[Closed] Moving to Scotland

Aviemore is 30 mins drive from the city and is very much the centre of all things outdoors. Property is quite pricey as it is a very popular place and a lot of holiday houses. Scotroutes and some others who live locally will know much more.

Nairn or Elgin? Stayed in both on holiday and they were good, no idea to live there though.
Aviemore, but likely to be expensive.
Carrbridge?

Fortrose is popular for commuting to Inverness. Has good schools but can be pricey and you can go and see dolphins everyday.

* waves from Aviemore *

It's a bit more than 30 minutes to the centre of Inverness, but not much so a very commutable distance (if the roads are passable).

Quality of life? Pretty much the best there is, particularly if you are into outdoor activities. Aviemore is half populated by folk who moved here for this very reason. Lots of pub life, cafes, clubs, a health centre (soon to be hospital for the whole Spey Valley). We moved from Edinburgh 5 years ago and my only regret is not having done it sooner. We find it a perfect compromise between small/twee/rural and large/urban.

Housing is relatively expensive. You can get cheaper/more for your money in towns like Kingussie and Grantown on Spey. Lots of other,smaller villages along the A9 but then you start to lack other facilities like schools, shops, clubs etc. Be prepared for colder winters, you are far from the coast and quite high up.

Heading West you are in the Beauly/Muir of Ord area. School, shops all fine. Great access to the West Coast and off the main road north. Strathpeffer is a lovely wee village, Dingwall a not-so-nice small town.

Heading East it's Nairn, again a decent sized town. Lots of nice places just slightly further out too (Forres) and the Moray Coast is a lovely place to live. Very mild climate compared to the likes of Aviemore which may be a factor for you.

Remember that Income Tax rates are different, but then you also get free prescriptions, no University fees etc.

Your preference of location will be dictated by your current situation and what you are looking for.

Happy to answer any general queries here, or contact me by PM if you want more specific stuff about the Aviemore area.

Does it have to be Inverness?
Plenty of high quality of life locations a bit further south with easier connections to Edinburgh or Glasgow.
I love Aviemore (spend most summer weekends there), but the A9 twixt there and Inverness can soon get old, and the train service is not the best.
Go and spend some time there, in the winter, before deciding on precise location.

I moved to the area more than 25yrs ago now, came up for a party and fell in love with the place instantly and would thoroughly recommend it.
I do agree tho that it might be worth coming up in winter before committing yourself, the roads are almost always driveable with decent tyres, and the A9 is much nicer since the average speed cameras but I've known a good few people move up, then leave after the first winter, particularly the hard winters.

There is a rake of new housing getting built along the a96 so just outside Inverness.

What does your other half do for a living?

Don’t do it. It’s cold wet and shit lol

Lucky you. This will be us soon I hope. My mother lives in the middle of nowhere between Nairn and Carrbridge on the back roads with Nairn being her default town for shopping. When you say quieter do you mean in a village/small town or is more isolated an option? I'm not a mad fan of Nairn itself mainly because the high street is naff even by Scottish standards (imo Scotland does great scenery but rarely does towns well) but the area has a lot going for it for easy living within easy reach of special places. The airport is close, Inverness and the hospital very close. Full sized supermarkets and a mild climate. You can be in the Cairngorms in 30-40mins and the west coast in 1hr 30. It would be a sensible choice using your head but it's not 'epic' of itself. My heart/holiday mindset locations would probably be somewhere around (but not in) Aviemore, Findhorn or go for it properly and somewhere on the west coast around Gairloch.

I have friends that live about 30 mins North close to Tain. It is lovely, however 30 mins South of Inverness such as Aviemore feel better connected to civilization. I regularly take trips down south from the Borders to see my wife's family in Surrey. If you will be doing the same, being on the South side of Inverness may be a consideration. Aviemore is nice, scotroutes is the person to ask regards is community. He seems to be an expert on the area.

If your husband will be working in Inverness he may have snow days at home if the snow gates on the A9 at Slochd are closed. Scotroutes may add more information as to the likely frequency of this.

If I was heading that way I would be looking at Beauly and the Dores area, no particular reason other than they always feel nice when passing through, that sounds daft I know, and another place I like the look of is the Gorthleck-Whitebridge area, always liked it up there.

Gorthleck-Whitebridge area

It's a nice area that but pretty remote feeling despite not being that far from Inverness.

Gorthleck-Whitebridge area

It’s a nice area that but pretty remote feeling despite not being that far from Inverness.

Some really nice road riding in that area. Not much "community" though. Farr is probably the exception if you're counting that area too.

I have lived in Inverness for 15 years, having moved up from the south for probably similar reasons to your intended move.

Scotroutes has largely nailed it with the options. I would add that as much as you may not want to live in Inverness, it is the major hub, and you will find yourself there a lot IME. As all the roads radiate out, it is very good to get anywhere from and thus always (within reason) find weather for whatever you want to do outdoors. I went through all the options of living in an outlying village (I also worked in one) but still plumped for living on the edge of town and commuting out.

Weather here is generally 'good' - there are plenty of places within 10 miles where temps can be significantly colder in winter and minus 10 is nothing unusual on a frosty morning. I have never worried about the winter, but yes it does get dark early and light late at this time of year. At the moment it's 8.30am before we see the sun, getting gloomy at 3pm. On the plus side there is a very good outdoor scene and lots going on - night rides, night runs, night swims etc etc through the winter, you won't be bored. There is a lot of nice riding from town, especially road but also mtb.

Thank you so much for everyone’s replies! I will be spending this evening looking at the map to see where the places are that everyone has suggested.
We live in a village in Devon and would like to be somewhere similar in size if we move. I guess the most important things are that the school needs to be relatively close, ideally a local shop within walking distance and easy access to a GP as you never know when the kids are going to get I’ll. 😫 we really struggle to get appointments with our local GP which can be a pain with young kids.
We want to be somewhere where there is plenty of outdoor things to do close by. Walks/Bikes etc. We are all very outdoorsy and have a black lab who would be coming with us.
The plan would be to rent to begin with and rent our house out and trial it for a year and see how we all settle in before making any permanent move and buying a house. I have had a look online and there seems to be lots of beautiful houses within our price range if we were to sell but not a huge amount of rental properties in the area. Is that the case?

My husband is a manager for an e-commerce company and also a retained firefighter. He was looking at applying for a night shift firefighter position at Inverness airport but we are unsure how it would fit with our family life him working nights. He has been contacted via recruitment agencies for a few warehouse manager positions so we are waiting to hear back from them. They are all in Inverness which I guess is why we have looked at that area also we have many friends who have visited the area before and all say how lovely it is.
It is very wet, dull and often freezing here in Devon, our kids are pretty tough so the weather doesn’t put us off. Although like you say visiting in winter is definitely something we intend to do so over the next month or so.

Thank you again for everyone’s replies.

I reside in. Fortrose myself around 20 mins drive from Inverness on a good day, round 6 plus new housing sites cut under construction a few more in pipeline next few years.
Wee while back Fortrose were looking for retained firefighters not sure on current status though.
Dingwall not worst town around I’d say Nairn onwards east is crap depends what your after , Black Isle where I am has learning bike trails , 5 mins away , Lagan an hour 60 miles , Golspie 60 miles north , ft William couple hours ,west coast 90 mins away on quiet easy roads, 11 degrees yesterday up here and winters inverness area been rather easy past few years , stuck for choice for road rides and few good clubs in city , used to kayak sea and rivers the Inverness club is awesome and trips throughout the year if that’s your thing .
Nice beach 2 mins away and Nairn beach nice coastline with few nice houses with bit of character to boot 20 min drive from Inverness . Aviemore cool plethora of pursuits to do but I know a police Seargant who remarked it was his worst post ....
Other half and the in-laws from Plymouth and been here 30 years plus when it’s light till 10:30 in summer and the weathers on point can be one of the nicest places to live : few queerdos out & about but you get that everywhere on some level 👌.....
Good luck on choice
School 10 minute walk from me , local shop 5 mins same with gp ; bus service to Inverness iirc hourly.... nearly moved to aviemore ourselves before deciding on Black Isle but the a9 snow shift put us off as we both work Inverness area ...

It is very wet, dull and often freezing here in Devon

I think your freezing in Devon would just be a nice sunny spring/autumn day in Scotland. winter is a different thing altogether.

I relocated (from NE Scotland) to the Black Isle coming on for a couple years almost now. I’m pretty rural (couple miles up a singletrack road which took a little getting used to). I work in Inverness (about 20-25 minute drive). Like navajo I’d rather head north than south (we missed the worst of the weather this last winter). It’s certainly quiet though (well, apart from the sheep). Heading east out of the city is busy (especially at heading home time). Aviemore get heavin with tourists though. Think the entire north of England was in town on Saturday!

I’d echo not staying in Inverness itself.

Renting can be difficult, especially outwith the city itself. I happened upon my place more by luck than anything else.

Can’t really comment about schools and that, as I don’t have kids, as a local authority we are subject to the same budget cuts as the rest of the country.

I’m not sure about the ‘outdoor living’ bit...

What kind of climbing are you looking for? There’s some sports crags (Contin, Golspie) but most else is proper mountain stuff (although there’s more stuff out west easier accessed).

As someone who grew up in Elgin id rule it out . Its a nice wee place and has some lovely coastal neighbours but in all honesty its fairly crap. If you want to stay east of Inverness I'd pick Nairn . Grantown is nice but the road to Inverness could be a struggle in bad weather. I think I'd be towards the black Isle or to the south towards drumnadrochit. The thought of being able to get to Aviemore in 30 mins or Torridon in little over an hour would be amazing.
Inverness its self is a cracking wee town , though I've never been to Devon but would like to I think it would be a great move for anyone.

Yep, at least 10 deg c difference all year round, low and high, is common. Be aware of the darker winters too. Aviemore or Moray Coast will probably be drier than what you're used too - coast especially.

Black isle for the win! Fortrose academy is very good, or it certainly was when I was a pupil. I would say there's a lot more to do within a short drive from here for a family than in Aviemore. There's a lot of pressure on housing though I believe.

If your husband will be working in Inverness he may have snow days at home if the snow gates on the A9 at Slochd are closed.

I live in Nethy and work in Inverness and in 10 years I've never missed a day at work, I don't think there are snowgates at the Slochd.

I lived near Farr for 15 years and it was the best place I've ever lived but much busier now.

We ended up buying as we were having trouble finding secure places to rent in the area.

You say you don't want to live in Inverness because you want somewhere a bit quieter but I wouldn't rule it out. I've never stayed there and don't as a rule like cities but Inverness is different. it might be called a city and is the biggest urban centre in the highlands but has a really pleasant vibe about it. I like it a lot and look forward to visits - but they are only visits. However, if you do want to avoid it then this is pretty hard to disagree with, esp if you look at Fortrose

Black isle for the win!

 

I live in Dingwall. It's a nicer place to live than scotroutes says, plus it has all facilities. The schools are big enough to give your kids plenty choices. 🙂

If I had my choice, I'd pick Contin. Wee village but on a main road, so access to Inverness (and Dingwall) guaranteed easily. I'm biased because I prefer the Wester Ross and Northern Highlands as opposed to the more touristy central Highlands around Aviemore, although they have their charm too.

I live in Dingwall. It’s a nicer place to live than scotroutes says

To be fair, I'm comparing it to Strathpeffer and, yes, Contin. Both of the latter are pretty sparse for other facilities though. That's one of the main challenges, particularly with a family. We'd not considered Aviemore despite regularly holidaying here, preferring locations such as Gairloch. The reality of living, schooling, shopping and working requires all sorts of compromises.

Thinking about the Black Isle though - what about Nigg? 🙂

I'd look at the black isle for an Inverness comute.

What about Drumnadrochit? Or up above it like Balmain?

I know it's all relative but I hear many folk complaining about traffic on the Kessock Bridge at peak times. Of course, there's a decent cycle path.....

I love Drum. My favourite Highlands cafe is there (Cafe Eighty2). Not sure I could cope with the A82 every day though, especially in the (now extended) tourist season. It was bad enough having to drive it for work.

Just bought a building plot in the Trossachs NP, the single most important attribute is the ultra-fast broadband the villagers are installing in the glen after growing tired of waiting for Openreach. This says a lot about the kind of people we will have as neighbours.

I’ve known a good few people move up, then leave after the first winter, particularly the hard winters.

One winter in the 90s IIRC, it was so cold (below -20C at night) the drains on our holiday cottage froze in Aviemore, so you couldn't empty the bath or toilet. Did get to climb Steall waterfall though, which doesn't freeze very often. Plenty of cars had their radiators freeze solid that winter and people were thawing them with camping stoves under their cars by the road side.

This says a lot about the kind of people we will have as neighbours.

Impatient HD porn addicts?

It's not as cold as it used to be IMO.

On thinking about the Kessock Bridge and travel times it's probably worth mentioning that the A9 from Perth to Inverness will be a building site for the next 3-4 years, including a couple of sections between Aviemore and Inverness. Delays are inevitable, though the long term benefits should be worth it.

I'd recommend spending a week or two on holiday yup here with an eye on how the move would work. Chap I know did just that and I think is still on track for the move. Nairn / Fortrose are both good shouts without too remote. Elgin (that's me) is likely just under and hour to Inverness by road, less by train. If anything slower than it used to be in the 80s.. There are plenty good trails around us, but the same goes for Nairn I'd expect (and Fortrose). May want to look at around Evanton as well as can thoroughly recommend the trails there!

Yup remember early 90’s seeing -27c, as above the waste pipes all froze and was unable to flush for a while!