Relocating to Scotland from USA. Looking for local opinions on good communities to settle in around Dundee, Stirling, and Inverness

[NovaSkycrest]

Hello everyone.

Our family is relocating to Scotland in the Summer of 2024 for my wife's work. I will be over there again in May 2023 to scout out neighborhoods in 3 towns we have kind of narrowed things down to for settling in when we arrive; Dundee, Stirling, and Inverness.

We are looking for local feedback for areas to consider for me to scout out during my upcoming visit. We are looking for a community that is family friendly, has good public schools, and has good public transit as we will not have a vehicle when we first arrive. I know "affordable housing" is subjective and markets shift back and forth, so we are watching all the local websites for home sales and renting.

My wife and I are over planners and have spreadsheets of information that help us prioritize our decision making in matters like this. But there is only so much numbers and data can tell us. Thus why I am coming to walk areas in May and get a feel for these towns and neighborhoods.

We have been to Inverness on vacation, but never really left the city center other than taking a cruise on Loch Ness. We do love the highlands, but we read that Dundee and Stirling are also good potential locations for us to settle as well.

Any information is greatly appreciated. We look forward to joining the Scottish community.

Perth was another one I was eyeing myself for many of those reasons. Especially since this is probably not our final destination in Scotland but where we initially land when we arrive.

It's a great base to explore from!

Add Perth into the mix. It's a lovely city, small and perfectly formed but has motorway and public transport access to pretty much everywhere.

Once you leave the central belt, you really need to check out the mobile phone reception and broadband availability for your wife's work. Many fairly large villages around the central belt of Edinburgh and Glasgow have yet to be connected to fast broadband and Scotland on the whole has some issues with various mobile suppliers. Do your homework if that's important.

Of the 3, I'd say Stirling but that's the only one of the 3 that I know. It has gone downhill a bit though OP in terms of city centre since Covid. Seeing signs it's coming back though.

Whatever you do OP, welcome to Scotland, I hope you'll all be very happy here 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ❤️

High speed internet is definitely a priority for work. We have been researching providers and their coverage maps and that plays a role in narrowing things down for us.

Stirling is good but for family life I'd try for Dunblane ,5 miles up the road but on bus and train routes. Only problem is not that many houses come on the market
Dundee, I actually quite like, I would live in Broughty Ferry or another satellite town.
I'm not sure about Inverness, I've heard unflattering things about schools but I'd look at towns along the coast like Nairn, very nice, good climate.

How old are your kids OP? Do you understand how school places work here?

Our son is currently 8. When we arrive he would be 9 and in Year 5 in schooling there from our understanding. We are reading up on schooling there currently. Sounds like we would be looking for State Schools for him to attend.

There are a few very odd comments on this thread. . .

stirling has a lot to offer - is very commutable to Glasgow and Edinburgh for culture and excellent for outdoor lifestyle also. Perth is also on the train line and handy as it’s directly on the A9. There are very good schools in both towns and a good mix of culture and activities in both.

as the OP has said the job is in Scotland and that is where they would like to move I am entirely unsure why some posters seem to want to start a wee debate about where it’s a bit rubbish - you will find as many people debating the opposite. Similar the comments about state schooling. OP has said state schooling is the plan.

OP - schools here use the terms Primary 5 rather than year 5. Almost everyone will understand what you mean in England but as P5 and year 5 could be different it could cause confusion. When they go to secondary school it’s S1, S2 etc

Don't rely on the company's maps. Ask others around your moving area who is best.

We are currently having issues with one of the major ones regarding phone signal. We can't seem to even get a signal in the middle of Glasgow but worked fine when connected to another with the same sin in Iceland and Spain!

My 8 year old is in Primary 3 currently, she will be in Primary 4 when turning 9.

It depends on when their birthdays fall which primary year they would be in.

What’s your budget and what kind of property are you looking for? And what kind of community?

I would probably rule out inverness on location basis alone. It's very far away from places you may want to visit while you are staying in Scotland. On balance I would say the Stirling area might be best all round for you. It's nice and central so fairly easy to get anywhere. The road systems in Scotland are nowhere like they are in America.

Perth is a lovely, friendly place and really good location. Lots nearby if you want to explore the outdoors too, a good mix 👍

Thank you. Like I mentioned we are learning the schooling structure over there.

Edinburgh is much nicer than Stirling and Dundee. I would try there if you can, with Royal High or Boroughmuir for school.

Absolutely - it is honestly not a big deal and like k said, almost everyone will understand what you mean.

the other thing is that in almost any town there will be wonderful schools, affordable houses and great amenities. Those same towns will also have poor schools, expensive houses and rubbish amenities. Keep an open mind about all of the places you have picked. The only place I would advise caution is Inverness as it is really very far north.

Of those 3 I would go for Stirling as it's the most central. Inverness is very far from anything! It would take a long time to get to an airport for you to visit the US or have people visit you. Dundee a close 2nd though and Perth is a good shout.

I live in Edinburgh and used to live in Dundee (as a student). Inverness is very rural - 4/5hours drive to the capital city.

Personally I don't like Glasgow (I think the accent is awful!). Edinburgh has good state schools but higher house costs. You could live outside of Edinburgh - even just 15minutes- for a much better price. Edinburgh is about 1hour from Stirling / 80mins from Glasgow. Lovely areas outside of Edinburgh include 'Joppa' and 'north Berwick' and 'south queensferry.'

Cheaper areas close to Edinburgh , but with good links, include 'loanhead', 'kirkliston' and 'West Lothian.' Cheaper still - areas like 'dunfermline.'

Every place will have have 'good' streets and 'bad' streets. Remember you will need to live in the 'catchment' area of a good school - meaning close by in order to go to it. Feel free to message for further details.

Eh? Our health service isn't in quite the same shambles as in England and there are no shortage of good schools.

Total guff.

I'd join the Facebook group "American Moms in the U.K." There are lots of Americans who have navigated the same move you are considering. I think you need to go in with your eyes open. The most miserable expats are the ones using state schools in Scotland who came later in primary.

The Op has said the wife's job will be remote working with offices all over Europe.

They really should look at England too rather than some romantic view of Scotland and it would likely make sense for then to consider transport links to Europe if the wife wants to get to the European offices.

As always I'm a bit cynical about the number of threads on MN of people who want to relocate to Scotland like its some sort of tiny village and people who can be anywhere with little consideration of the time to get from one part of the country to another.

Everything hinges on internet and mobile reception. Even here in outer London ours can be poor and some parts of Scotland there will be very little coverage even if you are told there is so I would check and check and check again and probably pick Edinburgh if I were you for lots of reasons; although I do like Inverness. The sheer difficulty of moving around in storms, the cold, the isolation can be quite stark in some wilder lovely parts of Scotland (and NE England where I am from).

It is not true that it is guff tax is higher in Scotland. It IS higher, but not by much. I would not let that put you off however. If you are used to US healthcare you might want to consider private health insurance whether in England or Scotland

Why have you chosen Scotland when the job is remote?