Moving to Stirling soon
Discussion
Hello, I'm from the US, living in the state of Oklahoma. I am of Scottish heritage and will move to Stirling in the fall 2021. Can you give me advice about the area? What areas are rougher than others? I'm not a bar person, but will go to clubs to hang out and seek good restaurants. Thank you in advance for your help. I am single, older than 40, no kids to bring with me. I may end up buying, but will rent for 6 months to be sure it's the area I want to buy a house permanently.
Why Stirling?
I ask as an ex-pat Scot from Glasgow who has lived in the Chicagoland area for 27 years. The countryside around Stirling (or anywhere in the central belt is lovely, and easily accessible from any of the main population centers 'sic'). I don't have specific experience of Stirling but if you are looking for sophisticated night life then Glasgow or Edinburgh I suspect would be better.
Feel free to PM me for more info.
Cheers
Colin
I ask as an ex-pat Scot from Glasgow who has lived in the Chicagoland area for 27 years. The countryside around Stirling (or anywhere in the central belt is lovely, and easily accessible from any of the main population centers 'sic'). I don't have specific experience of Stirling but if you are looking for sophisticated night life then Glasgow or Edinburgh I suspect would be better.
Feel free to PM me for more info.
Cheers
Colin
My daughter moved there last week. She seems to really love it so far. She is renting a flat near the castle but her opinion is that there are very few places to really be avoided but I guess it's too early to tell. There are quite a lot of students there, which suits her as she's 22 but may not be so good if you're over 40. On the other hand Glasgow and Edinburgh are both easily accessible.
A possible plan B, would be to rent an airbnb in Edinburgh for a couple of months whilst you scout out local areas.
Generally you can rent holiday flats by the month in late Autumn at reasonable rates. Though I guess COVID may change the game one way or the other.
If you are looking long term, you might want to get some time in the city under your belt. Edinburgh is only 500k people so more like a town by USA standards. And is more likely to have clubs and restaurants.
Generally you can rent holiday flats by the month in late Autumn at reasonable rates. Though I guess COVID may change the game one way or the other.
If you are looking long term, you might want to get some time in the city under your belt. Edinburgh is only 500k people so more like a town by USA standards. And is more likely to have clubs and restaurants.
Welcome 
I live in Dunblane and it's a great part of the world, awesome community and great access to other places if you want to travel. Dunblane also has the second best state school in Scotland. Bridge of Allan is nice too. Property is relatively expensive for Scotland though and the prices are still rising fast.
There is a map here that shows you the deprived and least deprived areas of Scotland.
https://simd.scot/#/simd2020/BTTTFTT/9/-4.0000/55....
Edit - Sorry I see you don't need the schools info and Dunblane might not be the best match as it's very family orientated.
What do you like doing?
I live in Dunblane and it's a great part of the world, awesome community and great access to other places if you want to travel. Dunblane also has the second best state school in Scotland. Bridge of Allan is nice too. Property is relatively expensive for Scotland though and the prices are still rising fast. There is a map here that shows you the deprived and least deprived areas of Scotland.
https://simd.scot/#/simd2020/BTTTFTT/9/-4.0000/55....
Edit - Sorry I see you don't need the schools info and Dunblane might not be the best match as it's very family orientated.
What do you like doing?
Neil Oliver http://www.neiloliver.com/ was saying the other day about while he was living in Stirling, his home post code allowed residents free entry to Stirling Castle
bigwheel said:
Neil Oliver http://www.neiloliver.com/ was saying the other day about while he was living in Stirling, his home post code allowed residents free entry to Stirling Castle
Still does. My daughter went round for free last week. £14 for an adult otherwise 
Riverside's probably a good place to plot up while you get a feel for things, walkable to town center and staggerable back. The town center is typical UK small city high street deal, don't get too excited...the paucity of fine dining however is balanced by the plethora of charity shops, but as malls go the Thistle Centre is [pre-Covid] just about bearable for those grim occasions you have to actually foray to shop as Amazon don't stock it. Kings Park area is pricey but 'gentile' in an old family money sort of way, but again just a short stagger away from the pubs.
Town nightlife is the typical scene of rambunctious rascals, neds, ne'erdowells and the odd lost tourist. More elderly orientated nocturnal activity is probably restricted to a few upper class bars like Weatherspoons... Further afield there is the millionaire playground of BofA, where middle-aged men in the Queens [now defunct/under refurb] can safely slather over Chinese students wending their weary way to the Meadow Park. [BofA is actually quite nice but can perhaps get 'small']. Eateries are more independent and good quality, Nick Nairn does a good job at his place for example. If it's fine dining then you don't get much better than Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, about half an hour up the road.
I paint a grim scene, but actually it's got its nice parts - the exit onto the M9 heading south being one of them. I'm kidding - Stirling is a great place to base yourself, midway twixt the Burgh and the Weej, both of which are fantastic cities in different ways. Then of course you are at the gateway to the Highlands and within an hour you can find yourself in some of the most glorious countryside these isles have to offer. Truly stunning.
Town nightlife is the typical scene of rambunctious rascals, neds, ne'erdowells and the odd lost tourist. More elderly orientated nocturnal activity is probably restricted to a few upper class bars like Weatherspoons... Further afield there is the millionaire playground of BofA, where middle-aged men in the Queens [now defunct/under refurb] can safely slather over Chinese students wending their weary way to the Meadow Park. [BofA is actually quite nice but can perhaps get 'small']. Eateries are more independent and good quality, Nick Nairn does a good job at his place for example. If it's fine dining then you don't get much better than Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, about half an hour up the road.
I paint a grim scene, but actually it's got its nice parts - the exit onto the M9 heading south being one of them. I'm kidding - Stirling is a great place to base yourself, midway twixt the Burgh and the Weej, both of which are fantastic cities in different ways. Then of course you are at the gateway to the Highlands and within an hour you can find yourself in some of the most glorious countryside these isles have to offer. Truly stunning.
As said avoid the Raploch.
The area to the left of the castle is the posher end of town (kings park)
FUBAR abd DUSK are the 2 main nightclubs. Both dirty holes full of students.
A good choice of eating places around the centre.
The main shopping mall was good pre covid although its main store (debenhams) has ceased trading due to covid.
Stirling University is quite a big campus even though its not in Stirling. Its in Bridge of Allan.
Sprinkerse industrial area actually has a few decent mechanic workshops and car dealerships.
The area to the left of the castle is the posher end of town (kings park)
FUBAR abd DUSK are the 2 main nightclubs. Both dirty holes full of students.
A good choice of eating places around the centre.
The main shopping mall was good pre covid although its main store (debenhams) has ceased trading due to covid.
Stirling University is quite a big campus even though its not in Stirling. Its in Bridge of Allan.
Sprinkerse industrial area actually has a few decent mechanic workshops and car dealerships.
I've tried to find somewhere decent to go for a few pints of good beer, pleasant enough place to sit, and low/no NED representation a couple of times in Stirling but to no avail.
Spoons was bearable sitting outside if you ignored the NED in jobbie catchers trying to talk to anyone who would listen about the "abandoned" GSD on a piece of string which he had "rescued", while the staff kept telling him to leave as "no dogs". The dog was fine and looked much cleaner than its babysitter who I could understand the staff wanting rid of.
As above, Kings Park area seems very nice, and also further out into the 'burbs towards Cambusbarron.
Good for transport access to the rest of Scotland, and shortish train journey to Edinburgh/quickly onto A84 to head West.
Spoons was bearable sitting outside if you ignored the NED in jobbie catchers trying to talk to anyone who would listen about the "abandoned" GSD on a piece of string which he had "rescued", while the staff kept telling him to leave as "no dogs". The dog was fine and looked much cleaner than its babysitter who I could understand the staff wanting rid of.
As above, Kings Park area seems very nice, and also further out into the 'burbs towards Cambusbarron.
Good for transport access to the rest of Scotland, and shortish train journey to Edinburgh/quickly onto A84 to head West.
aparna said:
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