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.

Oh, yeah! Strathaven is lovely. And they have a hot air balloon festival every year and the gala day is wonderful. It's a really lovely little place.

Stirling is really beautiful as well. I remember driving over to a client's house and the one next door was for sale. The area was just so pretty that I looked up the estate agent and viewed the house! Very tempting but we ended up buying in Carluke to be closer to family.

Bridge of Allan would be the pick of the stirlingshire and local areas you've said but yes, also consider doune, dunblane, cambusbarron, gargunnock, riverside, torbrex, new estates cornton, causwayhead. Dollar, tillicoultry also nice. If you see anything in particular, is be happy to give any local knowledge if I can.

I wouldn't live in Dunfermline. It's a large town now with loads of new builds and the town centre is pretty down at heel.

Nairn, Forres, Elgin (and nearby smaller towns and villages eg. Fochabers, Cullen, Burghead, Findhorn) are all great, really underrated (and with the exception of Findhorn) provide really good value for money. State schooling also good. Coastline and beaches really beautiful, easy access to the Highlands, and Inverness and Aberdeen provide big city facilities within easy reach. The Aberdeen bypass has totally transformed journey times from the central belt too.

Stirling itself is really nice, also Dunblane, Bridge Of Allan, Doune.

Have you thought about Callander ? A but further north but a beautiful town in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park so great access to the countryside. Not too far from Stirling either for shops etc

Just to give opinion about Renfrewshire - I was brought up in Bridge of Weir - nice village/small town with 2-3 good restaurants and cafes, gift shops, small co-op. Good schools and in the country. Kilbarchan is slightly cheaper housing. Both 10 mins from airport, 20 mins into Glasgow. Good bus service. Nearest train station is in Johnstone (not recommended) 10 minute drive away. Kilmalcolm is lovely, pricier housing - good primary school and local independent school, but nearest state school is port Glasgow high which isn’t a great area.

I’m from Aberdeenshire it’s costly there but if I had my choice I would suggest the Aviemore area. Someone previously mentioned Newtonmore I would look there it’s beauitful, it has a train station, the high school is in the next village of Kingussie. Aviemore is a 20 min drive with all different things to do. I suppose lots of tourists in high season.