With beautiful landscapes, historic cities, and welcoming people, Scotland has a brilliant reputation as a desirable place to live. You might have friends who have already decided to move to the country after falling in love with its charm. Perhaps you want to follow suit!
Figures show that more and more people are opting to go north of the border to settle down in Scotland. In 2016, 46,300 Brits moved to Scotland, and 22,900 people came from overseas to live there.
If you’re debating moving to the beautiful Scottish lands, or live there already and are looking for a little change-up, then this list is for you. We’re investigating The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live 2018 report and picking out the best of Scotland’s contenders in the list. Alongside DM Design, who provide bedroom furniture in Glasgow, this guide will provide key information about transport links, school availability, and the overall appeal of these selected Scottish locations. So without further ado, here’s 5 IDEAL places to settle down in Scotland.
IDEAL IF YOU LOVE THE BUSTLING CITY LIFE: DUNDEE
If you thrive in busy streets and big cities, Dundee is the perfect place for you. The now-fourth-largest city in Scotland, Dundee has had a full renovation recently, which has made it more appealing to tourists, businesses, and families.
The city has a broad range of schools, with nine secondary schools (one of which is private) and 38 primary schools (again, with one being private). Dundee also has one state-run special educational needs school, as well as one independent secondary and primary school. Creativity is a key focus in Dundee, and this is reflected in its education.
There’s plenty of transport links to get you out and about to enjoy Dundee’s museums and theatres too. The city has a train station and an airport, so you’ll find your travel options aren’t limited at all!
IDEAL IF YOU LOVE REMOTE TRANQUILITY: THE BLACK ISLE
Fancy living somewhere a little more remote? Head to the Scottish Highlands for The Black Isle. This gorgeous setting brings serene water views and lovely fishermen villages housed in Georgian buildings.
You’re not completely cut off in this area either, as the Black Isle has a healthy supply of bus routes and nearby train stations; Dingwall, Muir of Ord, and Conan Bridge. Inverness Airport is only a half hour drive away too.
The Black Isle also hosts 12 schools — 11 primary schools and one secondary school. The latter is one of the best state secondary schools in the whole of the Highlands: Fortrose Academy.
IDEAL IF YOUR LOVE BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES: ABOYNE
With the oldest 18-hole golf course on Royal Deeside and its beautiful scenery, Aboyne is the perfect place to move to if you dream of a quaint village life. The village is well-stocked with facilities, so you’ll never be in need.
With a primary and secondary school sharing a campus in Aboyne, the schools have an all-weather pitch, a swimming pool, and a theatre, making it a brilliant choice for your kids. The schools were also awarded the green flag from Eco-schools in 2012.
The nearest train station for Aboyne is a 45-minute drive away at Inverurie, which has a direct route to Inverness that takes around three hours. You can also get to Glasgow and Edinburgh from here. The village also has ample bus routes.
IDEAL IF YOU LOVE LIVING BY THE SEA: ABERDOUR
Do you wish to live by the sea? Head to Aberdour for a perfect balance of seaside life and city sparkle, as the town offers all the beauty of a seaside resort with brilliant transport facilities to get you to nearby cities when needed.
Its train station will get you to Edinburgh in just 33 minutes, and Aberdour has a bus to Dunfermline that’ll get you there in little over 45 minutes. There’s also the Queensferry Crossing for motorists needing to get to Edinburgh.
In terms of education, Aberdour has two schools. But the aforementioned transport links mean that you can choose to send your kids to schools in Edinburgh and the surrounding area with a simple train journey.
IDEAL IF YOU LOVE A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY – MELROSE
Holding the title of Best Place to Live in Scotland 2018, Melrose is situated on the Scottish Borders. The small town has just 1,700 residents, but don’t let that fool you. The town has loads going for it, and is a hidden gem!
Melrose has two schools — Melrose Primary School and St Mary’s School. St Mary’s offers day attendance and boarding options for children ages 2 to 13 years old. This comes with a fee per term, but you can make use of discounts and bursaries if needed. For high school options, Melrose is in the catchment area for Earlstone High School, which is a successful and acclaimed high school.
The town has a great array of transport services for its residents, with buses heading to Tweedbank train station that connects Melrose to Edinburgh in under an hour. There’s plenty of taxi services available too.
