Discussion
I'm supposed to be in Malta, where it's warm and nice. Corruption and rampant covid aside of course. Which means they're happy for me to do it all remotely.
The wife gets headhunted to be at St Andrews uni, so hich she's smitten by, so it looks like we'll be there by Xmas.
Where would you live if you were working there?
The town seems to be students and golfers, with occasional business owners of course, as you'd expect. There are plenty of places around which avoid having students as neighbours, but we know little of them.
Renting at first, may buy later, would want 4 beds, parking obvs, so challenging in St A itself, and need things for an 8 and 13 year old to do.
Opinions welcome!
The wife gets headhunted to be at St Andrews uni, so hich she's smitten by, so it looks like we'll be there by Xmas.
Where would you live if you were working there?
The town seems to be students and golfers, with occasional business owners of course, as you'd expect. There are plenty of places around which avoid having students as neighbours, but we know little of them.
Renting at first, may buy later, would want 4 beds, parking obvs, so challenging in St A itself, and need things for an 8 and 13 year old to do.
Opinions welcome!
I live close by and can give some opinions.
think you have summed up St Andrews in your post there. Uni, Golf, Tourists. Expensive
Its a nice place and sits completely aside from anywhere locally, both as a micro economy, and environment.
Along with nice historic place equals, high prices for property though.
Plus it isn't near any motorways, its a general pain to get to. No direct train station (nearest is Luchars on the main Edinburgh to Aberdeen line)
As with any County, Fife has its good bits and bad bits.
The East Neuk is very picturesque, small fishing villages, little restaurants, some nice beaches.
Some lovely old villages like Falkland, Auchtermuchty, Strathmiglo.
Further inland you have larger towns, some grim ex mining towns, a 'new' town, Glenrothes (think mini Milton Keynes, but worse).
Dunfermline has had massive expansion in the last few years, I would say the town has almost doubled on the East side of town (commuting to Edinburgh etc), where the West side has declined greatly.
Kirkcaldy, a previous powerhouse of industry is now a ghost of itself, although has a very busy retail park and a large new housing development is starting (albeit on a former open cast mine)
St Andrews is only an hour and a half by road to Edinburgh though.
Bus links are good, train links in Fife are a total pain and stop fairly early in the evening.(a night out in Edinbugh has to stop at 11pm latest)
In true pistonheads fashion:
We have Knockhill racing circuit near Dunfermline (about an hour from St Andrews) local motorsports place, does BSB & Touring Cars etc.
Crail Raceway do various events throughout the year on a former airfield (1/4 mile and rally stages).
Bo'ness Hill climb is once a year, just over the bridge.
East Fortune raceway is close to North Berwick has limited events per year.
East of Scotland Kart Club is also at Crail on their purpose built circuit.
Cowdenbeath Racewall has regular Stock Car meetings.
Driftland is a purpose built drift complex locally.
Active but small scene in almost most forms of motorsport, whether it be rally, race, motocross, karting or restoring busses.
If you want links or any more advice, just ask
think you have summed up St Andrews in your post there. Uni, Golf, Tourists. Expensive
Its a nice place and sits completely aside from anywhere locally, both as a micro economy, and environment.
Along with nice historic place equals, high prices for property though.
Plus it isn't near any motorways, its a general pain to get to. No direct train station (nearest is Luchars on the main Edinburgh to Aberdeen line)
As with any County, Fife has its good bits and bad bits.
The East Neuk is very picturesque, small fishing villages, little restaurants, some nice beaches.
Some lovely old villages like Falkland, Auchtermuchty, Strathmiglo.
Further inland you have larger towns, some grim ex mining towns, a 'new' town, Glenrothes (think mini Milton Keynes, but worse).
Dunfermline has had massive expansion in the last few years, I would say the town has almost doubled on the East side of town (commuting to Edinburgh etc), where the West side has declined greatly.
Kirkcaldy, a previous powerhouse of industry is now a ghost of itself, although has a very busy retail park and a large new housing development is starting (albeit on a former open cast mine)
St Andrews is only an hour and a half by road to Edinburgh though.
Bus links are good, train links in Fife are a total pain and stop fairly early in the evening.(a night out in Edinbugh has to stop at 11pm latest)
In true pistonheads fashion:
We have Knockhill racing circuit near Dunfermline (about an hour from St Andrews) local motorsports place, does BSB & Touring Cars etc.
Crail Raceway do various events throughout the year on a former airfield (1/4 mile and rally stages).
Bo'ness Hill climb is once a year, just over the bridge.
East Fortune raceway is close to North Berwick has limited events per year.
East of Scotland Kart Club is also at Crail on their purpose built circuit.
Cowdenbeath Racewall has regular Stock Car meetings.
Driftland is a purpose built drift complex locally.
Active but small scene in almost most forms of motorsport, whether it be rally, race, motocross, karting or restoring busses.
If you want links or any more advice, just ask
S with many other University towns, there is a profusion of students, and typically high rents.
Looking outside of St Andrews, there are many other small towns nearby, but the roads do make the travelling more challenging. I guess it depends on what you are used to.
Dundee is probably the largest city nearby and the place has upped it's game considerably over the last 5-10yrs.
Nearby is Newport-on-Tay - far enough away from Dundee to avoid the meldrum, by close enough to visit.
By the coast, so you can get some nice properties with great views.
Car journey into St A is approx 25min so not too difficult to deal with.
Looking outside of St Andrews, there are many other small towns nearby, but the roads do make the travelling more challenging. I guess it depends on what you are used to.
Dundee is probably the largest city nearby and the place has upped it's game considerably over the last 5-10yrs.
Nearby is Newport-on-Tay - far enough away from Dundee to avoid the meldrum, by close enough to visit.
By the coast, so you can get some nice properties with great views.
Car journey into St A is approx 25min so not too difficult to deal with.
Meeten-5dulx said:
S with many other University towns, there is a profusion of students, and typically high rents.
Looking outside of St Andrews, there are many other small towns nearby, but the roads do make the travelling more challenging. I guess it depends on what you are used to.
Dundee is probably the largest city nearby and the place has upped it's game considerably over the last 5-10yrs.
Nearby is Newport-on-Tay - far enough away from Dundee to avoid the meldrum, by close enough to visit.
By the coast, so you can get some nice properties with great views.
Car journey into St A is approx 25min so not too difficult to deal with.
Newport on Tay is nice, I would be happy living there.Looking outside of St Andrews, there are many other small towns nearby, but the roads do make the travelling more challenging. I guess it depends on what you are used to.
Dundee is probably the largest city nearby and the place has upped it's game considerably over the last 5-10yrs.
Nearby is Newport-on-Tay - far enough away from Dundee to avoid the meldrum, by close enough to visit.
By the coast, so you can get some nice properties with great views.
Car journey into St A is approx 25min so not too difficult to deal with.
Thanks everyone for the excellent replies
Also didn't appreciate there's a secondary school on the south side of the Neuk, which I'll now check out as Madras College in St A itself claims a catchment of 180 square miles..!
ETA, that having been said, Kingsbairns is close to St A (but not so close as to guarantee student neighbours) and seems relatively cheap. Any specific reason?
evilkinevil1981 said:
I live close by and can give some opinions.
And they're hugely appreciated, thankyou,cs174 said:
I suggest one of the East Neuk villages such as Anstruther, Pittenweem or Crail. Elie is also lovely but more expensive than the others.
Interesting, wouldn't have thought the Elie area would command million quid plus houses given the prices elsewhere in the area, but 50% (of the 4 on Rightmove) currently are. I'd be surprised if there is huge demand for them, but what do I know!!Also didn't appreciate there's a secondary school on the south side of the Neuk, which I'll now check out as Madras College in St A itself claims a catchment of 180 square miles..!
ETA, that having been said, Kingsbairns is close to St A (but not so close as to guarantee student neighbours) and seems relatively cheap. Any specific reason?
Edited by Macron on Tuesday 1st September 11:23
cs174 said:
I suggest one of the East Neuk villages such as Anstruther, Pittenweem or Crail. Elie is also lovely but more expensive than the others.
Interesting, wouldn't have thought the Elie area would command million quid plus houses given the prices elsewhere in the area, but 50% (of the 4 on Rightmove) currently are. I'd be surprised if there is huge demand for them, but what do I know!!Edited by Macron on Tuesday 1st September 11:23
In fact, anything decent is holiday lets. If you're looking in any of the picturesque villages look out for key boxes and instagrammable front doors / back yards. Also keep an eye on the cars. Anything generically flash (i.e. big BMW, big Volvo) isn't local... Although, having said that, there are some *very* nice motors (you know, the ones that enthusiasts would recognise and appreciate) owned by locals in Fife. It's got a bit of a reputation for that...
You don't have to go far from St Andrews to get much more house reasonable prices.
I'd avoid the East Neuk. The roads are full of 40mph tourists in summer so you just have to sit back and relax and, having lived in Cellardyke for a while, it always feels as if it takes an hour to get to a proper main road if you're heading West.
Cupar is a nice enough place to live and there's usually a decent selection of fairly modern 4 bed detached houses in the £250-350k range.
It's only 10-15 minutes from St Andrews (you're always best to go via Pitscottie and along the B939 to avoid the congestion on the main road.
If you're looking for work (rather than your wife in St Andrews) then Cupar's fairly central for commuting to Dundee, Perth and down to Kirkcaldy, they're all within 30 minutes in peak traffic.
PS, I'm not on commission from the town of Cupar
I'd avoid the East Neuk. The roads are full of 40mph tourists in summer so you just have to sit back and relax and, having lived in Cellardyke for a while, it always feels as if it takes an hour to get to a proper main road if you're heading West.
Cupar is a nice enough place to live and there's usually a decent selection of fairly modern 4 bed detached houses in the £250-350k range.
It's only 10-15 minutes from St Andrews (you're always best to go via Pitscottie and along the B939 to avoid the congestion on the main road.
If you're looking for work (rather than your wife in St Andrews) then Cupar's fairly central for commuting to Dundee, Perth and down to Kirkcaldy, they're all within 30 minutes in peak traffic.
PS, I'm not on commission from the town of Cupar
My youngest brother's worked in the Uni geology department for many years. He lives in a cottage in Kingsbarns. We're calling in to see him in a couple of weeks during our short touring holiday. He's very happy up there, obviously helps when you love your job. He likes a pint so I presume the pubs are ok!
Random question, would you mind asking him if staff get parking? Some uni's do, some have odd policies, and I could imagine it's department specific with this one being spread out all over the place. Medicine if it makes a difference!
Also, Elie, liking the stats on Fife.gov, the local primary has 31 kids total...
Also, Elie, liking the stats on Fife.gov, the local primary has 31 kids total...
Macron said:
Random question, would you mind asking him if staff get parking? Some uni's do, some have odd policies, and I could imagine it's department specific with this one being spread out all over the place. Medicine if it makes a difference!
Also, Elie, liking the stats on Fife.gov, the local primary has 31 kids total...
what will your other half be teaching?Also, Elie, liking the stats on Fife.gov, the local primary has 31 kids total...
My niece starts there next week and as I am only 45min from her, I am a contact as her parents are based in London....
Olivera said:
dxg said:
Hey, there's always Leven or Methil. Grimer and grimerer...
I raise you a Lochgelly.I'm Dundee born and bred, live in the West End with Rail Bridge views and love it, but it's maybe a bit far for the daily Schlep to St A. I'd go with the Cupar suggestion above, nice smal town vibe withouy being too rural for the kids not to get bored.
Love St Andrews and I would move up to that part of Fife in a heartbeat. I spend a fair amount of time in Crail.
Parts of St Andrews aren’t too expensive, particularly the east side on the road out towards Anstruther/up behind the big Morrisons. Also Have a look at Guardbridge or Strathkinness or Ceres which is just so so pretty. Only downside can be getting anywhere quickly can be a right royal pain in the arse!
Parts of St Andrews aren’t too expensive, particularly the east side on the road out towards Anstruther/up behind the big Morrisons. Also Have a look at Guardbridge or Strathkinness or Ceres which is just so so pretty. Only downside can be getting anywhere quickly can be a right royal pain in the arse!
Macron said:
Random question, would you mind asking him if staff get parking? Some uni's do, some have odd policies, and I could imagine it's department specific with this one being spread out all over the place. Medicine if it makes a difference!
Also, Elie, liking the stats on Fife.gov, the local primary has 31 kids total...
Hi, brother says there's definitely some parking near the medical dept, apparently the early starters usually bag most of the spaces. There are a couple of public car parks within 200 yards(one currently free he thinks). Overall the Uni seems well served for parking, they encourage students not to use their own cars if possible.Also, Elie, liking the stats on Fife.gov, the local primary has 31 kids total...
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