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I wouldn't.
Much as I like it, the access to hills is pretty pish, most corbetts have either no path or a boggy grassy slog. There's miles of fire roads, but very little in terms of singletrack, and the prevailing southwesterly means the hills are in clag a hell of a lot of the time (I can see the main ranges on the way home from work, sometimes😂)
Sorry!
Nobeer - is that comment in reference to Galloway?
I do like the south-west of Scotland to be fair, and very nearly moved that way 4 years ago with the intention of commuting down to the current job in the Lakes. I just don't think it is the right place for this kind of thing... or at least what I am trying to do with it! Not to say it doesn't have it's own attractions mind! Had a nice holiday there a few years back which set us off thinking about relocating (more the Kirkcudbright to Dumfries area to be honest - as going further would have made the commute even worse!)
Whomever it was who reccomended that Dougie Cunningham book, thanks - it has arrived and, blimey, it is quite some tome! Fortunately we are off to Orkney in a few days so I now have something to read of an evening 😉
Don't know about landscape shots, and guiding opportunities, but two points raise in my head in the recent year or two -
1/ Skye. I've travelled a fair bit in the last year over to Europe, and on the return flights (always to Edinburgh) tourists from all parts of the world are chatting, about where they're going - and 85% of the time they re heading at least in part to Skye. I don't know what the Skye Tourist Board have got, but it's Kryptonite!
2/ Outer Hebrides. One side effect of of RET (Road Equivalent Tariff) has had, with the effect of making it cheaper for locals and visitors alike to get on and off the islands, is that the ferries are very busy, and so are the islands. It's proving quite difficult to get accommodation at peak times on the main outer isles.
Living on an island such as Arran has its own challenges, friends have recently moved back to Ayrshire and have no regrets. Their issues included a lack of opportunities for the kids.
Move to the mainland, buy a van/tent and travel out to locations?
Nobeer – is that comment in reference to Galloway?
Aye.
Their issues included a lack of opportunities for the kids.
Quite bizarre. Incredible opportunities for kids on Arran, a recent wee wander up goatfell had me bumping into the school MTB club, hike a biking to 874m.
Only issue, and this affects living rural anywhere, not just on the islands, is kids being in a different location to friends, that's definitely something to think about. My sis recently had to move from a beautiful house in a stunning location in the borders to a real ugly 70s bungalow in Melrose purely because her 3 daughters were miserable at school holidays. Cost her a fortune too, she'd have been cheaper chartering a taxi!.
I live in the most vibrant town in the county, and about the only thing it offers over any of the larger communities on Arran is a Costa and trains to Glasgow.
I live in the most vibrant town in the county, and about the only thing it offers over any of the larger communities on Arran is a Costa and trains to Glasgow.
You didnt say you had moved to the Port 🙂
I live in the most vibrant town in the county
Onthank? That looked quite vibrant on the telly.
Wishaw and Port Glasgow? Christ, there's some of Scotland's finest signed up for Basra to get away from such lovely toons! 😊
Having cycled in the highlands earleir this year - i would suggest somewhere on the NC500 route (as you'll get plenty of passing trade).
One place we passed through was Unapool - a stunning little place. It has the "Rock stop Cafe" - a great little cafe and museum with the geology of Scotland. The cafe owner even told us up the lock (not accessable by car) was the highest waterfall in the UK.
<b> https://tinyurl.com/ybx7er6z</b>
Now I must admit - I would LOVE to live up on that north-west coast! I have driven and ridden everywhere up there many times - last time on a motorbike I think, it has been a few years now though!
I think we are going to try and sneak a wee recce in up the Argyll coast in a few weeks time, just to give my wife a bit more of an idea of the geography at this stage... Crinan to Fort Bill should probably see us right over 2 or 3 days then back to the Lakes. She is a bit too pregnant at the moment to make it much more than a mini-road trip unfortunately! I am wondering if I can sneak a trip in to the far north later in the year once the next mini person has made an appearance, but we shall see 😉
I've only seen it via YouTube, but lochGOILhead looks ace!