Best areas to consider for a move to rural Scotland

[BeaEvans]

Hi all,
I've been gathering info for quite a while about places to go and look at to potentially move to in Scotland next year, and just thought I'd ask for some help on here. I've visited a fair number of areas and islands over the years, and lived in SW Scotland for a year a while back - I am unfortunately finding it hard to narrow it down as there are so many pros to so many inland and coastal places. If anyone would like to tell me why they think an area is absolutely brill to live in and why, I'd love to hear it. I'm late thirties, love walking, birdwatching, nature, poetry, coffee with a view, friendly people, and creative/environmental events. I'd be looking to live somewhere more rural but either with a good amount going on nearby, or within an hour train/drive from somewhere that does. I appreciate that's not much to go on re weather/terrain expectations etc, but I'm really just interested in hearing individual views I may not have already considered. Thanks so much in advance.

No idea but we’ve broken down in Lochaline today and the tyre replacement is taking 8.5 hours!!!

Perthshire. If I had to live somewhere rural, that's where I would choose.

I would second Perthshire if I wasn’t bothered about being by the coast. Rural but not a million miles from civilisation.

Perthshire. Lots of great rural areas but not too far from Edinburgh and Glasgow and Inverness.

From your description of what you’re looking for the answer is Skye.

East Neuk of Fife sounds right up your street

Beat me to it, I was going to say exactly this.

Slightly biased as I’m from there and my parents still live there, but Perthshire 😂.

my sister recently moved to the Borders though, and it’s lovely down there too.

Moray is lovely. Beautiful coast, lovely towns and if you choose carefully, train to Aberdeen and/or Inverness in under an hour.

Lochaline slowly peniclled off the list..haha! But omg really hope they get you sorted soon and you've got some nice coffee!

Thanks so much! Def need to research this area

Thank you!!!

A lot might depend on your budget for rent / mortgage

Sounds great to get to everywhere, thank you, will research!

Thanks, yes, I've been keeping an eye on rightmove!

I've been looking at the Moray coast, as you say, stunning and so much beautiful nature. I am wondering how i'd feel about the hour or so less of light each day compared with lower down the country, but i'm sure I'd get used to it. Any particular parts you'd recommend? I've heard Cullen is a nice place to live?

Haha amazing, def need to check out Perthshire. Have been thinking about borders too, just too many good places! Any particular area of Perthshire that stands out? Looking at it though, its all gorgeous.

Amazing, thanks. I've been seriously considering this area, not least for the abundance of tide pools!

Oo thank you, I've been looking at this area a lot. Everything I read about the East coast seems laced with info about gold courses, and of course I get that they're an important part of the community and what the area has to offer - but is it too much for someone who isn't into golf, or is it barely noticible and just a tourist draw so all the websites talk about it perhaps?

Oo, although I love Skye I'd never actually considered it...I'll take a good look, thank you

I’d look at the Borders. I don’t live there but I have family that do, and visit a lot for work. Lovely party of the country, but not that far from Edinburgh (and Newcastle airport is doable as an alternative to Edi Airport for flights).

More like 6 hours

Moray. Lossiemouth area. Stunning.

It’s maybe an hour or so less light in the winter, but an hour or more of extra light in the summer - it balances out, and it gets more sunshine than a lot of Scotland - some call it the north coast riviera!

Cullen is great, Banff etc, but also more inland - Huntly/Keith - both have stations that make them very accessible to the rest of the country, without a car.

Perthshire:

Dunning
Auchterarder
Forgandenny
Aberfeldy
Pitlochry
Dunkeld
Comrie