Page 4 | Moving to Scotland - where would you recommend based on our criteria?

UltramarineViolet · 2023-08-20T19:19:43+00:00

DH and I currently live in England but we both love Scotland and relocating at some point between now and retirement would be our dream Our DC are young adults just starting out in life. No idea where in the world they will settle in the longer term but let’s assume they are most likely to be in Manchester, London or Yorkshire. our requirements would be: - Beautiful scenery for walking and cycling, ideally near water with opportunities for sailing - Not too remote, a train station within half an hour or so would be a bonus, we would want to meet up with DC on regular basis so not too far North - Small town with supermarket, health centre or small hospital etc no further than 20 minute drive away - property not obscenely expensive; would want something nice with 3+ bedrooms for under £300K or thereabouts - a good community, not too insular or hostile to incomers

ApolloandDaphne · 22/08/2023 07:46

I have one DD in London and one DD in Yorkshire. We live on the east coast of Scotland. I would agree that travelling to visit them is a real pain. It's both costly and time consuming so we only see them a few times each year. I've seen both only DDs twice since Christmas.

Original poster

UltramarineViolet · 22/08/2023 08:00

To those commenting on the burden of travelling to visit DC and elderly parents, yes this is something we will need to consider and ultimately may mean we don’t make the move North. It is also the reason why we can’t consider anywhere too far North such as the Highlands and Aberdeenshire coast.

Our decisions will very much depend where our DC settle in adult life and what their thoughts are about us relocating. I also need to consider my DPs.

OP posts:

DinnaeFashYersel · 22/08/2023 08:01

You could all that in Fife. Dunfermline or one of the coastal villages

Lonicerax · 22/08/2023 08:21

Perhaps the towns on the Solway Coast of Cumbria tick the boxes. I don't know them. Those east of Carlisle such as Brampton are nice. It means you are handy for the M6 and bigger railway station.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 22/08/2023 16:22

Helensburgh

caramacyears · 22/08/2023 17:02

Re: Scotland getting a lot of English retirees - The problem is that Scotland has an aging population and needs young families to redress the balance and fill jobs. Retiring here increases the burden for Scotland's caring budgets and workforce, so my comment was a thoughtful answer, not an insult to anyone.

ElthamLemur · 22/08/2023 17:19

caramacyears · 22/08/2023 17:02

Re: Scotland getting a lot of English retirees - The problem is that Scotland has an aging population and needs young families to redress the balance and fill jobs. Retiring here increases the burden for Scotland's caring budgets and workforce, so my comment was a thoughtful answer, not an insult to anyone.

There’s a big difference between identifying a trend at a macro level that may impact public spending and the economy overall, and suggesting that individual retirees coming to Scotland will be made to feel unwelcome. I imagine that individuals will only be made to feel unwelcome if certain people conduct “awareness campaigns” to highlight the impact of their migration to the country…

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 22/08/2023 17:42

Helensburgh is very nice and because of the nearby Naval base at Faslane has plenty of English people and folks from all over. It is only about 35 minutes to Airport as it is Helensburgh side of Glasgow. The only problem getting past Glasgow on M8/M74 south is between 8am -after 9am and again from 4.30-6pm any other time it takes about 45 minutes via A82 to get to M74 via Erskine Bridge going South which I do frequently due to Mother in the Midlands there is rarely any traffic North of Lancaster ( apart from Lake district in peak holiday but even then not bad) so if you leave at 7am or after 8.45 you will miss Glasgow traffic

Wbeezer · 22/08/2023 17:48

Another one suggesting Dumfries and Galloway as the property is more affordable than Perthshire etc.

caramacyears · 22/08/2023 17:59

ElthamLemur · 22/08/2023 17:19

There’s a big difference between identifying a trend at a macro level that may impact public spending and the economy overall, and suggesting that individual retirees coming to Scotland will be made to feel unwelcome. I imagine that individuals will only be made to feel unwelcome if certain people conduct “awareness campaigns” to highlight the impact of their migration to the country…

Show quote history

True. I have had to face these issues myself as an English retiree, and have realised that the macro and the micro intersect. The care system here is already under a huge strain due to lack of staff. As I am invested in the future of Scotland, I care about these and other issues which affect this country. I have had a little experience of hostility, but I can understand why when friends are having to go privately for social care.

caramacyears · 22/08/2023 18:05

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 22/08/2023 17:42

Helensburgh is very nice and because of the nearby Naval base at Faslane has plenty of English people and folks from all over. It is only about 35 minutes to Airport as it is Helensburgh side of Glasgow. The only problem getting past Glasgow on M8/M74 south is between 8am -after 9am and again from 4.30-6pm any other time it takes about 45 minutes via A82 to get to M74 via Erskine Bridge going South which I do frequently due to Mother in the Midlands there is rarely any traffic North of Lancaster ( apart from Lake district in peak holiday but even then not bad) so if you leave at 7am or after 8.45 you will miss Glasgow traffic

Good Peace Camp too

Original poster

UltramarineViolet · 22/08/2023 18:32

Thanks @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese - Helensburgh does appear to be somewhere that ticks all our boxes

@caramacyears I understand what you are getting at and agree that it is something to be considered. I am a healthcare professional myself who works with the frail elderly so am very familiar with the problems created by an ageing population! If we do move then it’s likely that I would be in my early to mid 50s so would be planning to continue working in the NHS for a few years before retirement so would hopefully be able to fully integrate into the community and not be seen as a burden on society. Should also point out that both DH and I are fit, healthy, non-smokers 😀

Having looked at NHS Scotland Jobs website there are plenty of job roles which I could apply for if we do move at some point

OP posts:

caramacyears · 22/08/2023 19:19

UltramarineViolet · 22/08/2023 18:32

Thanks @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese - Helensburgh does appear to be somewhere that ticks all our boxes

@caramacyears I understand what you are getting at and agree that it is something to be considered. I am a healthcare professional myself who works with the frail elderly so am very familiar with the problems created by an ageing population! If we do move then it’s likely that I would be in my early to mid 50s so would be planning to continue working in the NHS for a few years before retirement so would hopefully be able to fully integrate into the community and not be seen as a burden on society. Should also point out that both DH and I are fit, healthy, non-smokers 😀

Having looked at NHS Scotland Jobs website there are plenty of job roles which I could apply for if we do move at some point

I hope it all works out wherever you end up. Scotland is a beautiful country

Wbeezer · 22/08/2023 19:41

To the person saying Burntisland is a dump, it's now in the gentrifying sights of arty refugees from Edinburgh, seriously I know three different creative couples who have moved there in their 50s. I visited one, amazing lower conversion of huge Victorian villa with great sea views . It also has the twin harbingers of gentrification, a really good artisan bakery and a coffee roasters!

MrsFiddle · 22/08/2023 21:26

UltramarineViolet · 21/08/2023 16:56

@Gingerkittykat Thanks, that area looks like it might fit the bill, we might have to visit for a weekend to get a feel for it. Probably a silly question but do you pronounce Burntisland like ‘Burnt Island’ or Burn-tis-land?

Is Kirkcaldy worth looking at too?

They are both awful.

VioletPickles · 22/08/2023 21:28

Peebles, fits the bill perfectly.

bertiesgal · 22/08/2023 21:40

Lanark/ Biggar and their surrounding villages. Apologies if they have been suggested already. Decent property prices/ beautiful scenery and not too far north.

ItJustFellOutLikeWordVomit · 22/08/2023 21:42

I would go central but out of town…for me I would always chose a town near Glasgow over Edinburgh but I will say that’s biased 😂! Either way it’s easy to find a nice town outside the city that has it all beautiful views, lovely walks and just a nice feeling with property that is absolutely within the average earners wage.

I personally (hard hat on) think Perth etc is too far north to make it easy with trains etc. also the (light hearted) accent is…well… not to everyone’s taste to live with everyday 😂 though I’m sure they would feel the same about mine which is probably “harsh” in comparison…😂

Though in all seriousness, regardless I hope if you do move to Scotland you love where you land. IMO the majority of places you will live in Scotland will give you a far better property price than you will get in England which gives you the flexibility to make sure you are also in an area you love xx

ItJustFellOutLikeWordVomit · 22/08/2023 21:47

bertiesgal · 22/08/2023 21:40

Lanark/ Biggar and their surrounding villages. Apologies if they have been suggested already. Decent property prices/ beautiful scenery and not too far north.

This 1000%

Pancakebatter · 22/08/2023 21:48

ApolloandDaphne · 22/08/2023 07:46

I have one DD in London and one DD in Yorkshire. We live on the east coast of Scotland. I would agree that travelling to visit them is a real pain. It's both costly and time consuming so we only see them a few times each year. I've seen both only DDs twice since Christmas.

I’m in a similar position. We moved back to scotland and then found we are spending a lot of time on trains feeling frazzled. We are also missing out on our grandchild who sees the other grandparents far more often.
DC can’t come up much as it means using up precious holiday. It takes too long and costs too much for them so we end up doing all the travelling . If we stayed closer we could go for a weekend or they could come to us. It’s become a real source of stress. I’ve seen quite a few people in our situation move back down for similar reasons.

Covid really brought it home to us when we were literally in different countries and unable to travel to each other at all.

Just had a visit from one DC who complained constantly about how cold it is here and we couldn’t sit in the garden due to windy and chilly weather. In August!

Pancakebatter · 22/08/2023 21:50

The only time we saw them in our own house was at xmas. Two DC now spend alternate Xmases with their partners families . So even that option is off the table every second year. I hardly ever see one of them now.

Jeevesnotwooster · 22/08/2023 21:53

Helensburgh also has the sleeper to London. Every night except Saturday.

timtam23 · 22/08/2023 21:55

There are nice small towns in the area around Dumfries and I would think Castle Douglas sounds very similar to what you are looking for. Train/bus connections in the region aren't great but Dumfries has a train line to Carlisle where you can change to a mainline train, or there are a few mainline trains that stop at Lockerbie

Bumblebee112 · 22/08/2023 22:04

Ayrshire coast is definitely worth you getting to know. I see others have already mentioned Largs, West Kilbride and Troon.

Loads I’d walking and cycling routes around Largs and WK. Largs also has the Yacht Haven with a sailing club, and Inverkip marina is also only 15 mins away. There’s also Inverclyde Sports Center with loads of clubs/classes etc for a variety of sports.
Lots of stuff going on in the community too - and it’s very welcoming.
55 mins on the train gets you from Largs into Glasgow Central.

Piffpaffpoff · 23/08/2023 07:18

Wbeezer · 22/08/2023 19:41

To the person saying Burntisland is a dump, it's now in the gentrifying sights of arty refugees from Edinburgh, seriously I know three different creative couples who have moved there in their 50s. I visited one, amazing lower conversion of huge Victorian villa with great sea views . It also has the twin harbingers of gentrification, a really good artisan bakery and a coffee roasters!

I was literally coming on to say this - it definitely was a dump and like anywhere, it still has its moments, but the high street it showing lots of the classic signs of “on the up”. It has a butchers, greengrocers, coffee roasters, a few nice wee independent shops with the benefit of a beach, pool and a train station. It has some gorgeous houses too. I’d consider it. I’d also take a look at Aberdour and Limekilns in the vicinity.