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We’ve recently moved up and had a lot of help and advice from here in this thread which might be worth a read, particularly if you consider fife/Angus (and I would certainly support looking that way):
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/moving-from-kent-to-scotland-dundee-perth/
We’ve been living in Perth, working in Dundee for a month now and absolutely loving it.
We’ve not experienced any anti-English sentiment. Everyone at work and our neighbours have been very friendly and welcoming. Of course we’ve made the effort and have been full of praise for the place which probably helps. Perhaps if you came up and started on with the English exceptionalism attitude that can be found down south you might fare less well, but that’s not us (and I’m sure isn’t you either). In fact, not identifying with the way a significant part of the English population seems to be heading is a big factor in us moving here.
Our kids are 8 and 10 and have settled so well at school and are making friends. The teachers have said it feels like they’ve always been part of the class. My youngest leaves school speaking with slight twang too which I find brilliant. She drops back into her English accent quite quickly but I don’t think it will be long before she’s got an accent!
In terms of the move itself, it was daunting at times but again, thanks to great advice on the thread above, it worked out fine. We’re renting just now as we couldn’t tie up selling our house and starting jobs but I’m glad we are as now getting out and exploring and figuring out where we want to be. Our sale in Kent is due to complete tomorrow actually and we’ll then be in a position to look at buying but we’re in no rush as this rental is fine. But on that point, we were surprised at how tricky it was to find a family rental. There’s not many about and you have to act quickly. We didn’t even see the inside of ours. We had a video tour and we drove up to it to see the area but that was it. Airbnb may be an option for a short-ish term stay, particularly if you move up out of season. With us moving in June this would’ve been a really expensive option.
For removals, we used Doree Bonner after a friend recommended them and were very impressed. They also have offices in Scotland with storage so if you say got an Airbnb, they could move you out, put your stuff in store, then deliver it to your new place once you’ve bought. Overall though they were superb and we’ll use them again when we move on from here.
As for the rest, everyone posting on here will have better insight into places to stay but it really is just amazing what is within striking distance. In the month we’ve been here we’ve been Paddle boarding on Loch Faskally, wild camping and touring around Deeside, mooching around Pitlochry and Dunkeld, visiting beaches in Angus (Monifieth, Carnoustie, Lunan bay) and fife (Elie). All very nice! We just keep pinching ourselves. And we’ve only had 2 days rain so far! We’ve visited East Lothian before and loved North Berwick so can see the appeal but it’s expensive there. But I guess where ever you go, there will be amazing stuff not far away.
Best of luck with your decision and planning. Happy to give any more advice if needed.
I’m in North Berwick - went to school in Haddington, so I know the area well. lots of valid points above. Only thing I’d add is that whilst it’s correct to say that it’s a PITA driving into Edinburgh, the train is fast and convenient. Before COVID it was getting rammed - who know how much that will be the case again in a year..?
I was going to write a long message in recommendation of Dundee/ Angus or perhaps the far NE corner of Fife that's close to Dundee, but I reckon Blitz has nailed much of it rather more succinctly than I could.
In short, Dundee is large enough to meet most employment and cultural needs; Edinburgh fills any gaps and even from where I am in west Angus, is within an hour and a half drive (I quite enjoyed the Lions game at Murrayfield last weekend). But much nearer than that are mountains, forests, lochs and beaches. Last Thursday evening we were swimming in Lintrathen Loch, up on the edge of the mountains. No-one else there that night, although you do often see folk with SUP or kayaks/canoes.
But the clincher may be house prices; within public transport range of Dundee for daily work, houses will be significantly cheaper than either East Lothian or the parts of Fife that might compare.
Getting rather exciting reading everything above! Thanks again all.
Certainly interested in Dundee/Angus now. Sound like it could cover the bases. Given the city probably won't be for work, maybe we don't need to be that close to Edinburgh if other towns/cities have it all.
The plan now is to research more from above and then book a couple weeks holiday in the various areas to narrow it down a little. Plus many hours on Rightmove house hunting. We're not in a huge rush, but thinking within the next 1/2 > 1 1/2yrs.
Eh? n. QFerry, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, aberdour, burnt island and Kinghorn are all on the same line between Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh… then there’s dunfermline (2 stations!) and Glenrothes along with a bunch of other places on the other “branch”
Ah. I got a bit tangled up writing that. I was talkign about coastal towns and then started talking about towns in general and then got confused and then decided to write it on my computer instead and then got distracted. I was really thinkng of the east neuk and inland when i was typing and clean forgot about the edinburgh end of fife. A few of those towns while on the line though have quite the uphill hike to get to the station 😀
dragging a SUP up some of thse hills would such Big hairy baws