Ayrshire Area Recommendations?
Discussion
Howdy
Has anyone got any recommendations for places to live in Ayrshire or nearby? Or indeed, places to avoid?
For a few reasons, my wife and I have decided to leave jolly (?) old England and move to Ayrshire. Selling our house in North Bucks and buying cheaper (up to about £230k'ish) and banking the balance (I've not been able to work for health reasons for a while, so this is to store enough money to act as a buffer while I get healthy again).
We're both in our 50s now and more into a slower pace of life so we're more after a quiet life, although reasonable access (with an hour's drive) to live theatre, the odd gig, etc is still important. Plus reasonable access to a main town or 2 as my wife will be looking for work (and me, later, hopefully). Love the coast along that side and we're thinking as far north as Troon, and as far south as perhaps Turnberry and heading inland about 20-30 mins should give us a few decent places to look at.
We've had a long weekend up a week or so back in Ayr and Troon looked suitable, some bits of Ayr, incl Alloway. Straiton inland was nice, although nearby Dalmellington really wasn't - we're really just after a heads up for good and not so good, from anyone up there who knows the area, please?
There is the possibility that we might let out a room via Air B&B or something (if we can find something suitable) to bring a bit of money in too, so picturesque inland areas and coastal spots welcome too. We did go up as far as Largs which looks great but is probably slightly out of our price range.
Any suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.
Has anyone got any recommendations for places to live in Ayrshire or nearby? Or indeed, places to avoid?
For a few reasons, my wife and I have decided to leave jolly (?) old England and move to Ayrshire. Selling our house in North Bucks and buying cheaper (up to about £230k'ish) and banking the balance (I've not been able to work for health reasons for a while, so this is to store enough money to act as a buffer while I get healthy again).
We're both in our 50s now and more into a slower pace of life so we're more after a quiet life, although reasonable access (with an hour's drive) to live theatre, the odd gig, etc is still important. Plus reasonable access to a main town or 2 as my wife will be looking for work (and me, later, hopefully). Love the coast along that side and we're thinking as far north as Troon, and as far south as perhaps Turnberry and heading inland about 20-30 mins should give us a few decent places to look at.
We've had a long weekend up a week or so back in Ayr and Troon looked suitable, some bits of Ayr, incl Alloway. Straiton inland was nice, although nearby Dalmellington really wasn't - we're really just after a heads up for good and not so good, from anyone up there who knows the area, please?
There is the possibility that we might let out a room via Air B&B or something (if we can find something suitable) to bring a bit of money in too, so picturesque inland areas and coastal spots welcome too. We did go up as far as Largs which looks great but is probably slightly out of our price range.
Any suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.
Hi Ayrshire born and bred here,
generally speaking the main problem with Ayrshire is lack of jobs. North Ayrshire is starting to appear at the top of numerous blacklists for employment, poverty, etc. East Ayrshire is not far behind. Many villages are becoming ghost towns with no jobs or inward investment. No local shops except for pound stores and takeaways.
You mention Dalmellington, that would be a typical Ayrshire village now. No banks, few shops, the whole high street available To Let. Many more villages similar to this.
South Ayrshire is viewed more as the premium location. Troon, Prestwick, Ayr. I have friends and family in all 3 and they have very little negative to say.
Are you into golf ? Loads of courses all along the coast. If you are thinking about a B&B perhaps angle to tap into the golfing tourists?
As I say that's a general view. There will be crap places to live in Ayr and there will be lovely places to stay in Kilbirnie.
If you want more of a social life then I would pick Prestwick. If you want things a bit slower then I'd go for Ayr south, although some parts of Alloway and Doonfoot will be £££'s.
generally speaking the main problem with Ayrshire is lack of jobs. North Ayrshire is starting to appear at the top of numerous blacklists for employment, poverty, etc. East Ayrshire is not far behind. Many villages are becoming ghost towns with no jobs or inward investment. No local shops except for pound stores and takeaways.
You mention Dalmellington, that would be a typical Ayrshire village now. No banks, few shops, the whole high street available To Let. Many more villages similar to this.
South Ayrshire is viewed more as the premium location. Troon, Prestwick, Ayr. I have friends and family in all 3 and they have very little negative to say.
Are you into golf ? Loads of courses all along the coast. If you are thinking about a B&B perhaps angle to tap into the golfing tourists?
As I say that's a general view. There will be crap places to live in Ayr and there will be lovely places to stay in Kilbirnie.
If you want more of a social life then I would pick Prestwick. If you want things a bit slower then I'd go for Ayr south, although some parts of Alloway and Doonfoot will be £££'s.
Thanks for the tips, both. Interesting to hear about the job situation, I'll do some digging about. We did view a house in Dalmellington - great house but the town really did look a bit desperate. Noticed a few other places looking in a similar desperate state too. We did notice the number of golf courses - never played personally but tapping into the B&B thing if that's what we end up going for, is a good idea, thanks.
We were wondering why the "lovely 3 bed cottage" in Straiton we viewed had been on sale a year - tonight I found out the village (and others) gets hit by flooding from the Water of Girvan during bad storms. Can't find out where exactly but I can imagine that putting plenty off. And making insurance harder for everyone.
I'll check out the other bits suggested, thanks. Seem to spend my life in RightMove at the moment...
We were wondering why the "lovely 3 bed cottage" in Straiton we viewed had been on sale a year - tonight I found out the village (and others) gets hit by flooding from the Water of Girvan during bad storms. Can't find out where exactly but I can imagine that putting plenty off. And making insurance harder for everyone.
I'll check out the other bits suggested, thanks. Seem to spend my life in RightMove at the moment...
I was brought up in Largs.
Avoid: (these may have nice bits but you couldn't pay me to live there)
The 3 towns: Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston (or Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia as someone on the train once called them)
Irvine
Kilmarnock
Kilwinning
Kilbirnie
Anywhere in the triangle between the A76 and A77 e.g. Patna, Drongan etc etc. In other words all of East Ayrshire - all ex-mining towns and in decline. Closer to Ayr is going to be better e.g. Coylton.
Look at:
West Kilbride (has dodgy bits)
Largs (has dodgy bits)
Fairlie
Prestwick
Troon
Ayr (has dodgy bits)
Girvan
Avoid: (these may have nice bits but you couldn't pay me to live there)
The 3 towns: Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston (or Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia as someone on the train once called them)
Irvine
Kilmarnock
Kilwinning
Kilbirnie
Anywhere in the triangle between the A76 and A77 e.g. Patna, Drongan etc etc. In other words all of East Ayrshire - all ex-mining towns and in decline. Closer to Ayr is going to be better e.g. Coylton.
Look at:
West Kilbride (has dodgy bits)
Largs (has dodgy bits)
Fairlie
Prestwick
Troon
Ayr (has dodgy bits)
Girvan
Jader1973 said:
I was brought up in Largs.
Avoid: (these may have nice bits but you couldn't pay me to live there)
The 3 towns: Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston (or Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia as someone on the train once called them)
Irvine
Kilmarnock
Kilwinning
Kilbirnie
Anywhere in the triangle between the A76 and A77 e.g. Patna, Drongan etc etc. In other words all of East Ayrshire - all ex-mining towns and in decline. Closer to Ayr is going to be better e.g. Coylton.
Look at:
West Kilbride (has dodgy bits)
Largs (has dodgy bits)
Fairlie
Prestwick
Troon
Ayr (has dodgy bits)
Girvan
Thanks for all those. Must admit I did mentally scrub out Irvine as a bit dodgy from pics I saw. Didn't know about Kilmarnock though. Will grab my AA map now and put a ring around all those. We did drive through Girvan and it seemed quite run down - but someone did mention they were regenerating. Nice coastline down there anyway, so will bear it in mind too. Cheers.Avoid: (these may have nice bits but you couldn't pay me to live there)
The 3 towns: Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston (or Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia as someone on the train once called them)
Irvine
Kilmarnock
Kilwinning
Kilbirnie
Anywhere in the triangle between the A76 and A77 e.g. Patna, Drongan etc etc. In other words all of East Ayrshire - all ex-mining towns and in decline. Closer to Ayr is going to be better e.g. Coylton.
Look at:
West Kilbride (has dodgy bits)
Largs (has dodgy bits)
Fairlie
Prestwick
Troon
Ayr (has dodgy bits)
Girvan
Jader1973 said:
Look at:
...
Girvan
Always love reading the label of a bottle of Hendrick's gin which tells you about the beautiful seaside town of Girvan in which it is made......
Girvan
Also Sally traffic on Radio 2 who always pronounces it "Girvanne", rather than the more authentic "Gurrvin" makes me chuckle!
Jambo85 said:
Always love reading the label of a bottle of Hendrick's gin which tells you about the beautiful seaside town of Girvan in which it is made...
Also Sally traffic on Radio 2 who always pronounces it "Girvanne", rather than the more authentic "Gurrvin" makes me chuckle!
Storing that - already got caught out on pronouncing "Culzean Castle" when we were up there. Also Sally traffic on Radio 2 who always pronounces it "Girvanne", rather than the more authentic "Gurrvin" makes me chuckle!
Not mentioned so far
Symington - popular with professionals as accessible for whole of Ayrshire and a short drive c1/2h to Glasgow. Still a good social mix.
Maybole - yes a but run down but some really nice houses and close to Culzean, Ayr for beach, gigs, theatre etc, some great driving roads.
😉
Symington - popular with professionals as accessible for whole of Ayrshire and a short drive c1/2h to Glasgow. Still a good social mix.
Maybole - yes a but run down but some really nice houses and close to Culzean, Ayr for beach, gigs, theatre etc, some great driving roads.
😉
I relocated from London (Watford) to Ayrshire 3 years ago now.
Live in a place called Seamill (part of WestKilbride) smack bang on the coast. House, back garden, beach, sea. Sold as soon as I saw it. Its about 5 miles from Ardrossan (ferry to Arran) which handily has an Adsa, and strangely, a Jewsons??
Irvine is only 15 minutes away. Not my favourite place, but has everything you could need.
Personally I prefer Prestwick to Troon. Couple of new friends that live there and good for a meal/night out.
I'm self-employed now and most of my work is Glasgow way. It's a fairly easy 45/50minute drive. I just poodle along at 60 tbh. Duel carriageway 90% of the way. Even quicker from Prestwick.
Not a huge car scene in Scotland tbh but go out for a random drive and youll find some unforgettable B-roads with literally no traffic on them.
Surprising how many ex-Londoners Ive found up here.
Live in a place called Seamill (part of WestKilbride) smack bang on the coast. House, back garden, beach, sea. Sold as soon as I saw it. Its about 5 miles from Ardrossan (ferry to Arran) which handily has an Adsa, and strangely, a Jewsons??
Irvine is only 15 minutes away. Not my favourite place, but has everything you could need.
Personally I prefer Prestwick to Troon. Couple of new friends that live there and good for a meal/night out.
I'm self-employed now and most of my work is Glasgow way. It's a fairly easy 45/50minute drive. I just poodle along at 60 tbh. Duel carriageway 90% of the way. Even quicker from Prestwick.
Not a huge car scene in Scotland tbh but go out for a random drive and youll find some unforgettable B-roads with literally no traffic on them.
Surprising how many ex-Londoners Ive found up here.
Edited by clarki on Monday 2nd July 21:54
Thanks for the input fellas, appreciated.
I'll take a look at property in Symington and Maybole (we drove through Maybole and did seem a bit run down, the bit we went through).
We both loved the roads up there - we were in my wife's Suzuki Alto (!) this time as I can't drive too far right now but we drove down to Wigtown and back round past Stranraer and up the coast road back to Ayr and I would have loved to have the MX5 with me (although at least this time I could gawp at the scenery).
We did go up to Glasgow - well, we turned off for Clydebank just before Ibrox I think - on the Sunday morning and couldn't believe how easy a drive it was. The roads up there really are a breeze to drive on. Again, cheers for all the input.
I'll take a look at property in Symington and Maybole (we drove through Maybole and did seem a bit run down, the bit we went through).
We both loved the roads up there - we were in my wife's Suzuki Alto (!) this time as I can't drive too far right now but we drove down to Wigtown and back round past Stranraer and up the coast road back to Ayr and I would have loved to have the MX5 with me (although at least this time I could gawp at the scenery).
We did go up to Glasgow - well, we turned off for Clydebank just before Ibrox I think - on the Sunday morning and couldn't believe how easy a drive it was. The roads up there really are a breeze to drive on. Again, cheers for all the input.
Maybole is getting a bypass soon.. the high st will receive some investment once complete and the place should scrub up well.
A suggestion I haven’t seen is Dalrymple. It’s in the East Ayrshire catchment area but is about a 10-15 minute drive from Ayr. I was brought up there so may be some rose tinted specs, but I believe it’s a pretty decent little village. There are lots of newer build houses in the last 10-15 years if that’s your cuppa, and they’ll be a lot cheaper than Alloway which isn’t that far away.
A suggestion I haven’t seen is Dalrymple. It’s in the East Ayrshire catchment area but is about a 10-15 minute drive from Ayr. I was brought up there so may be some rose tinted specs, but I believe it’s a pretty decent little village. There are lots of newer build houses in the last 10-15 years if that’s your cuppa, and they’ll be a lot cheaper than Alloway which isn’t that far away.
BMR said:
Maybole is getting a bypass soon.. the high st will receive some investment once complete and the place should scrub up well.
A suggestion I haven’t seen is Dalrymple. It’s in the East Ayrshire catchment area but is about a 10-15 minute drive from Ayr. I was brought up there so may be some rose tinted specs, but I believe it’s a pretty decent little village. There are lots of newer build houses in the last 10-15 years if that’s your cuppa, and they’ll be a lot cheaper than Alloway which isn’t that far away.
That was in the general area we were looking at. More keen on older property but being within easy distance of Ayr is a plus. Thanks.A suggestion I haven’t seen is Dalrymple. It’s in the East Ayrshire catchment area but is about a 10-15 minute drive from Ayr. I was brought up there so may be some rose tinted specs, but I believe it’s a pretty decent little village. There are lots of newer build houses in the last 10-15 years if that’s your cuppa, and they’ll be a lot cheaper than Alloway which isn’t that far away.
clarki said:
I relocated from London (Watford) to Ayrshire 3 years ago now.
Live in a place called Seamill (part of WestKilbride) smack bang on the coast. House, back garden, beach, sea. Sold as soon as I saw it. Its about 5 miles from Ardrossan (ferry to Arran) which handily has an Adsa, and strangely, a Jewsons??
Irvine is only 15 minutes away. Not my favourite place, but has everything you could need.
Personally I prefer Prestwick to Troon. Couple of new friends that live there and good for a meal/night out.
I'm self-employed now and most of my work is Glasgow way. It's a fairly easy 45/50minute drive. I just poodle along at 60 tbh. Duel carriageway 90% of the way. Even quicker from Prestwick.
Not a huge car scene in Scotland tbh but go out for a random drive and youll find some unforgettable B-roads with literally no traffic on them.
Surprising how many ex-Londoners Ive found up here.
Eh? What is your definition of a “car scene”?Live in a place called Seamill (part of WestKilbride) smack bang on the coast. House, back garden, beach, sea. Sold as soon as I saw it. Its about 5 miles from Ardrossan (ferry to Arran) which handily has an Adsa, and strangely, a Jewsons??
Irvine is only 15 minutes away. Not my favourite place, but has everything you could need.
Personally I prefer Prestwick to Troon. Couple of new friends that live there and good for a meal/night out.
I'm self-employed now and most of my work is Glasgow way. It's a fairly easy 45/50minute drive. I just poodle along at 60 tbh. Duel carriageway 90% of the way. Even quicker from Prestwick.
Not a huge car scene in Scotland tbh but go out for a random drive and youll find some unforgettable B-roads with literally no traffic on them.
Surprising how many ex-Londoners Ive found up here.
it really depends what you are looking for. All places of their postive and negatives.
I dont know all places in ayrshire however from what I do know and lived in, I would happily stay in kilmarnock, stewarton and troon.
Biggest advantage of kilmarnock is its a central link from everywhere else, its the main link into glasgow.
There is millions being spent in kilmarnock, new 60m collage just built, a whole new IT enterprise being set up part of the halo project which will bring in hundreds of jobs, if not thousands. There seems to be quite large push in new housing developments from the usual bellaway, taylor wimpy etc etc
Glasgow silverburn (shopping centre) is 12-15 minutes away,
Newton Mearns (one of the most affulent areas this side of the country) is literally 10 minutes away
Glasgow city centre (good acess to everything including jobs) is 15-20 minutes away
Usual you will get good parts and bad parts of all areas.
I dont know all places in ayrshire however from what I do know and lived in, I would happily stay in kilmarnock, stewarton and troon.
Biggest advantage of kilmarnock is its a central link from everywhere else, its the main link into glasgow.
There is millions being spent in kilmarnock, new 60m collage just built, a whole new IT enterprise being set up part of the halo project which will bring in hundreds of jobs, if not thousands. There seems to be quite large push in new housing developments from the usual bellaway, taylor wimpy etc etc
Glasgow silverburn (shopping centre) is 12-15 minutes away,
Newton Mearns (one of the most affulent areas this side of the country) is literally 10 minutes away
Glasgow city centre (good acess to everything including jobs) is 15-20 minutes away
Usual you will get good parts and bad parts of all areas.
Edited by XMT on Thursday 5th July 15:02
Thanks for the tips, fellas. Hoping to avoid anywhere where big developments are going up (we have that where we are now and it's ruining the place with no infrastructure to support it). And not be too close to Glasgow, to avoid that suburbs thing. The job stuff is useful too, thanks.
I've lived in Ayrshire all my life and in particular Symington (East Ayrshire), Loans \ Troon \ Prestwick \ Coylton and now Ayr.
Your £230K budget wont stretch far in the more affluent areas like Alloway and Doonfoot in Ayr, although will get you something nice and fairly large in the likes of the castlehill area, something like this is over budget but similar properties in the same estate have been cheaper.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
Troon and on its outskirts Barassie and Loans are decent places to stay with little in the way of bad areas, Prestwick is also good with a decent main street with good restaurants, bars, niche shops etc. House buying in Prestwick is highly competitive though and good houses get snapped up in hours. My brother recently sold his house in Prestwick in less than a day!
Symington is a nice little village between Ayr and Kilmarnock with a good school but not much in the way of amenities as is another called Monkton. I grew up in Symington and still have some relations in the village.
Personally I would avoid the old mining towns like Drongan, Patna, Dalmellington, Tarbolton and Mossblown. I know people who live there that are very happy but there is also a rough element.
Your £230K budget wont stretch far in the more affluent areas like Alloway and Doonfoot in Ayr, although will get you something nice and fairly large in the likes of the castlehill area, something like this is over budget but similar properties in the same estate have been cheaper.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
Troon and on its outskirts Barassie and Loans are decent places to stay with little in the way of bad areas, Prestwick is also good with a decent main street with good restaurants, bars, niche shops etc. House buying in Prestwick is highly competitive though and good houses get snapped up in hours. My brother recently sold his house in Prestwick in less than a day!
Symington is a nice little village between Ayr and Kilmarnock with a good school but not much in the way of amenities as is another called Monkton. I grew up in Symington and still have some relations in the village.
Personally I would avoid the old mining towns like Drongan, Patna, Dalmellington, Tarbolton and Mossblown. I know people who live there that are very happy but there is also a rough element.
RTaylor2208 said:
I've lived in Ayrshire all my life and in particular Symington (East Ayrshire), Loans \ Troon \ Prestwick \ Coylton and now Ayr.
Your £230K budget wont stretch far in the more affluent areas like Alloway and Doonfoot in Ayr, although will get you something nice and fairly large in the likes of the castlehill area, something like this is over budget but similar properties in the same estate have been cheaper.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
Troon and on its outskirts Barassie and Loans are decent places to stay with little in the way of bad areas, Prestwick is also good with a decent main street with good restaurants, bars, niche shops etc. House buying in Prestwick is highly competitive though and good houses get snapped up in hours. My brother recently sold his house in Prestwick in less than a day!
Symington is a nice little village between Ayr and Kilmarnock with a good school but not much in the way of amenities as is another called Monkton. I grew up in Symington and still have some relations in the village.
Personally I would avoid the old mining towns like Drongan, Patna, Dalmellington, Tarbolton and Mossblown. I know people who live there that are very happy but there is also a rough element.
Interesting, cheers. We could spend more but the budget is set for us to bank as much as poss for the future - and to be honest, there's only the 2 of us downsizing so 4/5 bed estate homes are off the menu - my wife is after more "cosy" and less "oh God, we'll never keep this clean" Your £230K budget wont stretch far in the more affluent areas like Alloway and Doonfoot in Ayr, although will get you something nice and fairly large in the likes of the castlehill area, something like this is over budget but similar properties in the same estate have been cheaper.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
Troon and on its outskirts Barassie and Loans are decent places to stay with little in the way of bad areas, Prestwick is also good with a decent main street with good restaurants, bars, niche shops etc. House buying in Prestwick is highly competitive though and good houses get snapped up in hours. My brother recently sold his house in Prestwick in less than a day!
Symington is a nice little village between Ayr and Kilmarnock with a good school but not much in the way of amenities as is another called Monkton. I grew up in Symington and still have some relations in the village.
Personally I would avoid the old mining towns like Drongan, Patna, Dalmellington, Tarbolton and Mossblown. I know people who live there that are very happy but there is also a rough element.
. We've been able to find a few things but Troon has little in our range at the moment. Will have a look at Symington and Monkton, ta. We're next up that way next weekend for a few nights so have been shortlisting a few places to view - so far, 2 in or near Alloway and others in Straiton, Maidens, Kirkoswald, Kirkmichael and Crosshill.Gassing Station | Scotland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff