Corstorphine, Edinburgh

[newtoedinburgh]

Hello. I have started a few threads prior to our move to Edinburgh this summer. Can anyone give me some insider info on Corstorphine? The area works for us in terms of budget and proximity to school... But struggling to get an idea in my mind of the feel of the place. Position looks attractive as elevated? Pros and cons please, does it feel very suburban? Can I uber back after dinner in town for a reasonable price etc? Thanks all. Feeling a bit clueless.

We have friends who live close to Costorphine Hill. I would describe their bit as suburban cul de sac. They have good access to the park which is nice. They seem to quite like it, but I think their main reason to live there was the affordability of housing.

There's a good bus service from town so it's easy to get back.

The high street has a good range of shops/cafes etc.

Do you have schooling to think about?

It does have nice views and lots of attractive Victorian villas. It lacks the buzzy village feel of areas like Bruntsfield and Stockbridge but then again doesn’t cost as much as these areas!

You basically have a few shops, takeaways, and of course the Zoo. To walk into town would take an hour. But you could drive it in 10 minutes if you can find anywhere to park. The buses are very very frequent! I don’t think you would wait more than a few minutes and would get into the new/old town in 20 minutes.

Just realised I didn’t answer your questions!

Yes it does feel very surburban. But with heavy traffic due to it being the main way from the airport to the city centre.

Yes you could Uber home very easily for £10-15 and be back in 15 minutes. That being said the buses go all night as well.

Congratulations on your upcoming move!

If you don’t mind me asking.

What’s your budget?

And what are you looking for area/property wise?

I used to live in the village which is not really surburban as is quiet-ish with access to the park and primary school and easy access to the High Street as well as the big supermarket. Also a nice sobering if longish walk home after a night out. Buses were always great though and handy for working at the gyle/edinburgh park etc as well as for getting onto the bypass.

It's a big area to be honest and different bits will have different "feel"

Transportation links are excellent...but as someone pointed out it is the main arterial route from the west to the city Center so traffic is generally horrible. There are tons of different neighbourhoods that feel quite different. St John’s Road is ok...a bit tired...charity shops a plenty. Some really lovely houses though and plenty of nice outdoors space nearby. An Uber to western corner from town is reasonable. An Uber to the end of the Glasgow road, less so...it is a big area. I do like it...I grew up there. If you love a good bungalow, you will be sorted 😁

It's big area. Have lived in Corstorphine for over 20 years. We lived at the Gyle before that.

Local fb page was all about foxes and the helicopter. Then during Covid it's all about spaces for people.

Houses vary in budget according to which part you move to.

Lots of parks in walking distance. Easy access to Queensferry and fife. Corstorphine Hill and Cammo for woodland walks.

All the schools are pretty popular and over subscribed for Primary. Gylemuir tends to be a dual feeder to Forrester (rising in reputation and offers lots of different ways when leaving school and get extra help into uni as a LEAPS school) Craigmount popular more with parents. St Augustine's has been in the news for racism in the last year.

Haven't had much trouble with youths or crime really. Mixed population of young families, families with grown up children and people who bought their houses in the 50's when they were built in our street.

I genuinely never considered Corstorphine when I met Dh. Not that convinced I would move from it now.

Thanks all for helpful replies. Budget 750k, DDs are going to St George's we are looking at the side near the zoo, and quite close to St johns rd. What counts as 'the village'?

So probably more Murrayfield way then? Some lovely houses around there.

The village is the older village bit just over by St Margaret's park/Parish church and library, a bit further out than you are looking.

St John’s Road is very busy so try and keep away from there. Or certainly, I would. That said there are some nice houses there.

If your DDs are going to St George’s, I’d also consider Murrayfield as well as some parts of Corstorphine.

@RedactedTaeFeck I think roads to the west of the zoo are Corstorphine? We need decent sized garden and 4 beds and near St. Gs. Not proving that easy at the moment!

I'll be honest, houses round here aren't on the market for long just now. The majority round us have been sold in 7 days. So you need to be on the ESPC daily and booking the appointment to view ASAP.

[quote newtoedinburgh]@RedactedTaeFeck I think roads to the west of the zoo are Corstorphine? We need decent sized garden and 4 beds and near St. Gs. Not proving that easy at the moment![/quote]
Yes, I'd agree, for some reason I took your description and put that to the west of the zoo. Also it's to the North side of St John's road, apart from the village area which is to the south. Looks like mainly flats for sale there although there are some bigger properties.

I like this one which should be in budget:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90819247#/

The area doesn't have the same cafe culture that you might get further in or in Morningside etc but it's a decent place to live and handy for the school and obviously get a bit more for your budget.

@Groovee

I'll be honest, houses round here aren't on the market for long just now. The majority round us have been sold in 7 days. So you need to be on the ESPC daily and booking the appointment to view ASAP.

We are the same @groovee and we live in suburban Stirling. Everything going really fast.

Honestly , move up and rent for a bit.

Stick lots of your stuff in self store. You are not tied to school catchment so have lots of flexibility and you will be very attractive buyers. Give yourselves time to get to know the city and take some of the stress off yourself.

That's a good budget and it feels like your rushing in a bit blind with no one on the ground to guide you. Personally that area would not be my first choice with your budget. I would rent - it won't be wasted money imo.

For example St John's Road, the main street is one of the top 5 most polluted streets in Scotland

Just in case you don't know, St Gs has a bus service (several of them in fact) which might increase your location options if you don't need to be close by otherwise. The girls come from all over, plenty local (Blackhall, Murrayfield, Ravelston, Comely Bank, Stockbridge, New Town etc) but plenty from further afield too

Corstorphine is great location for easy access to city, airport and St Georges. Village feel with shops and cafes ( but very busy St John's rd) Loads of girls (and quite a few teachers) get buses from there to school, either from St. John's rd, Clermiston road or Drumbrae. Very quick and easy.

BUT the Edinburgh property market is on fire at the moment particularly houses with gardens so you'd have to act fast!

Lots of St. George's families moving from a distance rent for 1st 6 months before buying. Hopefully later in year the market will have calmed down a bit too!

I should say, in rush hour (in non-Covid times) it's 15 mins by car to St. George's from zoo area and 20-25 mins from top of Drumbrae or east Craig's end. As others have said it's quite a big area and the East Craigs end does feel like just suburban housing estates. Much less so if you stay east of Drumbrae where it's short walk to "village" centre

I was going to say be wary of areas being classed as corstorphine that aren't really but with that budget you'll be fine! I agree with looking to the north of the A8 around Kaimes Road / Gordon Road. It's a good area, great bus services along the A8, handy for the airport and getting west or north out of the city. Traffic is bad along the A8 but it's bad along every main artery in and out of Edinburgh!

thanks everyone, lots to think about. Yes we are in the market (we have missed out on one house) so aware of the current heat. We do have family 'on the ground' who have been hugely helpful. We lost out on a lovely house in Trinity. Would have been further to school, but less suburban? and like the area. One problem is we have 2 energetic dogs and a cat. Corstorphine offers bigger gardens than we can afford in more central areas.

I'd say trinity is equally as suburban as corstorphine and probably has worse transport links and fewer local shops.

I live in the area you’re looking. Corstorphine Hill is great for energetic dogs, plus it’s not far to other good walks for them, dalmeny estate, cramond beach, cammo etc.

If I was buying again then I’d hold out for a south facing back garden, most of the south facing gardens seem to be bigger (though tend to be sloped as the hill is steep in places). The houses on Hillview terrace, road and drive are my favourite, I’d like to move there but things are just so crazy right now. Although it’s still more affordable than blackhall, Stockbridge etc you need a good chunk of cash to be able to pay well above the home report value.

Thanks everyone for taking the time. It is definitely a little crazy out there at the moment, but its no better in England with stamp duty holiday