[Closed] anyone live near Edinburgh or Aberdeen?

Im a resident of aberdeen .....if i could get work in edinburgh id be gone in a heart beat- but not actually in edinburgh but somewhere near.

trail rat what line of business are you in?

Oil

He means baby oil.

He works in a massage parlour.

Ditto Trail Rat. I live and work near Edinburgh, but i'm in Aberdeen every so often. It's good for a night out, but I don't look forward to the drive just to get to the M90. My line of work is pushing me closer to Aberdeen, but i'm resisting and even considering Belfast.

Edinburgh is a great city.

I Grew up in Aboyne, studied in Edinburgh and now live in Aberdeen. I'd say Edinburgh is the nicer city for the city itself. In my opinion you have better options for MTB'in from your door out in the Pentlands if you want to bike from the city centre. However you can live some pretty cool places for biking out along Deeside within commutable distance of Aberdeen, Aboyne being about the furthest most commute from (45 min drive). Aberdeenshire is a reasonably affluent area and always scores highly on quality of life surveys employment etc (without trying to sound pretentious) so if your not so much a city person I reckon it's a pretty fantastic place to live. I'd suggest living inland (maybe 10 miles at least) as there can often be a marked difference in weather and temperature with the Harr.

I'd say the worst thing about Aberdeen is the traffic, it's desperately in need of a bypass (long standing legal battle). There's double lane road running up the middle of it that is the only direct route to cross the city, 2 key roundabouts at the north and south end in grid-lock each rush hour. I'd pick where you live carefully depending on where you need to commute to.

Horses for courses and all that but if you want to live somewhere rural I reckon the shire is a good bet especially if there's more money. (I could quite happily live in Peebles though!)

Damn Tex D beat me!

Work in Aberdeen, live 30 miles away on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Some of the best riding in the world is a 45min drive away. It may not be the best city but if you want to live rural and commute, you cant beat it! Money may not be everything but sure helps!

You in Aboyne then dogarden?

Alford

If you do go to Aberdeen I'd get yourself somewhere to live outside of the city.

Also it seems like everybody there is either smoking and/or drinking.

I'd go with Edinburgh every time. Far nicer place to be IMO

Horses for courses init. Looking for city life got to be Edinburgh. On the other hand Aberdonians looking for city life head off to Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt even that there London (basically it's quicker and Easier to get to a European city than London). Oh and the riding around Aberdeen is beautiful. Up here it really is empty. Loads of quite back roads leading up onto forest trails etc etc. Personally I like Aberdeen, though more despite the city than because of it. Jonathan Meads did a great show programme about Scotland one of which featured Aberdeen. Friendly people too. Dee Valley is nice.

thanks everyone.

We won't be living in either City but thats where the jobs are.
Neither of us are city types as we prefer the countryside. Would be happy to live out of either city and get up early and commute in.
The biking near Peebles is a big pull but so is the extra 20K in Aberdeen but as said money isn't everything!

Yeah im out in culter now , Rural definantly beats city center living , been in auchenblae and durris as well been happy in all , in the city i was depressed within about 2 weeks ,having to use the same limited routes to get out of the city by the skin of my teeth where as from current house i have many different directions to go

Have to be careful where rural you live if you want to cycle to work up here due to reasons mat suggests the roads are nasty places to be at times

There is good riding near by but aberdeen sorely needs a good non conglomerate bike shop near by....unless anyone knows of one ?

I still go back home for a good lbs. might try stonehaven again now it has a new owner.

commuting into edinburgh from the west or south can be a slow business depending where you are going / coming from

It is however a great place to live

As others have said, Aberdeen city itself is a bit of a dump but inland and N/S are some nice areas. I also live near Alford but am about to move to Edinburgh which tells you my preference! Look at where your office would be when considering where to live near here. Around Stonehaven can be nice as you can get most things there.

Trailrat - out of town I really like the bike shop in Ballater near the central carpark (not the small one, the owner there was quite rude to me). The new guy at Stonehaven also sorted me out very quickly once and fitted me in when all the shops in town said I'd have to wait 2 weeks just to get a mech hanger straightened!

Never been to Aberdeen, but I work in Edinburgh.

It's a pretty city, but I wouldn't want to live in it. Did my city living when I was at university in Glasgow.

There are some good places to live around Edinburgh. Ignore what the snobs say.

I'm from Edinburgh but been up in Aberdeen for 20years (tells you my preference)
Edinburgh if you want city life, good pubs, restaurants, bit of culture, riding trail centres.
Aberdeen if you want rural life, OK pubs, some good restaurants, a wee bit of culture, having a job, better bike riding off and on road (although Inners would swing it if you were a downhiller)
I live in Inverurie and commute to Altens a couple of times a week. The amount of route choices make it a really nice bike ride. Agree with the guys who say choose your route carefully. Enjoy the long way round if its better. MTB riding from the door is pretty good too.
Tough choice I could handle both.

alpine girl, Cycle Highlands! Rich is sound!

Ho hum
It's a pretty city, but I wouldn't want to live in it. Did my city living when I was at university in Glasgow.
There are some good places to live around Edinburgh. Ignore what the snobs say.

Do you commute in? Having seen the size of the traffic jams on the main routes in and out of the city at rush hour I would be very hesitant to do that - along with the shortage of parking

Its not snobbery to point this out

One of the things I love about the city is that I can cycle anywhere in the city in a short time and its quicker by bike than car

I've used rich in cyclehighland and he is really good and had an emergency at bike remedy in Stonehaven And he sorted me über fast!( bent hanger...) they do exist!

TandemJeremy - Member

Do you commute in? Having seen the size of the traffic jams on the main routes in and out of the city at rush hour I would be very hesitant to do that - along with the shortage of parking

Luckily I live close to a train station and catch the train in and out. I would hate to have to drive in and out.

Maybe I should not have said "snobs". However, [i]some[/i] Edinburgh folk are quite dismissive of the towns that lie within reasonable commuting distances from Edinburgh 🙂

Difficulty there is the aspiration to live rural and work in town, without a nightmare commute every day.

Lived and worked in Edinburgh for a little over 20 years, thoroughly enjoyed it. However, work was in town, I (and then we) stayed within reasonable bike / bus commute distance. We were on the point of looking to find a bigger house, and then got made redundant - so moved to very rural Morayshire instead..

Ideally you could find a rural place that was within park and ride distance, or train commute possibly? I wouldn't fancy a car commute into either, to be honest.

Money might be higher in Aberdeen, but (in true Location, Location, Location style) you might want to add up whether that equates to a better house, better style of living and easier commute - you might be surprised..

just my tuppence-worth.

Lived in Aberdeen for 8 years. Hate the city, love the countryside. Don't try to commute through the city (i.e. crossing either of the rivers) - it will drive you insane. I work in the north of the city, so picked a house to the north - much easier commute that way.

Moving to Edinburgh at the end of the year - ready for a change of scenery. From the very quick survey I've done so far it looks like I'll be saving about £50-80k on the price of the sort of house I want.

J

As with Aberdeen, if you decide on Edinburgh you just need to work out what will be the best commute for you. Cycling in works for lots of folks and there are trains coming in from the West, East and North too. The re-laying of the Borders rail link will open up another corridor.

Edinburgh also has one of the best bus services in the UK.

FWIW, I live on the outskirts of Edinburgh with trails to the Pentlands within metres of my house and a 35 minute cycle in to the city centre.

Edinburgh will also have a fantastic tram service soon....

😛

Live in leith at the moment but my time is split with living in the borders. Commute not too bad but then I'm in town by 7.30 to walk the dog on my way to work. I can do the 52 mile commute in 1hr20mins in the morning and a bit longer in the pm. But then my travel times are a bit out of kilter with the average commuter. I'd chose Edinburgh but for an extra 20k aberdeen.

I live in Edinburgh but go to Aberdeen for meetings quite often, and find it a bit grey, but that might be biased by having to get up for the 5.30am train! Both would be good for biking anyway.

I have lived in Aberdeen the past 15 years but I had many friends (including my brother) who went to university in Edinburgh. As many people have said, Aberdeen itself is a bit grim - as a city Edinburgh is far nice. Riding wise however Aberdeen is fantastic - I live in Cults and I can cycle 15 minutes to various local trails or a 20 minute drive to some proper mountains, fort William is also do able in a day. I think it is easier to 'pop out' for a nice all mountain ride after work in Aberdeen than it is in Edinburgh.

Essentially, as much as Aberdeen the city is grim, the countryside is absolutely fantastic. If you are looking for houses it is definitely worth looking out Cults/Milltimber/Bancory way depending on your budget - I work in the centre of town and it takes me 20 minutes to drive in the morning, can cycle it in 30.

Forgot to mention, when looking at the money aspect housing in Aberdeen is considerably more expensive than it is in Edinburgh as the majority of employment here is in the oil sector which tends to pay quite well.

OP - I don't know where you are relocating from, but I found moving up to Glasgow from the south west a real shock in terms of climate and sunrise/sunset.

Aberdeen will be worse than Edinburgh in that respect. It will be mega-light in summer, but ever so dark for a long time in the seemingly never ending winter :brrr:

Good point, it is a massive difference from down South. Great for the summer - doesn't get dark now until around half 10 however the winter it can get very bleak.

I love Edinburgh, it doesn't feel like living in a city - i think because you nearly ways have views out to Fife or Arthur's seat or to the Pentlands -Plus the festival is just starting and there Is a real buzz.

I can get a bus to walk in the Pentlands and a different bus back, or down to Portobello to be by the sea, or to the airport all in about twenty minutes. Train straight to London and yes eventually a pointless tramline ......

Aberdeen is one extra hop from anywhere else. Edinburgh is far enough from most other places as it is!
Edinburgh resident of 5 yrs
Perthshire resident of 10 yrs

Having gone to college in Edin out at Sighthill I don't think sweeping generalisations that one is grim v other hold.

Yes Edinburgh has benefit of being a larger city with perhaps a bit more culture.

I live between Westhill and Alford and work west end of Aberdeen. About 16 miles out and commute door to door takes 30 mins max but generally a bit less. Pitfichie I can see from my lounge window and some v nice trails out my door.

Previously in Culter. Moved to get more house for the money and never regretted it. There are many more options than the Deeside corridor.

I lived in Aberdeen 96/97 when I worked for shell. I loved it up there and would happily move back. I still have a city centre property there and when there are no tenants in it we have very happy weekends in the city. Lots of very good proper mountain biking up there and I used to have some great evening rides from the city centre and up to kirkhill.

Depends what you want I suppose.

Love living in Edinburgh and spend a lot of time in Milltimber, Aberdeen too as the in-laws live there.

Would move up there if needed. Banchory end of town is quite nice.

Having lived and worked in both places, wild horses couldn't drag me back to Edinburgh. I much prefer being up here.

As for property prices I doubt that there is actually much difference between the two cities these days.

Aberdeen is not that bad!

Edinburgh is the better city if you like city living. It's also better for arts & culture - but then it has twice the population and it the seat of the Scottish Parliament so you'd expect that.

Aberdeen wins if you want to live out of town or get out into the countryside. Less than an hour from the closest munros and on the edge of the Cairngorms National park. Plus more money from oil jobs = more money to be able to go and do things.

We live north of Edinburgh. OH commutes in by bike and train, the monthly train ticket is expensive, but driving in over the FRB would be a nightmare.

The riding by us is superb. I used to live in Stirling with rides in the Ochils or south in Cambusbarron and the Touch Hills, all from your door step. Under an hour to drive to Peebles or the Trossachs, right near the M9 for trips further north / south.

I now live further east, house prices even cheaper and an easier commute into Edinburgh. Some amazing quiet road for the road bike and stunning scenery.

Best of all worlds...

North of edinburgh - in the forth? 🙂

Watch him, he'll be one of those dodgy Fifers

I just moved to near Edinburgh about a month ago, and from what I've seen so far I like. Commute in the car from Bonnyrigg to Corstorphine which is fine (admittedly I was used to driving past Birmingham to get to work on a morning so traffic up here seems like nothing!). Getting the bus into the city for meetings is great, plus generally wandering round a very nice city. With the hills surrounding it never really feels like you're trapped in a big city, and there's loads of options for weekends away within a couple of hours drive (Lakes, Dumfries, Perthshire, Pennines, Northumberland, the list goes on...). Probably looking to buy a house in Penicuik to have the Pentlands handy.

Hey...

Firstly it's [b]her[/b] not [b]him[/b] 😉 . And no... not a mermaid or a fifer, am from the Wee County! 🙂

😳

Apologies, didn't mean to offend

Interesting though this thread, as the Aberdeen or Edinburgh choice is one I'm having to make.

I'm leaning towards Edinburgh, but only really because it makes unplanned trips to the north of England so much easier. Probably end up living in that dodgy Fife place though

One other addition I will make is that if you do intend to travel south into England a lot then Edinburgh would probably be a better choice. As good as the roads are these day's it's still essentially a 2 hr drive from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

If you do go to Aberdeen I'd get yourself somewhere to live outside of the city.

I lived in Aberdeen for a few years and did not like it at all. Moved out to near Stonehaven and loved it, especially Stonehaven. There's some fine biking and great places around Aberdeen but I'd give the city itself a miss. The big drawback to this is road links are poor, for example, although I was only about 15 miles from work, roadworks on the A90 almost closed access to Aberdeen from the south - nothing a motorbike couldn't fix. I think that's true to the north as well, but not so sure about the west.

EDIT FWIW, I moved from Glasgow to Aberdeen. If I had to choose a Scottish city, it would be Glasgow, much more fun and better access to the fleshpots of England (M74/M6)if that's your thing

Probably end up living in that dodgy Fife place though

As good as the roads are these day's it's still essentially a 2 hr drive from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

I've just moved house in the Aberdeen-shire... from Westhill, to Banchory.
Both are great places to live with great biking on the doorstep.
Westhill was a 30 minute bike into the city centre. Banchory is an hour.

I echo the comments about the city of Aberdeen as well, I'm not a fan.

Another thing to take into account with Aberdeen regarding travel though, is flying.
Flights to anywhere from Dyce are generally pretty expensive due to all the oil workers flying in and out.

I love living in the Shire. Not sure I'd live anywhere else in the UK right now.

I think Aberdeen or Edinburgh are a great places to be based near. I'm in Stonehaven just south of Aberdeen and like to visit Edinburgh a few times a year to play in a city and get some extra culture (which can be a bit lacking up in Aberdeen); but I wouldn't want to live in ANY city. The mountains, forests and beaches up near Aberdeen are amazing, although the weather can often make them only for the committed (IMHO this is a good thing).

A few of the villages/towns around Aberdeen have managed to retain some semblance of a community and are not total commuter shells. Stonehaven, Banchory, and Inverurie spring to mind as large enough to have other things going on. Stonehaven in particular is still a great holiday destination and has the outdoor pool in the summer and various festivals and events which are rightly famous... and all with a beach on one side and hills/mountains on the other (it always feels like a mountain when your riding out of Stonehaven as all the roads go up). In the winter there are often surfers in the bay and the sailing club hosts events through the summer.

Us Aberdeen people whinge about the commuting but if you've been in any other city it's really not that bad (unless there is an accident or road works which almost always cause total chaos as most roads are single lane and the alternatives are often far worse). You could try to choose wisely on which side of town to be and if possible pick your hours to avoid the worst of the traffic, but your only commuting and at work for part of the time so best to live where you want and how you want (same as anywhere else then 🙄 ). If you can use the train then it's brilliant, with some people biking one way and taking the train back.

There are quite a few independent little bike shops about as well as the obvious big boys in Aberdeen itself. The new bike shop (BikeRemedy) in Stonehaven should do well with Christian at the helm... he's an Essex refugee but fits right in and loves the place. On the subject of shops customer service can be lacking in many of the Aberdeen shops but as with most places the independents tend to be better than the chains, you might pay a premium for this service but at least your rewarding service rather than filling shareholders pockets.

As above... see Aberdeen as Aberdeenshire and there really is always something going on somewhere, with the bonus of most people being friendly (outwith certain areas of Aberdeen… see local press for details ).

Transport links for holidays etc can be a pain although it's not a huge hassle to drive to Edinburgh or Glasgow (or Manchester) to get holiday flights.

If you plan to bike through the winter budget for some bright bike lights and good winter kit 😉

in Stonehaven should do well with Christian at the helm

Oh so he's moved from EBC then? His commute will be a fair bit easier!

Well spotted gonefishin 😆

He's getting stock in now and has great plans. I was sorry to see Joe, Chris and Sam from Cycle-World go but Arbroath is not that far away (even if going down there is a bit like going back in time 20 years 😉 ).

Just spotted that it's his own setup. I'll have to throw some business his way. To be fair though I've seldom had bad service from either of the main bike shops in town.

To be fair though I've seldom had bad service from either of the main bike shops in town.

Neither have I... it was more a generalisation about other shops in Aberdeen but perhaps it reads as if I meant bike shops... oops!

For the record... I've not had bad servce from any of the Aberdeen bike shops 🙄

It will be academic where you move to, really, since independence will [s]shaft the entire country[/s] make everywhere brill to live!

Stonehaven in particular is still a great holiday destination and has the outdoor pool in the summer

just pure dead brilliant so it is

Never thought there'd be soo many people from Aberdeen/area hanging about on this forum.

Aberdeen the city seems to be getting a bit of a kicking... I like to think of it as quirky in a very special sort of a way. An acquired taste. Can second Bike Remedy in Stonehaven as a good place to take your bike.

isnt stonehaven where they invented the deep fried mars bar? And dont forget the Hook and Eye. And is the vennel still in business?

Never thought there'd be soo many people from Aberdeen/area hanging about on this forum.

Indeed. And it's not as if it isn't Friday afternoon and the sun is shining for the first time this year.
Let's get out and ride in that beautiful countryside we're all harping on about!!

Let's get out and ride in that beautiful countryside we're all harping on about!!

Ohh would love to, positively barmy here too. Roll on this evening.

stavaigan - Yep, [url= http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/scotland-to-legalise-marriage-between-a-man-and-his-mars-bar-2012072635829 ]that's Stonhaven's claim to fame - deep fried mars bars[/url].

I think the deep fried Mars bar is every wee Scottish town's claim to fame (I'm from Dumfries, and we claimed it when I was at school). 🙂

I've lived in Aberdeen for 12 years and have never regretted coming here. I think if you're more interested in what's outside the city then it's a better option than Edinburgh just for how much quieter the roads are once you're out of town.

There are nice areas to live within the city such as the West end and Rosemount (My 'hood) and I think the city itself is pretty much the right size of city with just enough to keep you entertained in terms of nice places to eat, cinemas etc. The traffic is bad at rush hour, but I don't really notice since I ride everywhere. There are great places to live in Deeside, but you pay for the privilege. Other surrounding areas aren't that cheap either, mind!

Probably Aberdeen's main problem is that it takes a long time to get anywhere else that isn't in the Cairngorms direction, but as stated by others there are great forests, mountains and beaches all nearby so the need to travel perhaps isn't as great.

Indeed. And it's not as if it isn't Friday afternoon and the sun is shining for the first time this year.
Let's get out and ride in that beautiful countryside we're all harping on about!!

Or sitting in the Brew Dog bar with tired legs from last night's three peaks of Bennachie working your way through some fantastic beverages...
Tokyo!

Or sitting in the Brew Dog bar with tired legs from last night's three peaks of Bennachie working your way through some fantastic beverages...
Tokyo!

Git..... 😉

alpine girl, Cycle Highlands! Rich is sound!

James does the graft though.

thanks everyone.
I am amazed at how many people on here are from or near Aberdeen.

It looks Aberdeen is where I am going - probably by mid October.
Looking at houses around Banchory and Alford as I will be working in Westhill.

I really liked the feel of Aberdeen, small but has everything I would want although I dont imagine I will be going into the city much.

I expect that I will be posting soon for people to ride with!