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After a few years living in Edinburgh which I loved I decided to move to Cupar, Fife. I wanted to live somewhere more rural with access to all the outdoor activities that Scotland has to offer. I really enjoy living on the outskirts of Cupar being surrounded by gorgeous countryside. I love taking day trips to St Andrews and small coastal towns like Ansruther, St Monans, and being close to Edinburgh or Dundee when I need a fix of the city.
However much I love living here I still feel like there is something missing. I need to have access to towns and cities for all the standard day to day stuff but I also want more of the forests, mountains and beaches that Scotland has to offer. I have been researching Aberdeenshire and the county of Moray but am finding lots of conflicted information and the area is so large I don't really know where to start. I am planning on spending a couple of weekends in the area to explore but I would be grateful for any advice or information to help guide me in the right direction. I would be happy to live by the coast or inland. I would like to live close to a variety of outdoor activities. I also enjoy all the benefits that towns and cities have to offer.
Thanks in advance
1/ They *are* large areas.
2/ You *will* get conflicting opinions - even from the same person 😉
Trouble is, rural living is all very well, until you need access to what towns and cities offer.
Pros: there is plenty to do, outdoors wise - sea is close by (we live in ELgin) and up country Speyside isn't too far away either - I feel we have best of both camps. Climate is generally OK.
Cons: travel can be a pain - within where you live, and also travel to visit friends etc in central belt - it's quite a hike by car or train no matter which way you cut it.
If I didn't live in Aviemore I'd be looking at the Moray Coast. For a start, the climate is substantially milder, but then I love the fact that kcals drinking water is what I flush away.
Bit away from what you mentioned but a mate of mine lives on the Black Isle (Fortrose) and loves it. Inverness is about 15 minutes away and it's enough for most of his needs.
What kcal says pretty much is what I was going to say, other than up country is a bit further away. A9 is being dualled so expect delays for the foreseeable future if you're visiting the central belt
kcal doesn't drink water
edit - unless his whisky is cask strength
I'll sell you a house in Aboyne if you want. Lots of excellent mountain biking on the door step.
It’s a difficult choice because wherever you go there will be compromises. In Aberdeenshire good options are Aboyne, Monymusk, Tarland or Stonehaven. Near Inverness suggest Fortrose, Aviemore/Boat/Nethy or Findhorn. All great places depending on what your priorities are.
Top choice for me would be Boat of Garten millionaires row but any of these options would be a great place to live.
A bit like the Borders, nice places, good access to outdoors stuff but too many Tories.
I work in Aberdeen, but live in Ballater, an hour away by car. Due to my shifts its do-able, and I wouldn't choose to stay anywhere else.
I'm ex RAF so stayed in Lossiemouth and Elgin during my tours at Lossie and Kinloss, but prefer being on this side of the Cairngorm.
Another vote for Aboyne. Wife works in Aberdeen which is 45-50 minutes, 20 mins from Banchory (for the Morrisons and big Tesco - and MTB at Scotly), 15 minutes to Ballater (and all the great riding there).
I can be on top of Lochnagar 90 minutes after leaving my house.
Depending on your circumstances prices will vary a lot depending on where you fancy staying and what sort of property you want. As mentioned above proper in the middle of nowhere living will involve traveling even for simple things which a lot of folk forget.
We moved to rural Aberdeenshire (just outside of Insch) while I was working in Aberdeen. We now live in Inverness, as a result of a change in jobs.
Pros of our Aberdeenshire location were that we were about 40 mins drive from Aberdeen (which made our house easier to sell during the oil price crash induced mass exodus), surrounded by forests and hills, wildlife in the garden, peace and quiet, all that kind of stuff.
Cons - 10 minute drive to the local village (Co-Op, takeaway) 20 mins to the nearest town (Tesco extra, swimming pool etc) 40 mins to nearest city and all of the amenities that they have, oh and a 40 min daily commute each way by car.
Our kids are now 7 and 10 and we live on one of the well established housing developments on the outskirts of Inverness. Kids walk to school, I have a 10 minute commute to work during which I can see the sea, mountains and forests all in the same view. Climate is similar to the Moray Coast (which is close by). Oh, and the cycling is fantastic, both road and mtb.
For us life in Aberdeenshire felt like it was a constant effort. Life in Inverness is simple.
All depends on your personal circumstances though I guess.
I decided to move to Cupar, Fife
If you liked cupar then you are pretty much guaranteed to like anywhere!
So many great suggestions. I hadn't realised there was such a difference in the weather in Moray and I do like the idea of the milder climate. Its an area I've never been to so need to head up and explore sometime soon. 'notlocal' mentioned that he lived in lossie when in the RAF but not so much about whether he actually liked it there. Does anyone know what any of the larger towns / villages in Moray are like to live in now?
Also, had never actually considered black isle but that area looks interesting too
I'm in Aberlour, Moray and love it. Not too far to the coast, not too far to the Cairngorms. Aberdeen and Inverness are both about an hour away and it's a nice drive over the Lecht to Aberdeeshire for Deeside riding.
We also live in the rain shadow of the Cairngorms that drenches Scotroutes but keeps us relatively dry, although not quite as dry as kcal down in Elgin 😉
I used to live in Tarland but prefer it up here, although Deeside is lovely too.
I have family in Moray (near Elgin) and the climate is noticeably better than Aberdeen & surroundings. Descent MTB trails around, Fochabers one way, Inverness the other plus local woods stuff. Plus the soil is sandy and dries out quickly so even after a bit of rain the trails are ready to go soon enough. Sea nearby obviously with nice beaches at Findhorn and Nairn. You'll likely be stung for delivery charges if you have an IV postcode.
You’ll likely be stung for delivery charges if you have an IV postcode.
PH postcode and I simply don't order from companies that try to charge extra. I'll sometimes contact them to explain this and that can result in a reduction back to "UK Mainland" rates.
Also, Amazon Prime is your friend 😁
Report them to trading standards or the ASA if they are advertising "free delivery" but charge extra for some addresses.
http://www.deliverylaw.uk/
My parents live in Fortrose on the Black Isle, before that Kingussie, the difference in climate (and their heating bills) was obviously quite dramatic. They have really good neighbours and getting on a bit they can get to Inverness easily by car or Bus. They reckon they can get to the west coast in around an hour (tore roundabout gives them lot's of options). Houses don't seem to badly priced either. Gets busy with people visiting Channory Point. Quite a lot of housing being built so its only going to get busier.
Im from Elgin originally but moved away to East lothian via London. Its not the worst area in the world far from it but I would say depends on your circumstances. I've got 3 kids ageing between 16 - 23 , after growing up in Edinburgh there is no way they could see themselves growing up there. On the plus side decent beaches , friendly people , fairly mild climate and within an hour of the cairngorms. On the negative side locally not much to do , the moray firth is very flat and has no decent local riding as well as busy roads in all directions if your into the roadbike.
I think Id look around the Inverness / Black Isle area personally.
Hmmmm, when were you last up stanfree? Like you I’ve moved away but lived a good proportion of my youth up there. There’s one busy road in Elgin, the one that goes through it! Otherwise I’d say the area is pretty much road bike nirvana with lots of quiet roads and a mix of flat near the coast with hillier stuff inland. Plenty of MTB too - some decent trails in the woods by Elgin from what I hear plus Findhorn/Lossie Woods and Speyside area for more hilly stuff. Man-made stuff in Fochabers and Aviemore an hour away. Torridon maybe 90 minutes?
I hear what you say about stuff to do for teenagers, try and distract them with outdoor sports maybe? Have to say I didn’t think I was missing out on much when I did move away as a student.
There’s one busy road in Elgin, the one that goes through it! Otherwise I’d say the area is pretty much road bike nirvana with lots of quiet roads and a mix of flat near the coast with hillier stuff inland.
Exactly what I was thinking.
The other area that is great for road cycling is the lost world south of Loch Ness. There's a great network of roads and little traffic.
FWIW we moved up here, from Edinburgh, when my daughter was approaching 16 and she is in no hurry to return. Visiting the city is fine but she wouldn't choose to live in one.
... I'll leave the road / trail discussion to others.
I grew up in Elgin. Was 'ok' although I didn't have much to occupy myself, not being sporty - in the default football/tennis/rugby set anyway.
Was glad to get away to university (Glasgow) and then work (Edinburgh).
Moved back 12 or so years ago for family reasons (ageing parents) and I'd been made redundant anyway. Now pretty happy to be here although there's less cultural stuff going on and can be a bit clique ridden.
We have two children - younger (daughter) hates the place and would far rather be in Glasgow/Edinburgh. Older (son) may well find employment locally once he graduates, no mean feat, and being more outdoorsy is much happier.
YMMV.
I go up at least twice a year and usually bring a bike , I've found the problem with the roads are there are basically 3 main roads into Elgin . One is the A96 from Aberdeen and obviously the same road from Inverness. the other being the road from Aberlour which is full of Walkers , Distillery traffic. I've cycled from Carrbridge via the Dava which is nice but can still involve some heavy traffic heading to Grantown on spey. Im not saying I dislike the area at all as its where im from just that I personally wouldnt move back .
For mountainbiking there is of course the fochabers trails which I believe have been spruced up , some DH near Dallas / Pluscarden and the oakwood trails .
hm, going on a diversion here but -- Dallas / Knockando / Tomintoul / Dufftown / Mulben / Orton is about 80/90 miles and very little traffic. Recently did a 300k Audax from 5 miles away and again, very little traffic.
MTB can bike to Roseisle / Lossie / Monuaghty and even Fochabers with little traffic to trouble you.
Yep I’d avoid the A95 from Aviemore to Craigellachie and the A941 from Craigellachie to Elgin as far as possible due to the lorries. There are so many other options though but I can’t believe you view the Dava road as busy!
Yep, A95 is awful at the wrong time and rammed with distillery traffic, A96 I wouldn't even contemplate unless absolutely necessary but there's loads of quieter roads. My road bike normally takes me out towards Dallas or up to Tomintoul and Grantown.
Anyway, if I was to live up there again - and I would if the wife would! - Speyside would be up there as would Grantown. It’s close enough to all the good stuff at Aviemore but not Aviemore. Bit more than half hour or so to the coast and Inverness.
The other area that is great for road cycling is the lost world south of Loch Ness. There’s a great network of roads and little traffic.
Yep. I ride in that area most days.
The other area that is great for road cycling is the lost world south of Loch Ness. There’s a great network of roads and little traffic.
Yep. I ride in that area most days.
Few places finer IMHO.