[Closed] Any English people on here who moved to North Wales or Scotland?

I grew up near Llandudno but have since moved around the UK a lot, the rents still live there so I do go back a few times a year. In general, it’s a different place to what I left, riding there are almost infinite great opportunities, with a good scene from what I’ve noticed.

There is also just more acceptance that the ‘outdoor’ lifestyle is more acceptable, which has meant things such as Surf Snowdonia are there, unlike before where there was little.

Schools – I went to Eirias, also John Bright in Llandudno is English speaking, I believe Dyffryn Conwy is also English, one by Conwy marina is I think. None of them are too bad schools, Eirias was considered good, but has apparently gone downhill, but still decent.

Rough areas – avoid rhyl (obviously), Mochdre is a bit ming in places. Parents live in a little village called bryn Pydew, that would definetly work for you.

One piece of advice however is; there are very little opportunities in terms of well paid jobs, and your closest cities are around an hours drive. Sadly the traffic is still quite bad.

Drop me an email (in profile) if you need more info, as I know the area very well.

Moved from Northants to Dundee, then Fife.

Awful experience, hostile natives, awful beer, you can't buy vegetables anywhere. And the Borders, don't get me started, it like a post apocalyptic wasteland.

Aside from that, it's ace! 🙂

As I posted in the thread about extractor fans we recently went to Argyll to see a super-efficient house somebody built, which is what we would like to do. The conversion ratio between England and Scotland is interesting - at the B&B where we stayed, the owner is selling two 10-acre plots with outline PP for £75,000 each. We reckon we can sell our 4 bed house in Lancashire and buy land and build a house in western Scotland without the need to dig into my pension.

Welsh girlfriend went to an English-language school as opposed to the Welsh-language one up the road. Did Welsh GCSE but lessons otherwise in English. This was in Mold though, so a reasonably big town and maybe not as far in as you're looking.

Castle Douglas is a nice place, Have a look at Moffat/Bigger area too - Good biking both real biking and road biking nearby, and good transport links N and S via M74.

hostile natives

Sadly that is definitely a problem in Scotland, and the two girls would likely have to endure a certain amount of anti English hate at school.

Sadly that is [s]definitely a problem in Scotland[/s] a very localised problem in some places, and the two girls would likely have to endure a certain amount of anti English hate at school.

Before you move anywhere, check that the broadband is good enough to allow you to work from home.
I have relatives just outside kirkcudbright and theirs is awful

Sadly that is definitely a problem in Scotland, and the two girls would likely have to endure a certain amount of anti English hate at school.

I'd say this is pish too. I've three kids,one at nursery and two at primary school, my wife is a guidance teacher as well and kids these days do not have a problem with people from other countries and cultures.

I've never felt any anti-English sentiment in the places we've been to regularly in the Borders. Anywhere in particular or is it just something that happens less now?

I moved up to Scotland from Yorkshire, lived there for 5 years then moved back to England.

I miss Scotland every day. The people are nicer, more generous, they have better politics, the trails are better, quieter and in many areas aren't a slop fest. There's so many things that are great about Scotland that just don't apply to England and Wales.

I never came across any anti-English sentiments and I worked in some real shitholes (Kirkcaldy).

I don't think anti-English is even a thing now to be honest, I don't know if it ever really was...

Sadly that is definitely a problem in Scotland, and the two girls would likely have to endure a certain amount of anti English hate at school.

Utter nonsense.

The OP asked for experiences of people who have made the move - I gave the experience of my family.
Better than it was for sure, but still there.

Unless perhaps we all misinterpreted "F* off back home you English tw*t" on a daily basis?
My mum worked for 20yrs in a further education college, and found a sizeable proportion of the young adults there thought all the English should be sent home - although they hadn't thought quite as far as if all the Scottish that had moved elsewhere should also be returned.

Edit: I should say that despite all that, there are indeed plenty of nice people, and I wouldn't ever trade where I live for the urban sprawl and traffic jams down south.

I are up in north Wales, though a bit further west than you are suggesting. Moved there when I was 9 and loved every second.

Where I was, the local primary was welsh speaking, but after some lengthy negotiations I got a place at an English speaking primary not too far away. Secondary school was English speaking, which I think it probably still the case for the majority of secondaries.

We moved into a welsh speaking village - and this certainly created some barriers with the local children, so most of my friends were from school and a bike/lift away from home. I'd seriously consider whether this would suit you and your children, as can be a bit of a bind for parents until the girls are able to travel around independently.

Other than that I thoroughly loved growing up there, access to the mountains and coast gives so many options that I'd be back there in a flash if suitable jobs were available.

Plenty of english speaking schools in wales - view it as religious schools in england- and just pick an english speaking one. Conwy and gwynedd are "More Welsh" than the other areas.

IMHO it depends on whether the family can cope with just countryside and village type life
Quite a change from what Manchester will offer and the things you miss now you will get but you will also lose things you enjoy now that only a large conurbation can offer

Which your family value most I know not.

I've never felt any anti-English sentiment in the places we've been to regularly in the Borders.

Bit different when you are at school though.

On the Welsh thing, I'd be very surprised if all the schools in North Wales teach only in Welsh, just needs a bit of research.

Irrespective of where you move your contribution to the local community is key. My folks moved to Anglesey about 10yrs ago but they were still working and my Dad's workshop used to take kids for work placements etc. So you get known in the local area. They've both retired now but the links they made locally before that was key in settling in and being "accepted". They're happier there than the previous 40yrs in Manchester.
The Welsh language is very important in local schools and English kids can be viewed as slowing the rest of the class down due to language difficulties as a lot of schools conduct lessons in Welsh. Some schools are 100% Welsh, others less so. Finding the right balance will be critical.
BTW, Anglesey, like much of N Wales, is full of northern monkeys but the ones who make some effort to blend in are most successful. Some of their neighbours are best avoided but they tend to be English people who moved there thinking that they were above the locals

Having kids will make it easier as you have to get involved and the conversations at the school gates will help you make new friends.

I'll guess the biggest issue will be bored kids as they get older and the amount of Dad's taxi runs you'll be doing. We have friends near Aberdyfi, the 6th form college is in Aberystwyth. Local rugby/hockey/footy matches can be 2hrs drive each way. Regional ones 4hrs......

Other places to consider could be Northumberland, or maybe Peebles area. They are on or near the east coast mainline so work would be easier to accommodate.

"Sadly that is definitely a problem in Scotland, and the two girls would likely have to endure a certain amount of anti English hate at school."

That's complete bollox.
Maybe I am just lucky and my two boys go to a primary school in a very-mixed catchment - by which I mean Uni profs rub shoulders in the playground with parents who left school at 15. Never had a problem - and I know the majority of other parents (Indian/Iranian/Italian/Polish/Ukrainians) would say the same.

Having grown up in a few different bits of Wales as an "english" kid, despite Welsh heritage, the whole family suffered from racism to varying degrees.

Where every you think of going, please don't underestimate this possibility. It made my childhood bloody miserable.

I live in Craig y Don, Llandudno.

Originally from the N.Wales coast but spent the majority of my 20's in Liverpool / Wirral for Uni and job. Moved back due to having a city wage job available in N.Wales and starting a family I couldn't think of many places better to bring a child up.

Love the place - scenery is stunning, riding is ace with endless possibilities and the activities for kids if they like the outdoors is amazing. Other facilities (general shopping) is mainly catered for and I rarely feel the need to visit a city for anything like that.

In certain areas of the coast, including Llandudno/Deganwy/Conwy, new restaurants and wine bars are popping up and the existing ones getting much better with a real push to quality. You can see the shift and the area is really starting to take shape and is much better than when I 'left' at 18/19.

In terms of schools; its Welsh Primary and Secondary if you go away from the coast so bear that in mind.

BTW, Anglesey, like much of N Wales, is full of northern monkeys but the ones who make some effort to blend in are most successful. Some of their neighbours are best avoided but they tend to be English people who moved there thinking that they were above the locals

I practically grew up on Anglesey, there are some semi-distant relatives there in fact.

@northerntom; sounds like your folks aren't a million miles away from me! Should drop me a message when you are back and fancy a ride 😀

That's complete bollox.
Maybe I am just lucky

FWIW, I moved from Sheffield to Edinburgh to NE Fife. I've never experienced any anti-English hostility, apart from the odd SNP mouthbreather at the height of the indyref malarkey, but I think those occasions can safely be discounted given 99.9999% of folk up here (that I've met) are spot on. Would I move back? I can't think of any reason why I would. It's great up here.

FWIW, lived in West Wales for a couple of years. The Welsh were just not interested despite our best efforts to integrate. The kids never got asked for play dates etc, when we asked others the only people who responded were English. So you end up by default in an English clique. Eventually we gave it up as a bad job and moved back to England. Their loss.

How about Burnley?
The language might be a problem but you'll get used to it.

Have friends who live in Dinorwic, right near the quarry.
Can pass on details if required.

Lived on west coast of Scotland for 3 years. Bit of anti English crap but as Scottish mate told me it sorts out the idiots quickly so you don't waste time. Having just got back from Todridon I'm tempted to go back. Now in Liverpool but spend a lot of time in Wales which I'd happily move to if I could get permanent work. You meet idiots everywhere. If its not because you're English it would be something else like the fact you have 2 legs.

So what we are seeing is that it is very much location and community dependent. The trend seems to be move somewhere that is not too incestuous, has public transport and public amenities, a mix of people from different backgrounds, a place with things to do e.g. mountains, sea etc.
The only downside is that it will be the place that everyone wants to live thus expensive. Houses in places like Rhosneigr, Aberdyfi and Conwy can be silly money.

Burnley? My poor son was born there and we moved out when violent drug dealers moved in next door.

TBH school bullying is a thing that happens- but the question is, do kids get bullied because they're english, or do they get bullied because that happens to be the weapon that the bully picked up? My brother got bullied for being ginger, not because anyone really hates gingers (this was before scientists discovered they have no souls) but because they went right, let's have a go at him, what will we use.

(at my school there were english kids that got a hard time for being english, and english kids that didn't, asian kids that got racist abuse and others that didn't. Gay kids that everyone liked and awkward heterosexual kids that got bullied for being teh gay. It's not so simple. I think the english kids that got bullied, would have just got something else instead if that hadn't been available)

Those saying that there's no hostility to 'incomers' in Scotland have either been lucky, or aren't English at school in Scotland. I'm not English, though I sound it, and have had the occasional comment - my son, however, who has been in Perthshire since he was 3 (17 now, but still doesn't sound Scottish) says that the digs were fairly frequent during the first few years of secondary school.

But then I think there was as much needling when we lived in Kendal (we both have southern English accents), so it's not necessarily a 'Scottish' thing per se. Possibly just tribalism which you can get anywhere.

I grew up in NW England, went to university in Bangor and have lived in Scotland for 20 years. My kids were born here. You only get anti English sentiment of any type in the rough areas. It's a problem which is easy to solve.
Do it, but consider further north for better access to work in the central belt.

I live in Craig y Don, Llandudno.

Then I will have to pick your brains about the local riding next time I'm on my hols, we usually stop in Penrhyn Side.

The RAF took me from Bolton to Fife then Moray and I've finally settled in rural Aberdeenshire.
There was a brief period of anti-Englishness in Fife, but I think that was more to do with being single and in the RAF, I've not encountered it since.
I do not miss the dirtiness, the horrible traffic, the grey weather, the fear of my bike being stolen etc. of Greater Manchester.

.......and more importantly, the riding in Scotland is brilliant. From my door, at least six proper hills within 20 minutes drive, the Cairngorms about an hour and the West Coast in about 3 hours, all with open access.

I would not move back to England.

We're also looking at Scottish Borders - Castle Douglas looks like a possibility at the moment.

We were considering moving there (or Dumfries) for a bit. Trekster of this forum gave me an honest and detailed view of Dumfrieshire, if you don't know any locals.

I'd say that you need to make sure you know where you're talking about.

I know people get grumpy in Kirkcudbright because it's talked about as being in the borders when it's not it's in Dumfries and Galloway. It's a small thing but

So what we are seeing is that it is very much location and community dependent.

Well, if he goes to the Borders it wont be a problem. It's basically England down there. 😛

oops double post

Further to what I said before, I left N.Wales 10 years ago, and never really experienced anti-english sentiment, although I am welsh, so never would have received it directly.

Around the Conwy area, a lot of people are of North west England heritage anyway, and the local accent around the area has a particularly unpleasant scouse twang now, which has developed more recently (my little sister has this)…. (before an irrelevant argument regarding accents ensues, nothing wrong with welsh or scouse, just the combo is not particularly pleasant).

All I would say is, if you can make it work, do it, having lived in London for 4 years, I’m so glad I moved to Bristol, and whilst I love it here, I can’t wait to move into the mountains!

@buenfoxa – Yeah always keen for a ride when I’m back home, will let you know.

I'm in Edinburgh
My wife finds its less about being English and more about 'which school did your husband go to'
It's truly bizarre and where I did go to school flummoxes them a bit.

Moved from Malvern to Newcastle and then to Glasgow where I've been for the last 17 years.

Only hostility I've known toward me being english was from some undergraduates when I was lab assisting while doing my PhD.

Other than that, there's not even been friendly banter about it, which is surprising really, as there's banter about everything else. owever, this is the city, so maybe less inclined to be 'anti-me' (unless you're supporting the wrong team)

Schools in North Wales appear to mainly be Welsh-speaking

This need not be a barrier, depending on how old your kids are. We sent our kids to a Welsh school because moar languages despite neither of us being speakers. School is pretty accomodating, many if not most other kids in the same boat. They have also had non-speakers coming into the school from England - they get special classes for a while then join everyone else. One of my uni friends also joined a Welsh school in the middle of her education and did well.

However - it's a primary school; this is not a Welsh majority area so they may be more accomodating; and most of the kids speak English at home and hence in the schoolyard too.

I would expect most schools to be accomodating as they want to promote Welsh. But those Gogs can be a funny lot*

* this is a joke and meant to be ironic

Then I will have to pick your brains about the local riding next time I'm on my hols, we usually stop in Penrhyn Side.

No problem!

Dumfries and Galloway would be nice but don't drift further north into South/East/North Ayrshire like I did. 17 years here now and, yes, still get occasional anti-English sentiments but its called 'banter'.

Could be worse though, at least I'm not protestant/catholic or a Rangers/Celtic supporter!

Have you considered north Cumbria north east England? Lots of smaller good schools, different pace life compared to London southeast, still has reasonably good train car connections?

From Somerset originally and have lived around Glasgow since 99 .
Can honestly say I can't remember any real Anti englishness that hasn't been just piss taking . I was a bit worried during the referendum that some people might turn a bit but my experience of it was fairly well natured .
Glasgow is a good place to be but if I was after something more rural the area round comrie would be high on the list , lovely area with great riding and only an hour or so from Glasgow

I'm in Edinburgh
My wife finds its less about being English and more about 'which school did your husband go to'

I've lived in Edinburgh for 20+ years and don't think anyone has ever asked either myself or my wife what school I went to. Given both my kids went to private school I'd have thought that if it was ever going to happen it'd have been from other private school parents.

How do you know that the Scots like you..?
They start taking the p**s and using banter in a very open way. Normally, it's genuine and it's friendly. Not everyone who meets it understands it though.
The Scots are also good at bringing folk down if they get a bit above themselves...

Dundee is a city with loads of very happy incomers from all parts; well worth considering for many reasons from so many aspects- culture, healthcare, education, transport links, drier climate than Wales or Galloway, biking, so many other outdoor sports... And property is very reasonable.

I was a bit worried during the referendum that some people might turn a bit but my experience of it was fairly well natured.

Likewise, based on previous experience, I had visions of grown men running round screaming 'FREEDOM!' at any English folk they came across, but it was not to be and was actually quite civilised.

Could be that most of the unpleasantness is restricted to under 20's and they grow out of it - although if all adults have grown out of it, where do the young ones learn it from in the first place.

Anyway, as I said before, at the end of the day it hasn't put me off living here and i'd certainly never go back.

Dundee is a city with loads of very happy incomers from all parts; well worth considering for many reasons from so many aspects- culture, healthcare, education, transport links, biking, so many other outdoor sports... And property is very reasonable.

Property is reasonable 'cause Dundee is a shithole!

any other experiences or points that aren't racism-related?

We moved to the Borders (near Melrose) nearly 5 years ago now, took over my parents place (they're English and had retired here 20 years previously).

Based on a couple of folk who I've worked with for the last two years, I'd avoid Dumfries (and that area) - think its got a load of small town 'troubles', and always in the BBC Scotland South news.

My son, 13 y/o at the time, hasn't had any issues at the local school (or college), and he had a proper home counties accent plus private school educated.

You can get an awful lot for your money around here:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E925&minBedrooms=3&minPrice=200000&radius=10.0&sortType=1&index=24&includeSSTC=false

Plus take a look at the trails within 15 miles of here; Glentree, Innerleithen, Yair, Golfie and Thornielee.

As for Scotland, just the usual stuff about access to employment, services, schools etc that you'd find anywhere else really. Most things are pretty similar to what you'll find in England other than where some legislation is devolved.

For stuff like school holidays, you'll find that summer in Scotland apparently starts a few weeks before it does in England. Than [i]can[/i] make travel and accommodation slightly cheaper and you [i]may[/i] find that some places are less busy than they are at the peak of the English school holidays. Having said that, you'll find flights abroad harder to find and there can be supplements if you're into package holidays.

You might want to read up about the Curriculum for Excellence. It's fairly recently introduced and is not without its teething problems but is aimed at giving a more rounded education.

University fees (or the lack of) are something that might interest you.

Differentiated income tax will only affect higher earners at the moment.

If you're comparing council tax rates then be aware that water/sewerage is also charged through your CT bill and have a look at the costs.

If train travel is a requirement then that will limit your options. I'd be looking at where you'd get the most convenient connections.

@terrahawk - if you moved to an island every meeting can start with a triathlon to get there!

any other experiences or points that aren't racism-related?

Positives:
Obviously outdoor access rights are a massive positive, free prescriptions, free university, lack of traffic except around major cities.

Negatives:
Pretty much no direct flights to anywhere and going via London/Amsterdam you miss connections to a lot of AM flights - makes travelling a pita. Oh, and its [i]always[/i] cold - don't forget your arm warmers

While I respect your view, Epic, have you actually been here in the last 20 years? Dundee is a vibrant city now, very well regarded by folk who live here and nearby. Quite cosmopolitan and open to incomers; hence the new V&A museum site, for example. There are plenty of proper village 'communities' in the surrounding counties, if that is the OP's bag.

http://www.glasgowairport.com/destination-inspiration/route-map/routes-list-view/

http://www.edinburghairport.com/flights/destinations-and-airlines

Nothing worse than the Welsh changing from English to Welsh as you enter their shops. Yes, my hearing is that bloody good.

While I respect your view, Epic, have you actually been here in the last 20 years?

Yes (about twice a week for a couple of years, up to about 6 months ago) - the city centre has definitely improved since my sister went to Uni there but outside the city centre it still doesn't seem very nice.

Agree there are lots of nice places you could commute from though. Much, much prefer Edinburgh though.

Never experienced that myself. Usually the other way round. But then I'm normally in places that get tourists.

On the flight situation it's much better than it used to be - we've never really struggled to find holiday flights from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Also Manchester airport isn't that big a hassle to get to from the central belt. Ok, London has lots more options but Scotland isn't at all bad and, if you're in the central belt, probably better than a lot of England.

makes travelling a pita

Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports? I thought they were not too bad at all considering the size of them. Dundee Airport on the other hand...

Dundee is a vibrant city now, very well regarded by folk who live here and nearby.

This (except the airport!). I've lived in Dundee for three different spells, once about 22 years ago, again 11 years ago and lastly a couple years back. Perfectly happy there each time but it is noticeably getting (even) better each time and I would move there permanently no problem.

Me - in 1978. I went to the local comp and did get a bit of a hard time but this was a long time ago.

I see very little anti englishness overall - far less than the anti scot rhetoric in the press and on here. It might be an element but its not a major thing. Anyway anywhere where your accent stands out marks you as different

As for travel - I have had direct flights from Edinburgh many times and east coast mainline is good. I would not move back down south now. Scotland is going in a different direction to England and one I feel much more at home with

Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports? I thought they were not too bad at all considering the size of them.

Pretty good for party beaches and stag/hen city breaks, not so much for other venues. Last summer I took the bike to Corsica, and the 'best' option turned out to be a 9hr drive to Gatwick.

Kendal you could still bike to work 🙂

I'm becoming familiar with some folk in Strathspey, by working alongside them occasionally. I've met no urine extraction for being English, only for being a yamyam. I think that's fair and reasonable.

Any reason why it has to be a different country. There are plenty of rural isolated places in England. Northumberland springs to mind. Alnwick and the Northumberland coast would be my first thought.

Sadly that is definitely a problem in Scotland, and the two girls would likely have to endure a certain amount of anti English hate at school.

This did happen a lot at my school, but it was the Highlands in the early 90's. I suspect it's a bit better now as so many people have moved up, but don't know for sure.

I think the Borders or Edinburgh wouldn't be as bad anyway. I live in Peebles and it would be a very good place to raise a family, housing is overpriced but it's generally a good town.

I'm based in North Wales (Conwy Valley) and have two kids - I'm of English birth. I came here for the lifestyle and work in the early 90's. Lucky enough to work in a field I enjoy following a Masters at Aberystwyth.
My kids go to a primary that is first language English and the eldest will go to a first language English secondary shortly. They both learn Welsh too but are not taught all subjects in Welsh. I know other friends locally who are Welsh/English but school their kids in Welsh - both are fine and work well. There is a range of good schooling on the north coast around Conwy/Colwyn Bay regardless of language.
My kids were born here in North Wales and consider themselves Welsh.... they could both play rugby for Wales. I haven't lived in England for any length of time for 25 years and moved so much when there that any sense of not fitting in here is equally matched by not fitting in anywhere before hand i.e. it's not really to do with nationality but more origin.
It's a great place here for outdoor sports, loads to do with active kids, well connected to NW England cities for stuff you can't get locally, good for work commuting (airports, 3 hours to London on direct Virgin train etc.). Loads of good riding locally that I'm still exploring, great lakes for open water swimming, sea and beaches, mountains, camping etc. etc.
It always feels good not to have to join the Sunday A55 departing traffic jam back to NW England 🙂

North Wales; just avoid Wrexham and Flintshire and you should be good. Oh and Rhyl. Avoid Rhyl.

Plenty of English speaking schools.

[quote=bigjim ]

Sadly that is definitely a problem in Scotland, and the two girls would likely have to endure a certain amount of anti English hate at school.

As I posted on that "demographics" thread last week, around 25% of my neighbours are English, and that's Aviemore. Edinburgh is around 18% English, Argyll is higher. Most small town and villages have residents who've moved up from England and many have been around for decades. I can't believe they'd be putting up with racism for that length of time. Of course there are problems are folk coming up (and I mean from Scottish cities too) and not fully understanding the local community and their issues, but that's common everywhere.

I live in a small village in North Wales and our Welsh neighbours are very friendly. Tbh it is the English ones who are more standoffish. Never had any problems - I only wish I could speak more than a few words of Welsh.

I've been back for five years (did my degree nearby about 20 years ago) and I still absolutely love it. We are within 3 miles of beach, 2 miles from Snowdonia National Park and mountains, and 30 seconds from footpaths and woodland.

Work will be the issue. It's taken my wife five years to find a job. I work from home, and go to London 1-2 days a week so OK for now.

Any reason why it has to be a different country. There are plenty of rural isolated places in England. Northumberland springs to mind. Alnwick and the Northumberland coast would be my first thought.

We're familiar with the places we're considering and have talked about moving to one of them pretty much every time we have a holiday there.

Re: the Borders, a lot of people there consider themselves as "Borderers". It can be labelled many different ways but the gist is that Carlisle, Selkirk, Dumfries etc. are pretty similar in many aspects.
Rory Stewart MP did a really interesting TV documentary on it for the BBC a few years ago. Well worth digging out if you have time.

Terrahawk, I have just moved from N Wales to Cumbria. We lived in Mold , close to the Clwyd's (great riding, close to Chester and the motorways). Daughter grew up in a Welsh school (Maes Garmon) but the main school was English speaking (Mold Alyn) . The area you are looking at doesn't have that many Welsh High Schools. If your kids are going to junior school they get taught most stuff in English.
House prices are not too high in N Wales either. We had to downsize to get into a nice area in Cumbria. 🙂

I'm with epic steve on Dundee or Angus, great countryside the glens but Arbroth Forfar Montrose and Dundee
Could have had a Ford electronics factory years ago but too militant
No good jobs for young ones although lots of one parent families
Strange accent , Fifers slightly better but im excluding Leven methil and kircawdy

Saw some comments about flights but we've not had any problems getting to the important places...

Direct to Geneva for Alps trips
Direct to Vancouver for BC trips
(Almost) direct to Denver (1hr bounce in Iceland) for Colorado trips

🙂

Good independent schools (esp Edinburgh), excellent Uni degrees with four year courses providing broad education, great golf, decent weather on E coast at least, brilliant mountains and the east neuk. What's not to like?

Dont buy any property though in case you lose 30-40% of the value with the new "pund". Then snap it up!

Well, if he goes to the Borders it wont be a problem. It's basically England down there

You've not been to Hawick, have you?

I move up from Bucks 20 years ago, first to Edinburgh and now central Borders. I love it here and would never move back down to the south of England.

The anti English thing is a thing but seems more out of habit than any bad intent. Best demonstrated with sport when everyone cheers Anyone But England. They don't really know why, just feel obliged to do so. I am part of the community and have always been made to feel welcome.

I am glad my children have grown up here rather than down south.

only thing I'd say is avoid the SW, galloway dumfriesshire wee towns, always strike me as utter shiteholes anytime I've been through them, wouldn't like to live down that way. mining country that's never been regenerated. Galloway hills are nice if you like solitude mind you, don't think many in scotland know they exist! 😆