[Closed] Any English people on here who moved to North Wales or Scotland?

If I was in your position terra, I'd be looking for somewhere around Penrith area, lots of nice wee villages, a bit cheaper than in the lakes or Dales, but near enough to be riding there all the time.

I love the lakes.

The sun does shine on Kinlochleven just not between Nov-Feb. 😀

Im in Dundee today and its like [s]Mallorca [/s] [b]Magaluff [/b]15° and sunny take back all i said about the place

@epicsteve. "You suspect", good for you.

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as its home but its lost its lustre recently with the oil bust.

Because as cyclists wind is annoying you might like this map of the UK.

[img] [/img]

@epicsteve. "You suspect", good for you.

Thanks. My English mother lived in Scotland for 20+ years and rarely encountered any of that sort of bollocks so while I know that sort of thing does sometimes happen (about as often as anti-Scottish sentiment in England I suspect) I very, very much doubt it's that regular.

I live in England and have a Scottish accent (English mother/Scottish father) and really haven't encountered much in the way of racism - unless you count the very regular conversations that start with "That Nicola Sturgeon.." and then spin out into some very, very uneducated bollocks relating to why said person voted for Brexit.

Don't forget the SNP government forgetting it exists and moving everything down to the central belt.

Someone's been reading the daily mail.

Hardly Police call centers are to be shut in Aberdeen and Inverness, in 2017, that's actually a delay on the original plan. All work to be handled by the central belt. Similarly the Fire service call centers in those two locations are going in 2017 to be replaced by Dundee. And there are still concerns about the status of the Aberdeen Major Trauma Centre.

And lets not forget this great SNP quote: "The member just mentioned a crisis in the jobs in the North Sea and oil. There is no crisis."

Not that this would affect anyone moving to the Borders or North Wales mind.

Don't forget the SNP government forgetting it exists and moving everything down to the central belt.

Don't worry there's jack all jobs in the central belt these days either!

Rainfall, a picture paints a thousand blah

[img] [/img]

The rain is fine in Glasgow, youse just need to man up!

It's dry about 2/3rd of the time, so youse can take yer negativity and ram it! 😆

The rain is fine in Glasgow, youse just need to man up!

It's dry about 2/3rd of the time, so youse can take yer negativity and ram it!

And, as you can see, the people in Glasgow are also very friendly! 🙂

😆 you do need to get to understand the nuances of the language, that's for sure.

😀

edinburgh - average rainfall 700mm / year 120 days with rain and 1400 hrs sunshine
London - 550 mm rain, 105 rainy days, 1400 hrs sunshine
Manchester 870 mm rain. 150 rainy days, 1350 hrs sunshine
Cardiff 1150mm rain 150 rainy days, 1550 hrs sunshine

[url= http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=ukxx0052&lang=en ]http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=ukxx0052&lang=en[/url]
[url= http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=ukxx0092&lang=en ]http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=ukxx0092&lang=en[/url]

184 rainy days in manchester
191 in Edinburgh
its colder and 100 hours less sunshine. in Edinburgh too.

I took my data from the met office!

Your data is certainly wrong - it does not rain more than half the days of the year in edinburgh and its certainly a lot less than manchester. I lived a decade in manchester and 2 decades in Edinburgh

Plus [b]201[/b] rainy days in Glasgow (same source)

Makes you think, when "unreliable sources" tell us that there are more rainy days in Manchester than Glasgow doesnt it!!

Facts, who needs them. 😉

there are a number of sites with the same 191 days rain data, but no reference.

However, the Royal Botannical Gardens Edinburgh have their own weather station.

Data is available here:
http://www.rbge.org.uk/science/plants-and-climate-change/edinburgh-weather-station

more relevantly, their extract "Some curiosities from the RBGE Inverleith weather station:
Data analyses from 1 January 1976 to 31 December 2014. "

States:

Days with no rain 41.1%
Days with 0.2mm or more 51.2%
Days with 1mm or more 36.0%
Days with 5mm or more 14.0%

Depending on your personal definition of "rain day", it suggests that IF rain days are consistently seasonally distributed* over the 38 yrs of the data set, that 214 days a year have "some" precipitation.

* and they may well not be, there may have been 4 yrs in the 70s in which it never stopped raining which will skew the data, unless they really do mean that in an average year, only 41% of days are dry....

Not forgetting that a day is 24hrs, and many incidents of precipitation will have been overnight. TJ may well be right anecdotally (with bias, natch) and statistically wrong at the same time, but they may not really be inconsistent depending on definitions.

http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=ukxx0052&lang=en
http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=ukxx0092&lang=en

184 rainy days in manchester
191 in Edinburgh
its colder and 100 hours less sunshine. in Edinburgh too.

I don't think that website is based on real observations, in fact it appears to have no sources at all and only exists as an advertising vessel, you'd be better off at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/

Which is where I got my data from iirc

Learn to [s]love[/s] thole the rain

teamhurtmore - Member
Plus 201 rainy days in Glasgow (same source)

I know stats and experts - who needs then 😉

Maybe so, but they still need to qualify their results, what the minimum mm for a day classed as having precipitation? Genuinely interested.

I wouldn't be going to Scotland, all they seem to do is argue about the weather and whose stats are the best. 🙄

No idea 😉

Probably says on the site somewhere

Ok - not scientific, however I have homes in Edinburgh and London and have done for a few years. I'd have said London gets less rain, but not by much - and neither gets a stupid amount of rain. London is a bit warmer on average though.

Do you know what- If you are [i]that[/i] bothered about a bit of rain I don't think Scotland is for you. I love the place but it's not for the scorchio weather.

Terrahawk has probably lost the will to [s]live[/s] move

thanks for all the responses so far.
Anyone live in or near New Galloway? 😉

I used to.

Nice little spot, the drive down the loch back to Castle Douglas or Trool way is a pain after a while, but there are worse and further roads to travel. Going north from there really was a long old way from memory. A good few 'off-comers' who made the place a little less local/inward looking than some of the other places locally.

Pub is ace, infamous for it's lock in's. I may stop for tea tonight there...

I used to work at the Sailing Centre - great folk and lovely spot.

sounds ideal. cheers.

anyone on here live in Newton Stewart?
Looking possibly - likely - ish.

Hmmmm... I wouldn't, it's a bit backwatery/wickerman/duelling banjos...

Hmmmm... I wouldn't, it's a bit backwatery/wickerman/duelling banjos...

Oooft!
It must be REALLY bad if the Ayrshire big team are accusing you of being inbred hillbillys.

😆

anyone on here live in Newton Stewart?

As said, it still feels like a locals place rather than tourist led. Like Kirkcudbright and a little like Castle Douglas, it has a few resources/supermarket/places/amenities there which helps.

Careful where you live there - the river floods to a frankly unbelievable level at times.

Being further out west, its a looooong drive north on Ayrshire coast of A75 back East to civilisation.

If I was looking in the area again, Kirkcudbright would be top of my list. Mainly as the Masonic on Friday night was just ace to sit and sink a pint in again...

"Woohoo!......... High six, Uncle Dad!!"

😀

Nah, that is Stranraer.

"Woohoo!......... High six, Uncle Dad!!"

The Shire riviera, where you manky bastards go yer holidays! 8)

We canny afford holidays*......on account of being manky bastards. 😉

*not strictly true. As you well know, I choose to spend my holidays in rural Dumfries and Galloway.
Better class of slack jawed yokel down there dontcha' know.

So which is the more banjo-y rural backwater-y? Newton Stewart or Stranraer?
My mate (another manc) lives in Stranraer and absolutely loves the lifestyle.
I don't think anyone's tried to eat him or owt.

Wooooaahhhh, hold on a minute, I may have misled you somewhat earlier, aye it's a wee bit 'Land that time forgot' in Newton Stewart, but Stranraer is bloody horrible!.

There are lots of nice little villages that are rural, nice, but aren't too far out the way. Around Symington/Biggar area, Straiton at the very North edge of the Galloways is lovely, As I said before Castle Douglas is ace, lots of nice little places around there too.

My mate (another manc) lives in Stranraer and absolutely loves the lifestyle

Blimey....I wandered into Stranraer a few years back and I'm struggling to imagine exactly what 'type' of lifestyle he leads!

Wooooaahhhh, hold on a minute, I may have misled you somewhat earlier, aye it's a wee bit 'Land that time forgot' in Newton Stewart,

ok, but....

Hmmmm... I wouldn't, it's a bit backwatery/wickerman/duelling banjos...

Now then, can't speak personally about Newton Stewart/Castle Douglas but I've English mates who've moved there nearly 10 years ago and wouldn't move back. I'm rather envious of their lifestyle, but I think that's more down to their lack of children. They're both outdoors types and work in the cycling 'industry'. Will point him in the direction of this thread....
Incidentally, as an Englishman in Scotland I can confirm, it's ace. My biggest issue is since I've been here I've almost ditched the mtb for cx/gravel bike as the ground turns into one almighty great sponge/peat bog and I spend far too long hike a biking. I know there's hard-packed trails but they're few and far between, especially in the southern uplands.

does one of them own the bike shop in Newton Stewart? I was chatting to him last year and noted that he wasn't a Scot.
We were in NS at the weekend and noted that we spoke to 5 non-Scots, in fact.

The Scots that move down to London are often the most aggressive, chip-on-their-shoulder nationalistic ones.
I'm surprised by contrast how pleasant the Scots in Scotland are.
Wouldn't ever want to live there though.

I moved up here almost 12yrs ago now - living on the coast and commuting into Glasgow.
First year or so I had most issues with some anti-english sentiment - mostly when travelling by train, or interestingly from one suited guy who asked for directions, turns out he wanted the crown courts and didn't like getting directions from somebody who didn't speak with much of a scottish twang.

Nice enough place to live, some good cycling on the roads around Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, good choice of cycling clubs, reasonable access to trail centres and moors for MTB.

Compared to down south it's generally a long way to anywhere - with most big purchases requiring a trip up to town to get a better range of choice. Less crowded, pubs that do a good job with food are the exception, a decent beer garden a rarity

Positives - some great beaches, lovely islands, great hills, some nice folk, lower costs generally, Scottish school holidays kick out before the prices hit peak season as the English and Welsh schools break up - so you get to holiday down south without the crowds.

We don't travel up to the Highlands as much as we could - mostly because in the summer the midges are really really bad at times, barbecue at your own risk and in the winter it's cold and closed! (e.g. Tyndrum tourist information opens for 5months of the year).

I was brought up with good access to the Lakes and North Wales - loved it as a kid - now it can be too busy at times - less of an issue up here so swings and roundabouts.

If I could live anywhere and survive then I'd be heading for somewhere around Chester / North Wales, but work (and family) keeps me here. Places in Scotland I would look at are places like Troon, Stirling and Fife.. Whilst Dumfries and Galloway is lovely - it seems a long way from anywhere, even Ayrshire

If I could live anywhere and survive then I'd be heading for somewhere around Chester / North Wales,

+1

I'm going to be controversial and say I don't much rate the mtbing in Scotland, for the following reasons: gloopy summer mud, midges, hike a bike and water bars. I find walking / trail running is preferable in a lot of places.

I don't MTB in summer for some reason, never have. Used to ride a Motorbike on greenlanes around Wilts - again a winter sport - never wanted to hit the chalk when it was solid..

I'm going to be controversial and say I don't much rate the mtbing in Scotland, for the following reasons: gloopy summer mud, midges, hike a bike and water bars. I find walking / trail running is preferable in a lot of places.

Haha! Mr Taylforth is hacking some amount of accounts today! Quality trolling! 😆

Thanks for all the advice 3 months ago. We've since ummed and aahhed, sold our house in Manchester and we're going through the process of buying a place in Newton Stewart. Schools, work, etc all sorted.

Cheers!
P.S. Anyone on here doing 10@Kirroughtree? Will be nice to ride a couple of miles back home after that one.

Best of luck Jason!

Edit - Do they still do 10@K? I thought that had stopped....

Cracking part of the world terrahawk!

I miss the beaches and hills - and the fact it is still lacking in tourism, so quieter for days out 🙂

Aw man, it's lovely up there.
🙂

The riding and walking is just so good, friendly people too.
Beautiful too.

And this place is just down the road:

Thought Glentrool was so much fun, the short stuff is a laugh the big purple route is a great afternoon (hour or two for you) out.

Be a shame not to to see your big daft grinning head out and about locally though.
😀

Nice one fella.

Be a shame not to to see your big daft grinning head out and about locally though.

I'll still be in Manchester a few days each month. Keeping the same job, just doing most of it remotely.

Do they still do 10@K? I thought that had stopped....

yep, last weekend of August this year. http://gallowayhillbillies.org/index.php/10-kirroughtree

Ah, couldn't see it on Nofuss website. Good stuff, always fancied 10 hours pootling around the lovely off piste tracks round Kirro.

best of luck!

Our current incumbent bishop (not a euphemism) relates when he visited a church down that way, they all stared at him as if he'd trodden in something (wasn't a bishop back then so not in garb). Out of town very evident. I said jokingly that the Wicker Man was part filmed down that way. "I know" he replied quite solemnly 🙂

If it helps I came from North Wales into England.

In 1992.

I'm *still* waiting for the sheep jokes to stop.... <sigh> 🙂

Our current incumbent bishop (not a euphemism) relates when he visited a church down that way, they all stared at him as if he'd trodden in something (wasn't a bishop back then so not in garb). Out of town very evident.

Our experience so far has been quite the opposite. But then to move anywhere without checking this sort of thing first would be reckless wouldn't it?

Maybe your bish was being a bit paranoid.

quite possibly! also - must have been quite a while ago now come to mention it 😉

[ edit: also - my post probably sounded a bit meh - apologies - glad you've taken the plunge, any move is pretty tough. best of luck 🙂 ]

Lots of big days training potential for you around there Terra, I recall years ago doing the black at Kirro from Clatteringshaws loch, along the old edinburgh road (more of a stream bed than a road) was an ace day, even with a snapped chain and subsequent singlespeed before half way!.

Rode what will be your new local big hill on saturday Terra! Cairnsmore of fleet - the big lump you see from the cafe at Kirro.

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the big lump you see from the cafe at Kirro.

never mind the caff, you can see it from my lounge window 🙂

lounge? oooh fancy!

[img] [/img]

Best of luck with it all! We moved up about three years ago now (a bit further north than you), but from the same area - a telling comment from MrsB after about a month or so was that we should have moved up years earlier.

lounge? oooh fancy!

Is that next to the orangery?

I think it was 1998 since I last stood on top of Cairnsmore with a bike..
A rigid Al Carter 'Sacramento' with full Alivio. I was deeply jealous of my pal's RST 381 forks...

Sod that, was bloody juddery enough on a FSer!

Well, after months and months of fannying around, we pick up the keys to our new place in Newton Stewart today.
Thanks for all the advice on here early on!

Cheers!

Excellent, good luck, and hope all goes well with the move

Great news. Galloway is a lovely part of the world.

Our kids have been at school up there for a week already - we've been living in our caravan until we completed the Scottish purchase.

Kids love their new school though. They seem to be surrounded by Mancs and Canadians....