Can anyone suggest nice areas in Scotland?

[alittlehoarse]

Looking to relocate next spring. At the moment all we know is we want to be in Scotland within an hour(ish) of Glasgow and not more than 2(ish) from Oban. Slight ly flexible here but not too much as have to be able to work within Argyle+Bute.

Prefer detached, enclosed or (easily enclosed) garden. Prefer country life, perhaps a village, currently in a small rural hamlet and it is too quiet. Very limited friends nearby etc. Dc enjoy the freedom but are often bored.

Don't mind small if we could extend (esp if detached) as getting right location is the priority. Just really looking for somewhere quiet, safe, friendly folk and things for dc within a short drive. Currently an hour from nearest sports centre

Would prefer a smallish primary school to make the transition easier for dc who currently attend a 30 pupil
primary school. More importsntly would like a reputable high school as eldest approaching that age.

Anyone think of anywhere that would fit my perhaps slightly demanding wish list! Oh and obviously somewhere we can afford to live. Budget around 200-230k.

On top of that I'd appreciate anyone who'd be willinv to hold my hand throughout the whole process as for some reason I am completely shitting myself at the thought of uprooting my wee family but feeling it really has to be done

Jeez for those who got to the end!

[LanguageTimothy]

Dunblane, Doune, Bridge of Allan?

[sniffywhiff]

Have been looking at the places Language suggests for us and they're nice enough but have been warned off Bridge of Allan by lots of people. Would Perthshire be too far for Oban?

[sniffywhiff]

Isn't Perthshire an hour from Glasgow?

Been told that BoA is snooty, cliquey and money-obsessed - pretty though . . .

[ithaka]

Bridge of Allen is lovely - why were you warned off? - intrigued...

[ithaka]

Perthshire is lovely, but definitely more than 2 hours from Oban. Transport links in Argyll & Bute are dire.

[sniffywhiff]

I thought OP would be driving, sorry . . .

[sniffywhiff]

What I'm finding - am looking for somewhere similar, although without the Glasgow/Oban links - is that I don't know where to look as I don't know where to look, if that makes any sense! I need to go down for a day and just drive around, as finding somewhere rural is often a matter of luck. You also get a better sense of what the roads are like rather than the estimates on a route planner. When I've called estate agents, they haven't been that helpful as the property market down there is buoyant - and they have generally just sent me things that are the opposite of what I'm after, so I think (like me), you'll probably have to put the time in and search.

[haggisaggis]

We lived outside Dunblane (semi-rural so small village school). Was about 1 hour from Glasgow and around 2 to Oban - so would fit your criteria. (Braco / Greenloaning area). Sports centre in Auchterarder or Crieff. (about 9 miles away) Supermarket Dunblane, other shopping Stirling.

[alittlehoarse]

Thanks guys!

Have considered a few areas that have been suggested!

Have looked at Braco, Comrie, Muthill, Aberfoyle, Callander, Balfron, Drymen, Fintry, Killearn, Cove, Rhu, Gartmore, Dunlop, Stewarton, Bridge Of Weir, Kilmalcolm.

Obviously no particular order but found have visited most of these areas and thought they seemed nice or know people who live there.

Anymore info would be much appreciated folks!

Defo don't want anywhere snobby or money obsessed as we are skint!

[LanguageTimothy]

alittlehoarse and sniffy I think that that is a spectacularly unfair comment about Bridge of Allen. Sounds like very sour grapes to me (I don't live there btw, but I do happen to know the area well)

Bridge of Allen is a prosperous area but definitely not snooty! Money obsessed is hysterical - what the whole town?? It's a university town after all- snooty students?!!!

Dunblane might be a better bet for the op as the high school is very good and it's very safe for walking about in.

There is an excellent sports facility (The Peak) about 20 mins from the area, swimming, skating, gym, fitness suite, rock climbing, football pitches etc. Also tennis clubs in both Dunblane & B of A.

Dumblane has 3 primary schools, all good but my friend's kids are at St Mary's which is very small ( under 100).


A number of the other places (Braco & Callander etc) are lovely but not quite so commutable esp in winter.
One of the best things about Dunblane are the transport links- train station in town centre and slip roads on to motorway north and south. My friend's husband commutes north by car and she takes the train to Glasgow (35 mins express).

[alittlehoarse]

languagetimothy sorry if my saying I didn't want to live in a snooty money obsessed area sounded like sour grapes or like a direct put down on B of A. I just meant generally, I don't know that area at all. Just saying if that were true it wouldn't be what I am looking for.

[sniffywhiff]

Language - it was what I was told by a number of people when I was looking for advice. If it's their perception of an area, then they have every right to say that. I've heard it from estate agents too actually. I don't have any axe to grind, I don't live there or know anyone who does - as I said, it seems a very pretty place to me, but when most people who give me advice, when I ask for it, say that these things, I'd be pretty arrogant to ignore them all.

[tabulahrasa]

Dunblane's got one of the top performing secondaries in Scotland, I can also tell that based on a one day visit it seemed like a lovely school with nice pupils and fantastic staff.

People seem to like the town as well - but I've never lived there, so I can't give you a massively accurate opinion on that.

[LanguageTimothy]

alittlehoarse I didn't mean that you were expressing sour grapes I meant to refer to whoever sniffy had been speaking to.

Of course one wouldn't want to live somewhere that was 'snooty' and 'money obsessed'. That wouldn't be anywhere you'd want to raise your children.

Sniffy I'm not doubting your word at all and of course you would be naturally inclined to listen to your friends' advice but honestly I really, really disagree! If they don't live nearby I'm not really sure how they came to that conclusion? There are mansions in B of A but there is also social housing and everything in between.

I'm also that an Estate Agent would spout such a negative comment about a place they are trying to sell houses particularly in the current market. I might change EA's if I were you!

Clyde property and Slater Hogg are the best Estate Agent's in the area and I'd be astonished if they said such a thing!

[AltogetherAndrews]

I grew up in Dunblane, and can confirm that it is lovely, a great place to have kids.

[sniffywhiff]

They weren't friends, they were Mumsnetters!

I don't live close enough to just pop in for viewings, so I have phoned a lot of estate agents, I don't have one to change as such as they aren't ones that I'm employing or anything like that. When I call, and tell them what I want, they ask which areas. I don't really know the areas so I ask them to advise - three have said to me that they don't think BoA would suit at all as it is, in their words, cliqueish and snooty. I guess they could have said aspirational and tight-knit - it's all about how you see a place isn't it? Houses there go so quickly that they sell themselves I've been told.

To be honest, I don't rate any of the estate agents I've spoken to. I did find a house that was perfect, left lots of messages/sent emails (no one ever picked up the phone). Finally found someone to speak to, it was under offer and no one had even got back to me in three weeks to arrange a viewing.

On the back of this thread, I actually looked today to see the pix of it as it was absolutely ideal - it is back on the market and still no one had called us to say, despite me telling them I'd be very interested if that happened.

It's not in BoA . . .

[AlisonClare]

I lived in Dunblane for 10 years, all 3 children went to the high school - not really sure about it being 'best performing' - my daughter said the good results were largely because parents paid for extra tutoring...

That said, it's excellent for children/teenagers and is why I chose it.

• easy access to countryside
  
• for teenagers, easy to get into Glasgow and Edinburgh a godsend for concerts and stuff like that.They go as a group and come home together.
  
• you don't have to be a taxi service, they can use the train easily.
  

-children can walk to school (although you wouldn't believe that from the traffic up to the high school on a morning)

Cons are - everyone wants to live there - lots of new building - and you might find it on the expensive side.

I loved living there. We regularly drove the road to Oban through Crianlarich and are now back in Argyll.

[tabulahrasa]

"my daughter said the good results were largely because parents paid for extra tutoring..."

Lol, possibly, but it does top lots of lists for exam results.

[alittlehoarse]

I'm not so worried about 'top performing schools'. I just want my dc to enjoy school really and mix with a good bunch. Where we live now almost
guarentees(sp?) this as the area is quite remote and so small numbers at primary and secondary. I know there is a high chance my dc would enjoy being at school here but I just worry about boredom. There is so much out there for them, even just bigger pools of friends.

sniffy where is the house you fancy? pm me if you'd rather not say on here. Where are you moving from?

alisonclare can I ask where in Argyl you are and how it compares to life in Dunblane?

Off to see if it is possible to put on links from my phone as I have spotted a few nice houses!

[TheWookiesWife]

After a treacherous drive today something to consider is if you drive East to work in the morning and West back home again - you can end up with the sun in your eyes both routes !! So try and make your home run going east and your morning run west to avoid this !! ( yes there's sunshine in Scotland too !!)

[alittlehoarse]

ok no idea how to put links on with my phone but for anyone interested Muir Crescent in Doune oieo 210k is totally my cuppa tea. Love how the street looks and think bungalow has so much potential! Something like this next spring would be lovely!! Do Doune schools feed to Dunblane High? Anyone know?

[alittlehoarse]

thewookiewife ah I hate when this happens. Get this here when driving home too. Blinding at times!!

Work is not usually a 9-5 affair. Lots of travelling and overnight stays so not so worried about it day to day.