Inverness vs Nairn take 2

[WorthyReader]

Which is better for a family to move to?
I have just posted but people seemed confused and seriously thought I was moving because my child wants to 🤦‍♀️
As mentioned in the old post I have previously asked what it is like moving up from Lincolnshire to Inverness. My parents already live up here and we are now in a position to seriously start looking at houses. My 8 year old was previously unsure but is now onboard board with the move.
We had driven around Inverness today having visited multiple times and just discovered a new estate Inverness side of Nairn to look at tomorrow.
Any thoughts? Pros and Cons. Nairn is not an area I know well

I used to live in Inverness.
It's got excellent transport links, a very good hospital and some very beautiful houses.

Thank you it is so beautiful up here we have been looking at moving for about a year but are now in a position to really start the process so would love opinions on any area to focus on or avoid

I had commented on your other thread. Nairn is a nice place to live. I think it will grow hugely in the next few years with the free port at Ardersier. But wherever you live around Inverness, you will be in and out all the time. I guess it will mostly depend on where you end up working and how close you want to be to family.

I live in Inverness and friends who live outside Inverness say they spend a lot of time coming to Inverness when there kids get older as there are more activities for them.

Nairn is nice and has a beautiful beach but the beach isnt much good in the winter. Its a pretty little town but is more limited for activities.

Inverness has a lot more on offer activity wise. It has a skate park, innoflate, trampoline park, a few large nice parks, pools etc. Which area are you thinking in Inverness? Are you renting or buying?

Hello thank you that’s what we thought we went to Nairn yesterday and it helped us decide on Inverness. We have had a look at Inshes, Westhill, Cradlehall and Milton of Leys seem nice. We would be buying a property. Open to new builds and older houses. I mainly want an area with a good shop, maybe park and school

Thank you, my husband will be based in Inverness and I’ll need to find a part time job once we have moved. I currently work as part of the pastoral team in a school (not a teacher, I work in welfare and behaviour)

Having kids myself I would say staying in Inverness is better long term for activities etc.

I am fairly familiar with all the schools on the side of the city you looked at.

Milton of leys area is nice but has become littered since Macdonalds opened. The school is meant to be fine though has had issues with retaining a head teacher ( a few years of acting head teachers). Although overall has positive feedback from parents.

Inshes area again nice area but very littered since the Macdonalds opened. Inshes school is dreadful and has a well known bullying problem. Inshes Park is nice although very littered again which is sad as it was once lovely.

The Milton of Leys and Inshes community council and many locals are trying to sort out the issues with litter. However its part of a larger issue such as no bins in the area etc. It is handy for the retail park because it has gyms, shops etc but Inshes road can be used a bit of rat run for cars at times so maybe if your looking to buy a house make sure its well back from Inshes road.

West Hill is a nice area but I have heard mixed reports about Smithton school but nothing overly negative.

Cradlehall is nice and I believe the school is fine.

Westfield and Cradlehall are in Culloden secondary catchment area.

Inshes and Milton of leys are in Milburn academy secondary catchment.

I would look at Duncan Forbes Primary in Culloden and Drakies Primary in Drakies. Both are excellent schools but well sought after so you may need to be in catchment for them.

Ness Castle Primary is further out towards Dores but is excellent. Holm Primary is meant to be very good to. Both Inverness Royal Academy secondary catchment. Ness Castle is a new area so has a lot of families. Although the nearest shop is Tesco which is a bit of a walk.

Not all schools have breakfast club and after school clubs so if that's a factor check with the individual school.

We are considering moving to Inverness as well, since my DH already works there. We were considering Crown which we heard had an excellent primary and I think is Milburn catchment. Not sure if you’ve considered it? Seems to have slightly older houses but characterful. We currently live really rurally and are in the car a lot for kids activities so would echo the idea of bring more in town. I am also hesitant to be too rural in the Scottish highlands as I wouldn’t want to be too cut off in case of bad weather (originally from the SE of England although moving from elsewhere).

This is so helpful thank you so much! We don’t like Nairn, think we prefer to be closer to Inverness.
out of interest what is Alness like? I appreciate it is further out but it seems we can get a lot more for our money that way. So just wondering if it is worth considering or not

Oh brilliant! Yeah we have heard Crown seem to be good as well. My husband has an interview for transfer in May and we may have to move quick after that. I’m so worried about not finding the right house quick enough and having to settle

Alness will have the same issue in the sense that its very limited for things to do as your kids get older. I have a few friends who live out that way and most spend a lot of time commuting in and out of Inverness for activities. Alness has some nice areas but still quite a small town mentality. It does have some lovely hills etc for walks. It also has quite a large drug problem. Its not somewhere I would live Personally particularly if your working in Inverness as the traffic can be horrendous in the summer due to tourists

Crown is meant to be fine. I know people with kids there and all have positive feedback abouy it. It was a school i considered for my children but its just to far away from my house.

Thank you that rules Alness out then doesn’t sound like somewhere we would want to live especially with the drugs.
if we did have to move a bit further out is there anywhere you would recommend?

I think most places you go outside of Inverness will mean the same situation. Unfortunately our roads are not great and can be very busy so this also makes it more difficult. You could look at out towards Kirkhill area however when it comes to your child going to secondary they will have to get the bus to Inverness as its Charleston secondary catchment. Ardeseir is another option but again pupils have to go to Inverness for secondary. The other thing to consider is offers over on houses which can add on a fair amount to house prices.