Ayrshire Area Recommendations?

[Flip Martian]

Uggers said:

Straiton is a good choice.

I live in Maybole and if I wanted a quiet village life, Kirkmichael or Straiton would be my choices. I'm a fellow Englander, there isn't many of us around here!

Cheers! Something about South Ayrshire that felt "right" ultimately. We've been a bit surprised to meet English people each time we go! We did check out Kirkmichael too but Straiton seemed more welcoming ultimately.

Just found out that South Ayrshire Council have included the field behind our proposed house as the 1 spot in Straiton suitable for houses in the "next 10 years" plan (12 of them). Given we're escaping 150 being build on the field behind our current house, I suppose this is improvement! But Straiton will still be a small village with all that entails and should stay fairly unspoiled in our lifetimes at least.

[Flip Martian]

After a rather protracted house sale, we've now been in Straiton for 1 whole week - moved in on St Andrew's Day, last Friday.

Love it. The pub isn't particularly friendly - and the owner has a reputation for it apparently. I heard a new owner will be in next April, so that's hopefully good. The cafe is being sold, sadly - but they're hopeful of selling to someone who wants to keep it as a cafe. It's currently open at weekends only during the winter.

Already had a beautiful sunny day with clear skies, several cloudy days and a couple of real downpours. We have nice neighbours and those we've met in the shop have been friendly too. Whenever we've been out and about, service has been friendly and helpful. The roads are far less congested than down south (unless driving around the "out of town shops" by Ayr) and we just did our weekly shop in Sainsbury's near Prestwick and it was virtually deserted - Friday night shopping in MK involved taking a cattle prod usually to move through the crowds.

There's a field at the back and side of the house where sheep and horses graze - often see them from our bedroom window in the morning.

And the best part - didn't have to sell the MX5 after all. My brother collected it from me before we moved and drove it up here today. Fun times ahead! Although maybe not for a while if we have too many wet days like today!

[DCerebrate]

Welcome to Ayrshire! Hope you meet some friendly souls in the village. Winter tyres help safety in an MX-5. But look out for that back road to Dalmellington - it is outside of the gritted universe! ☠️

[Flip Martian]

DCerebrate said:

Welcome to Ayrshire! Hope you meet some friendly souls in the village. Winter tyres help safety in an MX-5. But look out for that back road to Dalmellington - it is outside of the gritted universe! ??

Thanks! I'm surprised anything gets gritted here to be honest! Driving from Ayr back to here, once through Kirkmichael, it feels like we're so far from the modern world - those last 3-4 miles take an absolute age!

[Tant]

Hello all

Bit of a thread revival here, but I too will be another person from south of the border moving up to Ayrshire very soon.

We are moving to a place near Barr, right on the edge of the forest park. The place has a nice big barn to convert to store the car fleet in.

We expect to be there about start of October so it would be great to catch up with some of you then...by the looks of it someone of you are less than 10 miles away.

Cheers
Ant

[moles]

What’s the weather mostly like up there we were looking at the area as it’s so cheap I know the default position is cold and rain but anything anyone can say that is a bit more positive?.

[deadslow]

moles said:

What’s the weather mostly like up there we were looking at the area as it’s so cheap I know the default position is cold and rain but anything anyone can say that is a bit more positive?.

its not cold, but it does rain like a bd

[Flip Martian]

Happily settled in Straiton now. We utterly love being here. Best thing we've ever done.

Yes it rains a fair bit, no its not that cold. Gulf stream on this side of the country seems to take care of that. Doesn't bother us a bit - the countryside here is bloody gorgeous. Always happy to answer any questions anyone has about moving up here.

[Flip Martian]

We do also get sunshine of course - when it was humid and 30s down south it was a high of 27 and no humidity where we are. More sunshine and more predictable weather would be nice but no real complaints. Ayrshire (especially south) is stunning in any season.

[Flip Martian]

Tant said:

Hello all

Bit of a thread revival here, but I too will be another person from south of the border moving up to Ayrshire very soon.

We are moving to a place near Barr, right on the edge of the forest park. The place has a nice big barn to convert to store the car fleet in.

We expect to be there about start of October so it would be great to catch up with some of you then...by the looks of it someone of you are less than 10 miles away.

Cheers
Ant

Welcome to Ayrshire. we too are right on the edge of the forest park. Lovely part of the world.

[moles]

What about midges we were in glentrool in June and the midges were pretty bad then.

[Flip Martian]

moles said:

What about midges we were in glentrool in June and the midges were pretty bad then.

They are a sod, it's true. Smidge is good though - spray it on and they leave you alone. A cheaper alternative is Avon's "Skin So Soft" - our plasterer put us on to it. Works like a charm.

[Uggers]

Tant said:

Hello all

Bit of a thread revival here, but I too will be another person from south of the border moving up to Ayrshire very soon.

We are moving to a place near Barr, right on the edge of the forest park. The place has a nice big barn to convert to store the car fleet in.

We expect to be there about start of October so it would be great to catch up with some of you then...by the looks of it someone of you are less than 10 miles away.

Cheers
Ant

Welcome up to South Ayrshire!

I hope you find the place as good as I have. Barr is a bit more rural than where I am, but Girvan has most the shop's you need and Ayr is hardly a terrible drive to either.
I'm in Maybole and still love the feeling of space and how in 2 mins you can be in the middle of beautiful countryside and can drive for miles on great roads with hardly a single car on them. Also great for cycling if you into bikes.

Flip went for Straiton, which is a lovely village and one day hope to move either there or Kirkmichael once I have done up this big old place Im in now.
If only this place had come up when I was originally looking with my £200k budget
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...

Give us a shout when you move in, there are a fair few pistonheads around Ayrshire and we should maybe get a little get together on Ayr Sea front along with a bacon roll

[Flip Martian]

Uggers said:

Welcome up to South Ayrshire!

I hope you find the place as good as I have. Barr is a bit more rural than where I am, but Girvan has most the shop's you need and Ayr is hardly a terrible drive to either.
I'm in Maybole and still love the feeling of space and how in 2 mins you can be in the middle of beautiful countryside and can drive for miles on great roads with hardly a single car on them. Also great for cycling if you into bikes.

Flip went for Straiton, which is a lovely village and one day hope to move either there or Kirkmichael once I have done up this big old place Im in now.
If only this place had come up when I was originally looking with my £200k budget
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...

Give us a shout when you move in, there are a fair few pistonheads around Ayrshire and we should maybe get a little get together on Ayr Sea front along with a bacon roll

It's bonkers how relatively cheap property is - a 2 bed cottage here in Straiton was on for around £100k recently. We looked at Kirkmichael but most houses seem to be on the 2 main roads and we wanted quiet. Granted the roads aren't that busy but I guess when its so quiet you notice a lorry more!

[Drive Blind]

Tant said:

a place near Barr,

moles said:

midges

I spent most of my teenage years walking and camping all over scotland, so I'm no stranger to midges

However the wee bds we encountered one summer in Barr were by far the worse ever

Just typing this out, I've started scratching my head.

[IanA2]

Flip Martian said:

Uggers said:

Welcome up to South Ayrshire!

I hope you find the place as good as I have. Barr is a bit more rural than where I am, but Girvan has most the shop's you need and Ayr is hardly a terrible drive to either.
I'm in Maybole and still love the feeling of space and how in 2 mins you can be in the middle of beautiful countryside and can drive for miles on great roads with hardly a single car on them. Also great for cycling if you into bikes.

Flip went for Straiton, which is a lovely village and one day hope to move either there or Kirkmichael once I have done up this big old place Im in now.
If only this place had come up when I was originally looking with my £200k budget
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...

Give us a shout when you move in, there are a fair few pistonheads around Ayrshire and we should maybe get a little get together on Ayr Sea front along with a bacon roll

It's bonkers how relatively cheap property is - a 2 bed cottage here in Straiton was on for around £100k recently. We looked at Kirkmichael but most houses seem to be on the 2 main roads and we wanted quiet. Granted the roads aren't that busy but I guess when its so quiet you notice a lorry more!

Talking about traffic noise, is there much noise from Prestwick or is it off the flight paths....?

[Flip Martian]

IanA2 said:

Talking about traffic noise, is there much noise from Prestwick or is it off the flight paths....?

None down here to speak of and I'm here most of the time. Every now and again (not even weekly to be honest) you'll notice a plane but they're usually high and silent/very quiet.

[IanA2]

Flip Martian said:

IanA2 said:

Talking about traffic noise, is there much noise from Prestwick or is it off the flight paths....?

None down here to speak of and I'm here most of the time. Every now and again (not even weekly to be honest) you'll notice a plane but they're usually high and silent/very quiet.

Good to know, thanks.

[Flip Martian]

IanA2 said:

Good to know, thanks.

Pretty sure Prestwick is mostly international flights, so maybe they don't come south before heading over the coast. Paisley is internal flights and I imagine they're pretty high up by the time they head over our way (if at all).

[IanA2]

Flip Martian said:

IanA2 said:

Good to know, thanks.

Pretty sure Prestwick is mostly international flights, so maybe they don't come south before heading over the coast. Paisley is internal flights and I imagine they're pretty high up by the time they head over our way (if at all).

That makes sense...