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I'm five minutes from the Edinburgh bypass. Lots of local options for a 2 hour ride on woodland single-track, nothing too technical but good fun on a summers evening. There's a wood locally that's had extensive work done, berms, drops, jumps, that's good for half a day of fun. 30 minutes from Inners, 90 minutes to Dunkeld. Even the Pentlands are worth it on the right day. If you like beaches etc they're only half an hour away too. I like the variety, being able to get the bus into Edinburgh for a show, cinema or a nice meal or go for a really good bike ride, all within 30 mins drive/bus journey.
Stu, I opened a thread about a year ago on the same/similar topic, then updated it recently now that things are in full swing.
Good luck! I can only suggest you get up there, meet some folks, have a good neb about, look at some houses, go to some pubs etc. I think from all the replies you’ve got the jist on major cities, so go and have a look (and take a bike!)
We’ve actually found it quite hard being able to put a pin in a map with relatively few constraints, going up and looking without rose tinted specs (we are a Scottish family, lost in the sarf and Europe for 15 yrs) helped hugely.
Let us know how the search goes.
The only 2 wee comments I will add based on personal experience is
- Aberdeen is a fantastic place, lived there for 10yrs, but my god it is ****ing miles from everywhere/anywhere
- Dundee, for a man (me) who is very big person, felt like living in Lilliput, but where the Lilliputians were all on drugs and wanted to have a laugh on a Saturday trying to punch the big fella out, or indeed even wave a gun in his face. I did not enjoy Dundee (but it was a very long time ago!)
I lived in Edinburgh for 50+ years. It's an awesome city and my one regret is it getting a chance to first see it through adult eyes in order to fully appreciate it. Sone of the architecture, the castle in the middle if the city, even Arthur's Seat, I'd become so used to seeing these when growing up that it was too easy to dismiss them. Balerno is a good call. Still on the outskirts, good bus service and cycle path into town, and on the edge of the hills for easy/quick access. When I was living there and working from home I'd often head out for an hour at lunchtime.
However...given the choice I'd recommend Inverness. We moved to Aviemore seven years ago and I was working in Inverness up until last year. If you are into the outdoors at all, you'll really not find anywhere better on these islands. There's a wealth of small towns in the area that would all be an easy commute if you don't want to be in the city at all, plus air, rail and road links are all good (though A9 will be a pain for the next 4 years or so as they complete the dualling to Perth).
Having lived in Stanley, thinking I could handle the commute on the A9 to Blair Atholl, I left my job thinking I could handle the smaller commute into Perth.
I cut my losses and just moved to Scone and walk into Perth every day.
Perth is brilliant, the Centre is on its arse from a retail aspect but it’s a truly beautiful place to live near. Great bus, and rail links. Great riding from the door, amazing running and walking routes. I’ve never been happier living anywhere else.
I'd say Edinburgh, and by Edinburgh I mean Portobello. Great here!
A second shout for Linlithgow from me.
Sounds like your missus could move office later if need be? In which case I'd be tempted to try Inverness for a bit.
I understand there are some rather challenging local trails, plus it's day-trippable for Torridon and even easier reach of the Cairngorms - and then there's the West Highlands as well.
They don't need any content people do they?
40 minute commute from aviemore to Inverness.
Just sayin.
For me one key thing to consider is the commute. Is the Edinburgh office near the train station? commuting from the north or west into Edinburgh can be an utter nightmare in a car with an hour to get in or out of the city being possible. Train services to Edinburgh are great tho from multiple directions
Property prices in Edinburgh are stupidly high and the 'burbs not much better. My wee flat in leith is worth a 4 bed house in aviemore or inverness
Edinburgh is a lovely city to live in - so long as you can deal with the tourists and congestion. Its small so you can cycle anywhere in the city and out of it very easily but it still big enough to have everything you want and need in a city. Local riding to Edinburgh is decent - as in stuff you can ride to and tweed valley a short drive away. Plenty of work in Edinburgh for you as well I would have thought.
Aviemore is a fantastic location for outdoorsy but a rather dull town - tho better than it used to be.
Glasgow a nice place to live if you live in the right bits but being much bigger than Edinburgh harder to cycle around and out of and not so much decent riding around.
So its really about establishing your priorities. Nicest city to live in is Edinburgh, Best cycling Aviemore but then you have a commute to inverness for her and is there work locally for you?
Use ESPC to have a look at what you get for your money housing wise and think about your commute - are you / her prepared to do a car commute? Train commute or walk to work?
https://espc.com/
Inverness in a second. But I’d probably commute in from strathpeffer direction. Some beautiful houses up there. Or the Black Isle, or out the back of Nairn. Inverness is a great city, you should have seen it in the 80’s-90’s if you wanted to see grim! Plenty of places to avoid tourists. I’d love a few pints in the Market Bar right now.
As already mentioned, Aberdeen is miles from anywhere (else). Having moved to Inverness coming on for three years ago I can advise that traveling south is worse (A9).
Also, tourists... grrr, additionally a crash requiring a lane closure CA gridlock the place. For hours...
Great for access to the hills (& the west though).
For balance I lived in Embra for a year in the 80's (before I got into mtbing) and other than for work I've barely ever gone back. I'll pick Glasgow instead...
I'm just a bundle of joy I am... 😁
Glasgow has a motorway cutting it in half
The city centre has a motorway going through it which makes travelling really easy. Its also not as if it actually makes a difference if you are in the city centre.
Its all very well saying you want to move somewhere close to biking but what does the wife (family) want or need. Are you really likely to live in the city centre? If like most other people you'll be actually wanting amenities close by; easy travel to other places; not in the middle of no where; think about the weather (look at places that are flooded at the moment); what is the internet or indeed 4G connection like.
Taking riding out of the equation and look at where you would live then.
Inverness +1 and if you want a lodger let me know
You need to talk to terrahawk of this borough. Jason made the move a couple of years ago and as far I know it’s going rather well.
You need to talk to terrahawk of this borough. Jason made the move a couple of years ago and as far I know it’s going rather well.
D&G as I recall, so outwith* the scope of this question.
* for teh MacLOLs
Inverness as a centre is a good choice.
Even better is not to live there, but nearby.
If you like the tourist Highlands, Aviemore area.
If you like the never see anyone all day Highlands go slightly west, between Beauly to Strathpeffer. Open up an OS map and you have a smorgasbord of riding.
(I live in Dingwall. I can ride about 200 yards and I'm on to a 1,000' hill. Top that and Ben Wyvis lies exposed. The local school is reasonably big and produces good results if that's important.)
Not saying anything is wrong with Dingwall but it’s the only time I’ve been locked inside a bar because of a fight going on outside! Wasn’t bad to be honest, like the 90’s version of pay per view!
doug_basqueMTB.com
Not saying anything is wrong with Dingwall but it’s the only time I’ve been locked inside a bar because of a fight going on outside!
It's ok now. I've calmed down a bit... 🙂
Glasgow is being severely underrated as a place to live for a cyclist
1) huge cycling club scene with over 100+ years of history
2) velodrome
3) you can easily ride from city centre off road out to proper countryside - to the north and west
4) great road cycling routes out north with excellent climbs
5) reasonable access to Arrochar, West Highland Way, Glencoe, Kinlochleven, Fort Bill - proper classic MTB riding
6) tweed valley 1.5 hrs
7) lake District 2hrs
8) Dumfries and Galloway 7 stanes and Drumlanrig 1.5-2hrs
9) lots of parks and cycle network within the city to explore
10) Aberfoyle is 40mins away with amazing riding for everything from road and (endless) gravel right through to silly steeps
Again thanks for all the replies.
This place can be a bit bitchy from time to time but there's some brilliant advice when it comes down to it.
We'll both be looking in more detail at some of the suggestions and please keep them rolling in.
BSN and the other person that mentioned his thread thanks for pointing us towards that. Again loads of info to look at and take in.
Just to reinforce there's no actual offer of the job yet but we both want to make sure we know what's what if there is an offer.
Exciting and scary at the same time.
.
Invernessish so black isle nairn area.
Drier than the west coast
I’d choose Nethy Bridge or Boat of Garten. Easy commute into Inverness not far from airport and rail links. Excellent outdoors options on your doorstep.
If that is too remote and you want to be in a city then Stirling is probably the best option. Half an hour or so train to Glasgow or Edinburgh, handy for Trossachs etc.
For me Edinburgh or Glasgow is too busy but you may prefer a busier city. Aberdeen is good for local road and mountain biking but I’d move to Nethy Bridge in a minute if I got a golden handshake from work.
I’d choose Nethy Bridge or Boat of Garten
Not if you want some place for a drink. Both have only a pretty dismal hotel.
I live just south of Inverness, there's local natural trails, Aviemore is an hour away and Ft William is 50 mins.
It's a nice place to live and I've no plans to move 😁
I lived in the central belt for 12 years, wouldn't move back now...
I live in the Borders but I reckon if I was moving again is be looking at Dunblane area. Access to everywhere is awesome.
Peebles is full of * and the commute to Edinburgh is hellish.
I'm a total * and the commute is fine. I do it twice a day to Leith. 1 hour.
To the edges of Edinburgh is 30 minutes.
Just leave before 7.20 or after 9. And get a fast car.
I'd rather commute to work and live in the Tweed Valley.
I've live in Perth and Edinburgh too, Perth is lovely, but it just feels too quiet and isolated for me. Road riding is immense, so few cars. The mtb'ing is OK, but there's a lot better riding in the borders.
Tweed's proximity to Edinburgh is a significant, IMHO. Some of the best built trails in the UK under an hour from a great city. Depends what lights your fire, though - if you're more of a big mountain man and riding in the Highlands is what it's all about then Edinburgh can feel distant from that.
Stirling always strikes me as a superb geographical location but it would be good to speak with some local riders for what the stuff there is really like week in week out. I've ridden in the hills there twice in my life and thought it was superb, but it's different as a visitor. You could go for a one-off ride in the Pentlands and think it was awesome, but reality is it's nowhere near that when you're actually living there.
Stu, another up vote for Stirling from me. I was offered a job up here a couple of years ago and never looked back! I'm surprised to see such negativity towards Stirling because to me it's the best place I've ever lived! This is saying something considering I grew up in North Wales and spent a few years living in the Lake District. The city itself has some rougher areas but what Scottish city doesn't? It has all the shops and services you need but also has a very rural feel which is something that's important to me. I do a lot of work in South West Scotland and have an office in Glasgow, all of which is easily commutable from Stirling. And every time I drive home on the M9 just when you get to Stirling you can look out towards the Gargunnock Hills in the west, to the big mountains in the Trossachs to the north and then east across the city with the castle, the Wallace Monument and the Ochil's stretching off into the distance. It's absolutely class, I have totally fallen in love with the place. And the riding is superb as well. Plenty of trails, open hill tracks and a great Sustrans cycle path network in all directions. I ride exclusively singlespeed and find the riding round here perfect for that.
If you want any more info just let me know dude, good luck!
I think it all depends on what your day to day lifestyle is. I've lived in Glasgow, Bridge of Allan, Stirling, Edinburgh, abroad and even England 🙂 and I now live in Innerleithen. Each place was so completely different that it would be impossible to compare them. I also lived in some of these places with no kids but now have kids. Each place would have been different with/without kids. My brother lives in Bridge of Allan with his family(2 kids) and loves it. I like visiting and it has a nice feel about it.
I love living in Innerleithen and I commute 3 times a week to Edinburgh by car. I used to use the bus(X62) but then my office was moved out the city centre. The commute isn't that bad to be honest. I am willing to do it just so I can have the trails on my doorstep when I am home. It's nice and quiet and there's a good social life either in the local pub or at folks houses for beers/food. I can go for the occasional night out in Edinburgh when I miss the city.
Just remember most people will rave about where they live but each person is different. If you are a city person and like going out a lot then the borders probably isn't for you. Somewhere like Stirling/Bridge of Allan might better for it's easy access to Glasgow plus there's some local bars/restaurants.
If I was you I'd rent somewhere first and explore for the first year to get a proper feel for Scotland.
I have been following this thread and find it astonishing how many folk would chose to live where an hour in a car each way to work is a good choice
Musselburgh on the east side of Edinburgh:
On the end of the bypass
Easy access to Tweed Valley
Train to Embra city or a good road / offroad commute
Beaches and coast stuff.
Great ice cream and pizza
I used to live in Leith and it was an hour by car or bus to get to work at the Gyle. That's how I got into cycling as I couldn't stand sitting in traffic 1 hr each way. Cycling was only 45 mins. I would have loved to stay in Edinburgh but it's just not financially viable so the 1 hr commute is the sacrifice you have to make.
tjagain
Member
I have been following this thread and find it astonishing how many folk would chose to live where an hour in a car each way to work is a good choice
Given your recent complaints that your commute might stretch to 4 miles, I'm not sure your the best person to judge
Given your recent complaints that your commute might stretch to 4 miles, I’m not sure your the best person to judge
He is right though. One part of it is spending 12.5% of your waking life driving to and from work. The other is environmental - should any of us be setting up a life that requires that amount of CO2 emissions? Living somewhere and then being forced to change employer and take on a big commute is one thing but is electing to set yourself up to do this from the start.... is it morally right?
I'm asking that as much of myself as anyone else - my new life will have us going from cycle only commuting to a 20-25 mile each way commute for both of us. I'll ride mine more than I drive (done it before so I know what I am letting myself in for) but Mrs C won't. It does trouble me.
Bridge of allan (ish, causewayhead) resident here. Riding round here is amazing, i can be at the top of dumyat(local 1300ft hill, very popular for mtb, see utube) in less than an hour from my front door. Trains every hour to Glasgow and Edinburgh, nice people, good food places (chippy especially) and everything you might need from a small city. House prices are ok, but its a fast market so you need to be in a place to offer high and fast.
Good luck
Pic from the top of Dumyat
I have been following this thread and find it astonishing how many folk would chose to live where an hour in a car each way to work is a good choice
It's called balance.
Lets face it, if you were to move to Edinburgh now, as a nurse, could you afford to live where you do? No, could you ****. Stop this holier than thou bullshit.
Lots of people have to work in cities, but either can't afford to, or have no wish to live in one.
If biking is what you’re after then Glasgow is not very good, very limited stuff around and you’ll have to go a distance to get some decent stuff.
I would refute this, having lived there for a number of years. Currently out in Kirkintilloch and there's plenty of riding on the doorstep. 3hrs ride can have you up and down the Campsies. Short drive to Ben Lomond, stuff around Stirling (cambusbarron/north third, dumyat, more xc stuff), XC stuff everywhere really, if you have a look for it. South side of Glasgow is a bit limited for most people, they seem to ride Cathkin and not much else, but there are some other trails there, again if you're prepared to have a bit of an explore.
I'm sure most places are similar what with the open access.
Wouldn't move to Aberdeen tbh, still far more expensive, grey, dominated by a declining industry (although it might serve as a hub for offshore wind, we'll see)
Edinburgh is fine, bit more pricey than Glasgow but at least it's got a bit of class to go with it, not like Aberdeen!
Perth, Stirling etc are pretty tiny but you're out in the sticks for riding from the door...
Its not holier than thou bullshit - just passing comment on something I find surprising. No judgmental words in what I said - just that I found it astonishing. I couldn't live where I do now - but I still could and would live within muscle power of work
Just a throwaway comment. Thats all. No need to get so angry
What Philjr said about glasgow is right I reckon . There is good riding available from the doorstep it just depends on where you are in the city . Also all the spots say south of fort bill and the Cairngorms are all within distance for a day trip as is the lakes ie Perth/dunkeld about an hour , tweed valley hour and a half etc etc plus glasgow city is brilliant for the cultural stuff and eating and drinking etc , all depends on your priorities.
I would love to live in the tweed valley but my only thought would be with all that stuff on your doorstep I’m not sure I’d ever ride my bike anywhere else . Nice problem to have though .
i have only been there to ride Dumyat but I was pretty taken with bridge of Allen , looks nice .
I would say north Glasgow is a good call. Places like Lenzie, kirkinitilloch and parts of cumbernauld are nice and are close enough to the motorway for travelling
Look at somewhere like Dunkeld or Pitlochry both have fantastic trail networks and riding scenes. You're on the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park with some fantastic natural riding and bike packing. Aviemore area is an hour away and has some amazing trails, Comrie Croft and Laggan Wolftrax are both within an hours drive too as is Ballater and Braemar (both West and East Coast riding isn't much further either). In terms of commuting it's just over an hour to Edinburgh and Glasgow, half that to Perth. And if you really crave the crowds and swarms of e-bikers, Tweed Valley is half an hour south of Edinburgh.
Moved to Aberdeen (well a 40min drive outside, coz I don’t like cities) around 20 years ago, after being born and bred in the South East of England then five years in the USA. Took a little while to adapt but can’t think of anywhere I’d rather live now (at least while I’m still working). Central belt is too busy, west is beautiful but too wet (and midget infested in summer). Borders, well you might as well stay in England. Never got the appeal of Dundee. Inverness? Yes, maybe.
We’re all different though and as this thread shows, there is as much local prejudice up here as anywhere.
midget infested in summer
Dude, you can't call them that any more.