[Closed] Does this place exist?

I'm thinking it's a safe bet there isn't a single entry on your short-list located here in East Ayrshire.

Right up at the upper end of your communing time but Peebles ticks a lot of those boxes

I'd imagine Stirling and the surrounding area would meet those criteria (I know it is a city but it's pretty small one)

Thanks folks, keep 'em coming.

Nothing like that in East Ayrshire?  Shame, I'm sure it could be great.  Further west but I used to live in Alloway 40+ years ago, any idea what that area is like now?  What about around Kilmarnock?

Peebles, tempting.  The maximum extent of my commute would be dependent on some sort of flexible working arrangement with work.  Anything down the M74 corridor perhaps?

Stirling + surroundings.  Noted.  Thanks.  Anything along the Gargunnock Hills that meets (some/any of) the criteria?  Probably smaller villages until you're near Balfron or over to Callendar.

I don't know about house prices but is there nothing out towards Helensburgh?

Anything down the M74 corridor perhaps?

Strathaven or Lanark?

Bridge of Allan?

I’m thinking it’s a safe bet there isn’t a single entry on your short-list located here in East Ayrshire

Someone hold my jacket- that there is fighting talk!

That comment up there from Scotroutes about Helensburgh is worth noting. Helensburgh is a lovely town. Train station into Glasgow, good sailing, the town's just had a decent injection in money so new promenade / square, nice cafe's. Don't know what the MTB scene is like but some nice road cycling about.

This is dear to my heart because we have just bought a plot near Callander, which is a bit up the A84 beyond Stirling. Either town would seem like a good place to live as access to Glasgow is good. Another small town we've got to know is Comrie, which is a real hidden gem of a place although the single road over to Stirling looks like a commuter rat-run. There is a park & ride where the A84 enters Stirling.

Stirling sits on the Highland Boundary Fault, meaning everything south and east is flat Lowlands and everything north and west is Highlands. There is some pretty good cycling around this area though much less up in the glens unless you like old railway lines.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Boundary_Fault

West Kilbride, Fairlie and Prestwick are about the only 3 places in the whole of Ayrshire I'd consider (I'm obviously bias, living in Prestwick!) Access to the mountains being a 55 minute ferry ride, or 90 mins to Arrochar Alps.

Glasgow...... a safe area, low crime/pollution,  .......holistic/eco-conscious attitude....... welcoming to incomers,....... supportive

You're having a laugh right?

1-1.5hrs commute from central Glasgow

On a good run or in reality? Those 1-1.5hrs commute can become 2-2.5hrs commute when something goes wrong on the limited motorway network, which it often does.

Realisticaly that place doesn't exist.

Your not a village or a city criteria is going to be difficult. Small towns in that distance are either very good and very expensive or very shite and cheap. There are some in the middle which have good and bad parts but you need local knowledge as to where these bits are.

I'd definitely look at Stirling first.

To the west of Glasgow, look at East Dunbartonshire - Milngavie & Bearsden.

IIRC OP used to live in Bridge of Allan, so knows that area well! Realistically, Milngavie and Bearsden would be a struggle on a single wage, house price wise.

As rene59 alludes to, it's gonna be a compromise, whatever way you look at it. As much as I'd really not like to live in the M74 corridor, it's proximity to the Tweed valley and the Lakes would be good. Although it's never a good thing when the best thing about where you live is that it's not that far from good places!.

If i was moving form the Borders, Dunblane would be on my shorlist, it is very commutable to Glasgow. Great community, awesome access to hills and cities, low crime. Pricey though

folks, this is great.  I've got some family stuff to sort out but I'll dig through this after dinner.  Really appreciate your input.

IAchallenge -  if you're in commuting distance to a big city- is  "a busy community with lots to get involved in". That can be quite difficult. Big cities drain the life out of their neighbours  - turning them into dormitories. You might have nice housing but the high street often gets hollowed out and 'things to do' can be in short supply. Places like Crief should fit your bill - but it's high looks pretty desolate and thats because a lot of the people who live there work in Glasgow / Edinburgh  and spend their money in the 24hour supermarket on their commute and not in the town.

People will no doubt be disparaging about places like Kilmarnock but - don't discount it without having a look first, there is some stunning housing available for your money and lots of new stock being added now that the M77 gives a quick commute into Glasgow. The towns on the railway into Glasgow from there (Stewarton / Kilmaurs) not a bad place to look at either.

Strathaven might be appealing  - I'm not sure it works as well for a commute but a lot depends on where you need to be arriving in Glasgow and what time of day you're travelling.

When I made the decision to move out of Glasgow I just drove out to places to see what was available within an acceptable drive time and then looked up what was available house wise and decided whether I wanted to pay that price or put up with that traffic.

The bang for your buck is difficult to beat in East Ayrshire - both In terms of price and ease of travel - but travel to where exactly is what matters. I don't need to be in the same place from one day to the next (or the same place all day) so my bench mark is the time it takes to get to the Kingston Bridge. But if you are having to drive through a lot of Glasgow to get from where you're living to where your a working then a lot of your commute time isn't going to be getting to Glasgow but getting through it.

For me I might just as often need to be in Edinburgh and being able to get there without having to first get through Glasgow is a bonus

Linlithgow?

We moved to Dunblane / Bridge of Allan / Stirling, and I can honestly say it is the best place we have lived yet (see Liverpool, Castle Douglas, Sheffield, Killin).

Houses are not *cheap*, but they are not bad, especially if like us you are happy with a '70s pebble dash semi... (3 beds, £180k four years ago)

Riding/walking/paddling are just there, and easy access north (we are 400m from the A9 or Callander road).

Crime is just a non-issue.

Green.

Clean.

Trains to Glasgow and Edinburgh mostly 30mins apart.

Good schools.

etc.

Brother in law and partner just moved to Bridge of Allan, as they liked the area so much when visiting, she managed a job with Uni and here they are.

this any help?

https://app.traveltimeplatform.com/

Helensburgh, Erskine, Bishopton, Kilsyth?

Govanhill come pretty close too for environmental activism which gets cancelled out if you have to commute for hours.

Lochwinnoch, Bridge of Weir too.

Stewarton is a good shout Mac, what's the house prices like in Eaglesham? Mibbe a wee bit close to Iainc though....

Lochwinnoch, Bridge of Weir too.

Was about to suggest BofW.

Govanhill come pretty close too for environmental activism

Saving the the planet by reducing heating bills by sleeping 24 people in a one bedroom tenement flat?

The bang for your buck is difficult to beat in East Ayrshire

Is that a challenge?

I think bits of North Lanarkshire might have a shot at that particular title. 😉

Might be time for the  annual STW  “Can you buy a flat for less than the cost of a Ford Focus?” Competition

Lol @nobeer 😀

Eaglesham is a bit cheaper than EK but still quite pricey. I grew up in Lochwinnoch and BoW and my folks still live near Lochwinnoch, up in the hills. Both expensive commuter belt..

That comment up there from Scotroutes about Helensburgh is worth noting. Helensburgh is a lovely town.

… full of matelots?

Possibly more helpfully, Glasgow has a pretty good rail network (I was appalled at how bad it is in, say, Manchester in comparison) and somewhere like Bishopton has four reasonably fast trains an hour to Glasgow.

In the best STW tradition I am going to recommend somewhere I've lived, so the West End of Greenock. Amenities of a medium-sized town (including an acute hospital), welcomes incomers (well, it welcomed us when we moved there in 1980); I'd expect property to be reasonably cheap.

Possibly more helpfully, Glasgow has a pretty good rail network

If you’re working in the city centre then this, choose somewhere with a decent rail link unless you have a guaranteed parking space.

Glasgow is easy to drive in but a bugger to park all day.

Hi folks, all I can say is a massive thanks for the ideas.  What lies behind this is a family break up so I'm trying to find options that my ex hasn't considered which keep us all within reach of grandparents, existing social network and my job while ticking some of her boxes for lifestyle & environment.  It's not easy.

Does anyone have any connection to Lochwinnoch?  I'd heard there was a good wee community going there too.

Yes, nobeer is right, I lived in BofA and my folks are still there so I know the town well but I don't know Dunblane or Doune so well.  So Matt & Frank & failedengineer, I've noted these ideas.

@macruisken & rene - yes, exactly, commuting really depends on the time of day & destination.  For me it's Denistoun and I'm at my desk for 07:15, leaving about 4pm.  I used to work in Linlithgow so I know it quite well and I know the commute.  Football + breakdown = 2 hour journey.  But it's a nice town and I have a few friends there still.

Crieff - I cycle up there a fair bit, yeah, it's really missing some soul, quite a sad high street which is a shame because it's a beautiful area.

@ Globalti - yes, Comrie seems to have a great wee community spirit, just a bit of commute but if my job can be flexible it might work.  I had Comrie and Callander on the shortlist.

@ Scotroutes, Scruff & CBike - Helensburgh.  A guy at work suggested it today too.  Good to hear some cash is being injected, it needed it.  I lived in Milton & worked in Dumbarton for a while so the area's not unknown to me, some biking up behind Helensburgh and not far from the OK's.  The train line is ideal for work too.

For anyone suggesting places in Ayrshire - thanks.  I really don't know the area so I've noted all those suggestions too.

@ Perchy - Yes, Lanark.  Interesting, that turned up on a search at lunchtime, hadn't considered it but I will check it out.

@ Twicewithchips - useful app that, thanks.  Public transport options might reduce the driving stress.

@nobeer - ach, Iainc's not that bad.  I even went for a bike ride with him yesterday!

Lol 😂, I grew up in Lochwinnoch, just mailed you.

Seem to have crossposted, didn't realise Lochwinnoch was pricey.  Lots more digging into all the house prices to do I guess.

@Perchy - true about the Glasgow parking.  My work is OK for access to stations (Bellgrove or Queen Street) so that opens up the Dunblane (Comrie maybe) & Helensburgh options.

@ratherbeintobago - west end of Greenock?  That was a curve ball.  OK, is that Gourock then?  My ex has friends in Kilcreggan so who knows.

cheers Iain!

I live in bridge of wier. I don't like it .

<crosses Bride of Weir off the list>

There are intermittent direct trains into Glasgow from Gleneagles, so that could open up Auchterarder, Dunning and surrounding villages, or Dollar is just round the hill. I suspect prices in Dollar are higher than average though, probably comparable to Dunblane.

west end of Greenock?  That was a curve ball.  OK, is that Gourock then?  My ex has friends in Kilcreggan so who knows.

No, it’s the bit of Greenock between Union St and Gourock.

As others have said, you described bofa but as you will know house prices are crazy.

Leftfield but most of the villages along the hillfoots will give you most of this and cheaper house prices but do increase the ned factor somewhat.

Places like killearn and strathblane fit but the house prices are crazy and few come up for sale.

I live in causewayhead and grew up in Balfron so very familar with the area if you want to run any place by me.

I'd have to disagree with Kilmarnock Mac,  ticks the house price box, but the town cenrre itself is in a sad state.

Mark and Lindsey from GMBC moved to Dunure, it's lovely, though mibbe a wee bit isolated in shit weather. 10 min drive into ayr, 50 mins on train to Glasgow. Dunno if I could face that every day.

What about Cambusbarron area? Dunno about house prices, but not a bad commute, looks nice enough, and great riding nearby.

Does anyone have any connection to Lochwinnoch?  I’d heard there was a good wee community going there too.

Spent a little bit of time there this summer (or at least - grabbing my lunch there while working on the hill above). Working with a few locals there it doesn't seem like a bad shout for what you are looking for. Seems to be a bit of a sense of community there - but - I think you need to be there to make that happen for you, the people I know there are jobbing/freelance builders and joiners and in the area, not just sleeping there. I think it would put you on the wrong side of Glasgow for Denistoun though

Might be time for the  annual STW  “Can you buy a flat for less than the cost of a Ford Focus?” Competition

you could have bought quite a sizeable house in Kilmarnock for £1 last year  

🙂

As mentioned, Peebles ticks pretty much every box, but is at the top end of the commute. I was travelling to just beyond the centre of Glasgow from Peebles when there were serious road works on the M74. I seem to recall my travel time being around 1hr 45. Might not be as bad now. Also a lot quicker if you can work flexi time to miss the traffic.

West Linton is nice, and a bit closer. Possibly Biggar. I don't know what they are like community wise.

Might be time for the  annual STW  “Can you buy a flat for less than the cost of a Ford Focus?” Competition

Yip

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72655220.html

Not actually a bad area. Was actually the very first street I lived on back in 1978. Flat needs a bit of work but isn’t uninhabitable

Drove through Helensburgh on Sunday on my way home and thought it looked a nice place to live!

@ceept - forgot about the station at Gleneagles, good shout.  Yeah, Dollar probably attracts a premium for houses.

@nobeerinthefridge Aye, I was wondering about Cambusbarron, easy enough to get into Stirling too.

@athgray - someone at work left flyers for a festival in Biggar, always thought that was miles away but maybe not.  I'll have a look at it and West Linton on the map, see how that fits.

@maccruiskeen - interesting to hear that about Lochwinnoch.  Iainc gave me some lowdown, looks like getting a house there could be tricky.  And yes, I'd be on the wrong side of the river but I'd put up with it or try to manage my hours to avoid the worst traffic.

@stevemuzzy - Strathblane/Blanefield was on the top of my list when we were still a couple, Killearn too but you're right, it's expensive.  Even more so now that there's 2 of us needing to buy separate places.

@ratherbeintobago - noted, will take a closer look on Google maps now.

@postierich - the town centre was a bit down in the dumps last time I was there, which seemed at odds with some of the nice (expensive) houses up the hill.  That was a couple of years ago though.

noted, will take a closer look on Google maps now.

There are likely to be nice bits of Gourock too, but I don’t know it so well.

righto, thanks.

If anywhere exists that meets all your other criteria it will almost certainly be expensive.  The only way you might push that down is to move towards the limit of your travel plans; but you need to be just as far from Edinburgh too.

Does anyone have any connection to Lochwinnoch?  I’d heard there was a good wee community going there too.

I grew up there and my parents were there till recently. There's a decent pub and nice countryside round about. I don't think it's pricey based on what my folks got for their place but it is increasingly a dormitory town.

Auchterarder or Perth

@poly - indeed, too far over and you're into Edinburgh commuter belt.

@oldtennisshoes - do you have any local knowledge of Auchterarder?  Even with the train Perth might be too much of a stretch for Glasgow but I'll take a look at journey times.

@spin - hmm, I suppose places can change over time, might be vibrant now but in 10-15 years time?  I reckon it would be worth me taking a trip out to Lochwinnoch to get a feel for the place.  Might take a nosey in that pub.  🙂

<p>West Kilbride, Fairlie and Prestwick are about the only 3 places in the whole of Ayrshire I’d consider (I’m obviously bias, living in Prestwick!) Access to the mountains being a 55 minute ferry ride, or 90 mins to Arrochar Alps.</p>

<p>Fairlie fails at the first hurdle - devoid of any shops barring the Pier Garage, an is it open/is it shut pub and a couple of here today gone tomorrow businesses that never last thanks to the fact the village is bisected by the A78 with just about nowhere to safely walk along it in parts (I did this summer with my 5 year old, never again). Community spirit also seems to centre around campaigning against anything that may look as if it could provide jobs outside of seasonal tourist nonsense.</p><p>West Kilbride suffers from a "local" mentality, if you move in you are and always will be an outsider. Everyone knows everyone elses business. Nice enough place though if you can avoid the arseholes. North coast also suffers from being geographically close to a lot of places but with limited roads and rail making journeys long and often detoured in winter or when the frequent road works are on. Rail is a single line that is first to be cancelled when something goes wrong at Glasgow, the waves are battering the line at Saltcoats or there is an 'R' in the month.</p><p>Prestwick is the one out the three I'd pick.  Ayr has some nice properties let down by a ghost of a town centre, not as bad as Kilmarnock by a long shot but still not great. I grew up in Troon and would happily move back there.</p><p>Moving East I'd look at Stewarton and Kilmaurs, fancied Stewarton myself if I can ever get out of Largs.</p>

<p>Oh, I will say Stirling is nice, if I could I'd happily move up there.</p>

@squirrelking - thanks for your lowdown on Ayrshire.  I'll take a closer look at what Troon and Ayr have to offer.