Looking for a home - near water

[ExpatMrs]

Hello,
Looking to move back home to Scotland after 15 years overseas. DH wants to live near water. My only real want is a decent school. We have a 10yo DC. Private school financially not an option.
Now, when searching on RightMove etc. it's easy to go round the coast (and I have been lingering on Dunoon... albeit I have never been in my life!) but wondering if I am missing any nice places along a riverside or lochside?
Fully accept that my home country knowledge is poor.🙄
Any recommendations for places to check out? TIA

N Berwick seems the obvious choice to me if you can afford it.

Fife-stunning along the East Neuk

While Dunoon is lovely it is quite remote. Have a look at Helensburgh, which is similar but with much better for connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The state secondary school is Hermitage Academy but I can’t comment if it is currently good or not. Maybe someone else can?

Would your budget stretch to this? I don’t think it fits your criteria, just a bit of watery-house porn to ogle at really.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144847802#/?channel=RESBUY

Kirkcubright might be worth a look tho.

@MurdoMunro That’s amazing!

Could see myself living here as a happy recluse.

To be honest I would buy it for the red squirrel alone.

Adds lottery tickets to shopping list...

How about Deeside, Banchory maybe?

North Berwick if your budget will stretch to it. As others have said Helensburgh is also a good option.

My dh works in Dunoon (we don’t live there, he commutes from Glasgow).
Dunoon Grammar has a druggie reputation and not great results. I’d avoid (hence the commute!!).

Thank you to all - much appreciated. It is clear that much more research is needed on the school front... the watery outlook request wouldn't trump that.

The other night we ended up at the Lake District on our search 😆We are not actually tied to returning to Scotland, it's just where we are both from but would live anywhere in the UK if it were the right place.

There's great suggestions for us to look further into.

Please check environmental flood map, insurance, any subsidence of local properties, and projected sea level rise..

Central Belt isn't a must-have. Where are your roots or family? Any near water that is good to live near?

What about the Moray coast? Hopeman, burghead, Lossiemouth and Findhorn are all very close to elgin and commutable to inverness, with aberdeen just under 2 hours away. Places like Cullen and Portsoy are lovely but a little more remote. Much drier here than in the west coast and virtually no midgies!

NE coast, north or east of Inverness. Nice weather by Scottish standards. Nairn, Black Isle, that kind of locale.

I'd really not suggest Dunoon to anyone.