Relocating to Aberdeen - anything I should take into account?

[MadAdopter]

I am hoping to relocate from Wiltshire to NE Scotland in the next 12 months or so with my 6 year old daughter. School choices (private) all seem to be in the city so need advice on commuting from villages as we don't want to live in the city, looking for a rural property as we have lots of animals.

Research seems to suggest driving into central Aberdeen is easy, but is this true?

Are there any areas that are better for commuting by car from?

All suggestions welcome as it feels a bit overwhelming at first not knowing the area well yet.

Thanks!

I met a lot of anti- English sentiment when I was up there.

Random comment but if you go in March, comicon is on :) ...I may be a little excited haha. Was just looking at hotels just now xD

Yes Amazon prime works in Aberdeen 🤣

Really? Ooh, will check it out thanks!

Yay! But no Ocado......:-(

Really, in what way?

Hahaha
Yeah it's not a backwater.

It makes it to inverness too. Which imo is a better bet. Aberdeens alright for a visit but I think I'd maybe find it a bit depressing with all that granite after a while. Inverness is beautiful.

She's only 6. The school doesn't really matter for about another decade. Also I think they have a posh school in Inverness right? Charlton or something like that...

If you're into rewilding then possibly supporting local businesses would chime better than using Amazon Prime (which does exist here). John Lewis does deliver here even tho they no longer have a shop in Aberdeen.

Yep, do both where I can but can't get everything locally (not where I live now in rural Wiltshire)

With ref to Inverurie/Alford/Oldmeldrum - they were all snowed in for days around New Year and the roads were awful. Have colleagues who live in all these places. Banchory is nice and the schools have a good reputation. Inverurie/Kintore/Kemnay have all expanded in recent years. Alford can be a difficult commute as no train station and the buses didnt run for a week.

We lived near Stonehaven and now closer to Dundee - consider Angus ?

This might sound obvious but - it’s cold. Dont underestimate how much colder and damper it will be than Wiltshire. And how much darker the days are in the winter, which will feel even worse in the granite city. Be prepared for both! On the upside, longer daylight in the summer.

Im also wondering why you chose Aberdeen. Have you explored a few places?

You sound surprised, is that not something you’re expecting to come across?

Charleston sounds posh but it’s a shithole 😂 this did make me chuckle though!

Really? We went to school about half an hour away and always referred referred them as posh-os lol. Don't they have fancy little blazers too?
Then again, that was a good 20 years ago.

Driving into central Aberdeen is a nightmare. The LEZ is not always clearly signposted and that's before we even mention the bus gates so you can get a fine notice through the post and not even realise you've transgressed.

Union Street is a building site, the so-called "improvements" are years behind schedule, not that it matters as there are bugger all shops worth going to.

Public transport is a joke, if you're used to the English £3 flat fare anywhere, prepare to pay £4.50 to go a couple of miles.

What do you have to go to the Central Belt for that you can’t do in Aberdeen?

I have visited Scotland and never had this issue (but not Aberdeen yet), but then I am not the sort of person who is easily intimidated or offended so maybe I just didn't notice/care.
I don't tolerate anyone who is racist or hostile towards minorities of any kind, and we are very friendly to Scots down here :-) I am surprised it would put someone off living there I suppose.

I don't understand why you want Aberdeen when the company you are interested in is nowhere near there.

Tayvallich Estate — Highlands Rewilding

And this is a company, with limited volunteering things going on, There are plenty of charities to be involved with all over. The website you linked does look suspiciously like some sort of corporate vapourware "carbon offset" thing.

Quote from their site " OSPREY is an Operating System Partnership for Rewilding that can help you develop nature-positive and profitable land use models, monetising your natural assets and ecosystem services through the carbon sequestration and biodiversity uplift opportunities of rewilding. We partner for long term nature restoration and a win-win share of natural capital uplift profits."

That's a for profit company. That's not a wildlife preservation thing.

I live in rural Wiltshire, there is no public transport, or motorways. We have to drive everywhere, on roads full of potholes so I am used to it taking ages to get anywhere.

Yes I know I have worked with lots of wildlife conservation charities in England who are also working with companies to invest in green capital - this is one of them yes - if you read other posts you will see why I am considering Aberdeen. These types of programmes benefit wildlife.

@MadAdopterA lot will depend on budget. Certain areas are way more pricey than others, particularly if you head to the west. I grew up on Royal Deeside and would always recommend it if you are looking for rural living. Banchory is fine, but Aboyne is lovely. It’s not too far from the city (about 40 minutes) and despite the doom mongers here, it’s a far easier city to drive into and park than pretty much any other city I’ve been to. I used to laugh when my mum bemoaned the rush hour traffic that held her up for 15 minutes. That’s a good day in Edinburgh!

I’d second the comments about considering state primary. The rural schools in Aberdeenshire are pretty decent and a real part of the community. A fair few of the kids I was at primary school with went on to private for secondary school.

It’s also worth noting that some of the private schools have buses. For example Robert Gordon’s have buses from Westhill, Peterculter and Ellon and these are shared with some of the other independent schools.

Tbh I've seen far more racisim in England to Scots that I ever witnessed the other way round. 3 or 4 times the amount perhaps.

But English kids might find they get it so that it something to consider. As she's young though she may ouck up the Scottish accent pretty quick and then it won't be a problem.

This is quite rare though. This year has been unusually snowy. It’s been over a decade since that last happened.

So your interest in re-wilding is not all about nature ? It's about making a profit from it ?

I would be looking at the area between Aberdeen and Banchory. Banchory will be a big commute to city centre for schools. Banchory is lovely though as is Stonehaven. Both really nice communities.
Also look around the Netherley area. This will give you the space for your animals.