Relocating advice

[Nland85]

Hi, relocating to Scotland in the next 6 months. DH will be home based mostly but regular travel to offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow 1x or 2x weekly.

6 and 3 year old so schools (probably not private) really important. Looking at good family areas, activities for children now and as they get older.

Budget upto £700k.

Early thoughts are East Lothian coast (but Glasgow less accessible), Linlithgow or Glasgow suburbs. We would probably prefer proximity to Edinburgh over Glasgow (but this is based on better knowledge of Edinburgh I think) but obviously prices are quite different.

Any thoughts?

Stirling/Bridge of Allan/Dunblane.

Central for both Glasgow and Edinburgh. Family friendly, decent schools, loads of stuff to do.

East Lothian coast lovely and schools fine but getting to Glasgow would involve the Edinburgh city bypass which can be a nightmare.

With your criteria and budget it's got to be Linlithgow.
Fast trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow, excellent schools, loads of activities for kids, lovely market town, far enough east that you've not crossed the "rain line"

Linlithgow or Dunblane. Good motorway and public transport links, nice towns, good schools.
Dunblane a bit smaller, leafier and quieter, ( but close to Stirling) access to lovely countryside.
Linlithgow bigger with bigger range of shops and things to do.

I'd second that. You could get a really nice place in any of those areas on a budget of £700k.

Getting to Glasgow from the East Lothian coast would be a total ballache.

You could also buy in Edinburgh itself with that budget. Or even Queensferry. You don't have to pick a mid-point necessarily and there's also a reliable train service between Glasgow and Edinburgh which eliminates the need for the A720 at all.

I'm thinking Cramond Village or Corstorphine are both nice areas, but you could probably even afford Morningside if you wanted it.

What about the Fife side of the water, somewhere like Burntisland or Aberdour. Loads to do for kids and decent commuting either way.

Agree with all those suggestions

Linlithgow is the absolute best for transport links

Stirling, Bridge of Allan,, Dunblane. On the Fife coast - Aberdour, Burntisland, Limekilns, Charlestown all great. Edinburgh suburbs - Currie, Balerno, Colinton, Juniper Green

East Lothian - if you need to get to Glasgow regularly I'd rule that out.

To add Cramond and South Queensferry

Thanks, loads of great suggestions so far. Edging towards Linlithgow or the west side of Edinburgh.

East Lothian does still appeal and given east coast main line proximity which could be useful for visiting family but it does look to be a frustrating drive/train to Glasgow which could be 1x weekly.

Bit apprehensive about a new build, but it seems the easiest way to move from England. Cala estate in Linlithgow looks decent, any feedback from anyone? Or the Cala and David Wilson at Cammo Meadows.

Having said that driving to Glasgow from East Lothian is a pain, which it is, train is not so bad. And there is a lot to appeal, mainly the sea!

About 1hr 30 to Glasgow on the train from N.Berwick or Dunbar, not a journey you would want to do daily but 1x weekly wouldn’t be too bad….not a lot for sale in N.Berwick, Gullane etc at the minute.

the Cala and David Wilson at Cammo Meadows.
Plus side of these is that they seem to be in the school catchment for Royal High which is one of the best state secondary schools in Edinburgh. Downside for me would be the traffic was awful down that road before all those houses were built, and it's not got a great bus service. They've rerouted the no.41 to stop outside the development on Maybury Road but other than the 43 South Queensferry bus which comes along Queensferry Road, all other the other bus services along Q'Rd are the longer distance stagecoach buses (some might stop at Maybury junction though).

Cala is also building in South Queensferry at the moment and has a new build site in Winchburgh coming. Keep an eye on pre loved new builds in Balerno, Currie, Ratho, Corstorphine & South Queensferry. People’s lives change and often move within the 10year NHBC warranty which can be attractive to buy, if the areas appeal. Would not consider East Lothian if had to commute to Glasgow even once a week. Not worth the hassle or expense, plenty of other places to live.

Re schools , there are good primary schools in all the areas I mention above. Currie is getting a new build secondary school due to open in 2025 I think?

There is a lot of change going on with catchments in West Edinburgh. There is a possibility that the Maybury developments will not stay in Royal High Catchment, but will move to a new West Edinburgh high school, yet to be built. Keep an eye on Edinburgh Council website for catchment change proposals.

Jordanhill and Scotstoun area are worth looking at for Jordanhill School catchment area

I love East Lothian, you can't beat coastal life. There are never many houses for sale in NB/Gullane. What comes up tends to sell quickly. If you want to buy right away and not rent then I agree that new builds would be the way to go. I previously looked at the new builds in Linlithgow. They would be a definite contender for me. The high school in linlithgow consistantly scores well in terms of exam results and its a nice town. Cammo meadows to me feels quite far out and cut off - you dont have the benefit of being a short walk from a bussling High St so its like a giant housing estate beside a busy road thats not a pleasant drive to get anywhere. I personally wouldnt consider moving there and even more so if pp is correct and they are considering changing the school boundaries. I always feel like people pay a bit more to be in a good catchment but if this isnt guaranteed id be more wary. The school might have otherwise swayed the negatives. I like Corstorphine and Cramond but agree might be challenging agreeing a sale from England if you are still to sell, you would need to get a bus to the station to get to Glasgow which would be tiresome every week. Id be surprised if you got something in morningside and again, not handy for the station. If it was me id say NB/Linlithgow - maybe Dunblane. Linlithgow cala houses seem a good and simple option.

Re Jordanhill School in Glasgow, a pp on a different thread posted a link saying not only do you need to live in catchment but theres also a waiting list. Parents in the area put babies on the list so i cant see the older child getting in. And living in Glasgow and working in Edinburgh twice a week would be a pain.

The Maybury Road and Queensferry Road are incredibly polluted and jammed with traffic all the time. Worth bearing in mind.

I nearly posted about Jordanhill, my DB moved into catchment when DN was 3 or 4, she got the last spot on the waiting list for her year group.