Where to relocate to in Scotland from London

[AutumnLoves]

Hi everyone,

bit of a background story. I’m currently a 24 year old student in London. I have really had enough of living here but to no one’s surprise, it’s bloody expensive to get out. My uni is just outside london so I’m still at home, the prices near my uni aren’t cheap either and still have a London vibe to it so I’m not going to bother wasting more money moving out there.

frustratingly enough, majority of the careers that I’m hoping to get a degree in is predominantly in cities so I will have to stay somewhat local to a city.

im attracted to the Scottish highlands. I love the idea of a rural life and think the mountains and lochs are gorgeous. House prices aren’t too bad and think it would really help mine and my boyfriend’s mental healths. I don’t have any children right now but hope to one day in the future. Is the highlands ok for schools? The small amount of schools I’ve looked at look a little underfunded unfortunately but I could be very wrong.

is it silly of me to think I could have the Scottish highland home life but work mon - Fri in a big Scottish city without the troubles of commuting??

please please please give me some advice as I’m absolutely desperate to get out of here!! Thanks :) x

I’m not there now, but I relocated to Scotland from the south east years ago and it was the best thing I ever could’ve done.
I've lived in Edinburgh, and Inverness and own a home in Nairn. There is no reason to not go. Just do it. Life is too short. Certainly there will be hard times but you’ll have them where you are too. Carpe diem.

I always find it a bit strange when people are so keen to live somewhere they've never even visited. You could maybe try and get a summer job here and see how you like it, there will be opportunities in the cities and the Highlands. But bear in mind it will be very different in the winter!

I live in Helensburgh OP. It is a very good town to raise a family in, perfectly located and great train links to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

But, you're young and you don't know this country at all. I think you have to take some time to travel around Scotland and get a feel for different towns/cities.

I don't know what you mean by this or how on earth you think this would fit with raising a family:

is it silly of me to think I could have the Scottish highland home life but work mon - Fri in a big Scottish city without the troubles of commuting??

I would also suggest that making such a big move with your boyfriend isn't a great idea. How long have you been together?

Why don't you finish your degree and take some time to travel the country and then see how you feel. If your degree is going to tie you to city life and you don't want that then have a think about why you're studying for that degree. I'd be having a think about something more flexible where you can work from home.

I think visiting and finding where you feel at home and then making a plan would be a start.

I’m from the Highlands, but live in Stirling and work in Edinburgh, which I love. I studied in Edinburgh when I first moved south so loving being back. I’ve also worked in Glasgow. I miss home though - I miss the beach massively. I hope you find what and where makes you happy op.

@SilverBranchGoldenPears I’m from Nairn, am quite jealous of you having a house there. I’ve not been home for a long time due to no family there. But planning a trip soon with the dog.

Hmmmm. Out of all the struggles in life here, weather would be way down the list

I live closer to Helensburgh and that's where I think would tick off some of your requirements. I'd also consider looking at towns between Stirling and Perth, as you say you don't mind commuting there are lovely spots there

Stirling, or one of the villages nearby would be a good compromise.

To have countryside you don't need to be far out of Glasgow. We're 8 miles (20 minutes) from the centre and have direct views of the local hills which are "decent" for local walks. Plenty of villages within 10 miles of central Glasgow are literally on the Campsie Fells so can walk up a 500m hill/ridge from your house. We'd need to bike...

Bit further out you have Balfron (has high school with good reputation) or Fintry, surrounded by hills but probably 40 minutes from centre.

Keeping options open would be Falkirk/Stirling area, around 30-40 minutes commute to Edinburgh and Glasgow, probably has the best road up to "Highlands" from central belt, if you ignore Ben Lomond as a bit of an outlier.

Where I live we are 2 hours from Glenshee, little closer to Glencoe and a little further to Aviemore (time is more relevant than distance) so day trips to most of the Highlands are eminently possible even with young kids.

I've not found the weather too bad, Glasgow weather is best described as "definite" as if it's a wet day it's really wet and you have no regrets around hunkering down inside for the day. The nice days are really nice though! Would advise some visits to both Glasgow and Edinburgh in winter and summer and see how it feels.

First thing to check is that you have a good idea of house prices - those listed on Rightmove are not what houses sell for, there is an Offers Over system here. Depending on where you want to move to, houses can go for the survey valuation to up to 20% over the valuation. Something to bear in mind when you are saving for the deposit.

Secondly, do you want wild rugged countryside or gentle hills or coast?

Thirdly, I would visit the Highlands and see how you feel driving the roads. There are long distances between places and not always a great road network. It may look like an hour between places but take longer due to adverse weather or when tourist season ramps up.

But you do need to visit. Make sure you do like the country before your imagination takes over.

This isn't to push you away, more to be realistic. I get the desperation to move away, but that can sometimes cloud reality.