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Yes, that's right. Yet another ****ing Edinburgh thread.
So, I start a new job in central Edinburgh at the end of this month. Something which has a curious mix of sadness, nervousness, and excitedness wrapped up in it for various reasons.
As someone that's going to be working in a building literally next door to the Haymarket station (I could gob at the rail passengers with a bit of effort). Needs easy access to genuine hills on an after work basis. But also wants a simple commute into work that can also be cycled and occasionally ran (albeit 1 way with the running).
Where would you go? Other than Balerno or Currie. The GF is quite keen on the rural idyll that can be found south of Peniciuk, I'm somewhat less keen on commuting 2 1/2 hrs a day on a bus. And I'm assuming that driving to Haymarket is utter madness.
As ever, I welcome advice as much as abuse and general piss taking.
Driving to haymarket is utter madness- good trains (*), trams and buses. Just look up the LRT bus routes and see where the buses go, that'll be a good start.
(Currie and Balerno would be a good shout though... Perfect hill access, on the 44 bus route)
Look down the A7? The Waverley line opens soon. Puts you in the countryside and is cheaper than heading down the Peebles road.
Penicuik was the wrong thing to suggest then?
Southside if you want to be city-ish.
Short bike or sensible run to Haymarket.
Arthur's Seat, Blackford Hill, Braid Hills all close by. Pentlands not entirely silly from the door.
Or if you go from work, Corstorphine Hill is bike or run without leaving you a stupid distance home.
Look down the A7?
Yeh, it's looking like a real option. Hills out the back and a simple journey in.
Penicuik was the wrong thing to suggest then?
Not at all. The flip side to a long commute is a short trip for a run or bike.
No point having a 5 minute commute if your just gonna travel an hour to get out on the hill.
Auchendinny? It's good enough for jimmy
Arthur's Seat, Blackford Hill, Braid Hills all close by.
Just to be clear. All of these options are too small for my tastes. I'm sure they all offer great running and biking. But the areas invoved are just too small.
I'd want the option of 4000ft+ of ascent after work. Without repping the same hill 8+ times.
Auchendinny
I think that comes down to availability.
Although it looks like we will end up as cash buyers without "gearing" so could have some good leverage when buying.
Edinburgh's not that big, easy to get into the Pentlands from anwhere E, SE, S, SW in the city. You can cast a wide net from that perspective if you decide to look in the city.
We live just outside the lothian bus service area near penicuik at the foot of the pentlands and it's ace. Cheaper (relatively!) Houses, out in the countryside but only 10mins drive to the bypass. Can either use the hourly non-lothian buses, or use the park and ride at straiton.
do you mean where to go to live? Probably best to trawl through some of the previous where to live in Edinburgh threads really. Driving to the edge of town then biking in is a good option, I used to live in the Pentlands and do that a fair bit. If you are working next to Haymarket train would open up a few options too. If you want hills you are looking at Pentlands or Borders anyway I think.
Don't be so quick to rule out the areas around Penicuik. I worked in Glencorse and it is only 40 mins cycle or bus into town.
I think Miller Homes are building/have built a development down by the old mill. Whilst not 'country living' it backs straight onto fields etc.
I also reckon that for "4000+ ft of climbing after work" in the Pentlands you'll still be going up and down the same hills...
The house next door to my sister is for sale - Greenbank Drive. Starter home for an average Singletracker.
I also reckon that for "4000+ ft of climbing after work" in the Pentlands you'll still be going up and down the same hills...
Maybe a bit http://www.carnethy.com/ri_skyline.htm
do you mean where to go to live? Probably best to trawl through some of the previous where to live in Edinburgh threads really.
I'm pretty sure this is the first ever "where to live near Edinburgh" thread ever.
More seriously, and to anyone heading in from Peniciuk direction. How long does it take to get into the city centre from Straiton P&R by public transport?
Is there anything to be said for heading round the ring road to Wester Hailes and catching a train in from there?
A good option is to drive to Hermiston Gait - free parking outside TK Maxx and get the tram direct to Haymarket. Tram stop is right outside Haymarket Station. Tram takes 10 mins.
That's also next door to the canal for jog and bike options.
There's a shower at work and reasonably secure out of sight bike storage.
I live in Peebles and its great. However, I have to pick carefully where I work. Central Edinburgh was fine as on the bus route, parking for motorbike on fine days in summer and I sussed out a not too brutally expensive place to park the car on those days when I had to drive.
However the tram could be your friend - it is surprisingly quick and stops right at Haymarket, which makes Currie, Balerno.
(If I am out the door by 0645 I am at my desk for 0730 btw - why do people think it takes hours to get to Peebles ?) I have friends who stay north side and it takes them longer to get to work than me !
So, HMRC or the Passport Office ?
Straiton Park and Ride is good if you time it right for the bus schedule. It is very quick into town, less than 15 mins as it is mainly bus lanes from there but I am not sure that any buses will take you to Haymarket. You might be better parking tactically somewhere near a bus that goes by Haymarket. There are some good places to park on the hill up to Fairmilehead on a good bus route.
Head for the Midlothian towns on the new Broders line. Newtongrange and Gorebridge are well based for good locals trails and an easy to ride to the pentlands. Though East Lothian is the best local area for the coast .
So, HMRC or the Passport Office ?
Neither. I'm in Rosebery House which should pin down the sector at least.
Noted about Straiton. For some reason I had the bus times as being a lot longer than that. And especially noted about Peebles times. Although that would require flex on hours, which might be possible.
The bus in doesn't go to Haymarket, but you can walk easy enough from Lothian Road stop.
I forgot ! Cycling from Peebles takes 1.30 in and 1.50 back (I'm tired and it's more uphill) so is a great way to save money and get some free training in.
I live in Colinton, right on the Dell. Quick spin into work either through the Dell and onto Polwarth Terrace or along canal or variants thereof. Easy to get into Pentlands via Bonaly which is a 10 min ride, running in Dell etc. On good bus routes of 44 or 10 both take 10-15 mins to Tollcross and you are a 5 min walk down to haymarket. Theres places to rent up the road from me in Colinton, Juniper Green, Currie and out to Balerno. We love it as its rural enough, easy access to get out of town, easy access to get into town etc etc and 300m from the Spylaw Tavern....
OK, so it looks like I may have a degree of flexibility with start time.
Potentially a 10am start, maybe even an 8am start. I think i'd go with 10am tbh. More time to cycle in.
With that in mind, how do these sound as outside the ring road options.
Balerno/Currie or along the rail line as far as Livi.
Possibly Linlithgow (using Ingliston P&R for heading off to the Pentlands for run training after work)
Down the A702 maybe as far as West Linton and I'm including Penciuk in that area.
Anywhere nice within reach of the new Borders line.
And what are the trains(and bus, never tried it) like for post 9am carrying of folding bikes? And what's the ring road like between the A702 junction and Hermiston after 9?
Can't help you there - I have never risked the A702 intersection with the bypass between the hours of 0700 and 1000 on a weekday, although it isn't quite as bad during the time when it is school holidays (but before the Festival).
Traffic Scotland website has traffic cams at the major offramps from the A720 (which isn't a ring road for the record) so you can look for yourself !
Why outside the ring road ? I'm about 3 minutes drive away with multiple options to get on and off (heading E or S go to Dreghorn or wester hailes both within 2-3 mins, N down to A71). Brings kingsknowe, colinton, bonaly, juniper green into the mix and theres some nice rentals around there. 10 mins into the hills, good running in various places inc Dell and into the Pentlands. Depends if you want to commute or not really, i can ride for 15min straight to work on cross bike via Dell and various offroad bits or go the other way and do 4 hours if had time.
Why outside the ring road ?
I've not discounted inside the ring road, I've just not spent much time looking at the options yet.
Although finding property the GF will be happy with is looking a bigger ask in that case.
I live in Stirling and commute into Edinburgh by train, I also do it by bike when I can be bothered; 40 miles one way mostly deserted country side cyclepath. Train is 1hr in the morning and xpress is 35min at home time, main reason for not commuting more by bike is that I prefer to get home and get out on the MTB. Ochils, Touch hills etc all easily reached from Stirling, Bridge of Allan or Dunblane. Quite possible to hit 4000ft once you get to know the myriad of trails.
piemonster - good luck with the search, lots of nice spots and you'll find something in one of the leafy suburbs. If you end up SW or close drop me a line and we can go for a ride/run
@pie
We live close to West Linton, moved here about two years ago and love it, out in the countryside but still really accessible for town. Also, it's only ~1hr 30mins to Penrith for trips to the Lakes. There's a bus ~once an hour that'll take you to the bottom of Lothian Road, otherwise P+R or just drop the car at Fairmilehead and jump on a bus there. Traffic wise onto the bypass, it gets busy after about 7.15, though with your flex in working hours shouldn't be a problem.
PM me if you want to know any more local stuff if you find somewhere in this neck of the woods.
As much as i enjoy crossing the Tay and Forth every fricking day....
Recommendations for removals firms and estate agents welcome please?
I'm sure I book marked another thread for this!
MOV8 for selling.
Does this mean you've bought?
Oh good grief no....
We're only just finished the decluttering and odd house jobs fixing. Bunch of stuff goes into storage this weekend, next week we need to start the selection process of how/who with to sell. Then its the length of a piece of string territory.
Guess you know about the ESPC website and connected Solicitors.
Good luck with the search and move. ALl of our property dealings have been managed by Connor and Malcom in Stockbride. Been treated very well and found them helpful, professional and effective at getting the process completed.
i moved from leith to a great cottage in a very secluded and leafy part of gorebridge. property is cheaper and the new railway line will make waverely 20mins away... and we now have a very cool garden.
the pentlands, moorfoots, lammermuirs, and glentress inners etc are all easy to get to as well as miles of more local stuff. (and i don't drive)
id suggest living anywhere around edinburgh pretty much gives you access to heaps of very good riding.
easy access to trails and a suitable base for my business were two of my most important boxes needing ticked in leaving actual city living.
House next to my sis is for sale. My nephew would really like Danny macaskill to move in but you'll have to do. Green bank drive. Think it's a 400 000 type job.
Tend to agree on the comments and options regarding where to live so not going to add to that, but wanted to respond to your query about movers. That said, rather than a positive recommendation, in this case a "whatever you do, don't use Forth Movers". Used them about a year ago and, depending on your point of view, they may have damaged a significant number of items, tried to hide some of them, and failed to report others despite documentation to the contrary. That said, the "after sales" or "after destruction" discussion might have been so aggressive that it was not possible to establish exactly what happened. Of course, this never happened like this...according to them!
Thank you for the replies, and comments noted.
I'm very interested in the options the Borders line throws up!
Any way, back to the joys of car booting my [s]cheap worn out crap[/s] quality used goods in Fife.
[url= http://www.bspc.co.uk/propertydetails.asp?pRef=20266&pPostCode=TD1%203BS ]one reason to head down the waverley line[/url]
(If I am out the door by 0645 I am at my desk for 0730 btw - why do people think it takes hours to get to Peebles ?) I have friends who stay north side and it takes them longer to get to work than me !
I also live in peebles and also think this on a regular basis.
And if I drive or get a lift its 50 minutes to get to canonmills right through the centre.
@onehundred
That's an awful lot of house for the money. At least it looks like it on a smart phone when it's sunny.
@pie, yeah that's why I moved out of edinburgh and commuted, now work down here with a 5 min walk to work. Currently got more than twice the floor space, a garden and big garage for the cost of my Leith flat.
Hels, its to do with when they travel. It took me less time for 50miles to Stockbridge, stopping to walk dog on Arthurs seat, than a mate from penicuik to chorstorphine. Because he traveled rush hour and I was at work by 8.
Peebles is very nice if the commute works for you. Linlithgow is also nice (it's where I lived before we moved to Balerno) but not really cheap enough to make it a better option that Balerno, Currie or Colinton IMHO.
Is it normal for women to bring you home made cakes in Holyrood park?
I liked that, made my day!