Ayrshire Area Recommendations?
Discussion
Drive Blind said:
Have you considered renting for a while to get a feel for the area, then buying ?
We have...and to be honest, if our house sells quickly we may also consider that to facilitate the sale with less stress. But renting isn't as cheap as I thought it might be, and given I can't work at the mo' and I'm living on my redundancy payout, rent is dead money really. There is something to be said for renting through the winter (which I guess would be Ayrshire at it's worst) and getting used to it and deciding where we want to be. That said, even the estate agent selling our house here (with no vested interest) said he knows so many who have made the move north of the border and not regretted it for a second.
Just been for our 2nd visit. We've upped our budget a little and got a better idea of where to focus on. Out of central Ayr for definite but within half an hour of it (unless something unmissable crops up in Largs/West Kilbride area). Wifey really didn't like Prestwick. My impression was that driving around there and that side of Ayr generally, is far busier than elsewhere.
Overall I'm gravitating towards "south of Ayr, north of Girvan" personally but will see. Looks like I might be shuttling up to Prestwick airport on me tod if something pops up in the next week or 2, as wifey won't have a long weekend free for a while.
Thanks again for all the suggestions, they've been most helpful. Incidentally, someone did PM me and offer to help but I suspect my reply went in his/her spam bin as I never heard back (just in case you see this).
Overall I'm gravitating towards "south of Ayr, north of Girvan" personally but will see. Looks like I might be shuttling up to Prestwick airport on me tod if something pops up in the next week or 2, as wifey won't have a long weekend free for a while.
Thanks again for all the suggestions, they've been most helpful. Incidentally, someone did PM me and offer to help but I suspect my reply went in his/her spam bin as I never heard back (just in case you see this).
Edited by Flip Martian on Saturday 28th July 22:36
Do you like the idea of walking into the centre of the village or town that you live in? You know, just going for a wander / coffee etc?
If so, I'd bin Ayr. It's depressing AF.
Largs or Prestwick would be my recommendations.
...as well as Fairlie & Seamill.
If so, I'd bin Ayr. It's depressing AF.
Largs or Prestwick would be my recommendations.
...as well as Fairlie & Seamill.
Edited by TheJimi on Sunday 29th July 19:02
TheJimi said:
Do you like the idea of walking into the centre of the village or town that you live in? You know, just going for a wander / coffee etc?
If so, I'd bin Ayr. It's depressing AF.
Largs or Prestwick would be my recommendations.
...as well as Fairlie & Seamill.
Yeah that would be part of the appeal. To be honest, we found Prestwick dingier than Ayr - but Ayr is obviously bigger and more busy. We're slimming down the parts of Ayr we'd look at, having sampled a few.If so, I'd bin Ayr. It's depressing AF.
Largs or Prestwick would be my recommendations.
...as well as Fairlie & Seamill.
Edited by TheJimi on Sunday 29th July 19:02
We are casting our net a bit wider into North Ayrshire as there just isn't much new coming up in South Ayrshire at the moment, so nearer Largs and around there is back on the radar.
Jonny_gti said:
That's nice areas your looking at mate cant go wrong, once your in feel free to drop me a message me and a few fellow petrolheads meet up once/twice a month around aryshire for breakfast and car chat then go a drive round some decent roads. Feel free to come along.
Cheers, appreciated!Jonny_gti said:
That's nice areas your looking at mate cant go wrong, once your in feel free to drop me a message me and a few fellow petrolheads meet up once/twice a month around aryshire for breakfast and car chat then go a drive round some decent roads. Feel free to come along.
pst pst! Whats this meet you speak of lolI tried to message you but didnt work.
Just back from our 3rd trip up to Ayrshire this time - we saw 9 houses in 4 days, from Fairlie down to Kirkmichael - some twice. Found ourselves a solicitor, and - HOPEfully - a house. A 60 yr old 4 bed detached place in Straiton, near Maybole with fields all round. We have kept going back to Straiton as it just feels "right" - very friendly old fashioned community feel, near the Galloway forest - loads of great rural walks nearby. And the prospect of letting out a room via AirBnB next year to walkers, bikers and cyclists (who all seem to visit the village) will be handy extra income.
Found ourselves a solicitor and they seem pretty on the ball, so hopefully we can pull this one off - although we have heard plenty of stories about the bonkers Scottish property system...
We also saw a beautiful Victorian place in the citadel part of Ayr which belonged to Ally Macleod (those of you who know your Scottish footy will remember him) - his widow is selling up. To be honest, that was a very close 2nd, just thanks to being so close to the beach, although it does need a fair bit of modernising.
My Tomtom driving in England seems to get updated whenever a road out of our village gets dug up...this doesn't seem to work at all in Ayrshire, where the damn thing took us down several roads closed for long term works and wouldn't take us any other way. And diversion signs are less than crystal clear too when you don't know where you're going.
Thankfully, google maps on my phone helped, after a fashion but we endured a 9 hour trip back today. Thank God the M6 was relatively trouble free or we'd still be driving now
But we're still in love with the place, which is a good sign!
Once again, thanks to everyone who's input - it's all been really useful.
Found ourselves a solicitor and they seem pretty on the ball, so hopefully we can pull this one off - although we have heard plenty of stories about the bonkers Scottish property system...
We also saw a beautiful Victorian place in the citadel part of Ayr which belonged to Ally Macleod (those of you who know your Scottish footy will remember him) - his widow is selling up. To be honest, that was a very close 2nd, just thanks to being so close to the beach, although it does need a fair bit of modernising.
My Tomtom driving in England seems to get updated whenever a road out of our village gets dug up...this doesn't seem to work at all in Ayrshire, where the damn thing took us down several roads closed for long term works and wouldn't take us any other way. And diversion signs are less than crystal clear too when you don't know where you're going.
Thankfully, google maps on my phone helped, after a fashion but we endured a 9 hour trip back today. Thank God the M6 was relatively trouble free or we'd still be driving now
But we're still in love with the place, which is a good sign!
Once again, thanks to everyone who's input - it's all been really useful.
About 10-12 years ago a group of us on a car run went into a bar in Straiton for a refreshment, and it immediately went deathly quiet as soon as we walked in - proper wild west style.
As we were of course all driving we ordered a round of cokes, which I expect didn't help.
After about 10 minutes of silence in the rest of the bar we upped and left we felt that uncomfortable - our party included a couple of 6 footers, and a martial arts instructor from Glasgow who was the first to suggest we leave as his "spidey sense" was tingling.
It was a reasonably regular route we used to take on a 180 mile Sunday hoon, but we never stopped there again.
I'm sure it is much nicer now though
As we were of course all driving we ordered a round of cokes, which I expect didn't help.
After about 10 minutes of silence in the rest of the bar we upped and left we felt that uncomfortable - our party included a couple of 6 footers, and a martial arts instructor from Glasgow who was the first to suggest we leave as his "spidey sense" was tingling.
It was a reasonably regular route we used to take on a 180 mile Sunday hoon, but we never stopped there again.
I'm sure it is much nicer now though
s2kjock said:
About 10-12 years ago a group of us on a car run went into a bar in Straiton for a refreshment, and it immediately went deathly quiet as soon as we walked in - proper wild west style.
As we were of course all driving we ordered a round of cokes, which I expect didn't help.
After about 10 minutes of silence in the rest of the bar we upped and left we felt that uncomfortable - our party included a couple of 6 footers, and a martial arts instructor from Glasgow who was the first to suggest we leave as his "spidey sense" was tingling.
It was a reasonably regular route we used to take on a 180 mile Sunday hoon, but we never stopped there again.
I'm sure it is much nicer now though
As we were of course all driving we ordered a round of cokes, which I expect didn't help.
After about 10 minutes of silence in the rest of the bar we upped and left we felt that uncomfortable - our party included a couple of 6 footers, and a martial arts instructor from Glasgow who was the first to suggest we leave as his "spidey sense" was tingling.
It was a reasonably regular route we used to take on a 180 mile Sunday hoon, but we never stopped there again.
I'm sure it is much nicer now though
How strange. Yeah they regularly get cyclists and walkers there and apparently it’s now on a new bikers route. As English strangers there we were surprised how many people were happy to chat and tell us about the village.Mind you, we haven’t been in the pub yet...(its currently being sold).
Edited by Flip Martian on Wednesday 22 August 08:35
Flip Martian said:
Just back from our 3rd trip up to Ayrshire this time - we saw 9 houses in 4 days, from Fairlie down to Kirkmichael - some twice. Found ourselves a solicitor, and - HOPEfully - a house. A 60 yr old 4 bed detached place in Straiton, near Maybole with fields all round. We have kept going back to Straiton as it just feels "right" - very friendly old fashioned community feel, near the Galloway forest - loads of great rural walks nearby. And the prospect of letting out a room via AirBnB next year to walkers, bikers and cyclists (who all seem to visit the village) will be handy extra income.
If you like Straiton then try looking further South into Galloway itself. Unless you need a marina or the fancy golf courses or short drive to Glasgow, it is definitely worth a look. Much nicer countryside, fewer people and your money will go further. I'm biased of course having grown up there
Jambo85 said:
If you like Straiton then try looking further South into Galloway itself.
Unless you need a marina or the fancy golf courses or short drive to Glasgow, it is definitely worth a look. Much nicer countryside, fewer people and your money will go further. I'm biased of course having grown up there
Oh I was all for it there - but wifey wanted to be closer to Ayr. I'm looking forward to spending some hazy days down there, certainly. Unless you need a marina or the fancy golf courses or short drive to Glasgow, it is definitely worth a look. Much nicer countryside, fewer people and your money will go further. I'm biased of course having grown up there
Superb village and area, good choice. Make sure you check out The Buck, great coffee and cake.
I got married at Blairquhan Castle (about 2 mins from Straiton) last year, and come to Ayrshire 4/5 times a year from Glasgow to cycle (http://www.ayrshirealps.org/)
Good luck with the move.
I got married at Blairquhan Castle (about 2 mins from Straiton) last year, and come to Ayrshire 4/5 times a year from Glasgow to cycle (http://www.ayrshirealps.org/)
Good luck with the move.
xcseventy said:
Superb village and area, good choice. Make sure you check out The Buck, great coffee and cake.
I got married at Blairquhan Castle (about 2 mins from Straiton) last year, and come to Ayrshire 4/5 times a year from Glasgow to cycle (http://www.ayrshirealps.org/)
Good luck with the move.
Thanks - driven past that castle several times; shame it's not open to visitors. Chatting to the owners of The Buck actually on our last visit was what made us reconsider a house there. They're selling up sadly (if we were a bit younger we'd have put an offer on it ourselves) - as is the owner of the pub/hotel as it happens. They're hopeful someone will take on the cafe at least (certainly be a shame if it closed altogether).I got married at Blairquhan Castle (about 2 mins from Straiton) last year, and come to Ayrshire 4/5 times a year from Glasgow to cycle (http://www.ayrshirealps.org/)
Good luck with the move.
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