[Closed] Somewhat hypothetically - help me choose a location to live in Scotland please

Perth, Aberdeen? Both reasonably close to the Cairngorms.

Falkirk / Stirling area comes to mind

Lanark?

Strathaven?

Linlithgow?

Similar topic done before, tl:dr you want Strathblane.

Hi,

I live in Larbert which is a few miles from Falkirk.

It's bang in the middle of central Scotland so Embra (40 mins), Glasgow (35 mins) and Stirling (10 mins) are all handy.

There's easy access to the M876/M8 to Glasgow and the M9 to Embra.
Larbert station serves E/G/Stirling/Perth and trains also go up north to Aberdeen/Inverness etc.

It's got a massive high school, several primary schools, 2 scout groups and brownies/guides.

In terms of MTBing the Callendar Estate Trails and Carron Valley are close. A bit farther and there's Comrie Croft and a mass of other options.

Pure dark may be an issue.

Bridge of Allan or Dunblane could be a good shout. Easy to go in any direction, both nice places.

Pretty sure Strathblane doesn't have a Secondary school.

Torphichen, West Lothian!

Borrheed.

Wishy

I'm surprised no-ones suggest the delights of upper Port Glasgow, or maybe New-Cumnock.

Interesting thoughts about Stirling/Falkirk -hadn't really thought about that, was kinda fixated on Peebleshire.

Only thing we're really giving up here is the skiing, being a wee bit closer to Scottish skiing is somewhat of a plus, especially if the promised shut off of the Atlantic conveyer happens and Scotland turns into a year round skiing Mecca...

Another for stirling/dunblane area. I used to live along tbe road in the Hillfoots with the ochil hills literally in my back garden and Perth/glasgow/edinburgh all less than 1hr away.

Stirling is right on the fault line where the Highlands begins so should have drier weather. In terms of location it's pretty good, close to both airports and an easy drive into Glasgow. Straight up the A84 you've got the Trossachs, which is a fantastic walking area as the mountains are in easy reach.

Well living in Stirling, i'd probably recommend...Stirling.

Central Scotland, as others have said, so close to all airports and the big two major cities. The property prices are also good, and you can get a spread of a place for about half of what it would cost in Edinburgh or the borders etc.

The biking is sublime - we are properly spoilt for trails on our doorstep. There is a smattering of actual trail centres nearby (carron valley 15mins, Comrie 30mins, Glentress 1hr etc...), but its more for the natural, rooty goodness all around us (cambu, n3, dumyat, mine woods, Glen Ssshhhh, Dollar, even Aberfoyle etc). There's also loads of family paced forest type gravel stuff (trossachs, Callendar etc). Have a look on trailforks, there is stuff everywhere.

The biking community is also super active - you either meet people on the trails, or there are a couple of facebook groups who have gotten very organised and have rides heading out 3-4 times a week, and have a presence at most scottish races.

In terms of dark sky, I know that Carron Valley started opening the car park up later into the night to let in the astronomers, as the dark skies are meant to be pretty good. i have no personal experience of that though.

There are plenty of active scouts, guides, rainbow troops also, and there are some pretty decent schools ranging from good modern states, to Dollar Academy if you prefer the finer things.

If you like easy access to the outdoors whilst maintaining a connection to the urban life, its a pretty decent location to be in.

Dunblane also has direct trains to both edniburgh and glasgow.

You are not going to get dark skies anywhere in the central belt

Continuing the recommend where you live theme - Currie / Balerno.

15mins to Edin airport, but not on flight path so quiet.
12mins & £3 to central Edin on the train
2 of the best high schools in Edinburgh
Mountain biking from the front door in the Pentlands
an hour to Glentress / Innerleithen
Almost straight onto the M8 & M9
a few nice pubs within walking distance
nice community feel - we even have a community cinema.

ABA Anywhere But Aberdeen (or Ardrossan)

One place that has impressed me a lot is Comrie near Perth but I bet it's expensive as it's full of retired folk.

I’m surprised no-ones suggest the delights of upper Port Glasgow, or maybe New-Cumnock.

You'd get yer baws kicked for hyphenating New Cumnock.

Aberdeen and Ardrossan? there's a hell of a lot worse than both!

Dunblane is a good shout, I really like it there.

I live in Melrose and it ticks all of your boxes. Train 55 mins to Edinburgh city centre, 50 mins drive to EDI if able to avoid bypass peak hours traffic.

Heaps of kids activities, mine do cubs, football, rugby, tennis, dancing, hockey, athletics, music and bike club. Earlston High School is one of the best state schools in Scotland.

Tweed Valley biking on doorstep, Inners and GT 20 - 30mins away. Plenty of riding from doorstep.

Genuine community feel, Sunday Times listed it as best town to live in Scotland.Not the cheapest though and relatively static housing market.

Pretty sure Strathblane doesn’t have a Secondary school.

I meant the general area as opposed to the town. The nice end of the Campsies.

As far as dark skies go its Dalmellington for that. Lol. My father in law is in the Glasgow Astronomical Society and they have no issues that I know of.

Comrie is okay but completely cut off, bus is to Crieff or Stirling every couple of hours. Crap for kids depending on their age and interests. Nice place otherwise.

Stirling, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane would be my choices over that neck of the woods.

geogrpahically, gourock and edinbugh, would suggest cumbernauld! 😆

Just another thought though, you live in Switzerland. FFS, stay there! Its rubbish here at the moment.

I live in Melrose and it ticks all of your boxes

My sister is in Gattonside, it's a shit drive from the west coast (as OP says they will be going to Gourock), whatever way you go.

Dundee 🙂

My sister is in Gattonside

Consultantside? So called as it is predominately occupied by consultatns form the hospital.

Fair point abut drive to west cost though. Peebles side of Tweed Valley would suit better. Peebles is an awesome place, great community, world class riding, plenty going on. Biggar is also nice but Peebles would get my vote.

I also like Moffat, that bit closer to west coast.

Moffat is a dark sky town if you didn't already know.

Depends what your real priorities are and work/kids etc. Driving anywhere from W-E into Edi on a day to day basis is a right ar$e for traffic, do you honestly want to be stropping to and fromtown on a FT job basis? I'd agree though - close to town & nice with access Colinton/JG/Currie/Balerno. Pentlands are good enough, i can ride in from my house in < 5 mins and it fits the bill to squeeze riding and running in. 90 mins to Glenshee from home to lift. I'd consider Perth and/or surrounds as well or further West into Crieff (although its the norths Hebden Bridge apparently), Comrie etc. Honestly, it depends what your situation is. Schooling obv a consideration and in the Colinton/JG/Currie/Balerno area you have options state and private. Staff of mine live in Stirling and Callander etc and love it - I don't know the area but have ridden round there and top notch, better than Pentlands.

Dunblane resident here.

Since moving from Killin (and Sheffield before that) I have noticed about Dunblane:

- So much drier than proper highlands at Killin
- All the resources like schools and shops on your doorstep - I don't miss the 'big' resources in the city.
- the walking / cycling / outdoors is just like Sheffield. Right. On. The. Doorstep.
- Even better within an hour you are heading up any number of Munro's, lochs and rivers. Extend to two hours and you are in Fort William, Braemar or Aviemore.
- North = big, south = trail centres galore.
- great network of trails and walks - much more than rural Killin, and a great riding scene.
- schools are great - Stirling struggles to do a 'bad' school.
- dark skies are not great, but not that far away.
- the Tappit Hen is ace.

After living in (deep breath) India, Cambridge, Lincoln, Penrith x2 places, Liverpool, Barmouth, Kirkcudbright, Sheffield x 3 houses, Killin and Dunblane I can safely say I have no intention of moving - and genuinely like living here. I can't say the same for the other places.

the Tappit Hen is ace.

Still never drank there, I miss the Stirling Arms. You're right though, it is a great town. If I ever got the chance I think I would head for that part of the world.

would suggest cumbernauld

The future has arrived, bustling with life!

The local youths enjoy the world class facilities:

And the thriving nightlife:

Dunblane sounds about best IMO - The borders towns are nice but transport links are a lot worse. dunblane is nicer than the central scotland towns IMO

Alishand has done a good job of promoting Stirling😉  I’d move up there tomorrow if I could.  As others have suggested, Falkirk is another option.

I’d take Bridge of Allan over Dunblane and the Kinnoull side of Perth over both of them. All three are nice though.

Another vote for Falkirk area - specifically Dennyloanhead, a quiet residential suburb of Denny 🙂

I quite like Cambusbarron too, good riding from the door, and just off the motorway.

As a Dunblane local, nah, don't move here. Rubbish biking, terrible schools, pubs are rotten and it is miles from anywhere. 😉

Over a wee hill from Loch Leven where Mary Queen of Scots used to bide, almost in Tayside and cheap as chips Ballingry Fife lovely wee place wi' a friendly pub

Hmmm, very interesting folks, thanks. Cumbernauld you say? 😆

To answer a couple of questions - don't need to get to Edin or Glasgow for work, only need to be able to get to the airports (I travel for work/work from home), and of course close-ish to the parents.

Pentlands would be a good call, but the in-laws live in Roslin so I fear that would be a bit too close! 🤯

Stirling, BofA, Dunblane, Auchterarder, Crieff, Perth, Callander & the Trossachs, or Pitlochry/Dunkeld could all work & have good biking close by.
Cast a wide net & see what comes up in price range vs size, and an acceptable distance from town/shops.

I broke my arm falling down those stairs. Slightly worse for wear the morning after a night in Reflections going to the college.

I'm giving up on the posting pics thing again 🤔

Dennyloanhead is also quite handy for Cumbernauld!

Peebles has an excellent community, of course superb biking and very good schools. The town is pretty and meets your travel needs it seems.

I live in peebles.

Easy access to Edinburgh airport and m8 m73 m74 or cross country to glasgow airport is easy enough except for certain nightmare times.

Bus is decent to edinburgh throughout the day and the last one home is 1130.

Not dark sky but its been decent recently even in town and you have everywhere south and west reasonably clise by.

Road and mountain biking are cracking.

The towns a bit shit. Its nice enough but a bit dull.

Just moved to Peebles from central Falkirk at the end of the year.

If transport links are important, then Falkirk is obviously great. And still pretty cheap too. Asides from your immediate neighbours, you're not going to get much of a sense of community though.

If you want a small town for you and your family, where you can get to know people, then Peebles still has that. I was also surprised at how good the shops in the town are - I thought I'd be nipping up to Straiton or the Gyle for this and that for the house, but it hasn't really worked out that way.

Buses take an age to get to the centre of Edinburgh though, especially during rush hour. I drive to the airport park and ride 3 days a week - leave just before 7, takes roughly 50 minutes, give or take.

To be fair, when I saw the thread I was going to take the piss and say "What's it called? Cumbernauld!", but Cumbernauld does seem to be about 20 mins from everywhere. But bonnie? Naw.

However, if you want facilities, it's Stoneybridge for the win.

High 5 to zigzag and joshvegas.

Reflections

Aka Paps? All I ever knew it as on my single visit, once was enough!

Cumbernauld is getting an M&S Food dontchaknow, going up in the world, it's the next Dunblane. Has a decent 4x track as well.

Nah different dives. Papa docs was under the shopping centre and reflections was up at the top car park though my memory might be a bit sketchy on this.

Anyway to actually add something to the thread of relevance, I always thought Dunkeld would have been a nice place to stay. Most of your requirements would be met I'd say. Maybe a stretch to Gourock but it'd be bypass/motorway all the way.

Marvellous input all, thank you. A late surge from the Peebleshire massive in response to the Stirlingshire dwellers was also helpful.

If we are talking 'ride from the door and be on singletrack within 2miles', then I guess Peebles, or anything near the Ochils would be best?

Selfishly, I really need to be that close - whilst I also enjoy a 3-4hr+ outing at weekends, my sanity needs me to be able to take a break during the WFM day and immediately be out on the trails.

Great stuff, thanks!

I'm moving to Bonar Bridge first week of April from the Hampshire tropics.
I have friends there which make it an easy choice but the benefits for me are the Loch Migdale within eyeshot of the Croft for swimming, Balblair MTB trails at the edge of the village and Golspie trail centre 20 minutes drive away which also has a nice beach and a great chippy.

That and the peace and quiet

In terms of sheer amount of riding from the door, Peebles/inners would be head and shoulders above anywhere in the Stirling area, but I'd far rather actually live up round Stirling.

Nobeerinthefridge - why do you say that?

I'm thinking that for me, realistically with one teenager and 2 who will be soon, infrastructure is a wee bit lacking in Peebleshire?

If we are talking ‘ride from the door and be on singletrack within 2miles’, then I guess Peebles, or anything near the Ochils would be best?

Myself to first bit of single track is about 400-500m in three different directions.
Most of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane are within a km of off-road, a good proportion of the north and west of Stirling the same.
Ochils has routes, but IMO they are quite seasonal / boggy / traditional 'hill routes' for a lot of it. Get the West end (BofA again...) and suddenly there is more in the woodlands lower down.

Nobeerinthefridge – why do you say that?

I don't think it would matter where I lived, I'd want to ride other places, even if I lived in the best biking area possible, I'd still wanna go ride different stuff. Stirling area would be perfect for my needs, but also for access to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and also for Hill walking, you couldn't be better placed for all of that stuff really.

The biking around where Matt talks about is fairly decent, but there's everything you want within 90 minutes really, from Aviemore to the Borders, and millions in between.

I like the Borders, but I've always felt it's a bit insular, just my gut feeling though.

but there’s everything you want within 90 minutes really, from Aviemore to the Borders, and millions in between

This is so true of the area around Stirling - amazing hills, riding, canoeing and more all a straightforward and not that long a journey.

Wandering off topic - One thing I would say, no matter where you end up, prepare yourself for some reverse culture shock. We were abroad for 6 years, then came back and ended up in Falkirk. Nice house, nice street, good neighbours, but after a couple of months we were both looking to sell up and go back - thought we'd made the biggest mistake ever. Probably took us a good 6 months for life to start to feel normal and alright again. Daughter was only 6 at the time, so that wasn't too bad, but I'm thinking the older they are the harder it'll be for them.

This is so true of the area around Stirling – amazing hills, riding, canoeing and more all a straightforward and not that long a journey.

And good roads too, Borders roads would do my nut in.

You are not going to beat the Stirling area for all roundess. It's central location gives you easy access to all the different areas/landscapes Scotland has on offer for outdoor activities, plus plenty of it's own right on doorstep. You can be anywhere doing anything in a short amount of time. Easy access to the two main cities gives you all the options on offer there plus plenty enough on offer locally as well.

Peebles has better biking in the immediate vicinity, but that's about it really. Sure it's got decent access to Edinburgh on a good run, but getting anywhere else is a PITA.

If we are talking ‘ride from the door and be on singletrack within 2miles’, then I guess Peebles, or anything near the Ochils would be best?

Selfishly, I really need to be that close – whilst I also enjoy a 3-4hr+ outing at weekends, my sanity needs me to be able to take a break during the WFM day and immediately be out on the trails.

So if looking at Stirlingshire somewhere like Cambusbarron village, or Bridge of Allan, or the Torbrex / Kings park area of Stirling itself would see you out the door and on proper mtb trails within 15mins easy.

The hillfoots villages (e.g. that run along the base of the Ochils) can be hit or miss - there are nice houses, but some suffer from some acute deprivation issues (think old mining villages). You are also limiting your transport links to other places. Dollar is probably the exception to the rule as it is like someone picked up half of Stockbridge in Edinburgh, delicatessens and all, and launched it 25miles up the road.

I like the Borders, but I’ve always felt it’s a bit insular, just my gut feeling though.

you are right. it is very insular indeed.

All these best bits of Scotland, Dollar, BoA, Dunblane, Comrie, Dunkeld it's getting a wee bit middle class chuck in Gifford, Gullane maybe Aberlady all near Edinburgh not far from Peebles. Cumbernauld, Falkirk are needing Whitburn, Broxburn, High Valleyfield, Wallyford, Mayfield to balance it up a wee bit

In terms of sheer amount of riding from the door, Peebles/inners would be head and shoulders above anywhere in the Stirling area, but I’d far rather actually live up round Stirling.

Stirling has more as a town as it js four times the size.Peebles is not just about biking though nobeer. I can kayak with a short portage from my house and can also hill walk from the door. Peebles is better connected than many assume. If heading to the Highlands add no more than an hour than travel distance from Stirling. If Inverness is 2 hours from Stirling its 3 hours from Peebles. Pretty similar really. I can be at the edge of the Lake Disrtict in 90 mins and in Keswick in 2 hours. The real travel benefit comes if a lot of your travel is to Edinburgh or Glasgow. Edinburgh in 35 to 40 minutes and Glasgow in an hour. Yes you can get to Glasgow from Stirling quicker on motorways, but I feel I can get around the central belt by skirting the Moorfoot hills and the Pentlands. I think motorway driving and regular commutes past the likes of Hermiston Gate or Ineos refinery would depress me to tears.

I would echo matt_oab and the Stirling guys shout for their respective areas, and would be looking there if I were in your shoes.

Peebles seems to be a nice place, and I have not been for a few years but would I choose to live there if I had growing kids? I am sure they would love it, but Dunblane/BoA/Stirling/Falkirk have great services, facilities and connections, with local riding nearby.

I live in North Glasgow suburbia, Lenzie, so the road / rail connections are great but less so for trail riding on your doorstep. Albeit Lennox forest and Mugdock are 15 mins away and the road riding is great.

@athgay, I stand corrected and just showing my bias / ignorance.

The Port and Greenock are notably absent in this thread! Great sea and mountain views of course, and handy for Glasgow airport, Argyll, Millport and Bute ferries and more frequent cruise liners!

Dunblanatopia resident here:

Trail rides from the door go left or right, basically take your pick and a pretty active scene if you fancy it. - Aberfoyle and Callendar trails also only 20 minutes away by car - regularly go night riding there in the summer.
Well served for shops and Stirling/BofA is easy cycling or train ride away.
M9/A9 is minutes from my door plus you can bypass the bottle neck of the Keir Roundabout too.
Main Line train station to all Scottish cities - fancy a night out at Celtic Connections or Ed Fringe? Last train home easy peasy.
Choice of Primary school and large High School with good facilities.
Please come our way and do your bit for maintaining the stable housing market!

I do like Peebles in the south and Aberfeldy in the north also but the train line is the winner for me.

Athgray, just being honest, and objective as I don't live in either of the areas.

Tbh, I wouldn't leave Prestwick for Peebles, but I'd move to Stirling area no probs.

Thought I'd post a wee update - this is all now happening.

Families told, kids told (generally excited!), we are excited. And we have settled on... seems very hard to choose anywhere other than Stirling/Dunblane. (though Peebles still holding a close backup spot - house prices are less and it really is a nice place)

Currently house hunting (me and wife), meeting schools (wife - is a teacher, has strong opinions!), and sorting finances (me - argh!)

Turns out that being a UK citizen, but a current Swiss resident, new being employed out of Ireland but going to Live in Scotland is proving challenging for British banks to get their heads around. Mortgage process is... fun!

So, to the Stirling/Dunblane folks - in the coming months, if you see a huge dodgy looking bloke wandering aimlessly about your neighbourhoods - be nice to me, and tell me good things about biking 🙂

meeting schools (wife – is a teacher, has strong opinions!)

I know this won't help but I think you would struggle to find a genuinely bad school in those areas*, in fact there aren't really many genuinely bad schools across Scotland as a whole**. The reality is your wife might meet the head and think its great and has the right approach and ethos and then a particular class teacher is poor, or your kids might fit in really well in a particular department at a secondary and do great despite a school officially appearing outwardly less impressive.

*If the kids are, or will be in say the next few yes at secondary, then Peebles might be a poorer choice. I'm not sure how big the disruption is after the fire but thats more likely to be a frustration than any particular approach at an individual school.
**If you look beyond the headline stats the trend is affluent area = better outcomes for the child.

Welcome to Scotland, when the time comes.
Hopefully we can make you feel at home before too long.
Before you make any final decisions, the climate further east is a fair bit drier and sunnier, plus Dundee has good transport links with the central belt and with those south of the Wall...
The trails are more varied and extensive over here than around Stirling too: Dunkeld, the Angus Glens, Cairngorms, Braemar are all nearby.

Having been born in Bridge of Allan I would say "Bridge of Allan"
But I left Stirling when I was two ....

if you see a huge dodgy looking bloke wandering aimlessly about your neighbourhoods

Sounds like a typical day in Stirling. 😂

Move quickly on houses if you're looking at Dunblane. After being announced the best state secondary school in Scotland this year there has been an influx of 'outsiders' registering with estate agents (according to pal who owns estate agency locally). We've a new neighbour with a 3year old who moved from London to Dunblane just so they could get the kiddo in the secondary...

Be aware that there are some big developments about to happen in Dunblane and BofA. There's a few roads I wouldn't buy on, as that empty field next to it is about to be 200+ houses and the access road is the current quiet cul-de-sac that ends in a fence... Any field between Dunblane ana A9 has permission already (almost) and some more between Cornton and BofA.

As for your wife being strongly opinionated about schools, fair play. I assume she understands the difference in our education pedagogy and curriculum in Scotland? I'll also repeat, we don't really have 'bad' schools in Stirling area - and your kids will thrive in any of them imo.

Does she intended to teach here? If so, speak to GTCS now and check she meets requirements for registration. We faced a long and uphill battle for mrs_oab to be allowed to teach here, and it involved being on bottom of the payscale again....

oh, and OP, drop us a line when you come up. Happy to guide you round the trails and share a pint in the Tappit...

Timely thread resurrection for me as well, I'm just about to hit go on a move North, most probably Stirlingshire. Useful comments on the schools, that's somewhat put my mind at ease because it's been a big worry. Daughter loves her school here so the thought of messing that up is difficult. Also on the developments in Dunblane / BoA as those were areas we were looking at.

I’d take Bridge of Allan over Dunblane and the Kinnoull side of Perth over both of them. All three are nice though

I;ve just been looking east of Perth, houses are pretty cheap there, especially in Errol.
Why's that?

I’m surprised no-ones suggest the delights of upper Port Glasgow, or maybe New-Cumnock.

Spent the first twenty or so years of my life in Port Glasgow. Am in no hurry to rush back, to put it mildly.

OP given your various criteria Peebles, as you suggested, would be a pretty good bet.

Errol

I don’t know, it’s a bit isolated and a typical agricultural village. Good road connections to Dundee and reasonable to Edinburgh. A bit flat and too near the Tay maybe?

We've spent the last two years going through this and last Monday our builder started digging the foundations for our house near Callander, which is right on the Highland Fault where the Lowlands and Highlands meet.

The cons: No milkman, less choice of grocery delivery, no railway station 5 minutes walk away with Manchester an hour away.

The pros: 1 gig broadband self-installed by the villagers. Lochs Voil, Venachar and Earn a few minutes away. Great walking and cycling all around. Ski resorts around 2 hours drive. Glasgow & Edinburgh about 60-90 minutes drive. No traffic, no mill town scum racing around in blinged-up German sports saloons.

You could always buy a plot at the westerly end of a loch with stunning sea views but you have to recognise that as you get older you need to be close to GP surgeries, hospitals, neighbours and other facilities, which is what informed our choice of location. All the nearby towns like Comrie, Crieff, Dunblane are nice and roads are good.

I loved living in Stirling, it is on the list of possible places to go back to, along with Crieff, Comrie, Callander, Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Aberfeldy. Pitlochry/Dunkeld is currently winning but once we get an offer on the house we will come to a decision 😉

globalti, sounds awesome, nice work

matt - cheers, will do! When me and the missus were sniffing about before new year we went to the Riverside for a pint, then back to there for dinner which was very good. Never made it to the Tappit Hen. Also bought a Steak Pie for new year from the butcher's on the left hand side of the high street as you walk up (not the posh one at the end on the right) and it was f'ing epic!

highlandman - I hope you all let us back in, it's been 17 years since we lived in Inverurie (our last Scottish address), and according to NE pals unfortunately I now "sound like a ****ing American"