Forum menu
Bridge of Allan is nice. Trails are close. Some nice stuff down to Dollar as well.
Oops 😮 🙂
west is beautiful but too wet (and midget infested in summer).
Ideal for short breaks though.
The MG Owners Club is just one of the marques regularly seen on the NC500.
Lol! Reminds me of a walk write up on walk highlands of someone's jaunt up the Cairn table, it was polluted with midgets as well. 🤣
I moved to Scotland 4.5 years ago after living in Reading for 13 years.
There's lots of good advice on this thread, however I would add to consider connections to the South.
I still have a lot of friends and family outside of Scotland and travelling from Stirling is relatively easy. My partner used to live in Fort William, which whilst awesome is remote.
Short answer, I hope you love the move to Scotland as much as I have. Riding is great, all over.
I would consider the Western side of Edinburgh, places like South Queensferry, Kirkliston, Winchburgh and maybe Ratho.
All of these have had a fair bit of new build housing in recent years, all have decent access to the motorway system. South Queensferry has a train link to Edinburgh and I've heard that Winchburgh will be getting a train station that'll be on the Edinburgh- Glasgow line.
There’s lots of good advice on this thread, however I would add to consider connections to the South.
This is another thing. Driving wise Glasgow is better connected to the South (even places in North-East England are often a shorter drive from Glasgow), rail wise Edinburgh might edge it.
I'm both with and against TJ. I can't see that it's very sustainable (in terms of infrastructure etc as well as any emissions) to be commuting long distances by car, plus you're taking a huge chunk out of your day to sit in traffic. Buying in a nice part of Edinburgh is not something that I would be able to consider though really, even if I thought I could cope with a smaller place.
I would consider the Western side of Edinburgh, places like South Queensferry, Kirkliston, Winchburgh and maybe Ratho.
Aye, massive amount of building going on out that way, shame it looks like it was built by http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/hello_giggles_454/75a33feedca500024553603d73b6df5 4">Dementors , because it feels like your soul gets removed as you drive past .Love to know what they did with that giant landfill out at Winchie, maybe that's where the station is going to go 🙂 When these threads pop up I always want to say Perth, it’s a great location and a manageable size of place ,but always leaves me a bit ‘meh’ when I visit, which is a shame. I love Glasgow but it’s too wet. I am an Edinburgh boy and visit a lot but wouldn’t want to go back and live there. Stirling looks good and being close to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth gives you a lot of choice, don’t really know what the weather is like, but if I was a stranger in a strange land that's where I would choose.
Some left field suggestions?
Lanark
Biggar
Strathaven
All quite "country village " but easy commutes to Glasgow / Edinburgh
Good shout Perchy, Skirling always seems lovely too, decent distance from weej/reekie and just up the road from tweed valley, and surrounded by lovely hills.
midget infested in summer
I’m prepared to rise above and overlook that comment.
There’s lots of good advice on this thread, however I would add to consider connections to the South.
Especially if your other half will be expected to travel to wherever HQ is from time to time. The right place - London-Edi is a day trip; the wrong place Bristol-Inverness might become a two, or even three day chore (I haven't checked if there are direct flights)! Also Dundee-Edinburgh airport seems close but going for 0630 flight you'll wish you were closer!
Also, not surprisingly since this is STW, we are prioritising the riding. Does Mrs SSS ride too? if not what are her selling points on location?
If you are coming from Brum, I'm not sure there is a comparable city in Scotland. Nowhere has the amenities you are used to at the moment within a similar distance, the closest would be Glasgow.
We lived in North Oxfordshire & regularly popped into John Lewis in Milton Keynes or the bullring in Brum for shopping. There is nothing on the same scale in Scotland.
Shopping or Buying & selling in general, especially cars & bikes, their is alot less choice, basically because their are alot less people.
That's not too say moving (back) to Scotland is not the best thing we have done (we are been Stirling & Perth on the A9). We have ok biking (better than most of England) from the door & plenty of trails within 1/2 an hour drive, my commute to Stirling is easy and we are about an hour from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
You really need to visit the places you are thinking of & spend some time there (not just a day or too).
We love Aviemore & the surroundings, but I'm not sure if want to live or socialise regularly in the town itself, as it's a small town which attracts to many "lochs & glens" coaches & stag parties for its size.
it’s a small town which attracts to many “lochs & glens” coaches & stag parties for its size.
TBF, the L&G coaches are only ever passing through - and fewer do since the funicular closed. Seeing Spiderman(/your superhero of choice} or a bunch of inebriated bridesmaids isn't a rare sight on a Friday/Saturday night though 😊 I'm just amazed that so many of them are still able to go zip-lining, rafting, tubing, horse riding, shooting, walking, swimming, climbing, skiing, quad-biking, cycling, running, karting, paint-balling, kayaking etc the next day!
ceept
Subscriber
If you are coming from Brum, I’m not sure there is a comparable city in Scotland. Nowhere has the amenities you are used to at the moment within a similar distance, the closest would be Glasgow.
Ah come on now, even my nearest town has a kfc, burger king, McDonald's, costa, argos, and an Iceland getting built soon!
Absolutely saturated in amenities!
Does Mrs SSS ride too? if not what are her selling points on location?
Yes she rides too and this is a very strong reason for the possible move.
f you are coming from Brum, I’m not sure there is a comparable city in Scotland.
Though Mrsstu works in Brum its not somewhere we go on a regular basis.
I think we've been to Brum about 3 times in the last 2 years.
Again some good stuff in the thread for us to look at and think about. 👍
Birmingham may have the Bullring but Glasgow has the Barras. And we have a John Lewis in Edinburgh at the top of Leith Walk and all the class A drugs you could possibly want at the bottom. I'm not sure what we're missing.
And we have a John Lewis in Edinburgh
Typical Edinburgh attitude. Everyone has a John Lewis these days, but only Glasgow has the Barras
Glasgow vs Edinburgh for hill walkers
Which city is better for Munro bagging?
February 21, 2020
Introduction
The idea for this post comes from my forthcoming free evening lecture on the Munros on March 12 2020. My talk will be a Fringe Event at Edinburgh's DataFest 2020 in March. Sign up here https://ctzn.tk/munros
The Munros are the 282 hills and mountains in Scotland higher than 3,000 feet, named after Hugh Munro who published his famous list back in 1891. Some people, lots of people in fact, try to climb them all, at which point they can submit their name to the list of 'compleators'. You don't have to tick off all of them to enjoy the Munros, and Munro-bagging is a popular pastime and, for many, a lifetime's pursuit.
I like hill walking, and I like data. I also live in Edinburgh, and I've wondered how Edinburgh compares to other places in terms of its access to the Munros, which are scattered throughout the Scottish Highlands. To find out where the optimum location for Munro-bagging is you'll need to come to my talk. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to compare Edinburgh to its age-old rival Glasgow.
https://johntdata.silvrback.com/glasgow-vs-edinburgh-which-city-is-better-for-munro-bagging
@fasthaggis looking at the proposed plans there is no location for a railway station.
Looks like they are going to turn the landfill site into a public park.
Drive past the old landfill weekly and was surprised to see they are just burning off the methane that's being produced!
"It's getting a station" seems to be the standard rumour for any new estate (near a railway line) at the moment. Especially unlikely on the main Glasgow - Edinburgh line.
Mashr - still waiting for my station to be built too
Strathaven is a good shout, great little community not renowned for mtb but great location for road/gravel riding with good links to M74/Peebles.
One thing worth considering if you have/planning kids is the proximity to schools (particularly secondary). There’s some amazing state schools up here, and some not so good, so well worth doing research regarding catchment areas.
parts of cumbernauld
No part of Cumbernauld is worth living in. Its not snobbery, its fact. The place has no soul and even less amenities. Only two types of people come from Cumbernauld, those who aspire to leave at the first opportunity and those who never do.
Stirling(ish) or Glasgow(ish) are great shouts, I'd be quite happy moving to the former (done my time in the latter).
Just a shout out @singlespeedstu that has come to mind
Gonnae no buy any of the small number of affordable 4 bedroom houses that are for sale in the Stirling area please. Cheers 😆
That would be most helpful. My wife is up there at the moment having final neb about, she may have to deploy 'the severe malky' on anyone else looking
(not really, but jaysus there is not a great deal of stuff available)
We lived in North Oxfordshire & regularly popped into John Lewis in Milton Keynes or the bullring in Brum for shopping. There is nothing on the same scale in Scotland.
Thank ****.
We lived in North Oxfordshire & regularly popped into John Lewis in Milton Keynes or the bullring in Brum for shopping. There is nothing on the same scale in Scotland.
Thank ****.
Indeed, visited Decathlon at Braehead last weekend to pick up some stuff. At no point at all did I wish that Braehead was bigger.
As others have said - Strathaven as a Glasgow-ish option is good for road riding & you're fairly central with decent links to get further afield - it's also home to the Strathaven 50 charity ride which has the best home baking selection you will ever see at the various church halls along the way, last year I ate so much I finished a 70 mile ride with the worst indigestion I have ever experienced, which takes some doing.
I'm out the other direction, halfway between Glasgow & the actual West Coast, nice & rural but still 30mins to central by train, loads of natural walking & riding (great road routes, but no real gnarr nearby though), watersports (not that kind) & nice country pubs full of dogs & the occasional sheep. Sure it's under 4 foot of water at the moment but still...
Sure it’s under 4 foot of water at the moment but still…
Langbank? Decent riding on the other side of the water though.
Lochwinnoch?
as you know i live in aberdeen - and i grew up in dundee
Aberdeen its self is a hole - i think we all agree on that , years of missmanagement and underinvestment by the ruling parties
Dundee has had the opposite and when i go back i always think how much it has improved over the years.
Aberdeenshire on the other hand is class.
We live 10 miles out on the city limits near beyond culter on a segregated cycle route into town.
We rarely turn left outside of travel to work - always right and head up the dee valley or over into donside.
trails are plentiful - i can ride quiet roads for 30 minutes and be at the foot of enduro trails (hill of fare) or drive for 20 and be at scolty or 45 mins and be at aboyne an hour and be at ballater , 1.5 hrs and be in the cairngorms for all the natural trails - not discounting - pitfichie , bennachie , millstone , Clachnabeinn and all the other hills in the region that have xc trails on - and once you work out the road system there are heaps of ace little roads to ride on the road bike avoiding the main roads - which are suicidal 99% of the time.
**** me is aberdeen a long way from anywhere. - but the journey has been significantly improved by average cameras on the main road to dundee.
i wouldn't preferentially choose (again) or recommend to live in town.
As for o + g being cert based .... If you want to work for an operator perhaps - but you'll get a job on the tools in the shop for a service company with a bit of aptitude and a track record of being a tool fitter and or mechanic (theres a reason i know that)
Disagree with Trail Rat Aberdeen is actually a good little city (village) to live in. Has theatres, art gallery, museums, lots for kids to do and good live music most days of the week. However it can’t compete with the likes of Glasgow & Edinburgh. What it does have which trumps the central belt is access to some great quiet countryside and the Cairngorms.
However if the opportunity arose I would happily move to Stirling/BOA or Inverness/Aviemore.
Surprisingly Aberdeen is quite cosmopolitan now. The old days of don’t serve me anything but stovies and butteries are long gone.
I've only ever been to Aberdeen on a few occasions, a few week long courses, but I really quite liked it. Weather was good on each occasion to be fair, which helped.
Love aberdeenshire... Not sure about the city itself, I havent spent much time there. Some really good riding spots as well as decent general lifestyle in the county. Always happy to visit when I get the chance.
Had the worst chicken pakora I've ever had in Aberdeen - would never go back
Best pakora I’ve had recently was in Green Gates in Stirling. Worst in the Indian street food place Union Square Aberdeen.
For a nice Indian meal in Aberdeen try Rishis in George Street.
union square.
thats a whole other topic.
Visually Aberdeen responds very well to the sun, it brings out a sparkle in the granite. On the other hand a grey day in Aberdeen is very grey; grey skies, grey buildings, grey roads, grey hearts.
Union Square is just a shopping centre like Silverburn etc, cookie cutter versions all over the UK.
Close @squirrelking but @Nobeerinthefridge takes the soggy cigar, my missus bought me an inflatable kayak for Chrimbo - it might get more use than I bargained at this rate
Few natural routes around but yeah Old Kilpatrick has a bit more to offer & is pretty close still - there's potential in the area with being so rural (& hilly) but some of the natural paths are a bit of a slog (i'm looking at you Misty Law - makes 12 miles seem like 30) there's some DH-ish tracks at Kelburne now I think but never been over to check them out, also keep meaning to head over to Dunoon for a day - time is at a premium now with a 3 year old so mostly stick to road these days...
J
Misty Law is great, think I sunk up to my knees last time I was up that way, in the middle of summer. It does rain a lot on the west coast.
Kelburn trails are a no-go these days. Landowners decided they didn’t want them in the end
aberdeenline
The old days of don’t serve me anything but stovies and butteries are long gone.
Puzzled.
Why would you want anything else? 🙂
On the other hand a grey day in Aberdeen is very grey; grey skies, grey buildings, grey roads, grey hearts.
Grey air. One of my abiding memories of visits to Aberdeen is that everyone smokes, all of the time.
Balerno is perhaps the best place to live in Scotland, for a combination of quality of life, access to jobs and to the outdoors.
Unless you're lucky enough that you can live somewhere like Gairloch of course!