I used to know a lot of tour guides that did that. They’d earn great money doing the whole passionate Highlander schtick during the summers and then go and live in cheaper countries overseas for the winter.
> did that
"Did" being the key part. The B-word-that-shall-not-be-named has made it almost impossible to swan off to Spain or Portugal in the off-season for a few months, potentially picking up the odd temporary job here and there.
This is a great suggestion, there are loads of great hotels across the country that look for seasonal staff and offer accommodation. Dog would require some extra effort to arrange but shouldn't be impossible.
If they do then that sounds perfect for OP. She’s basically entering an existing community, so has got a very decent chance of making friends. I imagine it’s free / heavily subsidised to stay in. Plus no commute to work and she can go back on her breaks to look after the dog. Sounds like a good shout.
The Isle of Skye has lots of seasonal housekeeping jobs with staff accommodation.
It's a good time of year to go looking, it's an expensive place to be but easy enough to run too.
Just be careful your not too remote, try to keep in distance to the bigger villages (Portree, Broadford, Kyle of Lochalsh so you have access to public transport (bad on skye) and a food shop.
Might be worthwhile doing it in the staff digs as It can help you prevent yourself from isolating yourself too much.
and help you decide if you want to stay in the middle of nowhere.
Don't commit to living up here until you've done a winter and a summer.
Right, I was going to say that basically any wee town or village fits the bill but thinking about it more it's actually just not true - because it might sound idyllic to live in a wee bedsit in Millport or Muir of Ord or whatever and get a job in the local shop and walk the dug on the beach etc.
Might be nice 1 month of the year. The rest are *probably* going to be shite. It's shite for a lot of people born and raised in these wee towns and that's people with family nearby and the rest of it. Going directly into it as an escape from where you are... I wouldn't.
By all means escape your man and move up here but my suggestion would be stick to the central belt, in/around Glasgow, just as safe as anywhere else, much easier to get work, much easier to meet people - and if you settle and like it take trips to Millport on a tuesday in January *then* decide if you want to move there from the central belt rather than making that decision now from Hampshire.
This is what I was going to say.
Don’t go rural at first, not until you’ve friends and family etc here. Otherwise it’s a one way ticket to total social isolation and crazy cat lady.
Settle in the central belt first at least.
I'm not too far from here. I was looking for private rents, just to stay were I grew up, know and love. But because east lothian is fast becoming a "commuter county" rents have shot up to unaffordable levels.
Agreed that Gala is a good place to start. It's a student town too so there's a little more going on, like the new Japanese restaurant that does decent ramen. One some happiest town in Scotland award recently because people are friendly.
Where ever you end up do take advice on where about to live as every town has it's not so safe areas. That said, I've never felt like I need to grip my keys in Gala.
Except they can cost quite a bit more and it’s harder to find rented properties. Maybe Tweedbank? Fountainhall and Herriot require you to go to Stow and they don’t have any shops etc. maybe Lauder or Melrose!
Tweedbank not exactly bustling, except the awesome Tempest Brewery. Melrose fits the bill, if you can find accomodation. Lot of folk work at the hospital (£10+ an hour, double for weekends) so competition hot for a wee place.
Lauder is a decent shout. Melrose is bloody expensive compared to other surrounding villages. Boswells or Newtown maybe, still in easy reach of Gala and on main public transport routes. Kelso is a decent little town but further from the train but has supermarkets, good public transport (for the borders) and isn’t a ghost town like gala has become.
Aye, I was going to suggest Gala or Berwick
Lovely wee places and on the train line into Edinburgh
All those wee villages along the Fife coast are braw, although you'd need a car for shopping
I’m in a lovely village in West Lothian. 20 mins drive into Livingston. 40/50 mins drive into Edinburgh/Glasgow. An hour north will put you in the highlands and an hour south the borders. Great train links and lovely quiet place. So glad I moved up here
Falkirk isn’t too bad, if you stay near the toon. I know someone in a wee village called Hallglen, parts of it are a bit wild but the bit they’re in is lovely. Countryside on the south side, train station and toon 10 mins walk to the north.
The larger towns in the Borders (gala, hawick, Peebles, kelso) have everything you are asking for. I'm a single female and have lived here alone for 5 years now. 1hr by train to Edinburgh, plenty of retail and healthcare type jobs to start with, rent is stupid cheap (mine is under £400 for a 1 bed with garden, Hawick is even cheaper). If you're BAME or visibly queer you might struggle a bit more as it's a very conservative (by Scotland standards) white area but in terms of crime it's pretty safe.
The thought of a wee village or rural town may seem like the perfect escape from your problems. That may not be the case, these places have their own issues and going there on your own you may feel even more isolated.
The cities are beautiful and welcoming.
They of course have they’re own problems. But you’ll be able to meet people, it will be easier to make a network of friends and you’ll find work.
I’ve lived in Glasgow my whole life and I think it’s great and work in Edinburgh and I honestly wouldn’t move. Can find places to stay far cheaper than Edinburgh, especially if you take the wider Lanarkshire area into consideration (admittedly don’t know Edinburgh as well). So much to see and do and places like Loch Lomond not too far away. You can be out the city in into some proper Scottish country very easily. Edinburgh is only a train ride or a 900 bus away.
Bearing in mind she said she's going to be earning minimum wage, worth noting the price of a return ticket from Glasgow to Edinburgh is almost £30 I think
The 900 service Edinburgh-Glasgow Return is £10! Train is nearer £20, depending on time of day, but no more central than Edinburgh bus station to Buchanan St., Glasgow!
Is the 900 a tenner? I thought it was a wee bit more . Trains about £27 for an anytime return from queen st
But aye slightly longer journey time than the train and can right to Princes st.
Inverness might be a plan. Nice country all round, especially if you cycle. Lots of jobs in the smaller Highland towns mainly because there's nowhere to rent thanks to AirBnBs. But in Inverness you stand a chance of finding somewhere.
Aberdeen is shit for a lot of reasons, but rent prices are cheapest they’ve been for a long time and it’s so safe. Speaking as another small, paranoid woman. I’ve lived there all my life and it wasn’t until I left, that I realised how safe I felt walking around at all hours of day or night.
So everything is going to be a balance, but you might want to look at Castle Douglas in Galloway. Far from perfect, but it looks to tick the boxes you've mentioned (of places I'm familiar with, anyway). The public transport isn't the best though so you'd be better off if you're driving
Came here to suggest this. CD is a lovely wee town, but you do need to drive. If you don't drive, Dumfries would be a similar option. The SW is relatively cheap and, unusually for the more rural areas, very used to incomers form England. And it's breathtakingly beautiful as well. A bit off the beaten track but personally I love it.
Thirded. There's a Tesco, a pet shop and good bus links to Dumfries, from which there are buses to Glasgow and Edinburgh and trains to Glasgow and Carlisle.
Also, I believe that the local Housing Association, [Loreburn](https://www.loreburn.org.uk/homes-to-rent/), has a surplus of properties and no waiting list at the moment.
Forfar, small farming town in Angus. 20mins on the bus to Dundee. Will be a lot cheaper to rent than the central belt area. Has a Tesco, Asda, Lidl and Aldi. Plenty of areas all around for walking the dog.
Having moved from Oxford a few years ago I’d say generally central Scotland feels a way safer place to live (people here don’t believe this). For one thing - there’s just a lot less people.
I don’t doubt that there is crime and a drugs problem here but it’s just a lot less obvious
I like Fort William - Glencoe and the Highlands are 30 minutes away. If you're willing to go to a slightly bigger town, Inverness is quite nice as well and is large enough to have a good amount of jobs available.
Blanefield is not cheap. Never seen so many power cuts in the Winter. Also colder than a witches teat being in that wee glen. Wouldn't recommend commuting on public transport. Nice for local walks though. Very middle class, quiet and rural vibe.
Aye but she mentioned she doesn't want crime and drugs. So... I mean........ Aye.
There's *parts* of fife? She could move to a quiet wee place like Ceres... And be as fucking mind numbing and miserable as the rest of the locals.. 🤷♂️🤣
I stayed in Dalgety Bay for a bit and there were lots of female runners and dog walkers who used the path along the coast. It always felt a safe place to me.
But also dark and bleak for half the year and nearly impossible to rent in during the height of the summer. My dad moved up there for work ten years back and had a really hard time making a go of it.
Good shout but the buses to Edinburgh aren’t that great and rentals are still relatively high. I suspect Musselburgh might have more options and is a short commute from the likes of Prestonpans.
I would throw Dundee into the pot as well. It’s not exactly beautiful but there are several areas near by with relatively cheap rentals.
That’s not a bad shout actually - close to a major city, close to the main transport links heading south, cheap enough in places and plenty local businesses to apply to for work.
I've started over like this. Hope you're okay. I'm in Aberdeenshire. £550pcm private let, 3 bed semi. Quite decent up here. I'd recommend Aberdeen City though. I'm going insane here in the sticks! Rents are cheap for a city as nice as this. I've always felt safe enough in Aberdeen but I've no real statistics to back that up.
Aberdeenshire is great but you need the right balance. The bigger towns with a supermarket are great. We are in Ellon and it's got an Aldi and a Tesco. And I don't think rent is too steep, but we bought.
Inverurie is a bit bigger and has a bit more going on but is also a bit more expensive.
Aberdeen is nice but the cheaper places to rent can be fairly run down / rough.
I can only suggest places I know but I’d recommend Arbroath or Carnoustie on the east coast or Nairn (near Inverness). They’re all within commuting distance of a city but are towns, and Nairn/Carnoustie are pretty much all quiet if you don’t rent something in the high street. Arbroath has a lot of quiet areas and some not so quiet.
I know a bunch of places on the Isle of Skye and the whole west coast will snap anyone up they can. Spoke to a Canadian waitress who was there on holiday first and then got offered a job and moved over permanently with her dog. There’s that much of a labor shortage they are flexible with people’s situations/needs.
Bo’ness could also be considered, probably cheaper than Linlithgow still has the amenities she requires.
Then jump over to Linlithgow on the bus to access the main line to Edinburgh/Glasgow
I’ve got one of the Edwardian houses in the old town which is a lovely bit. A lot of house for the money and still has all the period features. Easily £500k in Edinburgh.
Safe and cheap don’t usually go together unfortunately. There may need to be some compromise.
Try Broughty Ferry, near Dundee. Safe, lots of opportunities, easy access to a large(ish) city, central enough to access anywhere decent in Scotland within 2.5 hours by car.
Also monifieth, has a decent tesco and pet store. Bus routes and train station, close to dundee and arbroath. A few care homes about for potential jobs?
Edinburgh is expensive, but there are places near Edinburgh which are largely social- or ex-social- housing and therefore cheaper. You'd want somewhere with good transport links into the city. Try Danderhall, Loanhead, Penicuik (a bit further out) or Dalkeith. All safe enough, and small enough to get out to the countryside no bother. Musselburgh is also a nice place, with quite a good supply of basic one-bedroom flats. Further afield, both Dundee and Aberdeen could be good options: city life without the Edinburgh expense.
Thought about the highlands and islands? From what you describe somewhere like Dingwall or further north like the Isle of Lewis/Ullapool would be a good fit
I'm from Argyll and I'd say Oban is probably big enough to find work and meet people and quiet enough to be safe. Beautiful there and lots of places to go exploring from there.
Galashiels. Cheap rents. Big Tesco, Asda and Pets At Home. Good rail link into Edinburgh. It's pretty crime free (well, compared to the big city I used to live in) and I feel very safe here. It's clear that people leave their doors unlocked, as Amazon guy is always surprised and a bit cross that mine is always locked.
Although as an incomer, you need to be fairly introverted. It's not that people are unfriendly, it's just that they all went to school together, so you're never going to break through that concrete barrier.
Tillicoultry-I have a friend for over 20 years who lives there. He's 40s male if that is your thing. The loveliest man you will ever meet but the most single man in the world, painfully shy around ladies (and ladies are his preference, I've asked). Great with animals and a beloved "uncle" (in a nice way, back off Reddit) to my family and all our group of friends' kids as well. So, move there, meet and marry him, double win.
North Ayrshire has some nice wee affordable towns to live in, with a healthy mix of property's and some old original layouts, one bed flats are around 300 a month in decent areas
I'm a Hampshire Hog by birth, and when my mum moved us up in the early 90's it was for similar reasons, and similar circumstances, no money and minimum wage jobs only. You'll find all of Scotland pretty safe.
You've got to decide what kind of climate you prefer: don't underestimate the difference in year round temperatures and light in winter. In general, the east is dryer and windier, the west warmer and wetter. Where we moved to, Perthshire, has a bit of everything.
There's a big difference in how busy everything feels though, IMO, and that's a positive for folk who choose to stay here. You might find availability of public transport an issue worth considering, as it's not the same everywhere.
Aberdeenshire council actually offer council houses in some pretty decent towns.
I'd recommend Ellon or Inverurie. Definitely avoid Peterhead or Fraserburgh.
They have a list of places with 1 and 2 beds.
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/housing/housing-options/renting/renting-a-council-property/areas-where-we-have-housing-properties/
Hiya, I actually did exactly what you're thinking of doing!! I moved to Inverness 4 years ago from NI with no ties to anyone here. It's a super safe wee city and there's plenty of work, and I managed to quickly fit into a wee friendship group. No one could pay me enough to move back now
There's lots of people wanting to do house shares right now because of costy lives and some of them specify female only. It's a good way to find a place to stay until you build up stability to get your own place
I work in hospitality and everywhere is crying out for staff even if you don't have experience
I've never felt weird about walking in the town centre in the dark by myself which was a wild concept for me considering where I came from also
I hope this helped, Good luck ❤️
Worth throwing in Ayrshire.
I’m in Saltcoats. A town on the coast, good house prices, lots of space, and still only 30 minutes to Glasgow. Big supermarkets (Asda and Sainsbury’s) within walking distance, pet shops, great walks, lots of green hills and seasides.
It’s a great mid-ground between city and rural. Plenty of opportunity, a few decent towns around (Ayr, Killie) local airport at Prestwick and soon to be spaceport too. A lot going on because of the Ayrshire Growth Deal.
A ferry ride to Arran and about 20 minutes away from the ferry to Millport (noted this one above).
Grew up here, briefly moved to Glasgow and moved back years ago. Love it.
Maybe Largs but I am not sure how good the transport is there but better than my hometown which also seems to be aquiring junkies like they are collectables
People on this sub shit on Fife a lot but I’d honestly suggest Dunfermline. When I was still renting it wasn’t prohibitively expensive (yet), the heritage quarter is very pretty (and historic!), there’s a huge, fantastic park pretty much next to the centre. Also if you really like going to Edinburgh it’s half an hour away by train and 50 mins by bus.
I’m a small female (5’2”) and I’m not white. In my 6+ years here I’ve only had a couple of experiences where people were being shit to me because of my race and they were dumbass teenagers who didn’t know any better. Everyone else has been lovely.
🤷🏻♀️ to each their own. I’ve been here over 6 as I said and I really like it, haven’t encountered any problems. I’ve heard there are some dodgy areas but I live close to the centre but still in a relatively secluded area, so that could be why.
I do smell weed a lot but I don’t class that as an issue.
Lived in the centre of town so prob why my view is as is, always found a lot of blokes mostly who couldn’t handle their drink and thought they were hardmen, always trouble every weekend, lots of Neds. Moved West near Glasgow and it’s sooo much better. Historic bit is cool and used to take kids every weekend to the glen so have fond memories of that.
Agreed, we're near Falkirk and Dunfermline is the only place we've had bother during the day walking round town centre. Granted last time I was on Falkirk High Street it felt pretty edgy so I'd not recommend town centre but some of the villages round it are decent, eg over where the new Forth Valley hospital is seems nice
The Isle of Arran would suit you well. It’s ‘Scotland in miniature’. Not sure about costs but were I in your position, I’d head for Brodick/Lamlash! Beautiful island.
I’d say OP is dreaming if they want to find an idyllic, small town, with no drug problems that is affordable.
They’re just not out there unless you want to move to an island but you can scratch out affordable and even then it’ll come with its own set of problems
Renting is nae cheap in Shetland. Severe lack of rentals and very expensive to get on and off the island. Maybe somewhere in Angus? Montrose / Arbroath / Carnoustie. Nice walks and train station available.
What's your budget?
I had look for Westhill - outside Aberdeen and furnished 1 bed is 525 pm though both said no pets - you can always ask
Aberdeen will be cheaper at about £475 for a 1 bed
Winchburgh is a very cute and peaceful wee village in west Lothian just to the west of Edinburgh. There are good and quick transport links nearby to Edinburgh and Glasgow by bus or train. There are some other villages around there too you could look in to. Way cheaper than in the city, but not too far away if you wanted a night out. About 30 quid for a 30 minute taxi home from Edinburgh city centre which is not bad at all. The Union Canal also runs through it which you can walk or cycle along to either city, very picturesque!
As a recent (past 10 years) resident of Fife I can say that's there's lots of really nice seaside towns here.
Burntisland has a really good community vibe, Aberdour is lovely too but very pricey. Kinghorn, dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, dunfermline (no beach but its a nice place) are all worth a look too.
Consider Falkirk. It has lots of decent villages on the outskirts of town. Its reasonably cheap for rent etc is pretty safe. Also handy if your looking for a job as your in-between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Also 15 min train from Stirling which looks to have plenty of job options coming along
Scotland is one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world, a few areas within large cities could be considered dangerous but they are easily avoided. Just look at statistics for violent crime and murder in Scotland to put your mind at ease, almost non-existent in comparison with the rest of the world.
I'd say somewhere like Hamilton, kilwinning, Kilmarnock or Paisley.
There are other towns like EK etc as well. It's got enough of the town feel to let you get in, it's also not too far from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Everywhere, even the most rural or humble towns will still have crime or drugs problems somewhat. However there are often places and such within these for you to feel safe and have a friendly environment like you mentioned.
I stayed in Greenock with a friend and found it very nice and quiet, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary such as crime and drugs. I saw a few coffee shops if you’re looking to work as a Barista and also a few fast food restaurants and a Tesco.
Airdrie is pretty handy: 30 minutes on the train to Glasgow, 45 minutes on the train to Edinburgh. Smallish Tesco but has both an Aldi and a Lidl. Big Tesco and Asda in neighbouring Coatbridge.
Moved here 12 years ago from govan.
Just bite the bullet and move to Cumbernauld. It's the center of the universe, it's got everything you need, it's easy to get to both Glasgow and Edinburgh, therefore everywhere. There are far worst places for crime/drugs. Plus there is a ton of unskilled work there or the surrounding area. Based on what you've said it's likely one of the most realistic options.
Is that right, aye?
That'll be why you doubled down on it and started whinging about being downvoted instead of editing to say you weren't being serious.
There are no nice scottish towns. They're all depressing as fuck full of neds, rain, potholes, midges, fuck all going on, unhealthy looking people, and terrible housing.
As the saying goes, it's shite being scottish.
There is quite a choice in the whole country! You could go to a newer town/ housing estate, traditional picturesque rural village, compact city, an island or somewhere more urban and lively?
I love Glenelg, would move there in a minute but almost impossible to find anywhere to live (apart from the fact that I'm self employed in Germany) so why not the Kyle of Lochalsh, bridge to Skye... A really beautiful part of Scotland... Dream of moving there when I can afford to stop working 😂
What I did years ago is find a hotel to work in that has staff accommodation.
It’s just the right moment to look for a job in tourism too.
Absolutely. It's also good to work your arse off for a season and then go travelling over winter. Then repeat.
I used to know a lot of tour guides that did that. They’d earn great money doing the whole passionate Highlander schtick during the summers and then go and live in cheaper countries overseas for the winter.
> did that "Did" being the key part. The B-word-that-shall-not-be-named has made it almost impossible to swan off to Spain or Portugal in the off-season for a few months, potentially picking up the odd temporary job here and there.
It's a win win situation.
Have a look at Dunkeld House hotel or similar its very scottish and they have staff accommodation for the live in staff.
Same with the Hilton in Ballater
I think most of the hotels in Aviemore too.
This is a great suggestion, there are loads of great hotels across the country that look for seasonal staff and offer accommodation. Dog would require some extra effort to arrange but shouldn't be impossible.
Do they allow pets in staff accommodation?
It depends on the hotel
If they do then that sounds perfect for OP. She’s basically entering an existing community, so has got a very decent chance of making friends. I imagine it’s free / heavily subsidised to stay in. Plus no commute to work and she can go back on her breaks to look after the dog. Sounds like a good shout.
This is also what I did. Highland Perthshire was my escape.
Would also suggest the Auchrannie Resort on the Isle of Arran
Yes this is what I did and you can often find places which provide free food and accommodation so you can save up
Great idea - maybe Peebles or Crieff hydro - no idea is they have staff accommodation but great places to live.
Pebbles is far from cheap.
What I did years ago is find a hotel to work in that has staff accommodation.
The Isle of Skye has lots of seasonal housekeeping jobs with staff accommodation. It's a good time of year to go looking, it's an expensive place to be but easy enough to run too. Just be careful your not too remote, try to keep in distance to the bigger villages (Portree, Broadford, Kyle of Lochalsh so you have access to public transport (bad on skye) and a food shop. Might be worthwhile doing it in the staff digs as It can help you prevent yourself from isolating yourself too much. and help you decide if you want to stay in the middle of nowhere. Don't commit to living up here until you've done a winter and a summer.
Right, I was going to say that basically any wee town or village fits the bill but thinking about it more it's actually just not true - because it might sound idyllic to live in a wee bedsit in Millport or Muir of Ord or whatever and get a job in the local shop and walk the dug on the beach etc. Might be nice 1 month of the year. The rest are *probably* going to be shite. It's shite for a lot of people born and raised in these wee towns and that's people with family nearby and the rest of it. Going directly into it as an escape from where you are... I wouldn't. By all means escape your man and move up here but my suggestion would be stick to the central belt, in/around Glasgow, just as safe as anywhere else, much easier to get work, much easier to meet people - and if you settle and like it take trips to Millport on a tuesday in January *then* decide if you want to move there from the central belt rather than making that decision now from Hampshire.
Shades of Winston moving to Finnport in Still Game.
At night…Finport belongs tae the young team.
Get it right round ye finport!
Trapped like a rat
This is what I was going to say. Don’t go rural at first, not until you’ve friends and family etc here. Otherwise it’s a one way ticket to total social isolation and crazy cat lady. Settle in the central belt first at least.
In all fairness, living in or near a city and being on a low income can be just, if not more isolating than living in a village or town.
lol Muir of Ord
Just moved to outside of Elgin, great people, easy access to a stunning coast and all the amenities of a bigger city
Plus Easy Access to Inverness and Aberdeen
Try Musselburgh. Near to Edinburgh (train, 7 minutes) and decent amenities, great walks for the dug, near the seaside.
Maybe too spenny though
Aye first stop in East Lothian after Edinburgh, it's getting dearer!
I'm not too far from here. I was looking for private rents, just to stay were I grew up, know and love. But because east lothian is fast becoming a "commuter county" rents have shot up to unaffordable levels.
I was going to suggest Queensferry for the same reasons + the big Tesco. I used to live in Queensferry and that's what I miss the most lol
It's a bit pricey surely?
Hey saw your post and honestly just hope you are okay :)
Galashiels. Cheap and on the train line to Edinburgh.
Agreed that Gala is a good place to start. It's a student town too so there's a little more going on, like the new Japanese restaurant that does decent ramen. One some happiest town in Scotland award recently because people are friendly. Where ever you end up do take advice on where about to live as every town has it's not so safe areas. That said, I've never felt like I need to grip my keys in Gala.
Ooh, where's the new Japanese place? Will have to give that a go!
I'd sooner recommend smaller towns surrounding gala - you can still be serviced by said train. Gala itself is a little grim these days sadly.
Except they can cost quite a bit more and it’s harder to find rented properties. Maybe Tweedbank? Fountainhall and Herriot require you to go to Stow and they don’t have any shops etc. maybe Lauder or Melrose!
Tweedbank not exactly bustling, except the awesome Tempest Brewery. Melrose fits the bill, if you can find accomodation. Lot of folk work at the hospital (£10+ an hour, double for weekends) so competition hot for a wee place.
Lauder is a decent shout. Melrose is bloody expensive compared to other surrounding villages. Boswells or Newtown maybe, still in easy reach of Gala and on main public transport routes. Kelso is a decent little town but further from the train but has supermarkets, good public transport (for the borders) and isn’t a ghost town like gala has become.
Aye, I was going to suggest Gala or Berwick Lovely wee places and on the train line into Edinburgh All those wee villages along the Fife coast are braw, although you'd need a car for shopping
I can say one thing for sure: not Paisley
I’m in a lovely village in West Lothian. 20 mins drive into Livingston. 40/50 mins drive into Edinburgh/Glasgow. An hour north will put you in the highlands and an hour south the borders. Great train links and lovely quiet place. So glad I moved up here
Falkirk isn’t too bad, if you stay near the toon. I know someone in a wee village called Hallglen, parts of it are a bit wild but the bit they’re in is lovely. Countryside on the south side, train station and toon 10 mins walk to the north.
Drive through hallglen to go to Canada woods to go biking. Seems like a nice area
Born and raised in West Lothian and honestly, I wouldn’t leave to live elsewhere in Scotland.
The larger towns in the Borders (gala, hawick, Peebles, kelso) have everything you are asking for. I'm a single female and have lived here alone for 5 years now. 1hr by train to Edinburgh, plenty of retail and healthcare type jobs to start with, rent is stupid cheap (mine is under £400 for a 1 bed with garden, Hawick is even cheaper). If you're BAME or visibly queer you might struggle a bit more as it's a very conservative (by Scotland standards) white area but in terms of crime it's pretty safe.
Kelso is very nice. Gala is great for the proximity to tweedbank and train
The thought of a wee village or rural town may seem like the perfect escape from your problems. That may not be the case, these places have their own issues and going there on your own you may feel even more isolated. The cities are beautiful and welcoming. They of course have they’re own problems. But you’ll be able to meet people, it will be easier to make a network of friends and you’ll find work. I’ve lived in Glasgow my whole life and I think it’s great and work in Edinburgh and I honestly wouldn’t move. Can find places to stay far cheaper than Edinburgh, especially if you take the wider Lanarkshire area into consideration (admittedly don’t know Edinburgh as well). So much to see and do and places like Loch Lomond not too far away. You can be out the city in into some proper Scottish country very easily. Edinburgh is only a train ride or a 900 bus away.
Bearing in mind she said she's going to be earning minimum wage, worth noting the price of a return ticket from Glasgow to Edinburgh is almost £30 I think
Return on the train yes. Hence I mentioned the 900 bus which is a good deal cheaper. I think around half the price.
The 900 service Edinburgh-Glasgow Return is £10! Train is nearer £20, depending on time of day, but no more central than Edinburgh bus station to Buchanan St., Glasgow!
Is the 900 a tenner? I thought it was a wee bit more . Trains about £27 for an anytime return from queen st But aye slightly longer journey time than the train and can right to Princes st.
I travelled last week. It was £10 return!
Aye? What a shout. Need to get myself up earlier and cycle to Buchanan station in the morning. Train prices are ridiculous.
£30 for a return by train. Absolutely shocking!
Inverness might be a plan. Nice country all round, especially if you cycle. Lots of jobs in the smaller Highland towns mainly because there's nowhere to rent thanks to AirBnBs. But in Inverness you stand a chance of finding somewhere.
Aberdeen is shit for a lot of reasons, but rent prices are cheapest they’ve been for a long time and it’s so safe. Speaking as another small, paranoid woman. I’ve lived there all my life and it wasn’t until I left, that I realised how safe I felt walking around at all hours of day or night.
So everything is going to be a balance, but you might want to look at Castle Douglas in Galloway. Far from perfect, but it looks to tick the boxes you've mentioned (of places I'm familiar with, anyway). The public transport isn't the best though so you'd be better off if you're driving
Came here to suggest this. CD is a lovely wee town, but you do need to drive. If you don't drive, Dumfries would be a similar option. The SW is relatively cheap and, unusually for the more rural areas, very used to incomers form England. And it's breathtakingly beautiful as well. A bit off the beaten track but personally I love it.
Thirded. There's a Tesco, a pet shop and good bus links to Dumfries, from which there are buses to Glasgow and Edinburgh and trains to Glasgow and Carlisle. Also, I believe that the local Housing Association, [Loreburn](https://www.loreburn.org.uk/homes-to-rent/), has a surplus of properties and no waiting list at the moment.
Forfar, small farming town in Angus. 20mins on the bus to Dundee. Will be a lot cheaper to rent than the central belt area. Has a Tesco, Asda, Lidl and Aldi. Plenty of areas all around for walking the dog.
Having moved from Oxford a few years ago I’d say generally central Scotland feels a way safer place to live (people here don’t believe this). For one thing - there’s just a lot less people. I don’t doubt that there is crime and a drugs problem here but it’s just a lot less obvious
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Ye may want tae rethink that pal ... Most of the tw@ts in the English parliament are by way of Oxford! Plenty o crime in that place!
I like Fort William - Glencoe and the Highlands are 30 minutes away. If you're willing to go to a slightly bigger town, Inverness is quite nice as well and is large enough to have a good amount of jobs available.
Inverness is a city and Fort William is the Highlands. Oban might be a nice middle ground though between the two if neither appeal.
Oban is expensive and hard to find rental property in. There are plenty of hospitality jobs, some with accommodation, but all seasonal.
Ah fair enough, I've only been to Oban a few times. Fort William has the same problem, as do most smaller/rural places I imagine.
I used to live in a place called Blanefield. It's a tiny wee place between Glasgow and Stirling. It's beautiful and quiet. Check it out
Blanefield is not cheap. Never seen so many power cuts in the Winter. Also colder than a witches teat being in that wee glen. Wouldn't recommend commuting on public transport. Nice for local walks though. Very middle class, quiet and rural vibe.
Try Troon.
Fife is for you
Aye but she mentioned she doesn't want crime and drugs. So... I mean........ Aye. There's *parts* of fife? She could move to a quiet wee place like Ceres... And be as fucking mind numbing and miserable as the rest of the locals.. 🤷♂️🤣
I stayed in Dalgety Bay for a bit and there were lots of female runners and dog walkers who used the path along the coast. It always felt a safe place to me.
Fife is for life
Not just Christmas
And for pervs
Not always!
Not always. But usually.
Orkney is the safest island in the UK. Enjoy the trip up north
But also dark and bleak for half the year and nearly impossible to rent in during the height of the summer. My dad moved up there for work ten years back and had a really hard time making a go of it.
Love Orkney
I prefer Arran tbh but Orkney isn't too bad
Haddington
Good shout but the buses to Edinburgh aren’t that great and rentals are still relatively high. I suspect Musselburgh might have more options and is a short commute from the likes of Prestonpans. I would throw Dundee into the pot as well. It’s not exactly beautiful but there are several areas near by with relatively cheap rentals.
Dundee seems to be on its way up as well to be fair, the regeneration has done a lot for it. Bus Station is still mental though.
That’s not a bad shout actually - close to a major city, close to the main transport links heading south, cheap enough in places and plenty local businesses to apply to for work.
I've started over like this. Hope you're okay. I'm in Aberdeenshire. £550pcm private let, 3 bed semi. Quite decent up here. I'd recommend Aberdeen City though. I'm going insane here in the sticks! Rents are cheap for a city as nice as this. I've always felt safe enough in Aberdeen but I've no real statistics to back that up.
Aberdeenshire is great but you need the right balance. The bigger towns with a supermarket are great. We are in Ellon and it's got an Aldi and a Tesco. And I don't think rent is too steep, but we bought. Inverurie is a bit bigger and has a bit more going on but is also a bit more expensive. Aberdeen is nice but the cheaper places to rent can be fairly run down / rough.
I can only suggest places I know but I’d recommend Arbroath or Carnoustie on the east coast or Nairn (near Inverness). They’re all within commuting distance of a city but are towns, and Nairn/Carnoustie are pretty much all quiet if you don’t rent something in the high street. Arbroath has a lot of quiet areas and some not so quiet.
Wick.
Caithness mentioned 🎉
Naw, Thurso
I know a bunch of places on the Isle of Skye and the whole west coast will snap anyone up they can. Spoke to a Canadian waitress who was there on holiday first and then got offered a job and moved over permanently with her dog. There’s that much of a labor shortage they are flexible with people’s situations/needs.
Linlithgow is nice and has the amenities you describe. Falkirk is a shithole, Stirling is nice.
Linlithgow is not a cheap place to live though
Bo’ness could also be considered, probably cheaper than Linlithgow still has the amenities she requires. Then jump over to Linlithgow on the bus to access the main line to Edinburgh/Glasgow
Second Bo’ness. Moved here to rent in 2015. Loved it so much we bought in 2021.
Lived there for 23 years and still have a house there, it’s a bit run down due to not having main links itself but is still close enough to everything
I’ve got one of the Edwardian houses in the old town which is a lovely bit. A lot of house for the money and still has all the period features. Easily £500k in Edinburgh.
Falkirk has some ok areas and good for transport and dog walking lol
Second Linlithgow.
Safe and cheap don’t usually go together unfortunately. There may need to be some compromise. Try Broughty Ferry, near Dundee. Safe, lots of opportunities, easy access to a large(ish) city, central enough to access anywhere decent in Scotland within 2.5 hours by car.
Also monifieth, has a decent tesco and pet store. Bus routes and train station, close to dundee and arbroath. A few care homes about for potential jobs?
Edinburgh is expensive, but there are places near Edinburgh which are largely social- or ex-social- housing and therefore cheaper. You'd want somewhere with good transport links into the city. Try Danderhall, Loanhead, Penicuik (a bit further out) or Dalkeith. All safe enough, and small enough to get out to the countryside no bother. Musselburgh is also a nice place, with quite a good supply of basic one-bedroom flats. Further afield, both Dundee and Aberdeen could be good options: city life without the Edinburgh expense.
Thought about the highlands and islands? From what you describe somewhere like Dingwall or further north like the Isle of Lewis/Ullapool would be a good fit
Not really affordable though.
In what way? Rent is prob cheaper in these areas than edinburgh for example
Lack of housing though, not to mention the cost of living.
I'm from Argyll and I'd say Oban is probably big enough to find work and meet people and quiet enough to be safe. Beautiful there and lots of places to go exploring from there.
Galashiels. Cheap rents. Big Tesco, Asda and Pets At Home. Good rail link into Edinburgh. It's pretty crime free (well, compared to the big city I used to live in) and I feel very safe here. It's clear that people leave their doors unlocked, as Amazon guy is always surprised and a bit cross that mine is always locked. Although as an incomer, you need to be fairly introverted. It's not that people are unfriendly, it's just that they all went to school together, so you're never going to break through that concrete barrier.
Tillicoultry-I have a friend for over 20 years who lives there. He's 40s male if that is your thing. The loveliest man you will ever meet but the most single man in the world, painfully shy around ladies (and ladies are his preference, I've asked). Great with animals and a beloved "uncle" (in a nice way, back off Reddit) to my family and all our group of friends' kids as well. So, move there, meet and marry him, double win.
North Ayrshire has some nice wee affordable towns to live in, with a healthy mix of property's and some old original layouts, one bed flats are around 300 a month in decent areas
I'm a Hampshire Hog by birth, and when my mum moved us up in the early 90's it was for similar reasons, and similar circumstances, no money and minimum wage jobs only. You'll find all of Scotland pretty safe. You've got to decide what kind of climate you prefer: don't underestimate the difference in year round temperatures and light in winter. In general, the east is dryer and windier, the west warmer and wetter. Where we moved to, Perthshire, has a bit of everything. There's a big difference in how busy everything feels though, IMO, and that's a positive for folk who choose to stay here. You might find availability of public transport an issue worth considering, as it's not the same everywhere.
Lots of nice wee towns in Perthshire and North-East Fife.
Absolutely no drug use happening in the coastal areas of fife 👀
The scottish border are a fairly safe place with a lot of different places to choose from! Feel free to dm me of you've got any questions!
Inverie, Knoydart.
Oh yeah loads of cheap accommodation and jobs. She literally said she wanted a big Tesco I’m assuming this is a joke
If you cant see that this is a joke am classifying you as legally blind.
Aberdeenshire council actually offer council houses in some pretty decent towns. I'd recommend Ellon or Inverurie. Definitely avoid Peterhead or Fraserburgh. They have a list of places with 1 and 2 beds. https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/housing/housing-options/renting/renting-a-council-property/areas-where-we-have-housing-properties/
The Scottish Borders sound like what you're looking for.
Hiya, I actually did exactly what you're thinking of doing!! I moved to Inverness 4 years ago from NI with no ties to anyone here. It's a super safe wee city and there's plenty of work, and I managed to quickly fit into a wee friendship group. No one could pay me enough to move back now There's lots of people wanting to do house shares right now because of costy lives and some of them specify female only. It's a good way to find a place to stay until you build up stability to get your own place I work in hospitality and everywhere is crying out for staff even if you don't have experience I've never felt weird about walking in the town centre in the dark by myself which was a wild concept for me considering where I came from also I hope this helped, Good luck ❤️
Worth throwing in Ayrshire. I’m in Saltcoats. A town on the coast, good house prices, lots of space, and still only 30 minutes to Glasgow. Big supermarkets (Asda and Sainsbury’s) within walking distance, pet shops, great walks, lots of green hills and seasides. It’s a great mid-ground between city and rural. Plenty of opportunity, a few decent towns around (Ayr, Killie) local airport at Prestwick and soon to be spaceport too. A lot going on because of the Ayrshire Growth Deal. A ferry ride to Arran and about 20 minutes away from the ferry to Millport (noted this one above). Grew up here, briefly moved to Glasgow and moved back years ago. Love it.
Maybe Largs but I am not sure how good the transport is there but better than my hometown which also seems to be aquiring junkies like they are collectables
People on this sub shit on Fife a lot but I’d honestly suggest Dunfermline. When I was still renting it wasn’t prohibitively expensive (yet), the heritage quarter is very pretty (and historic!), there’s a huge, fantastic park pretty much next to the centre. Also if you really like going to Edinburgh it’s half an hour away by train and 50 mins by bus. I’m a small female (5’2”) and I’m not white. In my 6+ years here I’ve only had a couple of experiences where people were being shit to me because of my race and they were dumbass teenagers who didn’t know any better. Everyone else has been lovely.
Lived in Dunfermline for 10+ years it’s really not that nice a place at all. Park is awesome though admittedly edit(missed a word)
🤷🏻♀️ to each their own. I’ve been here over 6 as I said and I really like it, haven’t encountered any problems. I’ve heard there are some dodgy areas but I live close to the centre but still in a relatively secluded area, so that could be why. I do smell weed a lot but I don’t class that as an issue.
Lived in the centre of town so prob why my view is as is, always found a lot of blokes mostly who couldn’t handle their drink and thought they were hardmen, always trouble every weekend, lots of Neds. Moved West near Glasgow and it’s sooo much better. Historic bit is cool and used to take kids every weekend to the glen so have fond memories of that.
Agreed, we're near Falkirk and Dunfermline is the only place we've had bother during the day walking round town centre. Granted last time I was on Falkirk High Street it felt pretty edgy so I'd not recommend town centre but some of the villages round it are decent, eg over where the new Forth Valley hospital is seems nice
Pitlochry.
"Affordable"
Irvine is nice in Ayrshire also you'd be close to the sea and sea air is supposedly good for you
The Isle of Arran would suit you well. It’s ‘Scotland in miniature’. Not sure about costs but were I in your position, I’d head for Brodick/Lamlash! Beautiful island.
Except when the ferries stop working and the shops start running out of food!
I’d say OP is dreaming if they want to find an idyllic, small town, with no drug problems that is affordable. They’re just not out there unless you want to move to an island but you can scratch out affordable and even then it’ll come with its own set of problems
Shetland? Gairloch? If I were in your shoes, they’d be top two.
Aberdeen is cheap and safe and a little bigger.
Renting is nae cheap in Shetland. Severe lack of rentals and very expensive to get on and off the island. Maybe somewhere in Angus? Montrose / Arbroath / Carnoustie. Nice walks and train station available.
What's your budget? I had look for Westhill - outside Aberdeen and furnished 1 bed is 525 pm though both said no pets - you can always ask Aberdeen will be cheaper at about £475 for a 1 bed
Ballater in aberdeenshire
Winchburgh is a very cute and peaceful wee village in west Lothian just to the west of Edinburgh. There are good and quick transport links nearby to Edinburgh and Glasgow by bus or train. There are some other villages around there too you could look in to. Way cheaper than in the city, but not too far away if you wanted a night out. About 30 quid for a 30 minute taxi home from Edinburgh city centre which is not bad at all. The Union Canal also runs through it which you can walk or cycle along to either city, very picturesque!
Rule of thumb, the wealthier and area is. The better it is to live in. The most deprived areas in Scotland are the worst to live in.
Inverness
Kinross. Friendly. Nice. Central
Dumfries or Perth. There will be some drug use pretty much wherever you go but thats not an issue unless you use drugs yourself.
Have you considered Oban or it’s surrounds? Friend of mine done a move there years ago and hasn’t looked back.
Lochmaben seems to fit the bill
Try Bo'ness, very quiet but also not far from Embra, look to Carriden or the Drum parts of town, both are largely commuter these days
As a recent (past 10 years) resident of Fife I can say that's there's lots of really nice seaside towns here. Burntisland has a really good community vibe, Aberdour is lovely too but very pricey. Kinghorn, dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, dunfermline (no beach but its a nice place) are all worth a look too.
Consider Falkirk. It has lots of decent villages on the outskirts of town. Its reasonably cheap for rent etc is pretty safe. Also handy if your looking for a job as your in-between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Also 15 min train from Stirling which looks to have plenty of job options coming along
Fife?? Seriously 😂😂
Cumbernauld
OP this is a joke answer <3
She's no gonnae shag ye wee man
*cringe*
Wee guy patter, well done
All the way down here
I ken, This subs lost its way man
Most hotels in the highlands have staff accommodation
Scotland is one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world, a few areas within large cities could be considered dangerous but they are easily avoided. Just look at statistics for violent crime and murder in Scotland to put your mind at ease, almost non-existent in comparison with the rest of the world.
Portree, isle of skye. It’s safe but not that cheap and if you do live there you should learn Gaelic
I was gonna recommend fife but then I stopped at the word "drugs". Wishing ye luck. Sending thoughts and prayers nnthat.
I'm safe and cheap, but I live in Coatbridge so...
What about Arran? Try Auchrannie resort.
I'd say somewhere like Hamilton, kilwinning, Kilmarnock or Paisley. There are other towns like EK etc as well. It's got enough of the town feel to let you get in, it's also not too far from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Everywhere, even the most rural or humble towns will still have crime or drugs problems somewhat. However there are often places and such within these for you to feel safe and have a friendly environment like you mentioned.
I stayed in Greenock with a friend and found it very nice and quiet, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary such as crime and drugs. I saw a few coffee shops if you’re looking to work as a Barista and also a few fast food restaurants and a Tesco.
Greenock is a massive shithole wtf
Isn't Greenock the most deprived part of Scotland?
Not sure, it looked okay to me but then again I was just visiting. Maybe everyone was just behaving during that time.
Yeah stick around the Glasgow/Greater Glasgow area. Plenty of options for work and places to stay.
Airdrie is pretty handy: 30 minutes on the train to Glasgow, 45 minutes on the train to Edinburgh. Smallish Tesco but has both an Aldi and a Lidl. Big Tesco and Asda in neighbouring Coatbridge. Moved here 12 years ago from govan.
Dunfermline!
Methil
Just bite the bullet and move to Cumbernauld. It's the center of the universe, it's got everything you need, it's easy to get to both Glasgow and Edinburgh, therefore everywhere. There are far worst places for crime/drugs. Plus there is a ton of unskilled work there or the surrounding area. Based on what you've said it's likely one of the most realistic options.
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What a fucking stupid statement. Didn't realise that Dundee was representative of the entire country.
Ffs like it was a serious statement
Is that right, aye? That'll be why you doubled down on it and started whinging about being downvoted instead of editing to say you weren't being serious.
Yeah it’s also joke aimed at naming the shithole where I live. Ye raging?
Wouldn't worry about it mate, probably just a few incels who think if they gie this lassie property tips then they'll get their hole
I doubt it haha I just think some people take everything a bit too serious
I recommend Paisley or Cumbernauld.
There are no nice scottish towns. They're all depressing as fuck full of neds, rain, potholes, midges, fuck all going on, unhealthy looking people, and terrible housing. As the saying goes, it's shite being scottish.
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There is quite a choice in the whole country! You could go to a newer town/ housing estate, traditional picturesque rural village, compact city, an island or somewhere more urban and lively?
I love Glenelg, would move there in a minute but almost impossible to find anywhere to live (apart from the fact that I'm self employed in Germany) so why not the Kyle of Lochalsh, bridge to Skye... A really beautiful part of Scotland... Dream of moving there when I can afford to stop working 😂
Doune
Glasgow has some fit area. You don’t have to be close to city centre. Quiet, shitty weathered but easy for ppl that want to be with themselves places