Abz Which Area

[hbzboy]

Guys/Gals.


Looks like I may well be moving to Abz in the near furture with work. Initially I will be renting until I can move the family up with me and sell the house at home. I will be working in Altens, so I am looking for places within a 30-40 min drive or closer to live. I want somewhere cheapish on the rent but safe enough for when the family visit or indeed somewhere to buy with relatively good schools, ammenities etc.

I would prefer to rent in the place I was going to live but not to fussed about that as I can change areas with each rent until they can move up. Would be ideally trying to get the kids 9 and 3 in to school and nursery after the summer hols.

I have thought about Ellon/Stonehaven/Laurencekirk but dont know too much about any Abz areas so any help would be greatly appreciated.

PS Also the best places to find homes for rent/sale in teh Aberdeen area would be great help.

Thanks in advance.
HB

[plover]

hbzboy said:

Looks like I may well be moving to Abz in the near furture with work.

Looking to do the same, although I'm returning after 20+ years away .

hbzboy said:

I will be working in Altens, so I am looking for places within a 30-40 min drive or closer to live.

You want to stay south of ABZ then; as the A90 into ABZ is suppose to be a nightmare in the morning (according to my brother); so I'd say Stonehaven/Newtonhill/Laurencekirk or Cove/Nigg if you want somewhere more local; there are also a lot of new houses going up in Portlethen; but not had good reports on them. Ellon is the wrong side of ABZ; you don't want to be crossing ABZ in the morning.

hbzboy said:

PS Also the best places to find homes for rent/sale in teh Aberdeen area would be great help.

For sale use ASPC; the vast majority of homes for sale in ABZ are on here. I also use Home as it has a few missing from ASPC and I find it's interface a little easier to use (although it's normally a couple of days behind ASPC)


ASPC can also be used for rental; but doesn't have full coverage. I'm also using these sites to get rental homes :-

http://www.acandco.com/aacsearch/
http://www.aberdeenlets.co.uk/
http://www.findaproperty.com/searchresults.aspx?ed...
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/

Hope this helps, I'll be moving to ABZ if I ever get my Glasgow flat sold.

I'm also looking for IT jobs in ABZ so any pointers would be nice

Edited by plover on Friday 26th March 20:49

[hbzboy]

Thanks for taking the time to write. Might be worthwhile haveing a look on www.Oilcareers.com as I think they have an IT section.

I am sure someone on here we be better placed than I am as I am Oil and Gas.

I wouldn't have a problem with the commute from the North as it can be flexitime and provided it is an area I would like for the kids/wife etc I would tolerate it.

[plover]

hbzboy said:

Thanks for taking the time to write. Might be worthwhile haveing a look on www.Oilcareers.com as I think they have an IT section.

Thanks got that one; just thought I'd ask as I was posting !!

hbzboy said:

I wouldn't have a problem with the commute from the North as it can be flexitime and provided it is an area I would like for the kids/wife etc I would tolerate it.

The locals to ABZ can comment better on the congestion; but since I left ABZ 20 years ago the roads haven't improved so I'd hate to commute across ABZ at anytime.

I also understand there are options for 4 day rentals in ABZ; which might be an option initially for you (and me) ; perhaps the locals can comment.

Richard

[ViperScot]

Both working at the airport?!

[hbzboy]

No Altens Ind Est. Oil and Gas company.

[thinfourth2]

Forget Portlethen it was a desolate soulless giant housing estate full of badly build modern houses

Then stewart milne came along and built even more horrible houses

Stonehaven has quite a bit going for it if you want a small town

I would forget going north of the city if you work in the south unless you really like sitting in traffic and potholes

Also there is alot of country areas if that is your thing

[hbzboy]

What country areas would you recommend. Would also like somewhere nearby for the boys activities and the like.

[Pooh]

I work in Altens and commute from the South(Blairgowrie in Perthshire), it is usually an easy run so I would agree with what others have said about looking to the south. I would be looking at Stonehaven, Laurencekirk and Fettercairn area if you want to be close to Aberdeen.
Crossing Aberdeen is a nightmare so I would avoid Northern areas, Western areas up Deeside are not bad for commuting but still worse than coming from the South and house prices tend to be higher.

[MidnightXR6]

i work in altens ind estate.

Laurencekirk or cove mate as ive stayed in both but preferred cove and im still there. Great little town.

[slipstream 1985]

culter banchory cults all ok to commute to altens.

you do not want to be comming from the north to get to altens for work

[Uncle Gueber]

As has been said if you're working in Atlens then North of the City is out unless you are happy with a 1hour plus commute, as crossing the city is a mare.
If you want to be reasonably near to the city then Kingswells or Westhill are possible in half an hour if avoiding Anderson Drive.
Anywhere along the North Deeside Road to Banchory would still be possible in around 30 mins. Lots of nice properties South of the Dee, just make sure they are not going to be blighted by the AWPR if they ever get round to building it.

[hbzboy]

Cheers Guys.

Pooh how long is the commute from Blairgowrie? N=Might be prepared to do it if not too long.

Going to have a lookt at West of the town and also Cove etc.

Anyone know about Inverbervie etc?

[Pooh]

hbzboy said:

Cheers Guys.

Pooh how long is the commute from Blairgowrie? N=Might be prepared to do it if not too long.

I live 5 miles East of Blairgowrie and it takes me about 1 hr to do the 62 miles to Altens for a 9am ish start.
I moved down here from Aberdeen 11 years ago. I like living here, the weather is far better than Abedeen, the houses are cheaper, the scenery is lovely and the central location gives reasonable travel times all over the country but the commute to Aberdeen is a bit of a pain so as in most things it is a compromise depending on what your priorities are.
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

[thinfourth2]

I am a few miles from inverbervie and it doesn't seem too bad

I am looking at 30 minutes to reach my work in portlethen but i have a long farm track to negotiate and i drive a slow landy

Though the chipshop has gone down hill terribly in recent years

[hbzboy]

MidnightXR6 said:

i work in altens ind estate.

Laurencekirk or cove mate as ive stayed in both but preferred cove and im still there. Great little town.

Why do you prefer cove and what is Laurencekirk like for a family? Also is teh trains station opening there?

[hbzboy]

thinfourth2 said:

I am a few miles from inverbervie and it doesn't seem too bad

I am looking at 30 minutes to reach my work in portlethen but i have a long farm track to negotiate and i drive a slow landy

Though the chipshop has gone down hill terribly in recent years

Inverbervie any good for kids etc?

[plover]

hbzboy said:

Why do you prefer cove and what is Laurencekirk like for a family? Also is teh trains station opening there?

Laurencekirk station is already open; my brother lives in Laurencekirk and he and his family love it; and when I'm visiting everyone is very friendly. Has primary/secondary school as well which helps.

Edited by plover on Saturday 27th March 19:22

[hbzboy]

Glad the station is open, means a day out in Abz with no need to drive.

Was a favoured area but I am looking at all the alternatives. Anyone know about what is in the town or what the schooling is like. As I would imagine apart from Abz there aren't may places to go on days out or Cinemas etc.

[plover]

hbzboy said:

Anyone know about what is in the town or what the schooling is like. As I would imagine apart from Abz there aren't may places to go on days out or Cinemas etc.

Not got first hand experience; but what's on Wikipedia matches from my vists/talks with my brother. link to Mearns Sports Center

Laurencekirk is fairly central so you have Stonehaven with it's beach and outdoor pool, Montrose for cinema, Brechin for the historic railway; Fettercairn/Edzell for the history; and Banchory/Ballater for the scenery.

Not sure on the schools as don't have kids; but isn't there central register of school results ?

ETA. Appears Montrose doesn't have a cinema, so it would be Dundee or Aberdeen for a cinema.

Edited by plover on Saturday 27th March 19:59