Hoping to move to Scotland to give my kids some security

[Possiblytotallymad]

Hi, I’m in need of some help…. I’m a single parent to 2 young boys and I might be inheriting some money… about 150k from the death of a man who abused me. Because of this abuse I’ve never had a secure home, this money is my opportunity to create this for my children.

im looking for places I could move to and buy a house and a Scottish friend of mine has suggested the Isle of Sky. I essentially need a big outside space for my kids to run and play. I don’t like motorway driving but am absolutely fine in countryside.

before anyone says about needing a support network, I’ve never had one so it’s not something I’ll miss. I have no friends here either and quite honestly I grew up in the countryside and I feel like a caged animal. Goning back where I grew up isn’t an option because of the abuse it’s just to traumatic.I also absolutely hate renting and I could get a mortgage but having looked at property prices I think I should be able to get a 1 bed with a garden… which will be fine anything above that is a massive plus.

My question is really is their anywhere else apart from Sky people would recommend ? I definitely don’t want a city but I would like local ish (say within 60 min drive) kids for mine to play with. Needs to be somewhere that mixed race kids who don’t always behave themselves and who have ADHD will be at least tolerated l…. I’ve lived a few places before I had them that this wouldn’t be the case.

also please be kind…. This isn’t something I’m jumping into but is a way out and a fresh start so pls tread softly….

I grew up on a Scottish island and wouldn't recommend it for you. Housing is surprisingly expensive for what you get because you are competing with holiday homes. They are not racially diverse and have less access to support for SEN than more accessible areas.
No where in Scotland is far from country side so I would probably look at Ayrshire or Dumbarton as a start.
What kind of work do you do?

You will definitely need two bedrooms.
There are so many beautiful locations apart from Skye that are still commuting distance into Glasgow or another major town.
In winter ferry’s are frequently cancelled.
As your kids get older and want to access good high schools / colleges / apprenticeships etc then it’s best to be commuting to a town or city.

I get where you are coming from op, but a one bed, with two boys, on the Isle of Skye. They will be out of there as soon as they can be and then you will be totally isolated.

skye doesn’t sound like the best fit, the housing is surprisingly expensive and for lots of islands (and highland areas) you’re restricting yourself in terms of access to better education, health etc (and everyone always thinks they’re in good health until they’re not, I’m currently travelling hours for cancer treatment and appts and desperately looking to move. There’s lots of places near the central belt, outskirts of Stirling etc where you get that countryside feeling but with access to civilisation essentially and the health, education, kids activities, multicultural, gas grid, etc benefits that come with that

Someone's already suggested Fife. I'd agree. Forget about the McMansions that have gone up around some of the commuter towns: you should be able to get somewhere nice with a garden for the money you have available to you.

I'd say Fife. Plenty cheap property. Easy travel to Edinburgh and some ethnic diversity.

Though, aren't most folks on Skye English?!!! I wouldn't fancy living on Skye. Have visited but it is a different way of life there altogether. You can't even hang your washing out on Sundays without causing offence.

And - if you don't fit in - you will never be welcomed. Everyone knows everyone and everyone's business.

We relocated to County Durham (north east England) a few months ago. There's lovely rural areas with housing you could afford here. We are renting still, but hopefully we can buy in a few years (no chance where we moved from). We are 6 miles from Durham in lovely countryside, but only a bus ride away from the town/city if needed. Rural is great, but do think ahead to kids being secondary/college/uni age and what will be available for them in terms of public transport, colleges, university if they may want/need to live at home for that.

We moved from a gorgeous village that was fab for primary age, but when they got to teens we realised all the colleges were two buses/a bus and a train/hour long journey away, we had no buses at weekends, there were few jobs for 16/17y olds. Nearest university was too far to commute. Rents were too high from them to move out.

I spent over 2 years tirelessly researching areas to move to and what resources etc were available. We were put off Scotland due to the different school exams system as DD is secondary age and it would have been a challenge to switch from GCSE to their system, but she has a friend a few years younger who relocated there a year ago. They are more rural than us (and we moved from the same village) and I think the kids have struggled with the transition. Younger children would adapt better though.

I'd also suggest looking at 3 bedrooms, because they won't enjoy sharing once they're teenagers- my son's were 17 and 18 when we moved and were fully fed up of having no private space yet years off being able to move out. You can't rely on them leaving for uni at 18, as not all kids are suited to that.
We moved to a 4 bed so they could have a room each and stay at home as long as needed or to save for a deposit (we won't be able to help financially with that). Part of the reason for moving 300 miles for us was so we could give them that privilege, as we couldn't afford rent on a 4 bedroom where we were before.

Though, aren't most folks on Skye English?!!! I wouldn't fancy living on Skye. Have visited but it is a different way of life there altogether. You can't even hang your washing out on Sundays without causing offence.

The washing on a Sunday thing isn't true. Over on the western isles maybe, but not on Skye.

@Possiblytotallymad have a look at Carlisle and it’s surrounding areas, I know it’s a city but it’s a small city with a rural feel in areas. Good train access etc also and easy to get around by car etc. Property prices are very reasonable too!!

It was true as recently as 2006 (ok that is 20 years ago; where does the time go to!)

It’s a gorgeous area. But really nothing to do there except walk. The winters will be brutal.

I have family around half an hour away towards Oban. It's not for me but they love it. Definitely a lifestyle choice. I hope op's boys are on board. Best wishes to whatever decision is made.

You talked a lot about you but what about your kids? What about their friends and their support network? How do they feel about leaving everything they’ve ever known to live in the middle of nowhere where the schools might not be walking distance from their home? You need to think about this really carefully.

If you want to consider Aberdeenshire, look at www.aspc.co.uk

Enter all your filters for country areas. There's a fair few below £150k. Although as others have mentioned, bear in mind it's offers over £x.

Some villages do not have a shop. You get used to planning meals & not running out of milk. A reasonable size freezer is an essential, especially for winter. I've never been snowed in for more than a week, although nothing is guaranteed!
You will need a car.
There are plenty of villages that have regular buses and/or trains. This does have to be a consideration as the kids get older. Plan on paying for their driving lessons as soon as they hit 17.
If you live a distance from school, transport is provided. Most villages have a small primary school. A roll under 50 is not unusual in rural areas. They will then get a school bus to the nearest secondary school.

Don't be put off by a septic tank. Just budget for emptying annually.

Private water supply is common if you are outwith a village centre.

Council tax includes water rates. These are listed separately so if you have private supply/septic tank you obviously don't have to pay them.

So sorry you've been through so much OP, wishing a happy fresh start for you and your boys wherever you end up landing!
Whereabouts do you live currently, just thinking about factoring moving costs etc into any house purchase.

Sounds like you’ve been through a lot OP.

I am not going to lie to you and present that Scotland is ethnically diverse and that everyone here loves “the English.” This definitely isn’t the case despite the lovely progressive image we like to present to the world.

In terms of diversity the central belt is your best bet (Glasgow, Edinburgh, North & South Lanarkshire, East & West Dumbartonshire, Stirling, Falkirk, Lothians, Ayrshire)

In terms of scenery/rurality Perthshire, Dumfries & Galloway and Aberdeenshire are all great.

The Highlands are stunning but housing is scarce and expensive due to developers buying it all up to rent in air bnb (also a huge issue in Edinburgh). It also lacks opportunity for young people and your kids may struggle, it’ll feel like they’re landed on the moon

Agree with all previous posters that Skye would be a very very extreme and difficult move even for Scots. Yes there are plenty of English folks but if I’m being brutally honest most of them are wealthy retirees and artsy types. There’s also a huge housing crisis and resentment from locals that wealthier implants are buying up local stocks.

lots and lots to consider and I’d recommend spending some time in a few different areas before selecting somewhere to make your forever home! Good luck!!!

I wanted to add that sen services are not the same in Scotland and can be hit and miss. If your son has adhdyou might be best to prioritise finding somewhere good with that. There is no ehc plan in Scotland and young people can fall off a cliff education wise at 16.

I've been to Skye - stunning but I couldn't live there especially in the winter. My son lives in Fife - lovely countryside but close to Edinburgh. He's English and has never had any issues. If you really are set on Skye I would definitely try before you buy. Good luck whatever you decide

I'm glad things are looking up for you but Skye is expensive and very remote.
In your shoes I would look at the Central Belt. South Lanarkshire has some beautiful, scenic countryside and reasonably priced housing, with the advantage of being within easy reach of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Look up Clydesdale.
You might like the middle of nowhere but when your kids are teens/young adults, they will need access to jobs, training and further education.

There are lots of beautiful villages on the mainland. Round Stirling is beautiful.

The Isle of Skye is a bit of a random choice. It's a 2 hour drive to a city like Inverness and packed with tourists in summer. It would be very isolated in winter.

Other areas like Moray, Fife, Tayside, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire may be worth considering.

Elgin is a small town in Moray: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144517592#/?channel=RES_BUY

Cupar is in Fife: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153184001#/?channel=RES_BUY

Falkirk is between Edinburgh and Glasgow: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153771791#/?channel=RES_BUY

Good luck to you all it sounds like an exciting fresh start!

Here are the 10 cheapest places to buy by the sea. I would avoid Greenock and the two on the isle of Bute, but the others are worth considering and in your budget
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/homes-and-gardens/scottish-property-prices-2024-cheapest-places-property-coast-scotland-estate-agent-4638534?page=3

Skye is lovely but not somewhere I would choose to live. My friend moved there from Inverness and didn't last long there as the people were not welcoming.

Have you actually been to Scotland? There's lots of space here even very close to the cities. I live in the edge of Glasgow and have so much space on my doorstep. It was heaven in lockdown when we couldn't go far.

You don't need to choose a remote location to have space.

Morayshire is lovely. Elgin is a mid size town. You need to think about your boys growing up. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchLocation=Elgin%2C+Moray&useLocationIdentifier=true&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E478&radius=0.0&maxPrice=150000&_includeSSTC=on&includeSSTC=true or Lossiemouth...great beach there, small town https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchLocation=Lossiemouth%2C+Morayshire&useLocationIdentifier=true&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E869&buy=For+sale&radius=0.0&maxPrice=150000&_includeSSTC=on&includeSSTC=true