Moving the family from England to Scotland

[fiveriseloch]

Hi my family and I are moving to Scotland and are looking for a nice, safe and friendly town within 15-45 minutes commute of Dundee. We love the outdoors and hills and want somewhere where there's good schools and activities for children but not too big or busy. My initial thoughts are Auchterarder, Kinross, Cupar, Blairgowrie, Kirriemuir and Monifieth. Can anyone post help with recommendations?
Many thanks

Broughty Ferry is supposed to be nice.

There's another thread going about this at the moment. I'm in dundee and wouldn't recommend it. Lots of people love Broughty ferry but I don't get it. Schools there are better than dundee. I've heard the schools in monifieth are good. Kirriemuir is pretty but I'm not sure what it's like to live there. Are you moving for work or do you mind being out in the sticks a bit?

Auchterarder is an ideal bet. Handy for the main road and good schools

Newport on Tay, one of the east Neuk villages like Crail, Elie, Anstruther.

We're moving for work. I'm not a city type but will be working in Dundee so don't want to be too far away. Why don't you recommend Dundee?

Dundee is depressed and the schools are pretty rough in the main - a few good ones. I’d go for Monifieth if I were you.

Monifieth has best schools. Or go to Newport on Tay and that is in catchment for Madras College in St Andrews. I commute to Dundee from St Andrews each day and it takes 30 mins.

I think auchterarder or Kinross might be a bit far

I would go across the bridge to Newport if I had the choice

I do like the look of Newport and Tayport for convenience but they are probably a bit trickier to get to the mountains, friends in the Highlands and family back in England compared to Auchterarder or Kinross, but I was worried about those two places being to long to commute to work. We're trying to think what the children would need nearby as they grow up and become teens. I thought of Angus, north of Dundee but the vibes I have is that they are a little quiet and I've read they can be a bit rough

What about Perth?
It's not a big city and great transport links for anywhere in Scotland

I would say newport over Tayport for sure. The bridge from newport takes you straight to the road out of Dundee north to arbroath etc and west to the riverside to Perth. Or go to roundabout and head to Cupar to the south and another exit to St Andrews. Madras is better school that Bell Baxter. Monifieth is highest ranked in Dundee/ Angus, Grove for Broughty Ferry good too, but house prices higher, but I think newport maybe more welcoming?

Monifeith is lovely and has good schools. The monifeith path network is nice for a walk. Commuting from monifeith to the centre will take 20 mins on a good day or probably around 40 mins at rush hour.
Kirrie is nice and an easy commute (30-40 mins down the dual carriageway) but can't comment on the schools, haven't heard anything bad in the local news about them though! I used to work in Blairgowrie and travel from Dundee to there - the commute is all country roads which is lovely and picturesque but can be a pain in winter. Probably also about 40/45 mins to commute.

The issue with tayport/Newport is if the Tay road bridge closes you have to then do a longer commute via Perth. I live in Forfar which is a nice wee town (and 10 mins from Kirrie) but like most places does have its rough patches. I moved here last year from Broughty Ferry and there hasn't been any negative impact.

Good call actually. Very central for everything the OP is looking for

And a lot of people commute to Dundee and live in Perth

Perth IMO is marginally better than Dundee. Kinross and Auchterarer doable but a fairly long journey into Dundee every day. That said there are buses from Perth and Kinross directly to Dundee.

In 3 years commenting across the bridge from Fife I've only once had to go round by Perth so I wouldn't let that put you off.

I meant commuting!