making viewing properties very difficult for you) and your also currently only allowed to visit second homes for “essential maintenance ”.
I read somewhere that property prices in Scotland have risen considerably in 2020 the highest rise was in parts of Ayrshire where Troon is. Apparently many are working from home and therefore moving to more rural areas. But you do have to wonder if NS continues with the current restrictions for a long period whether some second home owners especially those renting them out as holiday homes will put them up for sale because of a very much reduced revenue. This might work in your favour in the future you may in the future be able to find a bargain.
Just want to add this is all pure speculation on my part I’m just throwing ideas around!

You are right @IseeScottishhills.

Prices in Ayrshire went up 18% in the year to October 2020.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56102501