[Closed] Relocating - possible?

[quote=PJay ]Is this all pie in the skyOf course not. Folk move up here all the time.

A few observations;

Lots of folk round here have jobs rather than careers. By that, I mean that they are happy to take on a whole variety of jobs rather than be stuck to one defined career path. That's good, because the majority of jobs are low paid and are often short term. By the sounds of it, you have an advantage over many others as your current job doesn't sound like you are paid that well, so your expectations are likely to be met. If you can both survive on minimum wage, then you should find something.

Inevitably, you'll find work easier nearer the larger towns and villages. That might conflict with your idea of some remote cottage, especially once you factor in the cost and possible inconvenience (weather!) of travelling - in an area where public transport is minimal.

Finding rented accommodation will also be easier in the towns.

The climate (and daylight variation) shouldn't be dismissed either.

I'd try and stay on the property ladder if I were you - getting new mortgages these days is a challenge.

Advantage is for what you can sell the property in Somerset you could probably buy a much bigger property in Scotland.

Just a case of finding sufficient work. Perhaps look into doing something self employed / freelance or set up your own business.

I guess that the only way to go would be to sell up and move into rented accommodation whilst looking for a house and (most scarily) work; nothing guaranteed and a lot that could go wrong.

You don't need to move house to look for a job - its quite feasible to job hunt from where you are (with the caveat that attending an interview would be a fairly sizeable undertaking).

Keep in mind that the highlands are bloody big and there aren't very many people there, or many roads or public transport links and therefore potential jobs are spread across quite a large geographical area (a population equivalent to Swansea spread across an area the size of Belgium)- better to find work and then live close to it than the other way around. Rented accommodation is fairly plentiful once you know where you want to be.

Certain areas of Scotland do have looming population and employment issues arising = in that some areas have an ageing population (both in terms of the native population and settling retirees), with the young tending to move away for college/careers leaving a shortage of labour supply for the services the older population need - so theres quite possibly work options to explore in the social care field or similar.

Perhaps look into doing something self employed / freelance or set up your own business.

The moment I needed to be self employed I packed my bags and left the Highlands - depends on the line of work but for me its far too small a pond to fish in.

No it's not mine, if it was, it wouldn't be for sale.

Something like this? Live in one let out the other...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40850692.html

Yes relocation is possible without a company move. Logic would say to research work and get some interveiws so you have a better idea of prospects. Advice above is good, don't sell up and exit the property market to facilitate the mive and be aware that Scotland (especially remoter parts) probably has less potential for house growth than South West England. You might like to see if you can spend some extended time up there to see how you really like it, either longer holidays and/or working upmthere for a month or two. Also what about the winter / out of season ? Holiday rental / b&b ideas could work too.

I've been abke ti love and work in ghe US and Asia and if I have one regret it would be I should have done more. Thinking of seeing out my working days outside the UK at the moment. Its an advetnture and you have to adapt, you are an outsider / guest ?

Good luck and as a wild suggestion if you love Scotland how about New Zealand or learn French/Spanish and move to rural France/Spain eg Pyrenees ?

Thanks for all the input; perhaps it's not an unobtainable dream after all.

I think that we felt that Inverness would be the place to head as it's a lovely little city would plenty of potential for work whilst still being in the middle of stunning countryside.

We'll keep looking into it.

Thanks again.

We moved from Sheffield to Loch tay in 2008. We have now moved to Dunblane. This was us as family of 5. Apart from distance to family, we love it. So much better place for recreation, schools etc up here. The people are lovely, and really resiliant and independent. We are not leaving.

What scotroutes says is spot on.

I would also suggest looking for a job that is a 'way in', may even have accomodation. Youth hostels, hotels etc are often after caretaker type folk, sometimes with accomodation. A couple of seasons to get into life up here may be good.

If family were not do far south, or if we were back in 2008, We would be on Speyside out of choice. It's a busy, well resourced place in a stunning area.

I would also add... The smaller Scottish places, like so many rural places but compounded by how small and how remote, are the best and worst in society.

Our experience of a small village was amazing - such community and care, resilience and fun. Examples: going round our 70 year old neighbours house to check on her in the snow, to find out three other neighbours had beaten me to it and were round having a cuppa. The WHOLE village turning out for a child's funeral. Most of the village helping out at community events such as the Santa dash or Hogmanay or summer show.

Equally, there was crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour. No different to anywhere. There was also a 'narrow gene pool' at times that caused issues, and some extreme behaviour stood out at there are not the evening-out factor of lots of people.

Killin also felt like the end of the world on a wet Wednesday in November - it was an hour drive to anything other than similar small villages. A beautiful drive, but a long way.

I have to say as a family, we miss the loch and the mountains that Killin offered - it was truly an amazing place to live. We miss many of the community - they were absolutely lovely. However, long term Dunblane will suit us better with more services and the kids can walk to school or a mates house, there is more employment and opportunity.

For what its worth, in years to come I'll be looking to move from Sussex to Somerset area 🙂

Draws: Stunning countryside, out of the race race that is the SouthEast, [u]nearer to family[/u] which is a large part of the draw, (originally from Dorset) cheaper property. Fair chance of relocating with work.

Negatives: Moving away from friends, live practically on the South Downs, sea view from the house and probably 100 miles of bridleways to ride with just a couple of unclassified roads crossing the whole area.

How would life be in Scotland if you had the same unfulfilling job as you do now? It is tempting to 'escape' but in a few months time, lets imagine the job situation is the same (as you can change jobs without relocating). You've got the great outdoors to enjoy, but potentially have moved away from friends and family, could feel a bit isolated for a while.

Not saying for a minute that you shouldn't go for it, but to imagine the 'new life' and working out what it is that would make life better.

My fiancée and I live in Inverness, i am definitely in a job i dislike, but there are not many options unless you want a couple of part time jobs, or to work in the care sector.

We are looking to do the opposite and move back to England.

As Scotroutes said and has been shown in the recent Mountain programme on BBC Scotland work in the Highlands is sporadic and seasonal with a few of the people on the show having several jobs.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Of you are contemplating renting to start with, how about staying one the proper ladder by letting your current house?

We moved up here, Aberdeenshire, in 2004. I was working as freelance web designer,wife made redundant from job as picture editor. Decided we wanted a property with land to keep horses. I knew the area and had friends locally. Rented at first while selling properties in Ripon and London. Wife tried retraining as a teacher but didn't work out,then started work as home carer, now works in home care 3 days a week. I did website design until 2014 when I retired. We also now foster which brings in a small income.

Bought a property with 7acres in 2006, totally gutted and refurbished, moved in 2008. Paid for by property sales so no mortgage. Live just outside a small village. Prices are affected by proximity to Aberdeen and the oil industry.

Jobwise, you need to be prepared to take what you can find. Aberdeenshire is dominated by oil industry, otherwise a lot of jobs are public sector and low paid.

Climate, can be cold and windy.Today hovering around 0 to -3. Snow is not too much problem for us as we are on a road which is cleared by farmers in tractors but can build up off-road. Dry sunny days are glorious and not that infrequent.

Bike riding locally is a bit disappointing. Plenty of forests with forest tracks but not too much singletrack, and you have to travel to get to them. Local tracks on farms and hills tend to be little used and overgrown and often poorly maintained. Highlands not too far away and several bike parks if you are prepared to travel.

Overall, wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

Inverness is a good option, even if it's just to find your feet. Lots of jobs go by word of mouth, Facebook, Gumtree etc. You're not going to be considered for these if you're not in the area though.

Lots to think about; thanks for all the input.

I'm sure that there's an element of "the grass is always greener" but we'll see how things go and hopefully have some more trips to Inverness and see where we get to.

Thanks again for all the thoughts.

Mikejd

You need to ride Bennachie, Millstone Hill, Scolty Hill, Pitfichie. Loaaaads of singletrack.

18 months ago I moved from Maidstone in Kent to a farm cottage about a mile from the nearest village 15 miles north of Perth.

I'd been going on holiday to Scotland for years mainly to the Cairngorms and West coast, but hadn't even spent a night in Perthshire before I moved up.

I was doing a well paid job in Kent which I hated, my previously job caused me major mental health issues. I was sharing a house with an ex (we got on great - she is still my best friend). I was 42 when I moved.

I applied for a few jobs and ended up getting a job with Halfords - just something to move up and do with the idea of moving on when I was settled. Actually I like it and have no plans to change now.

When I moved up I knew no-one at all within a two hour drive.

I love it. I've never been happier and I've not regretted it for a second. The walking and riding is fantastic. The people are friendly and the scenery is stunning. Life is peaceful and there is little stress. I rent my house and have the proceeds from my house sale in Kent invested. At some point I might buy again, but then I might not.

Downsides. It's dark - 8.30 here on a cloudy day and it's still pretty dark. It'll be dark again by 3.30 this afternoon. The cold and wet doesn't bother me, but the evenings can seem veeeery long! People are great but with working lots of evenings and weekends it's hard to make friends. I have joined the scouts as a leader and a choir though which has been a great way to get to know people. There are riding groups around here, but I like riding alone (Less faffage, peer pressure etc) and with my shifts it's difficult to meet at weekends anyway. But my girlfriend who currently lives in Switzerland will be moving here in March which will make socialising easier.

In summary, it works for me and my life is pretty much perfect now, but think about what you love about your current life and what you don't love and see what will change. Living up here is not necessarily an escape and it's not a holiday. I still have to get up and go to work although traffic jams are pretty much non-existent, I still have to shop, cook, clean the house etc. But I can be skiing within 40 minutes of leaving the house, kayaking within 20 minutes, I can ride up a munro after work in the summer and the riding is sublime.

I couldn't be anywhere else now...

perhaps it's not an unobtainable dream

I think you're thinking it harder than it needs to be. It's still the UK, not the moon.

Get local job listings
Apply for jobs
Explain up front that you're not local
Repeat the above til you get an offer or serious interview
Rent house/buy caravan
Look for new house

Same as moving anywhere else in the UK really.

TBH, if you are just looking for a job rather than a career/professional role, telephone interviews should be fairly straightforward.

Or arrange a few days holiday up there next year and get a few interviews lined up (interview in the morning, MTBing in the afternoon)