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Original poster

Help me decide where to live!

30 replies

soundsys · 18/07/2023 16:03

So I'm from Glasgow but have lived down in London for years...

But now I'm really feeling the call of home and am starting to think about moving back in the next couple of years. So... would you help me with places to think about? I obviously know Glasgow and lots of the West of Scotland well but I was 20 when I moved and obviously what's important to me then isn't the same as what's important to me now! Trying to come up with a shortlist of places to start us off...

The wish list (which may or may not entirely exist!):

By the sea. Ideally, like, walk out of my door and into the sea by the sea but appreciate that might be a compromise! I would like to see the sea, though (if it was entirely up to me I'd go and live on an island but it isn't, so that's the compromise already).

Reasonably close to Glasgow on the train for work/visiting family - we wouldn't have a daily commute so maybe... max. 90 minutes say? Or so the kids when older can travel through for gigs/sports etc

Ideally somewhere I wouldn't have to learn to drive - happy to walk and/or cycle reasonable distances to get around locally (again, this isn't a deal breaker, I'll suck it up and learn if I need to!)

Good schools

Decent pub(s), coffee shop(s) etc

Anyone like to help my narrow it down? Thank you 🙏

OP posts:
liveforsummer · 18/07/2023 16:06

East Lothian villages will give you much of that and are on or close to train lines in to Edinburgh. North Berwick, Dunbar, port seton

nonmerci99 · 18/07/2023 16:08

Ayrshire riviera? Largs, Fairlie, Troon, or Barassie? Or if you've got more cash for a house, up near Helensburgh?

Original poster
soundsys · 18/07/2023 16:09

liveforsummer · 18/07/2023 16:06

East Lothian villages will give you much of that and are on or close to train lines in to Edinburgh. North Berwick, Dunbar, port seton

I love North Berwick and I think ideally what I'm looking for - if such a thing exists? - is the West Coast equivalent of North Berwick!

OP posts:
Original poster
soundsys · 18/07/2023 16:11

nonmerci99 · 18/07/2023 16:08

Ayrshire riviera? Largs, Fairlie, Troon, or Barassie? Or if you've got more cash for a house, up near Helensburgh?

Thank you! I only know those places from summer day trips, need to do some research on what it's like to live there, I think! I guess each place has a different vibe?

OP posts:
Malbecmoron · 18/07/2023 16:14

There isn't a west coast equivalent of North Berwick I'm afraid. Ayrshire coast isn't quite what you're looking for I think. East coast isn't too far from Glasgow, depends on how often you visit. NB is expensive, what about Dunbar? If a Fife coastal village?

nonmerci99 · 18/07/2023 16:15

Yeah I would say so -- I would go and check them out to see if you like the feel of them. Fairlie is a lovely wee town, and I think Largs is actually quite nice with quite a lot of amenities (though obviously it gets busy in the summer with visitors). Troon will be the most expensive (other than Helensburgh and surrounds), but I don't think Barassie is that bad house-cost-wise.

I should add West Kilbride to the list as well, as it has a train station and some really lovely houses.

My personal dream is to move to somewhere like Dunoon, which might also fit your bill, since you don't have a daily commute to consider? It's so beautiful and you get a lot of house for your money up there.

liveforsummer · 18/07/2023 17:08

Surely it doesn't take much longer than 90 mins by train to get from East Lothian to glasgow (outside of rush hours which shouldn't be an issue in the circumstances) agree I don't think you'll find the same thing on the west plus it rains a whole lot more 😅

Coronationstation · 18/07/2023 17:33

It’s just under 2hrs north berwick to Glasgow queen street because the trains don’t align well so you waste a lot of time changing at Edinburgh. I think you’d be pushed to drive it in that time too. It’s also very expensive!

StrictlyPrue · 18/07/2023 18:20

Not west coast but Broughty Ferry ticks all of your boxes I would say.

thedevilinablackdress · 18/07/2023 18:39

Helensburgh is probably where I'd think of given your criteria.
It's not NB, but has some decent coffee shops etc., good links to Glasgow on the train, close to lochs and seas and hills.

Original poster
soundsys · 18/07/2023 19:33

Thanks all! I probably need to rethink a bit, as proximity to Glasgow will probably become more important (as our parents get older, etc)

For some reason I have a strong antipathy to Helensburgh, for no specific reason - objectively it's lovely - but I just don't get the feeling. Think down towards Ayr is the way to look. Might get poring over a train map and plan some trips!

OP posts:
Original poster
soundsys · 18/07/2023 19:35

nonmerci99 · 18/07/2023 16:15

Yeah I would say so -- I would go and check them out to see if you like the feel of them. Fairlie is a lovely wee town, and I think Largs is actually quite nice with quite a lot of amenities (though obviously it gets busy in the summer with visitors). Troon will be the most expensive (other than Helensburgh and surrounds), but I don't think Barassie is that bad house-cost-wise.

I should add West Kilbride to the list as well, as it has a train station and some really lovely houses.

My personal dream is to move to somewhere like Dunoon, which might also fit your bill, since you don't have a daily commute to consider? It's so beautiful and you get a lot of house for your money up there.

Oh I love Dunoon! But that may be the next step after the kids have left home.

Will definitely check out the places suggested - thank you! I have great childhood memories of trips to Largs and Troon

OP posts:
Coronationstation · 18/07/2023 19:55

Oh I love Largs, although admittedly I’ve only visited never lived there. It’s got a real coastal feel and I love that you can hope over to Cumbrae and Bute so easily whilst being a stones throw really from Glasgow.

ProseccoOnTap · 18/07/2023 21:02

South Queensferry!

Lovely town centre, easy links to Edinburgh & access to M8.

Nice walks eg Dalmeny Estate & places to eat eg Scott's

thedevilinablackdress · 18/07/2023 21:09

For some reason I have a strong antipathy to Helensburgh, for no specific reason - objectively it's lovely - but I just don't get the feeling.

It'll be the ruddy great nuclear submarine base just up the road 😄

hev126 · 18/07/2023 21:13

Prestwick

TravellingJack · 18/07/2023 21:29

ProseccoOnTap · 18/07/2023 21:02

South Queensferry!

Lovely town centre, easy links to Edinburgh & access to M8.

Nice walks eg Dalmeny Estate & places to eat eg Scott's

This!

What's your budget and how old/how many are your children? SQ is great if you can afford Edinburgh house prices and can drive, but public transport is a bit limited - trains into Edinburgh (and then on to Glasgow) are ok but not cheap, and there are very limited bus services so don't plan to rely on buses. If you fancy a late night in the city, you'll have to get a taxi back and last time I did (a few years ago) it was over £40. If you opt for SQ and learning to drive is on the cards, I'd do it before you move as I've heard there is a long wait for an instructor here - possibly because of rubbish buses!

AuntyMabelandPippin · 18/07/2023 21:38

Have another look at Helensburgh. It's much better than it was when we moved here 20+ years ago. There's good restaurants, and little shops and cafes.

Original poster
soundsys · 19/07/2023 09:04

AuntyMabelandPippin · 18/07/2023 21:38

Have another look at Helensburgh. It's much better than it was when we moved here 20+ years ago. There's good restaurants, and little shops and cafes.

Thank you, I'll do that. My opinion of Helensburgh is probably about 20 years out of date! Location-wise it's perfect and it's n paper it does tick all the boxes! (And my mum would be thrilled: she's in the habit of sending me links to beautiful big houses there and comparing them to the cost of London flats 🙈)

OP posts:
Original poster
soundsys · 19/07/2023 09:11

@TravellingJack budget is... flexible. To have the sort of life outlined in my OP £450k comfortably, maybe up to £500k.

We could afford North Berwick but it would mean a similar massive mortgage to what we have in London and us both working full time which is what we're trying to avoid. So I think West Coast it is! (I also can't drive and would prefer decent public transport)

Children are 9, 6 and 4 and it'd be a couple of years before we go - in time for the biggest to start secondary. Thinking ahead to when they're teenagers being able to if go into a City for gigs etc and get the last train home is appealing...

OP posts:
Original poster
soundsys · 19/07/2023 09:19

Oh WOW:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137212178#/?channel=RES_BUY

😍😍😍😍

OP posts:
Caledoniadreaming · 19/07/2023 12:33

@soundsys like you I've moved away from home (Dumfries and Galloway for me) to the South East and similarly have these pangs of wanting to move back to Scotland. My husband and I spent a few days in the Borders last year and loved it - also not too far from the sea but still with decent transport links. Alternatively for us, assuming I can get my OH to agree - Perthshire/Fife would be another option. Unfortunately OH's parents are in the New Forest, so without meaning to sound cruel, until they "go" we're unlikely to move anytime soon.

BlueThursday · 19/07/2023 17:25

Came here to suggest prestwick too. It’s got trains (some) planes and so massive requirement for an automobile

craigth162 · 19/07/2023 17:31

I was brought up in largs and my mum still stays there. Should tick all your boxes

WhatADrabCarpet · 19/07/2023 17:50

Apologies for place marking as I'm very interested in this thread and I can't 'watch' it for some reason.