Advice on where to move to Scotland

[Tulvander12]

Thanks for taking the time to read. I'm currently trying to decide whereabouts in Scotland would be best suited for me to live permanently. I currently reside in the Lake District but I have always wanted to move and settle in Scotland. I've been to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Skye, and the Hebrides. I like the outdoors very much and I don't particularly have a hyped up lifestyle (I. E. I don't go out to parties or go out drinking or do major shopping) but I would still like some good company. Job is not an issue. I hopefully would like to raise my family there too so a town or village with large parks would be beneficial. I also would prefer to be in an area where there aren't many foreign students or tourists (I would really prefer to be an area where I can meet more of the Scottish locals... didn't get that in Edinburgh when I was there). On my list are some areas outside of Glasgow (Helensburgh/Hamilton/Dumbarton/Motherwell/any more?) and then Dumfries followed by Dundee then Inverness and then Portree in Skye. Any advice please? We are a young family with a very simplistic lifestyle.

Dalkeith is a lovely place, as is Dirleton, which is near the beach. Dalkeith is larger than Dirleton x

Helensburgh is the closest to Mumsnet naice on your Glasgow list.

The borders and East Lothian are both lovely places

Midlothian and East Lothian are lovely. Lots of country parks (eg Dalkeith Country Park and Vogrie Park), lovely beaches and lots of local produce.

Close enough to Edinburgh to travel by car/train/bus.

Completely depends on budget and housing requirements really! There’s a HUGE variety in likely costs in the areas you’ve listed eg. Inverness, Dundee, Motherwell - pretty reasonable, Helensburgh - expensive, Portree - less housing stock so may be tricky to get what you want, etc etc. Could you give us some guidance about what you’re looking for?

Dumfries and Galloway doesn’t get overly flooded with tourists really and there is a lot of walking and beautiful coastline, also within 1.5-2hours of Glasgow/ 2 hours from Newcastle / 45 mins from Carlisle.

I grew up in Hamilton. It's a nice town and the parks are good but, like everywhere, there are good and bad areas. I now live in the carluke/Lanark area (which is just a couple towns over from hamilton) and I like it a lot more. Hamilton obviously has the shops and the parks but the people here are nicer and the walking trails are lovely.

And depending on the ages of your kids, the leisure centre in Carluke is fantastic for sports clubs for primary age and you can book into as many as you like if you get an ACE membership for £25 a month.

Living in Portree would be totally different from any of your other options - it’s something you’d need to consider.

Personally I’d say East Lothian or East neuk of Fife.

Personally I wouldn’t pick Dumbarton or Motherwell. Portree is wonderful but there would be lots of tourists in the summer. Dumfries and Galloway is lovely - castle Douglas is nicer than Dumfries. Peebles is a lovely place to stay and only 20 miles to Edinburgh.
Climate in the west milder but much wetter.

Aberdeenshire

Stirling/Stirlingshire. Brilliant place to raise kids, outdoor activities aplenty, lovely parks and there isn't a sport or activity I can think off that isn't catered for. Great schools and you can be in Edinburgh or Glasgow or the beach within an hour and you can mountain bike or walk in the hills from your front door. We even have a Waitrose...

I live about half an hour north on Inverness. Far enough out to be the country but close enough to go to town for shopping and events.
Live it up here. The dc can go out and play and call on friends the kids around here don’t only play on their street right at their front door they roam a bit.
Good schools primary and secondary locally. Good local shops, lots of outdoor places and parks. Love it here. I was an incomer about 20 years ago and moved away for work but came back. People are friendly and the children have much more freedom up here. There are loads of activities and clubs around here for them too so never bored.

If I were moving to Scotland I would pick somewhere like Helensburgh or Killearn - near Glasgow, near Loch Lomond and near the Trossachs, also not so far from Stirling or Edinburgh.

I really like Killearn although I suspect it is a bit grim in the winter so being a bit nearer to a big city would probably suit me better.

I also like Bridge of Allan.

Not so keen on Fife. Especially St Andrews - sorry but completely overrated (and full of tourists which you said you'd like to avoid). Much prefer Stirling.

The Borders are nice too and you have the railway now which opens it up.

Definitely Stirling needs to be on your list.

Dundee/Broughty Ferry/ Carnoustie

Perth

Dunfermline

All fit your criteria...

Dumbarton is awful, don't touch it.
From what you say I think Helensburgh would be a great fit for you.

Newtonmore or Kingussie.

Stirling thats where im from. Its got lovely walks and plenty of activties for kiddies etc.the trosaachs are close by and lovely to visit x

Motherwell is horrible, don't move there. Hamilton is much nicer with lots to do, it obviously has bad areas but so does everywhere.

Agree with previous poster - Carluke or Lanark are nicer. I'd say Lanark is nicer though and has better shops (I'm from there so biased !) but Carluke is cheaper for housing.

If South Lanarkshire is what you're thinking I'd look at Strathaven ? It's a lovely traditional market town with a beautiful park and individual shops but also a Sainsburys you'd need a car though as it doesn't have a train station but only a15 minute drive to East Kilbride, a big town with lots of shops, cinema, theatre, sports centres and two stations. Might be worth looking there too.

Again it depends on budget and whether you are keen to be in good school catchments or private school areas.

You say you want to be near "real Scottish people" but the northern and western isles are chocca full of lovely English people who moved here for the same reasons you want to.

I'd say NO to Motherwell and Hamilton and Dumbarton. Helensburgh is fine.

Stirlingshire and Perthshire are lovely and central. But depending on area can be pricey. Crieff, Dunblane, Bridge of Allen are all nice wee towns with plenty of surrounding country and good schools.

Renfrewshire can be nice if you go further out to Howwood, Kilbarchan,Bridge of Weir.

If you choose Glasgow itself, the southside is cheaper and less touristy/studenty than posher west end. Areas like Shawlands, Newlands, Battlefield and Langside are fairly affordable, near to lovely big parks and good transport links.

East Fife is lovely. Lundin Links, Elie, Pittenweem and St.Andrews . Nice countryside, the sea and decent schools.

The Black Country up near Inverness is also fabulous.

Let us know if you narrow your search a bit.

East Kilbride has great parks, as does Hamilton

If you really want quiet go farther than Inverness to a place called helmsdale really quite but not too far to go shopping in Inverness. It has stunning views and friendly locals. Also has wild deer roaming about. I would love to end up living there at some point.

Perth is nice
Dunbar
Kelso

Thank you all for your incredible help and advice. I really appreciate it. We have looked at the maps up in the areas mentioned and did a light discussion. We as a family really enjoyed our holiday up in Inverness two years ago and we have looked at places like Elgin, Dingwall, Rothes, and Muir of Ord. We did not manage to spend too much time visiting these ideas but they were really nice to walk around. However, we have also had a look at places around Stirling and Dundee which has also peaked our interest but haven't been able to decide where best around this area as we dont know it fairly well. Bridge of Allan, Dunfermline, Tullibody, Muthill, Alloa, and Bannockburn are some options. Any thoughts/ options? Thank you.

Avoid Alloa and Tullibody, in Stirling Cambusbarron is lovely out of the city a bit
Doune or Dunblane are lovely too
Wouldn’t live in Dundee but St. Andrews is lovely. I work in lanarkshire so wouldn’t live that direction but my mum has been looking at strathaven which is lovely.

I’m from up north - near Inverness but wouldn’t move back now too far away for me these days.