Living in Dumfries area

[Spanglybangles]

Hi all. We are seriously thinking of moving from the Angus area to the Dumfries area. OH is working down there all the time now and commutes weekly staying away Mon to Fri, so it would make sense for us to make the move so we can spend more time together as a family.

Am looking for some information on what it’s like to live in the area and best areas to live in. We have 2 children, 7 and 14, so feel Dumfries and suburbs would be best taking into consideration our teens needs for a social life especially in a new area.

OH has scouted a little and thinks Georgetown, the Summerpark development area or Heathhall look our best options for homes and schools. Anyone who lives in Dumfries can give me some opinions on these places or indeed offer alternative suggestions?

I’m under no illusion about Dumfries and am sure it has its issues, but it really seems the most logical place for our family. TIA.

What's your budget for a house, OP?
Which side of the Nith does your DH work, or does he travel?
Hopefully someone can advise re secondary schools - there are 3 to choose from (Academy, Dumfries High, Maxwelton High).

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst. Thanks for your reply. He could be all over the county really, though will mostly be a bit beyond Castle Douglas area in one direction, to Lochmaben area in the other direction, occasionally a little over the border, so wants easy access to the A75. Budget realistically up to about £220k. Don’t know much about the schools, it believe Wallace Hall performs well but would probably require living too far out of town for my teens preference.

I was watching your thread with interest OP as I’m also thinking of a move to Dumfriesshire but don’t know anyone from there to ask.

Slightly different circumstances, budget and age range! But desperate for some local knowledge.

@Isawthathaggis. Yes I really hope someone comes along to comment here with some good information. Where to live and schools are the most important for us. It’s crucial we pick to right school for our teenager as she hates her current school and we are desperate to give her the best chance of a good experience and education in a new school.

There is so little on the market at the moment as well, making house choice very limited. Hoping that changes soon. How old are your kids and what are you looking for?

@Spanglybangles gosh, yes, I can see that getting the right school is going to be critical for you.

My kids are younger, all under 7, but I also feel that high school is looming and want to be in catchment for the school we want to send them too. I’m very keen that they should be able to use school transport themselves.

I’ve been looking at Wallace hall too, but (and I’ll admit this is a bit silly) I was put off by the length of the girls skirts! The girls I saw walking though Thornhill were wearing little more than belts. I’m all in favour of relaxed uniform, but I don’t like the culture of encouraging girls to wear almost nothing to school.

I just can’t look at my five year old and think of her in a skirt so short everyone knows what colour pants she has on.

I’ve also been looking in the Moffat area.

None of the schools are very good to be honest. And it’s quite a depressing place to live. And a massive drug problem. Not ideal for a teenager already struggling.

@WouldBeGood awww man, this is what had worried me. Any suggestions for anywhere in the area that would be best?

Moving is becoming necessary as family life is massively suffering from OH being away all the time. He is home on a Friday night, then I’m off to work for the weekend….something HAS to change. And to be fair our local secondary school is nearly at the bottom of the rankings list for performance and we are very unhappy with it, so just about anywhere would be an improvement!!

We have also considered Moffat @Isawthathaggis but houses for sale there are even thinner in the ground 😩 Also, I’m afraid to say, the belt like skirts are everywhere!! I let mine wear leggings as it’s better than bum skimming skirts IMO

Would you consider the jump over the border or not? Carlisle is a lovely small city, £220k would get you a good house, schools are good, and plenty commute from Dumfries to here, it's under an hour.

Kirkcudbright and castle Douglas are nicer to live in but poor schools too, and all belt skirts. And bugger all to do unless you’re horsey, really. They’re lovely places to visit but not to live in my opinion and from experience.

Carlisle would be a better shout, though I’ve no idea about schools there.

Or what about somewhere in Lanarkshire where there are some good schools and a much shorter commute? I moved from D&G to Lanarkshire and have found the schools too be chalk and cheese.

To not too!

@WouldBeGood this is all good information, thank you. OH would like Castle Douglas but im thinking of the schools and teenager wouldn’t be keen on an even smaller town than we are in now I doubt. Will take a look at Lanarkshire and see what the commute would be like for OH.

I had considered over the border but worry about the difference in school system for a teenager.

Dumfries is the 'county town', with a college and a satellite University campus.

@WouldBeGood, how recent is your experience?

If not there, where, given the OP's need to relocate for work?

Very recent @ICouldHaveCheckedFirst.

Personally I wouldn’t move to D&G if I were concerned about schooling.

In fact, it’s ongoing, as DS’ contemporaries are at school down there, with various bad stories and unhappy parents

@WouldBeGood could you explain a little more about the bad stories you have heard? I don’t understand why the parents are not happy?

I went to a top ten east Dumbartonshire school and it was pants. It does get good results but most kids are tutored.

Moffat looks lovely in theory.

I live in East Dunbartonshire and Lenzie Academy skirts are also no longer than the blazers... I think this is a national problem rather than something to judge a school on!

Friends have moved their DCs away from schools and DS tells me from friends that there are lots of drugs available in the school he would have gone to. D&G is beautiful, and I love it, but not for education. Obviously, when you live there you have no choice, but I’m just answering the op’s questions about schools. Through circumstances I’ve had some experience of a few of the secondary schools there.

@WouldBeGood. We definitely want to make a good school choice, for comparison though, our local secondary is number 300 and something for achievement out of a list of 340 schools. Right now frankly anything would be better. Maybe Wallace Hall or Moffat are our best bets school wise, as living in another county isn’t going to work for the commute really. He works 12 hour days, so doesn’t want much more than 30 min commute each way. Aargh this is hard!!!

Both Wallace Hall and Moffat would be more than half an hour from Castle Douglas area. D&G is really big!

If you really need to move, then maybe think about your DD’s interests, and where might be best for her to pursue those.

I mean, obviously you will have thought of that, but rather than schools, I mean. 😃

I know it’s big and he won’t be working around Castle Douglas all the time. He works in forestry and the work he will do is all over, but for the most part anywhere from Castle Douglas and surrounding area over to Lochmaben and surrounding, so trying to base ourselves somewhere to minimise commuting, but knowing that he may at times have to travel further.

Schooling is important to me as she is SO unhappy at school just now and we want to massively improve that her school work and mental well-being is suffering as a result. I really appreciate the input, I’m just finding it difficult as I know nothing of the area and so want you make the right choices for the whole family.

Lockerbie is the best place for ease of travel as there’s a station with quick trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow

@WouldBeGood thanks. Will be heading down in the October hols with the kids for a good look round. Lockerbie has been a consideration, so that will be on the list too.

I moved from London to Dumfries 18 years ago. And honestly there is more social issues in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh than you would ever get in Dumfries. I live close to one of the worst council estates and have no issues walking by myself at night. The majority of people are lovey and yes there is a drug issue but there is everywhere. I would not send my kids to north west campus, the new Max high. But apart from that the schools are ok, not the best but not the worse. Wallace hall is good for its grades but they don’t offer the personal support the other schools do. Same as Moffat they are more concerned about the grades than the pupils well being.
Yes shopping in Dumfries high street isn’t great, but close to carisle and galsgow which are great for days away. Also there is a lot of local investment going on in the high street by the mid steeple project.
Dumfries is quite small so plenty of people know others and those that love a bit of drama will always find it,
Personally I’m happy to bring up my boy here away from London and all the issues that big cities have.
Also another major factor is that it is still very affordable. Both for rental and buying